1272 – Guild Webseries Watch | Season 1 Ep 1-6
Dreams via Day's stories of game players and guild members who will solve slumber.
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Episode 1272 – Guild Webseries Watch | Season 1 Ep 1-6
[START OF RECORDING]
SCOOTER: Friends beyond the binary, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls…before there was Swifties, there was Guildies. Actually, before there was Guildies, there was probably…there probably were people…I don't know if they were a fandom…back in the day…and then there would have been Wildies. When did fans start…fandoms start getting name…like cute…? I’m not saying this in a derogatory way; cutsie names? ‘Cause they are cute. But Guildies could also be a term you use…I guess if you’re a Swifty you say ‘I’m a Swifty’, right, to another Swifty. If you’re a Guildy…but you could be in the same guild or a fan of the guild; that’s what I referring to.
But then, before there was fans of The Guild, even though the spelling’s different…Gilda Radner’s fans could have been Guildies or they could have been Radneries. Guildies is better for sure. Then Genies…but Wildies…either one works for Gene Wilder. Richie’s Pryory…Pryors. Pryorses. Anyway, if you’re confused, you’re in the right place. This is Sleep With Me. Believe it or not, it’s a podcast to put you to sleep. We do it with a bedtime story eventually, though tonight our bedtime story will based…be based on some episodes from Season 1 of The Guild and maybe give you a chance to discover something new or bring you back to the heyday of the aughts, maybe? I don't even know. But it’s time for Sleep With Me.
This is a podcast that eventually…that’s here to keep you company and take your mind off of stuff so you could fall asleep. But the show’s very different. I mean, clearly, right? You might never…first, some of you might not know who Gilda Radner is or Richard Pryor or Gene Wilder, and that’s fine, too. Or The Guild, the web series…there’s other…obviously, or your…but you may be confused. You say, why do you keep…why do you have to overexplain everything? Well, part of my job. But just to see how it goes…most regular listeners, people that even call themselves superfans, did not like this show when they first got here 'cause it was different when…than what they expected, and that’s totally understandable.
So, just see how it goes. You got nothing to lose. I really am here to help you. I have a website set up; sleepwithmepodcast.com/nothankyou if you already know the show’s not for you, but just see how it goes if you can. What we got coming up; support so paying for the show is optional, a long, meandering intro meant to ease you into bedtime, and then eventually later on we’ll be talking about The Guild, Season 1. I don't know if we’ll get through every episode or not. Believe it or not, The Guild has a very strong connection to this podcast as far as influencing me to do the work that would become the podcast. So, I got a lot to thank The Guild for. So, yeah, here we go. It’s time for Sleep With Me, the podcast that puts you to sleep. Thanks for making it possible, my bore-friends.
INTRO: [INTRO MUSIC] Hey, are you up all night tossing, turning, mind racing? Trouble getting to sleep? Trouble staying asleep? Well, welcome. This is Sleep With Me, the podcast that puts you to sleep. We do it with a bedtime story. All you need to do is get in bed, turn out the lights, and press Play. I’m gonna do the rest. What I’m going to attempt to do is create a safe place where you could set aside whatever’s keeping you awake.
It could be thoughts, something on your mind you’re thinking about, so thoughts, things you’re thinking…things you’re thinking about thoughts, thoughts that are trying to get your attention, it could be feelings related to those thoughts about the past, the present, the future, it could be physical sensations, changes in time, temperature, routine, travel, you could be going through something, you could be getting over something. Whatever it is that’s keeping you awake, I’m glad you’re here, and I’m here to help you fall asleep because…what I’m gonna do…or, wait, I got lost…what I was saying. Oh yeah, whatever’s keeping you awake, I’m here to take your mind off of it and keep you company so you could fall asleep. I’m here to be your bore-friend — I’ll talk about that more — your bore-sib, your bore-bae.
I’m a little bit off, I guess. I mean, at all times, but particularly right now. But I can't…this is just like sleep. I say, well, I can't quite put my finger on why…but it’s good that we all have the freedom to be a little bit off here at Sleep With Me. So, here’s a couple things right off the bat; you deserve a good night's sleep. That’s why I make the show. You deserve a bedtime where you can get the rest you need so your life is better, so your life is more manageable, and ideally you start getting the sleep you need on a regular basis and you could be out there flourishing. That means your world’s a better place to be in, and that is important to me and everyone else out there in the world. It means our world is a better place to be in if your world’s a better place to be in.
I’ll tell you what…this might sound trite, but it’s not; you living your life more fully is important to everyone, and it’s important. We need you out there or wherever you are. You might say, well, I’m in here right now, Scoots, in bed. Okay, yeah, I see that. I mean, I don't see it actually, but I understand. The other thing is…as important as it is that you get a good night's sleep, you deserve a good night's sleep; even if you loathe the podcast…that’s why I have sleepwithmepodcast.com/nothankyou set up. The other things that…the other thing that’s important is that you’re not alone in the deep, dark night. That’s what the show is really all about.
There’s a community behind the show and believe it or not, we’ve done polls and I’ve talked to people, and the majority of people would rather be a passive part of the community around this podcast. Some people just prefer to listen or they’re active in the sense they support the show directly, but they say, well, I don't know if I need to be a part of the active community around the show. I’ll just support the podcast, and that makes me feel really good, but I don't need to interact. Then there’s people that do interact around the show, and those are all fine because we’re all part of this community and a broader community of just people who have trouble getting to sleep or getting the sleep we need or maybe you’re just a temporary visitor.
You’re going through something, you’re dealing with something, and maybe this show could help. But the reason I kinda list earlier some of the stuff that might be keeping you awake — thoughts, feelings, physical sensations, work, going through stuff, going somewhere, having visitors, working a different shift, life events, as they call them — is so you don’t feel alone, so you know you’re not alone. Even if I can't relate to how it feels for you in the deep, dark night…but I mean, I might be able to relate to one or two of the feelings, but if…even if I can't or even if I’ve never been through something even close to what you’re going through, there is someone listening who’s gone through something pretty close or pretty similar, and they do understand how you feel.
