A Ton of Brand New Updates (Master Post)

Just as I promised guys, I have created a master post detailing tons of new development/production details that have taken place since our hiatus. There’s a lot of stuff to cover, so for all of you wanting to know what’s been going on with the movie, including what you guys will be seeing on the blog soon, then feel free to check out all the news after the break. A vlog will be coming out soon on the YouTube channel but for now, here is the full text version of the updates.

Major Updates:

Major Recording and Storyboard work based on the new draft is starting up production and will continue for the next few months going into the new year.
Our plan is to have a complete storyboard animatic version of the entire film ready in time for Fall 2014. Should the Story Reel be completed by that time, the film will be screened privately. More details on this later.
Concerning the release of the film, Summer 2015 is still our tentative release date. However, should we not manage in finishing the film by that time period, we won’t be giving out another release date after that. The film will be finished when it is finished.
Our Producers have looked as deeply into the copyrights with Hasbro as possible. The consensus concerning the project is that Hasbro makes it a point not to give legal permission as gaining permission suggests endorsement. We’ve tried to do as much as we can, but ultimately we have no say in what happens with the film on copyright levels. We can however stand our ground and make sure that the project doesn’t get overzealous with promotion and attention.

Script Updates:

The original draft of the script ran at 206 pages. If you’re following the rule of one page equaling a minute of film, then the movie would’ve been over 3 hrs. 26 min. which was ultimately too long.
The script was squeezed down to 100 pages, making the film’s run-time equate to an hour and 40 minutes.
To reduce the size of the script, every character that had a storyline in the film that didn’t have to do with Twilight and the rest of the Mane Group, Celestia and Luna, and the villains were removed.
Celestia and Luna had very major subplots spread throughout the film, but both of these were cut as they ultimately took away the attention from the main point of the story. Some elements of Celestia’s story are still sprinkled throughout the film’s script but in no way overwhelm the main story.
Characters that were removed included Shining, Cadence, Shryll and Kryl (the two changeling characters we introduced at BronyCon), as well as the secret characters that actresses Lauren Goodnight and Lauren Collis were to play. CMC were reduced to a cameo rather than a subplot
The two secret characters were Trixie and Nightmare Moon. Lauren Collis is now set to play another secret character that will not be revealed until the film’s release. Michael Carney (who was set to voice Shining Armor) is playing another character as well, a surprise character you’ll see when the film is released.
Consulting for the new changes the script oversaw was David Hammons of True Tail and Hell Hath No Hogie fame.
The new draft of the script still retains quite a lot of ideas that the original draft had but many sequences were cut or reduced in length. The draft was written and edited by myself and newcomers Jonathan Sirois and Eric Schneider.

Music Updates:

Forest and Jeff are working on the next song for the soundtrack, the song being Twilight Sparkle’s solo in the film entitled “Twilight’s Lament”.
A brand new composer going by the name of David J.D. Quezada was brought onto the project to help with composing the score for the film.
Dennis O'Keefe, Orchestra Contractor for the project, plans to have the orchestra begin rehearsal and recording sessions for the film’s score by next year.

Animation Updates:

The animators have begun working on animation tests that will be going onto the blog soon so you can see them in action.
The next big thing we will be releasing is the first musical number from the film in full animated form. The video will be released sometime next year.
Animation Puppets are also being cleaned up and modified for animation with various Main Characters and Background Characters being created for use in the film.

Convention Updates:

We are currently in talks with the programming head of BABSCon to host a Journey of the Spark panel in April. At the panel we will be showing off the first 5-10 minutes of the film. Should the panel not happen, we will be going for a panel at next year’s BronyCon.
I am also in talks with the people from PON3Con in Nebraska to present at the convention again. Since the convention is happening next fall, I am hoping to see if we may host the private screening of the Story Reel there.