RAJQ Behind the Scenes No. 5
Hi Questoids, as promised, here's all the news that's fit to print on "Race Against
Danger"
Back in 86, H-B started a thirteen episode run of Jonny Quest. I was just an HB
stock boy at that time, trying to break in to the toon biz. "Jonny Quest!" I thought.
"I have to work on that. It's my all time favorite cartoon!" I tried everything
including a few story ideas. None of them sold (very understandable, as I look on
them now. Pretty clunky stuff) As it turned out, my drawing skills were further
along and Jim Stenstrum gave me my big break as a model artist for the show. (Jim
is the Season Two art director too. A great guy).
Flash forward a decade. Now I have a lot more experience and writing ability than
the kid in the stockroom had. A few Produced scripts behind me (SWAT Kats mostly)
got me the opportunity to write for JQ (finally!) Just for fun, I dusted off my
old ideas and a few seemed pretty usable. "Race Against Danger" was the only one
that got made but it's remarkably similar to it's humble beginnings. All mis-spelled
and awkwardly worded on a single sheet of typing paper. I wish I could go back in
time to show that stockboy it finally got made. Two of my other old ideas are workable
and I might use them yet if the opportunity arises. What have we learned today?
A. Keep at it.
B. Never throw anything out!
Okay, time for the Questoid Factoids on "Race Against Danger"
1. The original title was "Race Against Death" I liked this title so much, I built
a whole story around it. Then someone got skittish about the word "death" and we
had to change it. It is still refered to around the office as "Race Against Death"
which is an actual phrase AND a play on words. "Race Against Danger" doesn't really
mean anything. sigh.......
2. Corbin is a character from the Classic Series. ("Mystery of the Lizard Men" and
"Riddle of the Gold") He's used here as he was then: Race's boss. Corbin's original
voice was the late, great Daws Butler. Our Corbin is Greg Burson, Daws' protege'
(the new Yogi Bear).
3. 'Kreed' is Julian Sands from the Warlock movies. The ladies went a bit nuts,
let me tell ya.
4. This show features Race's first field assignment (in flashback), and explains
where the "Race' nickname originated.
5. Clark and Hill are named after two good friends who worked with us on SWAT Kats.
(Eric Clark and Scott Hill). Scott said to me: "Thanks for tossing me into a spiked
tiger pit, pal!"
6. An early idea also had Jessie and Jade cuffed together running the maze with
Jonny and Race, but there was no time, so we moved the Jessie/Jade meeting to "Diamonds
and Jade"
7.Another scrapped idea was my "Fanboy gallery" rather than multiple Kreed holograms,
Jonny and Race were going to be shot at by a Classic JQ rogues gallery (Which would
have been known to Temple as a thing to rattle Jonny and Race). A Robot Spy, Baron
Von Froelich, Zin's hovercraft goons, etc. Davis was right in changing it. Too "inside".
8. The double twist at the end was made up on the spot and doesn't exist in the
outline. (Showing a difference in sophistication between now and my 86 plotting
abilities, I guess)
9. We get a glimpse of a young Dr. Zin (with hair yet!) in the flashback sequence.
Little does Race realize that he has been thwarting Zin for years. Kreed, then Temple
as Kreed has been supplying Zin (and other badguys) with sinister gear for years.
10. The "Racer" thing was just a plot point and will not resurface. We'd have to
keep explaining it for those who missed R.A.D. Not worth the trouble. He HAS a nickname
anyway, right?
11. The ending can be taken in two ways (up to the viewer to decide)
A. The logical, rational explination: The island's programing malfunctioned in just
the right way and time to kill Temple OR...
2. The symbolic answer: Temple was killed by the spirit of Kreed. A man who's life
he had stolen.
The show was so "Tech" that I wanted to add a hint of the mystical, I guess. I like
a mixture.