They do relate to how you feel, and I could tell you right now some of those people are sitting up in bed before they nod off and nodding their heads and caring and sending comfort across the deep, dark night. That’s really what works about this show, is that’s just a fact. There’s other people out there, yeah, that you don’t know, but that have this warm place in their heart for you because their heart — or whatever…however you want to refer it or contextualize it — hurts for you because it’s hurt in the same way in the past…or feels for you. So, that’s important.
That’s a soft space that this show rests upon, but…and the reason it rests upon it is 'cause it’s a pretty goofy and silly show for the most part, but with…inside we have a marsh…I guess that’s like…if there was some…I guess there is something inside a marshmallow; a fluffy marshmallow center. It still has air in the middle, which is an essential ingredient for our existence, right? I know somebody’s…technically it’s not air. It’s CO45-HQ. Not H…not O2, which you’re talking about, or H2O. I say, okay, well, either way, though. So, what was my point there? I don't know. We’re alone together, is a part of Sleep With Me, and together alone. What I’ll do here is I’ll send my voice across the deep, dark night.
I’ll use lulling, soothing, creaky, dulcet tones, pointless meanders, and superfluous tangents, which means I’ll go off-topic, I’ll get mixed up, I’ll forget what I was talking about, then I’ll go back to what I was talking about, I’ll recycle…and I say, wait a second, what was I saying? I’ll just go off…pointless meanders and superfluous tangents; I’ll go on them and get lost in them and then repeat myself. The deep, dark night is something…the reason I send my voice across it is 'cause that’s how it feels to me. Not all the time, but some of the time. My voice is creaky, dulcet, which means not traditionally considered soothing. I’m more of a presence here. I’m really not…I’m here to keep you company, like your friend. I’m leaning in close to this microphone and trying to be here for you now in this moment to keep you company.
What else do you need to know? This is a podcast you just barely listen to, almost like background noise, like holding onto beach sand or like a picture just out of focus, but it’s a nice picture. I was thinking of Rothko. You say, I don't know, this looks like something but it’s not…just looking at it, it’s not bad, either. Not sure what it means, if it means anything or whatever. Well, it’s not bad. So, I think you know what I mean. We’ve all had that experience. Or, like I say, a rave two or three miles away that’s carrying on the night breeze, it’s my favorite kind of rave, a rave at a distance. I happen to live near where there’s outdoor concerts, but at a far enough distance that it’s not half-bad. I say, man, I’m not raving and I’m not…but I’m not raving about the rave, either.
I’m kind of like, oh, yeah, sounds…some nice, low-level thumping. So, there’s that. What was my point in there? Oh, a podcast you don’t really listen to. So, that’s one thing. This is also…believe it or not, when I started the show, it was just a idea of like, why isn’t there bedtime stories for grown-ups that are a little bit sillier and goofier? Not child…childish, but child-like — even though I say I’m kinda childish — to keep me company, not to put me to sleep or take me on a spectacular journey or where I learn anything, but just to be like a friend calling me on the phone, but also where I feel no pressure to fall asleep. That’s what this show’s about. There is no pressure to fall asleep.
There’s a specific reason the shows are over an hour, because I know if I was listening, if the show was forty-nine minutes or fifty-eight minutes…occasionally an episode might be fifty-eight minutes, but there’d just be something about that that would…one part of me would latch onto. Say, we gotta be asleep in fifty-eight minutes. Don't worry, the shows are over an hour. There’s 601 ad-supported, free shows ready to go for you, so plenty of material, 'cause there’s no pressure to fall asleep. There’s people who listen on a regular basis who can't sleep at all or who get…I’m here to keep them company. I’m here to the very end. There’s people who need a break during the day who listen. So, I’m here whether…that’s why I’m…I’m here whether you’re listening or not, 'cause that’s kinda my job. That’s what I love.
I’m here to make something that you could just barely listen to. But you could listen to it, but you don’t need to listen to it. Because it’s a podcast, if you felt like you did miss something, you could always listen back, but you probably won't. Or, I mean, if you spend any time in any communities around Sleep With Me, you might say, oh, I was trying to remember what…and I forgot it. So, it was like, I wanted to remember it, but then I didn’t remember, and that’s cool. That’s perfect. That means you’re a bore-friend. So, I’m just here to be your bore-friend, your bore-bae, your bore-sib, your bore-cuz, your bore-bestie, your neigh-bore, your bore-bor, your Borbie, your bores, your bore-bruh, your bore-BFF, your bore-bud, your friend in the deep, dark night who call…you call and talk to and keep you company.
Yeah, so that’s what I’m here to do, is keep you company so that you could fall asleep, to distract you from whatever’s keeping you awake, to give you something alternative to listen to. So, that’s the other things. What else do you need to know? When you first get here, as I said, most people don’t like the show…skeptical, maybe doubtful, maybe you’re just like, this isn't what I expected. I definitely expected more chiming and breathing and calmness. I’d say, yeah, this is a bit different vibe than that. This is your bud. So, just see how it goes. The structure of the show also throws people off. So, I’m gonna run through the structure which is just the way most people choose to listen, but there are a lot of different ways to adjust if you become a regular listener.
So, if you say, well, that doesn't quite work for me, that’s why there’s so many episodes and styles of episodes and then other ways to listen either through Sleep With Me+ or through our referral program. But the show starts off with a greeting, and that is for…in most versions of the show, though the story-only version doesn't have that, where I say, friends beyond the binary, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, and then I say something silly. That’s so you feel seen and welcomed in and you say, okay, I might be able to check that podcast out, or, oh, there’s my bore-bud again getting ready to go off topic and be silly. I’m glad I’m here and he’s glad I’m here. So, that’s what the start of the show is like. Then there’s sponsor support. That way, paying for the podcast is optional.
