See Paul Write

Paul Merrill : Writer For Hire

2005-11-09T16:02:00.000-08:00

Are you looking for a video game writer? Someone who can make your characters come alive with funny, memorable dialog? Well, you've come to the right place, bubs!

My name is Paul Merrill. While I'm probably best known for my high-concept rock albums, or my award-winning anti-trash poster from the fourth grade, I've also spent the past ten years writing for popular video game franchises like Backyard Sports, That's So Raven and Power Rangers.

And now, thanks to the wonders of the In-Tor-Net™, you can see it all for yourself. Just click on the links on the right to find excerpts from various screenplays, video games, and clips from my foul-mouthed stand-up act.

If you like what you see, feel free to
drop me a line. And give me money. Lots and lots of money.

Love ya,
Paul

Comedy

2005-11-07T08:51:00.000-08:00

***UPDATED***

When I'm not busy writing scripts about cakes and/or puppies, I perform what the kids call "stand-up comedy". To find out more, go to my new website www.paulmerrill.com.

In the meantime, here is some footage of me "in action".

Video Game Writing

2005-11-06T00:05:00.001-08:00

I've written scripts for over twenty video games, including the best-selling Backyard Sports series from Humongous/Atari. Humongous had several other popular kid's titles, like Pajama Sam, Freddi Fish and Putt-Putt. Here are some sample scripts for original game ideas I created for these characters:

Freddi Fish—The Mystery of the Maltese Flounder

Pajama Sam—Forget Your Fears and Open Your Ears

Putt-Putt Goes to Movieland

UPDATE: I just finished writing the script for an upcoming Nintendo DS title based on the smash-hit TV show "That's So Raven". Seriously. Because whenever people think "Pre-teen Girl Show", the first name that always comes to mind is PAUL MERRILL! Look for it to hit stores around Christmas.

Books

2005-11-05T17:45:00.000-08:00

In 2006, I wrote six interactive children's books based on several popular kid's shows: Power Rangers SPD, Power Rangers Mystic Force and Thomas the Tank Engine. They will be published by Jakks Pacific this fall.

In 2005, I wrote three books for Nintendo:

Pups: The Official Nintendogs Companion

Battalion Wars: The Official Nintendo Player's Guide

Animal Crossing Wild World: The Official Nintendo Player's Guide

Writing for Websites

2005-11-04T17:17:00.000-08:00

I've created several websites over the past few years. Here are a few:

Supersonicsoul — This is by far the most popular website I've been involved with. Supersonicsoul started out as small fan site for the Seattle Supersonics and over the course of a few months became the #1 rated Sonics blog on Google, Yahoo!, and MSN—go figure! I still contribute stories, edit submissions, and manage the site.

Retarded Movies — I created this site mostly to showcase my movie reviews that were buried (and uncredited!) in the Scarecrow Video Guide.

Retarded Games — A small tribute to some of the worst video games ever made.

Scripts

2005-11-03T14:42:00.000-08:00

Here are a few of the scripts and screenplays that I've written over the years . . .

Animation:

Backyard 3000

TV:

Meat (pilot)

Film:

Kill Everybody!

Script Sample 1

2005-11-02T16:45:00.000-08:00

FREDDI FISH:
THE MALTESE FLOUNDER

Written by

Paul Merrill

Scene – Kitty Catfish Club – Inside

Condition: Freddi and Luther enter the Kitty Catfish Club for the first time.

Freddi and Luther enter. The club is dark, except for some red and blue lights. In the corner, under a small blue spotlight, a jazz quartet is playing. Bags Blowfish (who looks like Dizzy Gillespie) is playing trumpet. Bags blows up like a balloon when he’s playing trumpet. After the song ends, and Bags deflates, Freddi and Luther approach Bags.

FREDDI

Wow! You’re good!

BAGS

(in a scratchy “Satchmo” voice)

Thanks kid. And who might you be?

FREDDI

My name’s Freddi Fish, and this is my best friend Luther.

LUTHER

Hi!

BAGS

Pleased to meet your acquaintances. My name’s Bags Blowfish and this is my band. You got Billy Bass on the bass (“base”)…

BILLY

What’s happenin’, short stuff?

BAGS

Hidin’ behind the piano over there is Mr. Otter Potter.

OTTER

(meekly)
Hello.

BAGS

And finally, we got ol’ six arms on the skins.

LUTHER

I thought an octopus was supposed to have eight arms.

SIX ARMS

Well, nobody’s perfect!

BAGS

Now then, what can we do for you two youngsters?

FREDDI

Well Mr. Blowfish, Luther and I were wondering if you knew anything about the “Maltese Flounder”?

BILLY BASS

The Maltese Flounder?!

Terrified, Billy Bass spreads the strings on his big, upright, bass guitar like a curtain and hops inside.

OTTER POTTER

The Maltese Flounder?!

Otter Potter lifts up the keys of his piano, as if they were a rug, and squeezes underneath them to hide.

SIX ARMS (OCTOPUS)

The Maltese Falcon! I mean, the Maltese Flounder!

Six Arms pulls his tentacles into his body so that he looks like a basketball with eyes. He then bounces himself across the floor, off the wall, and into a trashcan. Luther and Freddi look at each other for a second.

LUTHER

Was it something we said?

BAGS BLOWFISH

Awww, them scaredy-cat fish are jus’ superstitious.

