Storyteller
Tina Interviews Howie and Herb
www.myspace.com/howieandherb
www.howieandherb.com
Tina : 1. Hi! Who is the mastermind behind Howie and Herb the creator (Cartoonist)?
Mad Rob: Howie & Herb was created by me, Rob "Mad Rob" Dypwick.
Tina : 2. Have you got anything interesting in the works at the moment?
Mad Rob: Well, there is never any rest here with Howie & Herb! Just as soon as I finished "Howie & Herb Episode 1: Take This job and Shove it", work began right away with Episode 2, which is currently underway.
Tina : 3. Who writes the episode story boards for Howie and Herb?
Mad Rob: I personally do all the screen writing and storyboarding for Howie & Herb. Some of the jokes just emerge even after the writing is done and animation has already begun, and then a new gag has to be added in last minute!
Tina : 4. Do you have a production crew for all the voiceovers for your cartoon and where did you find the music for your film?
Mad Rob: I am the voice of Howie (the short angry one). My brother Jason Dypwick is the voice of Herb (The tall, dumb one). Teak Gude is the voice of the annoying customer in episode 1. The music in episode 1 is by Stephen Marley, son of the late great Bob Marley.
Tina : 5. Can you tell us a little bit about the Howie and Herbs biography what inspired you to come up with the story?
Mad Rob: Well, I first came up with Howie & Herb back in 1997. There was an upstart T-shirt company that needed designs and characters for their T-shirts, and at first, the shirts were going to be sold at the shops on Venice Beach. Well, I thought about the target demographic. Who is at Venice Beach? A bunch of potheads, I figured! So, I came up with characters they could relate to: A couple of stoned reggae guys. My first design of the two had them with a bong. This was my first illustration ever of H&H. Anyway, The T-shirt company went under before I even had a chance to show the owner my pictures. Jump ahead almost 10 years later, I was an animation student at Westwood College in Anaheim, and I needed characters for my animation assignments. Somehow I dug up those old pics of H&H and started animating them. Howie & Herb were reborn as cartoon characters. In fact, the Howie & Herb E-card was originally a class project. By the way, if anyone wants to see my first illustration of H&H, it can be seen at: www.madrob.deviantart.com/art/My-1st-Howie-and-Herb-drawing-5670864.
Tina : 6. Who is responsible for the film amination of Howie and Herb?
Mad Rob: Howie & Herb is animated entirely by me. It is a huge task for just one person, and that is why each episode takes so long to make, but unfortunately there simply isn't enough money in the budget to pay multiple animators.
Tina : 7. How long did it take you to finish each webisode and what is the process?
Mad Rob: Well, animation is a very slow process, and like I said, unfortunately, due to my small animation crew of one, coupled with other current projects, each 5 minute webisode takes a long time, about 3 months, just to make.
Tina : 8. Has the cartoon Howie and Herb ever appeared in any newspapers or magazines as a cartoon series in the past?
Mad Rob: To my knowledge, they have not appeared in any magazine or newspaper, no. They appear on the strangest places on the net, though. Sites I've never heard of. They are spreading like a virus! In addition to howieandherb.com and MySpace.com, they are also featured on YouTube.com, Newgrounds.com, IFilms.com, Atomfilms.com, .., and ToonGum.com, just to name a few.
Tina : 9. What skills are most important for and aspiring animation professional to obtain?
Mad Rob: Well, I would say first of all get a bachelors degree in animation. Then ask yourself what you want to get into, such as 2D (Simpsons) or 3D (Shrek). They are very different. And my next piece of advice, if you get into animation, do it because you love it, not for money, because it's a very tough biz to get into and there isn't a whole lot of money in it unless you own your own show.
Tina : 10. What is your background in the film industry and what are your hopes for the future production of Howie and Herb?
Mad Rob: I have an associates degree in animation and a bachelors in animation. I had some schooling in film as well. My ultimate goal for Howie & Herb is to bring them from the web to television. Right now I'm working on a 4 episode origin story arc, each about five minutes long. Episode 1 is already up on the web, with #2 coming up next. The idea being that once there is a good 22 minutes of material I will have a solid pilot to pitch to the television networks, since a 30 minute show is 22 minutes without commercials. There have already been talks with networks, but nothing concrete yet. But for now, the fans have the web toons to watch, and even if television doesn't come calling, H&H will always have a home on the net.
Tina : 11. Where do you see the animation industry moving in the next ten years?
Mad Rob: Personally, I believe that one of the most exciting new avenues of animation is Flash animation, the process I use to create Howie & Herb, which is 2D animation that can be done on a home computer. As recently as 5 years ago, Flash was seen as only useful for quick website animations, but now it's being used for television shows and even films! This just began to surface in the last year or two, and it's becoming a legitimate form, not to mention way cheaper than any other animation form. This is going to be huge! Hopefully, I will be one of the first to fully capitalize on that. Tina : 12. Are there any animators that you admire who influence you?
Mad Rob: Oh, for sure. My main influence would have to be John Kricfalusi, creator of Ren & Stimpy. I loved that show! I would say John K. is the most important animator of the last 40 years, hands down. animated shows the last few decades were so terrible before he came along. He made cartoons fun again. So many shows rip of his style nowadays. Trey Parker & Matt Stone (South Park) and Seth MacFarlane (Family Guy) are big influences too.
Tina : 13. Do you keep a scrapbook of drawings for all your ideas ?
Mad Rob: Yeah. I think all artists do.
Tina : 14. Do you get bored working on the same characters? What do you do to keep motivated for the continuing production of Howie and Herb?
Mad Rob: It can definitely get old working on the same project for months and months, but to tell you the truth. I love Howie & Herb. I'm the show's biggest fan. Sometimes I force myself to do more work just so I get to see the next scene!
Tina : 15. Is Howie and Herb Stereotyped characters or are they real people?
Mad Rob: A little of both, I guess. There are the typical angry little guy and big dumb oaf. Herb is based on a friend of mine. He is even drawn to look like him. Howie is based largely on myself. I didn't even do it on purpose or realize it until one day when my girlfriend told me "Dude, Howie IS you!" I have already gotten complaints from Jamaicans that Howie & Herb is a negative stereotype of Jamaicans, which was never my intention, and I have apologized before for that. I never meant to insult Jamaican people. But I guess you're no one in this town until you're pissing someone off.
Tina : 16. What is your opinion of the Writers Guild Strike is it affecting your marketability to break into the movie industry in the US currently?
Mad Rob: It doesn't really affect me since I'm not currently on television. Hopefully it will either be resolved by the time I really make my move or maybe it will help me since I do all my own writing.
Tina : 17. How has the internet help market Howie and Herb to fine better fortune and network with you fan base?
Mad Rob: The internet has been huge for Howie & Herb. I'm able to market the cartoon worldwide and help get a buzz going that would be impossible 10 years ago.
Tina : 18. Before we close our interview to you have any shout outs or any last words?
Mad Rob: I would like to say thanks so much to all of Howie & Herb's friends and fans for all the support, and be sure to check out Episode 1 on howieandherb.com or YouTube.com, and don't be too shy to send me messages either on MySpace or in the forums at howieandherb.com. I love talking to people.
Tina : Thank you Howie and Herb for taking the time to complete VMU Eteams Webzine questions. We hope to see Howie and Herb in Hollywood on TV as a cartoon series someday your short film is excellent!
Mad Rob: Thanks so much for having me! I'm flattered.
Tina
www.myspace.com/howieandherb
www.howieandherb.com
Tina