If you don’t want to listen to the sponsor support, you could join the referral program and get access for free…to ad-free and story-only episodes, or you can join Sleep With Me+. But for most people…actually, most people that benefit from a lot of podcasts, they love the sponsors. Some people support the show and miss the sponsors. But you’ll just see what your experience is. Then after the support is a long, meandering intro meant to ease you into bedtime. The intro is not part of the support. It’s not anything other than me not ever getting to the point of introducing the podcast, which is familiar but different every time. So, I follow the same structure of the intros. It has a loose structure, right, but it’s different every single time, and that again goes back to…why is the show over an hour?
Why is every intro about twelve to twenty-five minutes long but never efficient but follows the same basic structure? Why don’t you just say the same thing every time or something like that? It’s because, I don't know, variety really works, in my opinion, and having something that’s familiar but you never know which meander I’m gonna take…whatever part of you…if it’s like the parts of me that keep me awake, they’re good at predicting stuff. They’re good at pattern recognition. Whatever pattern I’m using to try to get some sleep, they’ll recognize it and interrupt it. So, just having something different every time where I acknowledge those parts of us, the brainbots or whatever you want to call them, and say, hey, you’re welcome here, too. I’m here for you just as much as I’m here for your human.
So, that’s what the intro…why it’s different every time. But the reason it’s about fifteen or twenty minutes long is because it’s part of most listeners’ bedtime routine, their wind-down. So, the intro is not designed to put you to sleep; it’s designed to ease you into bedtime, to be a buffer from the day while you’re getting ready for bed, while you’re in bed getting comfortable, or you’re doing some chill activity. Now, there’s a small percentage of people that fall asleep really fast, and we’re happy for them. There’s a small percentage of people that just start the show at twenty, twenty-five, thirty minutes. If that works for you, that works for you. Then there’s an equal amount of people who pay to either listen to just stories or just intros.
So, those kinda balance each other out, which is kinda funny, that there’s people who would rather just listen to intro after intro after intro and then there’s people who’d rather listen to just the stories without any intros or music or anything. But most people like this structure of the show. The intro eases you into bedtime and then the story…you fall asleep at some point during the story. So, that’s what the intro does. Then there’s support after the intro again so the show could be available to anybody that wants it, optional paying for it, and then a bedtime story. Tonight it’ll be looking at some of the episodes from the first season of The Guild. I rewatched it recently. I hadn’t watched it in a long time, and it was…so, we’ll talk about it more. If you know who Felicia Day is…maybe you’re a Felicia Day fan but you’ve never checked out The Guild, or maybe not.
But it’s just…it’s very similar in vibe to Sleep With Me; different 'cause it’s meant to be consumed during the day when you’re wide awake, paying attention, but about…a similar premise of a group of friends doing their best to come together, but nobody has to be perfect, right? We’re all doing the best we can. So, I don't think that’s a summary of The Guild, but…and Sleep With Me shares some of the qualities. So anyway, what was I…? Oh, that’ll be the bulk of the story tonight, and then there will be some thank-yous at the end. So, yeah, that’s everything. That’s why I make the show. That’s what to expect. I’m really glad you’re here. I work really hard. So do a team of people, because we all yearn and strive to help you fall asleep. So, thanks again for coming by, and here’s a couple ways we’re able to do it for you for free twice a week.
Alright everybody, this is Scoots. We’re talking about The Guild, and I’m gonna talk about…a little bit about why am I gonna talk about The Guild, then we’ll try to cover Season 1. I don't know if it’ll take one or two parts. Probably at this point I’ve already talked about it in other places, but why…? At this point, since the writers’ and actors’ strikes, we haven't really got back. We haven't really recorded any TV-recap episodes. The Great British Bake Off ones that came out we recorded before the strike. So, currently I’ve just kinda been bouncing around between really old stuff or stuff that comes up on the podcast repeatedly that’s at least older. This is just another thing that’s…it’s from a little while back. It’s kind of a history…relates to the history of the podcast.
We’ll see…at some point…there’s one more looming negotiation going on when I’m recording this, so I just don’t want to start investing a lot of time and energy in recapping a TV show and then having to set it aside and then look at…just 'cause…so, we’ll see. We’ll probably get back…I mean, the show’s still following the same rhythm, and much like the silent movie ones, it gives us a real chance to dive into stuff when we’re…to change it up, and that’s really what makes everything with Sleep With Me work, is going into a little of the journey of discovery. So, first, let’s talk about The Guild and what is The Guild if you’ve never heard of it. We’ll get into Wikipedia. They do have watchtheguild.com, but of course Wikipedia is our source for everything.
So, I’m gonna read from The Guild, then I’ll talk a little bit about how The Guild relates to Sleep With Me and kind of the journey towards Sleep With Me and making things before you make something and how we ended up where we are now, and then we’ll start looking at Season 1 of The Guild. Where do I start…when did I start Sleep With Me? 2013, right? Okay. So, okay, The Guild is a American comedy web series created and written by Felicia Day who stars as Cyd Sherman, AKA Codex. It premiered July 27, 2007 and ran until 2013, and it revolves around the lives of a gamer’s online guild, The Knights of Good, who play countless hours of a MMM…MMORPG video game referred to as ‘the game’.
The story focuses on Codex, the guild’s priestess, who attempts to lead a normal life after a warlock, Zaboo…Zaboo…Zaboo, right? Zaboo. Why do I want to say Zaboo? But Zaboo shows up. I don't want to get too much into the plot, though. Okay, the first seasons were uploaded to YouTube and the series website, then it entered a partnership with one company, and episodes of the second through the fifth season…wow, this is back in the day…Xbox Live, but also Zune. Then going back to The Guild website…now available on YouTube, iTunes. Day wanted to keep ownership of the show, so episodes moved to Day’s YouTube channel, Geek & Sundry. Also available…DVD and streaming on Apple TV. In 2013, after the end of the sixth season, Day confirmed that the web series is complete.
Since its release, The Guild’s gotten several accolades including Steamy…Streamy Awards, not Steamy Awards, and IWTV Awards. Okay, so, basically the history here is that The Guild was written and created by Felicia Day, a avid gamer, in-between acting roles…in several American TV shows and movies. After two years of gaming, Day decided to make something productive of her experiences and wrote a sitcom television pilot. The series was purposely kept generic to avoid any copyright things and appeal to a wider audience of MMORPG fans. But Day wanted to base it on her experience with a popular game, WoW. She was really into it and hoped to show that the stereotypical gamer living in his parents’ basement is not the only kind of gamer.