FREDDI

What do you mean, Mr. Blowfish?

BAGS BLOWFISH

Well you see kids, some folk ‘round here think that the old Maltese Flounder is … (dramatically) Cursed!

Band-mates hiding in instruments shudder and whine.

BAGS BLOWFISH

Ah-ha-ha-ha-ha! But nobody in their right mind believes that old fish tale.

FREDDI

Do you know where the Maltese Flounder is, Mr. Blowfish?

BAGS BLOWFISH

Well, I can’t say I ever saw the thing my ownself. You oughta ask ol’ Piranha Pete at the newsstand.

LUTHER

P-P-P-P-Piranha?!

BAGS BLOWFISH

Aww, don’t you worry ‘bout ol’ Pete. All his teeth fell out years ago! That ol’ timer’s been around even longer than me! Ha-ha-ha! He’ll be able to tell you whatever you need to know. Be sure to tell ‘em ol’Bags sent ya.

FREDDI

Thanks a lot, Mr. Blowfish.

BAGS BLOWFISH

Anytime, kids. (to bandmates) Now come on out of there, you cowards! We got some rehearsin’ to do!

Scene – Kitty Catfish Club – Inside

Condition: click on Bags Blowfish without having ever left the Kitty Catfish Club scene.

- 1 –

FREDDI

Where is the newsstand, anyway?

BAGS BLOWFISH

Just up the street, kid. You can’t miss it.

- 2 –

FREDDI

Do think any of your band-mates know anything about the . . . (whispers) Maltese Flounder?

BAGS BLOWFISH

You kidding me? These cats can barely tie their shoes, dig?

- 3 & C –

LUTHER

Say, Mr. Blowfish, does your face hurt when you blow it up like that?

BAGS BLOWFISH

Well shorty, let’s just say you shouldn’t try it at home. Ah-ha-ha-ha!

Resume

2005-11-01T16:39:00.000-08:00

(Download in Word format here)

Paul Merrill
contact: here

GOAL:
To use my extensive writing and editing experience at a high profile, high quality company.

QUALIFICATIONS:
Seven years experience writing game text, scripts and other copy for video games
Over ten years copywriting/copyediting experience
Over a dozen years researching film and television
Extensive knowledge of media and popular culture

TECHNICAL EXPERIENCE:
Proficient with MS Word, MS Excel, Photoshop, Quark, and HTML
Familiar with both Windows and Mac operating systems
Experienced multi-platform gamer, including PC Games, Nintendo, Playstation, and Xbox

RECENT PROJECTS:

Writer, “That’s So Raven” (Nintendo DS)
Publisher: Handheld Games/ Disney (2006)

· Wrote dialog and in-game text for a game based on the hit Disney Channel show “That’s So Raven”
· Worked closely with producers and game designers to improve game logic and design
· Did extensive research to capture show’s unique style

Writer, “Thomas the Tank Engine”, (TeleStory Interactive Books)
Publisher: JAKKS Pacific / HIT Entertainment (2006)

· Wrote two short children’s books (15-20 pages each) based on the classic kid’s program.
· Worked closely with licensors to ensure the proper tone of characters.

Writer, “Power Rangers Mystic Force”, (TeleStory Interactive Books)
Publisher: JAKKS Pacific / Disney (2005)

· Wrote two short children’s books (15-20 pages each) based on the new Disney Channel show “Power Rangers Mystic Force”.
· Did extensive research on show’s characters and plotlines.

Writer, Official Nintendo Player’s Guides (Various)
Publisher: Nintendo /V-Design (2005)

Wrote several books for Nintendo, including Pups: The Official Nintendogs Companion , Battalion Wars: The Official Nintendo Player's Guide , and Animal Crossing Wild World: The Official Nintendo Player's Guide
Wrote nearly 200 pages of copy for each book, which featured game tips, character bios, and extensive background information
Wrote all of the photo captions and headlines
Worked under extremely intense deadlines, sometimes writing up to 30 pages a day
Assisted in copyediting and proofreading final copy before going to press
Researched and playtested pre-release versions of the games

Writer, “Backyard Sports” (PC, Mac, PS2, Gamecube)
Publisher: Atari / Humongous (1998-2005)

Wrote a full-length script for an animated pilot
Wrote game text, scripts, and other copy for entire line of bestselling "Backyard Sports" games (over a dozen titles)
Worked closely with producers and game designers to improve game logic and design
Developed characters and storylines for future film, television and game projects
Helped improve existing game characters and develop new ones
Tested and evaluated products prior to release
Did extensive research on several superstar athletes, including Ken Griffey, Jr., Kevin Garnett and world-champion skater Andy MacDonald

EDUCATION:
Writing For Film Program, Seattle Central 1995
Writing For Television Program, Seattle Central 1995
Green River College, AA in Journalism and English 1990-93

OTHER SKILLS, INTERESTS:
Worked for several years at the legendary Scarecrow Video in Seattle
Write and perform stand-up comedy on a regular basis

Press

2005-11-01T15:57:00.000-08:00

I've written dozens of press releases for several different groups. Here are a few samples:

DC Comedy Fest

David Crowe

Laffhole

Photos from April 2nd Laffhole show

2005-04-07T11:52:00.000-07:00

(photos by Heather Christianson)

Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.