Interview with Mauro Casalese -Story board artisit

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jamarmiller
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Interview with Mauro Casalese -Story board artisit

Post by jamarmiller »

Interview with Mauro Casalese -Story board artisit


I was able to score a interview with Mauro Casalese -Story board artisit for the 1996 Action Man cartoon read on to see what he had to say!

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How did you get into story boarding and how did you get the job working on Action Man ?

I come from an animation background and was an animator long before I started doing boards. I started doing freelance storyboards because the animation work dried up in town. I was already doing some work for one of the studios here in Vancouver, and they happened to land the Action Man series pre-production work. Some of the guys were doing designs for the series and I was slated to work on some boards.

2. With you being a Action Man Fan, how many Action Man figures do you have and how long have you been collecting ?


I'm a fan of the original GIJoes, actually. I began collecting in 1992 when I stumbled upon an old GIJoe in a collectible shop. I had it as a kid and had to have it again. That began a 10 year collecting binge that happened to include the original Action Man from the 60's and 70's as well as the newer ones. I probably have well over 300 12" GIJoes and Action Man figures. I don't collect anymore though, so I'll probably end up selling my collection some day.


3. I would like to purchase a copy of the Bible of this series do you
have one available or do you know of someone that might have one all my searching has come up with dead ends , even Dic themselves was only able to find a addendum to the bible ?




I doubt I have it. Most of that stuff gets thrown into recycling when I finish a series. If I have anything it's buried in my storage room, somewhere.

4. Which Episodes did you story board


episode 102 - Fountain of Youth
episode 104 - You Can't Go Home Again
episode 110 - We Come In Peace
episode 203 - Soul Of Evil
episode 206 - Space Walk
episode 207 - The Most Dangerous Prey
episode 211 - Past Performance
episode 212 - A Time For Action

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5. Do you have any scripts from this show or do you know anyone that would/ might have them ?


These have definitely been tossed into the recycling bin.

6. I would love to interview the Director of the series, do you know how I can get in contact with him?


No idea who the director was. The work came up from LA and after we did the pre-production it was sent to Asia to be animated.

7. Was their any plot points that you mentioned or suggested to the writers to incorporate ?


We didn't have any input into scripts. They were completed in Los Angeles and sent to us. I did try to put lots of visual cues into the storyboards though. For instance, check out some of the flashback scenes when AM is a kid and you should see some old 60's and 70's GIJoe toys.



8. This show developed for the first time ever Action Man and his history. The story was pretty in depth and there was a lot of mystery still left open when the series ended, were you disappointed that they never got to finish these great story points that they were setting up?


Sure I was disappointed. It had a cool setup and had the potential for a great storyline. The ratings unfortunately dictated it's demise.

A. Can you clear up Anything that was left dangling ?


Sorry, I can't help you on this.


B. What was the deal with Ursula holding a picture of a Blonde girl in the episode Past Performance ? This girl is also showed in a flashback scene from Ice Age ??


I'm not too sure about it myself. That's what the script said, so that's what I drew on the board.

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9. Was their any consideration, suggestion or talk of bringing in a GI JOE character for a brief cameo or guest appearance for a show, to connect it more to GI JOE and to establish more of a following / Fan Base ? I personally think this would have been marketing brilliance and would have helped the show a lot more.


I tried to put visuals that the script didn't call for wherever I could. Some stuff got on the screen others went as far as the board only. Officially, we were told that this was supposed to be independent of any ties to the original GIJoe property.

10. Each episode opened with a live action segment that was shot in
Universal Studios Florida, Did you get to story Board any of these parts for the live action segments



We had no part in that aspect of the show.

11. What do you think of the 2000 CGI mainframe series (American) Action Man ?


Never saw it.

12.What do you think of the New Action Man CGI Movies Robot ATAK and the X Missions movie that uses about 60 percent of the animation from the GI JOE Valor Vs Venom movie?


I don't know anything about this.

13. Was their any demands on what you could draw and not draw ?


Not really. We only have to make sure it passes BS&P (Broadcast Standards & Practises) ie. no excessive violence, no bullets, sex, drugs, religion, etc.

14. Did you want to incorporate any other GI JOE things into the show?


I did whenever I had an opportunity.

16. What else have you worked on as far as Story boarding goes ?


Let's see... Atomic Betty
Pink Panther
Woody Woodpecker
Conan the Barbarian
2 Stupid Dogs
The Baby Huey Show
The Mighty Ducks
Savage Dragon
Tex Avery Theatre
Space Goofs(Home to Rent)
Cosmic Cowboys
Courage The Cowardly Dog
Stanley
Ed, Edd and Eddy
There's probably more, but I can't remember.


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17. Okay who was your favorite , Natalie or Ursula.


Natalie of course.

18 . Is their anything else you would like to add about this series?


Nope.

19. What are you currently working on ?


I just finished editing the last couple of episodes of Atomic Betty season 2 and we're about to start scripts on season 3. I'm the supervising director and one of the creators of the series. We are also going into the second season of Capt. Flamingo. I have several other series that are in development right now.

20. Anything you would like to add about any future projects you have
coming up?



I don't want to jinx anything, so I can't really say.

21. What do you think about the New A.T.O.M. Action Man Show ?


Never heard of it.

Thank you so much for your time in answering my questions I truly
enjoyed this show and felt it was ,for the most part, a very unique and well written show

Thank you



No problem Jamar. Sorry it took so long to get back to you. Running an animation studio is a little taxing, to say the least.

And here is his contact info if anyone wants to write him

Mauro Casalese
Supervising Director
Atomic Cartoons Inc.
250-1125 Howe St.
Vancouver, BC Canada
V6Z 2K8


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Re: Interview with Mauro Casalese -Story board artisit

Post by Eye of Agamotto »

This peeked my interest:

"I did try to put lots of visual cues into the storyboards though. For instance, check out some of the flashback scenes when AM is a kid and you should see some old 60's and 70's GIJoe toys."
LET'S GET EXTREME!!!

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jamarmiller
I am Wilder Vaughn, I am the Black Major
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Posts: 3923
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Re: Interview with Mauro Casalese -Story board artisit

Post by jamarmiller »

Eye of Agamotto wrote:This peeked my interest:

"I did try to put lots of visual cues into the storyboards though. For instance, check out some of the flashback scenes when AM is a kid and you should see some old 60's and 70's GIJoe toys."

ya that peeeked my interest too, he wanted and even suggested some cameos many times but they kept wanting to keep Action Man seperate, too bad because that little marketing would have been good for the Whole ACTION MAN line and even GI JOE at the time

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