Then she found people to collaborate with who would become people behind-the-scenes and the other performers on the show, but the…and then the rest of the cast was filled through auditions. They filmed the first three episodes in two-and-a-half days and then they ran out of money. Then they did some crowd-funding, and the fourth and fifth episodes were solely…almost solely financed by people supporting them through their payment site. The show follows a specific format. Each episode…okay, Season 1 was 2007 to 2008. Season 2; 2008 to 2009. Season 3; 2009. Okay, this makes a lot of sense as far as my story goes. So…okay, so we’re gonna cover definitely Season 1, and we’ll go from there. So, why…what is a guild and how do The Guild and Sleep With Me have any relation?
So, I’ll try to do the shortest version as I can. But so…and maybe you haven't heard part of this story before, or all of it, but this is only gonna be a partial summary. But Sleep With Me was not the first thing I made, and I’ve always been a person that had these creative ideas and creative dreams. This is just my story. I didn’t quite have…I had other stuff going on which involved a lot of avoidance and escapism, but not escapism into creating…working on stuff, and I couldn't follow through. I didn’t have much ambition. A lot of that centered around my use of alcohol. So, I was someone who wanted to be…make…whatever, write stuff or make a show or whatever, but I didn’t have the ability to do that 'cause of my own decisions or inability to make decisions and stuff.
At some point that slightly changed and I said, okay, well, time is passing here, and maybe I do need to try and follow through on stuff. I still had issues with drinking and…but I did start to kinda follow through a little bit. I guess this was over…a couple-year process. So, this probably was around 2008, I’m guessing, if…that I…maybe even mid-2007, but probably 2008, 2009. So, whatever, I started…I took some writing classes at a community college mostly to meet people and to just make myself accountable. Then I started writing stuff with people from my class, outside of class, or going over other…our own stuff, and even playing with…like, hey, maybe we could make our own short film or film or web series or whatever with some other people.
Within the people I was writing with, The Guild became one point of — not for me — contention, but where I was like…I pointed to The Guild as this model of something that was doable and a scale…a achievable thing within the same scale but that really, to me, was incredibly well done. It had great characters, it had a plot, it was funny, it had…and it was clear that it had heart and soul. So, I was constantly bringing up The Guild. I also worked with someone…I don't know where…if she had told me about The Guild or I discovered it. She probably did, a coworker named Marta who played WoW. So, we’d talk about the game. I was like, I can't play that because I would become…I wouldn't be…I knew…I already had one thing going on that was…I didn’t need another thing where I was…I was already…whatever.
So…and none of that stuff ever…those were just things I did. So, that project never came to fruition, but it led me to make the podcast eventually. Also, the timing of my getting sober was unrelated…well, it was on the same timeline. That was in 2010, so this was like 2008, 2009, early 2010, 'cause late 2010 was when I started the podcast and then a little bit after that, I ended up getting sober. So, The Guild has always had this important part. ‘Cause I can even remember I went through The Guild’s first couple episodes and I wrote down a shot list of every shot from the first episode and probably the second episode, and I showed it in a pitch. I was like, hey, look at this. This is the shot…like, this is what…and it was constantly an eye-rolling for the other people, 'cause I was like, this is what they did on The Guild.
‘Cause when you think about making a web series, everybody has a different degree of…you know. The Guild was probably something for us to strive for, like out of our reach anyway, which is okay. It’s not like it was the first thing Felicia Day was a part of either, right? It was a culmination of everything she had done and all her collaborators had done up until that point. But, whatever. So, I was constantly like, here’s the shot list of The Guild, the first episode. I wrote down every shot that they probably took and when they…what shots they cut together. I don't even have any knowledge of any…so, I don't know, The Guild somehow led me to make Sleep With Me and just was one of those things. The other things at the time was this pre-pilot shot for Always Sunny in Philadelphia that’s out there, too.
I was like, that’s…these are things… and then Scriptnotes podcast, because on Scriptnotes podcast, particularly at this time, John and Craig were like, hey, if you’re trying to make it, make something. That’s the short version of it. Like, if you’re trying to break into screenwriting, also be doing something else or be writing a ton of scripts. But you might also have a easier path to breaking into either TV-writing or movie-writing if you’re making something else and that gathers attention. Then, I think even one time John was talking about…and I’ve talked about this in the show but it’s been a while, of like, how…So Good They Can’t Ignore You? I think that’s the book by Cal Newport. Just the idea of that, of like, hey, just get really good at something and put it out in the world and go from there.
Okay, so, I hope that all makes sense. So, let me get The Guild fired up here. Okay, so, we’re gonna start with Episode 1, Wake-Up Call. Again, this is…I’m gonna actually…I’ll probably play the episodes on less than 1x speed. The first episode is just under four minutes on YouTube on The Guild’s official channel. It opens with Codex talking to the camera. Friday night, no…I don't got a job. We also see some details. I’m trying to pause it but without it going…we see Codex’s room a lot of times, which is relatable for me. But yeah, I haven't been out of the house in a bit. No longer working with my therapist. There’s a gnome warlock in my living room sleeping on my couch.
So, again, a tease, and then I think I’ve talked about this in other places; a very distinct — to me, at least — theme song that now always makes me think of The Guild. They cut to the opening which is a animated sequence of everyone in The Guild, of each character, and it says, The Guild. Then we get…I guess it’s a flashback. So, so far we’ve seen a guitar and then a…not a…what’s that called? A violin. But Codex is on the phone with her therapist, saying, wait a second, you’re ending…you’re letting me go as a client? You can't do that. Again, another shot…it’s over the monitor…and talking about the game. Time limit; one hour…two, three, four, five hours. I’m immersed in an imaginary social environment. It’s not imaginary.
