See Paul Write

Paul Merrill : Writer For Hire

noreply@blogger.com (Paul Merrill) — Thu, 10 Nov 2005 00:02:00 +0000

Are you looking for a writer? Someone who can make your movie, TV or video game 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

noreply@blogger.com (Paul Merrill) — Mon, 07 Nov 2005 16:51:00 +0000

***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

noreply@blogger.com (Paul Merrill) — Sun, 06 Nov 2005 08:05:00 +0000

I've written scripts for over thirty 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

In addition, I've written scripts for dozens of popular game franchises, like Spider-Man, Barbie, That's So Raven, The Jonas Brothers, Power Rangers, Cory in the House.

Here's a not-quite-complete list of games I've worked on:

JONAS (2009), Disney Interactive
Westward IV: All Aboard (2009), Sandlot Games
Ancient Secrets: Quest for the Golden Key (2008), GameHouse, Inc.
Cake Mania 2: Jill's Next Adventure! (2008), Majesco Entertainment Company
Corey in the House (2008), Disney Interactive
Sunset Studio (2008), Reflexive Entertainment Inc.
Barbie Fashion Show: An Eye for Style (2008), Activision
Power Rangers: Super Legends (2007), Disney Interactive
Spider-man (2007), Jakks Pacific
That’s So Raven: Psychic on the Scene (2006), Disney Interactive
Backyard Skateboarding (2004), Atari, Inc.
Backyard Basketball 2004 (2003), Atari, Inc.
Backyard Hockey (2002), Infogrames, Inc.
Backyard Football 2002 (2001), Atari Europe S.A.S.U.
Backyard NBA Basketball (2001), Infogrames, Inc.
Backyard Soccer MLS Edition (2001), Infogrames, Inc.
Backyard Baseball 2001 (2000), Humongous Entertainment, Inc.
Backyard Football (1999), GT Interactive Software Corp.

Books

noreply@blogger.com (Paul Merrill) — Sun, 06 Nov 2005 01:45:00 +0000

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.

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

I also had several movie review published in the Scarecrow Video Movie Guide.

Writing for Websites

noreply@blogger.com (Paul Merrill) — Sat, 05 Nov 2005 01:17:00 +0000

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! Since then, Supersonicsoul has been featured in the New York Times, Slam! and ESPN.com. I still contribute stories, edit submissions, and manage the site.

People Republic of Komedy - The official website of PRoK, a nationally known comedy group based in Seattle.

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

noreply@blogger.com (Paul Merrill) — Thu, 03 Nov 2005 22:42:00 +0000

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

Animation:

Backyard 3000

TV:

Meat (original pilot) **NEW**

30 Rock (spec script)**NEW**

Film:

Grand Old Flag (short film) **NEW**

Vikings vs. Hillbillies (short film) **NEW**

Script Sample 1

noreply@blogger.com (Paul Merrill) — Thu, 03 Nov 2005 00:45:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Paul Merrill) — Wed, 02 Nov 2005 00:39:00 +0000

Paul Merrill
Writer / Creative Consultant
Contact
Download in Word Format

QUALIFICATIONS:
Ten years experience writing game text, scripts, and other copy for video games
Over ten years copywriting/copyediting experience
Extensive knowledge of media and popular culture

TECHNICAL SKILLS:
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

WORK EXPERIENCE:

GAMES: Over the past decade, I’ve done game design and written scripts for dozens of titles, including:

Disney Fairies (2009), Disney Interactive
JONAS (2009), Disney Interactive
Westward IV: All Aboard (2009), Sandlot Games
Ancient Secrets: Quest for the Golden Key (2008), GameHouse, Inc.
Cake Mania 2: Jill's Next Adventure! (2008), Sandlot Games
Corey in the House (2008), Disney Interactive
Sunset Studio (2008), Reflexive Entertainment Inc.
Barbie Fashion Show: An Eye for Style (2008), Activision
Power Rangers: Super Legends (2007), Disney Interactive
Spider-man (2007), Jakks Pacific
That’s So Raven: Psychic on the Scene (2006), Disney Interactive
Backyard Skateboarding (2004), Atari, Inc.
Backyard Basketball 2004 (2003), Atari, Inc.
Backyard Hockey (2002), Infogrames, Inc.
Backyard Football 2002 (2001), Atari Europe S.A.S.U.
Backyard NBA Basketball (2001), Infogrames, Inc.
Backyard Soccer MLS Edition (2001), Infogrames, Inc.
Backyard Baseball 2001 (2000), Humongous Entertainment, Inc.
Backyard Football (1999), GT Interactive Software Corp.

PRINT: Wrote “Pups: The official Nintendogs handbook”, as well as the official Nintendo player's guides for Animal Crossing: Wild World (DS) and Battalion Wars (GameCube). I also wrote for Sound Magazine and had several movie reviews published in the Scarecrow Video Move Guide.

ONLINE: I co-created Supersonicsoul.com, the #1 Seattle Sonics blog on the internet, which has been featured in the New York Times, ESPN.com and public radio's "Weekend America". I also contributed to the official website for the Dreamworks film "Monsters vs. Aliens", and designed several websites including www.prokomedy.org and www.paulmerrill.com .

COMEDY: I've been writing and performing comedy for over 20 years (!), working with the likes of Robin Williams, Patton Oswalt. Emo Phillips and Humpty Hump (!!). You can see videos of my act and where I'll be performing next at www.paulmerrill.com.

Press

noreply@blogger.com (Paul Merrill) — Tue, 01 Nov 2005 23:57:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Paul Merrill) — Thu, 07 Apr 2005 18:52:00 +0000

(photos by Heather Christianson)

Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

Comic Books

noreply@blogger.com (Paul Merrill) — Sat, 22 Feb 2003 18:07:00 +0000

In 2006, cartoonist extraordinaire Rafael Calonzo, Jr. and I created "Danny Fortson: Cyborg Smasher", a two-part comic series based on former Seattle Supersonics forward Danny Fortson.

(Originally published in 2006 on Supersonicsoul.com)

"Danny Fortson: Cyborg Smasher" Issue #1

(Click on pictures for larger images.)

"Danny Fortson: Cyborg Smasher" Issue #2