Then the game is going on, so there’s…she’s on a game…okay, so let me explain this part, 'cause…so, these…so, basically…how do I explain this? If you’ve never played one of these games before, which I had never done…like, I had talked to a coworker that played them. I don't know if I could have done this because I’m not…I guess…and I’ve never done it since, though I should, and I did pitch it once or twice, not for this game. But so, these are these massive world…open-world games, roleplaying games, and…but you’re playing with other real people at their computers in their homes. You can do this with consoles, too, but the roleplaying games are a little bit more involved and in-depth. I think you can play it as an individual, too, but you don’t really have as much success.
The idea is…so, it’s…most of the time it’s cooperative, right? You have a guild or a party just like if you were playing an in-person RPG. But one of the main advantages of doing it on a computer is the DM in the world — at least, this is my understanding — is the DM. So, you don’t have to have a DM, either. Then you could be going against the computer or other people. So, right now they’re in the middle of a action sequence in the game. Codex is their healer, but she’s distracted 'cause she’s on the phone with her therapist. She’s like, yeah, these are real people. Have you ever met them face-to-face, the therapist…? No…yeah, no. I can hear them. Oh, so you can't see their faces. The therapist is saying, you need real people. She’s like, come on, I’m in the middle of a game. Can't you call me back or whatever?
Then success, and then we see…Vork is the second person we see. He’s in a work-from-home environment, I think, or play-a-game-from-home environment in a…I guess what seems like a kitchen, though he may live…he has a mini-fridge, a microwave, and toaster. Then we see Tinkerballa and she’s in her childhood bedroom, it seems like, 'cause…and she has a stuffed animal behind her. She’s frustrated and she’s kinda really giving Codex a hard time. She uses spicy language. Then Vork says, Guild Rule #4; no finger-pointing. Then we have Bladezz who’s a high-school…seems like, I don't know, a high-school male with an attitude. He breaks Guild Rule #12 which Vork says is…oh, he doesn't say. Then they’re kinda say…oh, you’re the daddy figure. Then Cyd, Codex, says, do we play this game too much?
Everybody has their own thoughts. Bladezz’s in some sort of super-advanced gaming chair. Then we finally meet Clara, who has a baby. What is AFKing? AFKing must be like I’ll be back soon, or something. But so, she’s watching her kids, kind of. She doesn't have a nanny. So, again, this is all played for comedy. Remember, this is a comedy. We see she has three kids. Then, where’s Zaboo? We’re gonna dock him attendance points, Vork says. He grabs some toast. But Zaboo never misses a thing. He never misses anything. Does anybody know where he is? So, the cool thing about this…so, we’re, what, two minutes and twenty-six seconds…other than…so, we have a tease from the beginning. So, this is really good storytelling, too. It’s incredibly efficient.
So, we know Codex plays the game a lot, broke up with her therapist, doesn't leave her house. Somebody’s sleeping on her couch. Then we get a visual representation and we get to meet every character except for Zaboo. Why can't I…? Zaboo…and see them and really get a sense of like…a general sense, and in some sense, broad strokes of who they are. We get Vork, a father figure. Definitely something different about him. He’s also dressed up. Clara, this mom that’s not super…her intention to detail; not great. Tinkerballa, who is kind of…has a attitude, and Bladezz, who’s kind of a little bit of a J to the E to the R to the K. Then they say, wait a second, Zaboo hasn’t logged on in thirty-nine hours. Where could he be? We get a series of shots. What the heck? How long is that, like two days? Okay. Oh, boy.
Again, we get a couple more…a lot of dialogue that helps us get to know the characters better, and then we…Codex has to hop off. She goes to answer her door and someone says, hey, Cyd Sherman? I got something for you. Now, remember…so, this is…again, we’ve…there’s someone at the door with flowers. I spray-painted them myself. They’re beautiful. Thank you. So, I did it. It’s a awkward moment. He says, you have a nice forehead. Do I know you? Of course you do. Of course we know each other. Remember? We dealt with that wyvern last week? You resurrected me. Then it dawns on her; Gardens of Bleaklands? She says, wait a second. She lowers…Zaboo? Yep, that’s right. That’s me. I’m at your doorstep. I’ve doorstepped you. He also has a bunch of stuff with him.
I feel like I haven't logged on in twenty-one hours. Doorstepped? That episode comes to a close. Then we get to the next episode. Of course it’s in Spanish, the closed-captions, for me. Okay, so, Episode 2 is called Zaboo’d, Z-A-B-O-O’D. Again, we start with the same format which is Codex talking to the camera. Okay, yeah, I’ve been…I’ve gotten to know Zaboo online, like a coworker, though, that you see five, six, seven, eight, nine hours a day. Then she’s like, wait a second, does he think we’re kind of more than friends? Well, he is delusional. Then we go to the thing…so, it’s almost a little bit of premise set-up for the episode, too. Okay, then we have the title sequence with the music, which, again, you’ll probably love it if you haven't gotten used to it. Then we cut to her apartment, and Zaboo is walking around.
Yeah, totally found your place. He’s got a very old-fashioned suitcase and his laptop. She’s still holding the flowers from last episode. He’s like, yeah, no, I feel like I know so much about you. Pretty cool, huh? She goes, yeah, no. We see CDs behind her. He’s like, yeah, I had to take a Greyhound for…bladdered. She’s…has her arms crossed. She’s like, so we’ve never met before, huh? Huh. This is my house. Why are you here, again? He closes his laptop and he says, Codex, you seem sad lately. I came here to the physical realm to help you. But he has…he kinda has the wrong sense of their friendship. She goes, yeah, no, no, we’re just…we’re online anonymous friends, like that. He says, well, let me tell you how I interpret this chat. 5:38 a.m…are you farming? Where are you? Okay. Can I help you farm? I need some gold.
I’ll give you gold. It’s pretty sweet of me. Well, no, no, don’t give me any gold. Winking smile. She’s like, dude, that was a keyboard error. It was supposed to be a colon, a nice, impersonal colon. He says…she goes, I didn’t hit Shift for the semi-colon. He goes, well, maybe it was a Freudian slip. Our keyboard chemistry is undeniable. A lot of this is stuff that’s pretty dated. What is it? 2006, so twenty…I don't know. What is this, 2017? Sixteen years old. But I think he has to use the restroom. She goes, yeah, it’s down the hall to the left. It’s interesting, too, seeing…they’re really just kids. I don't know, what, are they in their early twenties? So, then we’re back at Codex’s room. We see kind of that it’s…a lot of laundry on the bed. She’s back to the group…hey, I found Zaboo. Yay. That’s the end of that episode.
Okay, then we go to Episode 3, The Macro Problem. I can't remember. The Macro Problem? Interesting. Okay, so we start at the same thing. Okay, well, I don't…just don’t cope well with anything. I mean, there’s always a lot of stuff going on in the game, but at the end of the night you can just log off the game. But you can't…IRL, you can't really…she’s like, I’m just trying to deal with stuff, you know? It’s very relatable, I guess. I mean, at least to someone like me. Okay, then we have the opening sequence again and we see all the characters. We zoom out. The Guild. Okay, then we go back to the room. Codex is saying, hey everybody. It’s still the same day. I found Zaboo. Yay. Clara says, okay, where is he? In my bathroom, I think sitting down. Oh, dear. What, is he visiting you?
Tinkerballa gives her a hard time, then Zaboo comes in the room. Hey, I’m at Codex’s. We’re gonna network our computers together. Networked. How romantic. Good to have you here, Zaboo, but something just happened in the guild. Bladezz, tell them what happened. Yeah, it’s like a LOL situation. We got a twenty-four-hour ban. What do you mean you got a ban, Blaze? Blaze is a troll. He made a macro, a offensive macro. So, this is, again, trying to go back and forth between the different generations, too. Vork’s like, our guild had a untarnished reputation, The Knights of Good, related to all things not good, not trolling. As founding member, how are you gonna rectify this, Bladezz? Bladezz doesn't answer. He logged off, probably. Let’s get back to work. Guild business is sidetracked. Vork’s like, this is serious.
Then we see Zaboo has a Photoshop picture of him and Codex. Then Codex hops on; hey, what if we…can we meet in-person about this to talk about it? So, again, a call-back to the first episode. Everyone’s like, what? In-person in the real world? Vork thinks about it, says ‘in-person’ twice. Zaboo’s here, and I’m not sure what to do, anyway. We’re a local guild, so why haven't we met already? Vork is cooking a BL…making a BLT on a plug-in skillet. We could all use some time away from the keyboard. Clara, when’s the last time you went out with anybody other than your kids? Yeah, let’s do brunch. I love pancakes. Then I say, okay, yeah, we gotta come up with a plan to deal with Bladezz, anyway. Also, I don't want to, Vork says. Codex knows him, so she goes, why don’t you draft an agenda? That would be helpful.
Tink? No way. She goes, I don't…I prefer to know you anonymously. Codex says, I’ll pay you fifteen in-game gold. She says, we need to meet tomorrow, though. Forming a socially-approved support system…Vork says, somewhere with a low price point. I didn’t budget for social activities. Alright, the guild’s gonna meet. Zaboo appears with a wizard hat on and talks about his dexterity and prefixes. He spends a lot of time trying to…he’s a really good character. That episode comes to a close, and next up…it was delicate after that with Zaboo and his joking around. This episode’s five minutes long. He didn’t have a shirt on, but I had to tell him the parameters; no shirt, no shoes, no service. Or maybe I reacted in a different way. I don't know. Okay, it’s time for us to go to the meeting and then Zaboo can head home, wherever that is.
Hopefully we can do this without too much stress. Then she stares at the camera, a really great pause. Then we have the opening sequence and we see all the characters…scroll by them, zoom out…the music’s playing in the background. The Guild. Then we see Code…a green Honda Civic, so…I mean, even that’s a great detail even if it was one of their cars. They’re parking somewhere. It seems like LA. Zaboo’s talking about something. She says, I like to get everywhere a half-hour early. He goes, why? Then we see Codex, Clara…Clara. Oh, hi. Big hugs. They all hug Zaboo. She says, do you recognize my voice? She says, no, no, no. Zaboo…this is before…this was when there was just flip-phones. I like…he puts on lip balm. Nice use of lip balm. They head towards a restaurant. Bladezz isn't coming. Vork didn’t want to invite him.
We gotta firewall our priorities. Zaboo runs down the street, saying, Zaboo! Then they go to the restaurant. Cheese…cheese something. Cheesy Beards. You ready to be seated? Cheesy Beards…to err is to human…something else. We’re just meeting people first. There’s a Specials board. Vork’s sitting there, already seated. Tinkerballa is playing a Nintendo DS and ignoring them. I haven't decided if I’m gonna hang out with you guys or not yet, so don’t talk to me yet. Where’s Vork? Well, he…what’s his character’s name? He’s a dancer, so…metalworking skills in real-life, Zaboo. I don't know what he does in real life. He’s like, I just had to disagree with you, Codex. That’s good. That’s good for our relationship. Say, what about that guy over there? I never thought Vork would be in a suit. He’s so confident on the mic.
He doesn't look super confident at this moment. Alright, so we get the entry into the thing, a little more character interaction…Vork is talking into a tape recorder about the game, I think. Do you think that’s really him? Yeah, it is. Oh, Tink, Tinkerballa, Vork, Codex, Cyd…that’s not short for anything. Greetings, guildies. I’m Herman, but you can call me Vork. I’ll respond to it better. She’s like, okay. You look different than I expected, too. This is Zaboo…more introductions, basically. Clara’s avatar and her real name are the same. Tried an alias, but it was Mamanatrix and my kids started saying it, so I had to change it. Tinkerballa says, that’s my real name, too. They go, really? Okay, well, I have the agendas. I mean, it’s great that we spend six hours a day together and we finally meet, faces to voices.
This is only with podcasting, too, where it’s like, wait a second, you’re a human? That’s what you look like? So, okay, there’s a lot of good, awkward moments. They don’t know how to talk to each other. So, then they start talking about the game again, like epic items, and that episode comes to a close. Then we’re at Episode 5, I’d Rather Be Dancing. The guild helped me talk to Zaboo and say we’re just friends, so pack up your stuff and go. But then she’s only talking to the camera. She’s not being honest. ‘Cause then he comes in and he’s like, I’m making dinner, with oven mitts. She says, okay, bye. She goes, yeah, I was lying to my webcam for my diary. That was a real highlight of the acting, I think. Okay, so then we see the opening. It says The Guild. Then we’re back at the restaurant.
Everyone’s ordering, talking about their backstories — they’re now in booths — and their jobs, which may or not be true. Tinkerballa kinda talks about a job which sounds a little bit like the plot to a TV show that was on at the time. Oh, what a coincidence, Vork. Oh, well, my character’s metal. What about you? She goes, I’m a violinist. I was a child progidy. Progidy? Now I’m not. No, but really, what do you do in real life? He goes, uh, right now, not much. This is my grandfather’s suit. I live in my grandfather’s house, and maybe I still live on his income. Vork kinda…just again, Zaboo and I…so, anyway, they go back and forth. Alright, this is fun. We’re gonna…this is our friendship. Now, okay…and then Codex says, Zaboo, could you go get my sweater from my car? He goes, oh, a quest. Okay, I’ll do it.
Then she makes this big, fake smile and she says, by the way, he just showed up at my place. They said, well, I thought you two liked each other. It seemed like that way online. The other…everyone else thinks that. She’s like, it’s just a semi-colon. Can you help to explain to me…? Then we just see…there’s just great comedy. You gotta watch it to see some of the comedy and the writing about saving money. 12 into 295…a deli deluxe slice is 24.5 cents. Bringing your cheese saves 75.5 cents. You could pay me accordingly. They’re just joking. Cheese…forget the cheese. Cut the cheese, cut the cheese out. They’re laughing. Okay, listen, how do I get Zaboo to understand? He’s already back. Your cloak, My Lady. Plus fifteen to frost. Thought of that joke on the way over. Okay, then Vork’s like, this is enough socialization.
I’ve got a collated agenda. Bladezz is a founding member but his attendance and attitude, less than stellar. What are we gonna do? Well, he doesn't behave. Clara’s right in theory. Then Bladezz shows up, and Zaboo knows him. Bladezz is trying to be smooth but he comes across as not cool. Says, yeah, I saw the…Cheesy Beard’s meeting to discuss Bladezz. I saw the post. Are you gonna kick me out of the thing? Okay, after all the hours I put in? It wasn’t just about you. It was about getting to know each other. He goes, oh, so you left me out. They say, we got your back, Bladezz. He goes, well, the entire guild bank is transferred to my character, so I have all the guild gold, the guild equipment. See you later. Then we find out Bladezz’ younger sibling is like, get moving. Dad’s waiting for you in the car.
Are these your internet friends? He says to her, you ruined my exit, Deena. So, maybe he’s even middle-school age. I don't even know. Like, why did you transfer the guild bank to Bladezz, Vork? That was a great move. Now we’re really in trouble. He goes, in Management 2.0, you trust all your widgets. He says, clear blue ocean, clear blue ocean, which I guess is one of his things. I tried to strengthen the weakest chain to strengthen us as a whole. So, Bladezz has everything; the gold, the loot, six months of material. I can't believe this. Why did you let him drive the bus? Talking…we get a little more stuff about the characters, and that episode ends. So, I guess what I’ll do is we’ll cover Episode 6 and then we’ll go from 7, 8, 9, and 10, and then I don't know if we’ll start…in the next episode maybe go into Season 2.
Okay, so this one…again, we have Codex, a man, Zaboo…maybe I should check my spam folder and just e-mail somebody that spams me. Can you help me with the warlock on my couch? Then we have the opening sequence, see all the characters that now we’ve gotten to know better. By this time you’re definitely looking forward to hearing the music. Then Codex and Zaboo come in. I can't believe this with Blaze. But Tink and Bladezz are closer. Maybe she could talk to him. Again, there’s still miscommunication on their friendship. She goes, you know what? You gotta get…you gotta leave. He goes, how are we gonna form a codependency together? She goes, look, I was…I just broke up with somebody, so…and he goes, oh, that cello guy, right? You cello’d him. She goes, I don't want to talk about it.
She goes, that was the first chair…oboeist, Gunther, and oboe’d…I don't know, maybe a video game…maybe this is all because of video games; been playing too many video games. Then they actually hug, 'cause she’s…for a second, like, man…and she says, okay, you gotta go back to wherever you live. This is my place. He goes, okay, done. He goes, I’ll go pack my stuff. They get it. He’s a little down. She goes, yeah, yeah…I mean, I still like you as a friend, but…his suitcase is a little different. He goes, okay, sorry about that. I’ll take my picture, I’ll take my suitcase, and I’m gonna hit the road. Then they go…they’re back working as a thing, talking about keeping the loot. Is that how you run the guild now? Hey…Codex is like, hey, come on, everybody’s arguing. Okay, we need you and Zaboo.
Well, Zaboo can't log on right now. Okay, we gotta make things happen faster. We gotta get Bladezz back, too, and we gotta open up negotiations for the guild bank. So, I don't leave the house. But so, Zaboo’s upset and…no nanny for Clara. Somebody’s IM-ing me. That used to be a thing, group chat. Come on, too many gnomes. But I’m a gnome. I don't see a note. Her kids are playing with the notes. So, yeah, we’re going back and forth, learning more. Belle and Gabby are two of the kids. Ham and Crayons…and no one cares about…so, there’s a lot of back and forth. I gotta get a nanny. So, that’s Clara’s need right now. Tink’s like, here, why don’t you just hire somebody? Vork says, the nannies are between $8 and $12 an hour. I could be a nanny for a comparable price. Then Tink’s competitive, so she goes, I’ll do it.
Codex is like, you’re not very maternal. They say, well, we gotta figure out Bladezz. Vork’s like, I need that money. I spent all that money…Cheesy Beard’s 1087. I know that number well. Well, Vork…and Tink says, yeah, but I’m…come on. So, then Codex goes. There’s a knock at the door and then there’s a woman at the door. She says, where’s my son? I know he’s in here. I tracked his GPS. I thought he took the bus. Then Zaboo goes, mom? What are you doing here? Codex and I are in love. The mom has a very serious look on her face, and the episode comes to a close. So, we will get back to Season 1 of The Guild soon. Goodnight, everybody.
[END OF RECORDING]
(Transcription performed by LeahTranscribes)
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Retelling / Crossover
Rothko
https://www.1st-art-gallery.com/article/mark-rothko-crafting-an-emotional-odyssey/
https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-mark-rothko-unlocked-emotional-power-color
The Guild
https://decider.com/2016/02/18/how-the-guild-revolutionized-web-series/
https://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/dec/22/digitalmedia-television
https://fortune.com/2015/10/12/felicia-day-career-digital-media/
Felicia Day
https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/felicia-day-third-eye-podcast
https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/felicia-day-geeking-out-lit-rpg
MMORPG
https://www.pcgamer.com/a-brief-history-of-mmo-games/
https://www.mmogames.com/articles/specials/mmorpg-history
https://www.cgmagonline.com/articles/features/a-brief-history-of-the-mmo/
DOWN TO BUSINESS
Before there was Swifites, there was Guildies
When did fandoms start getting cutesy names?
Gildies for Gilda Radner
Genies for Gene Wilder
Priories for Richard Pryor
Deep Dark Night United
n/a
PLUGS
Orlando Park Stop Fundraiser; Sleep With Me Plus; SleepPhones; Rusty Biscuit Links; Emily Tat Artwork; NAPAWF; Anti-Racism Resources; Ukraine Relief; Crisis Textline
SPONSORS
Claritin; Dusker; Helix Sleep; Odoo; Air Doctor Pro; AquaTru; Zocdoc; Progressive
INTRO
Thoughts that are trying to get your attention
We all have the freedom to be a little bit off here
We need you out there, for real
The majority of people would prefer to be a passive member of the community
And others interact, and that’s also great
We’re all part of this broader community
Other people out there can relate to you
The Soft Space This Show Rests Upon
I guess there’s still air in the middle of a marshmallow
Don’t at me with what’s actually in the middle of a marshmallow
I aspire for the podcast to be like a Rothko
A rave at a distance is my favorite kind of rave
Nice Low-Level Thumping (NLLT)
The structure is familiar but different every time
Variety really works in my opinion
Easing You Into Bedtime
Maybe you do or don’t know Felicia Day
STORY
Let’s talk about The Guild and why I’m talking about The Guild
This is derived from the strikes last year
There’s one more looming negotiation, so I don’t want to get too involved in a TV show yet
So what is The Guild?
A webseries written by and starring Felicia Day
A team playing a MMORPG
This jumped all over platforms
Man, this was on XBOX Live
Day wanted to maintain creative control
It got Streamy Awards, not Steamy Awards
She wrote a Sitcom pilot after getting into games
It stayed generic, but she based it on WoW
They had to crowdfund after 2 episodes
Started in 2007 – 2013
We’ll definitely cover season 1
What’s the connection between The Guild and SWM?
I always had creative dreams
But for a variety of reasons I didn’t have the ability to really make decisions
Around 2008, I wanted to try to start changing my life
I took some writing classes at a community college
I wrote stuff with classmates
I pointed to The Guild as an achievable goal / model
My coworker Marta told me about The Guild
I knew I couldn’t play WoW or else I’d go down a rabbit hole
This eventually led me to starting the podcast
I broke down all the shots for The Guild as a guide
Lots of eye rolls from my collaborators
The pre-pilot for Always Sunny was also an inspiration
As was Scriptnotes
So Good They Can’t Ignore You
Ep 1: Wakeup Call
I might do this one in at sub 1x speed
Codex’s Room is relatable to me
A very distinct theme song
Is that a violin?
Her therapist is letting her go
I’m immersed in an imaginary social environment
She’s on The Game
I had no MMORPG experience before
You’re playing with real people in real time
The best experience is cooperative
The world is the DM
Codex is the healer in The Guild
She’s distracted because of her therapist
Vork is in a Work From Home environment
Tinkerballa is in her childhood bedroom
Guild Rule #4: No Finger Pointing
Do we play this game too much?
Blade is like a classic high school guy
Blade has a really intense gaming chair
Clara has a baby and no nanny
Where’s Zabu?
Remember, this is a comedy
Incredibly Efficient Storytelling
Vork is a father figure
Zabu hasn’t logged on in 39 hours
Someone is there with flowers
It’s Zabu!
I’ve doorstepped you!
Ep 2: Zaboo-ed
Starts again with a Codex premise setup
Zaboo has an old-fashioned suitcase, inspecting her apartment
He took a Greyhound
Codex isn’t happy about this
Codex has seemed sad lately
Zaboo came in person to help her
A wrong sense of friendship
Interpreting some in-game chats
That winky smile was a typo!
A Nice Formal Colon
Undeniable Keyboard Chemistry
A lot of this stuff is pretty dated by this point
They’re really just kids here
Ep 3: The Macro Problem
Codex doesn’t cope well
You can’t log off IRL
It’s very relatable to me
She tells the Guild about Zaboo
Networked
Blaze is a troll
They got a 24 hour ban
Trolling is not good for the Knights of Good
Blaze logs off
Zaboo has a photoshopped picture of him and Codex
Can we meet in person to discuss all this?
The Guild is reluctant to meet
Vork didn’t budget for social activities
Ep 5
Zaboo likes to joke around
Of course Coda has a Green Honda Civic
I think they’re in LA
They just have flip phones at this point
Vork didn’t want to invite Blaze
Cheesy Beards, the restaurant
Which person is Vork?
More introductions IRL
Ep 6
A great highlight of acting with Codex lying about dealing with Zaboo
Talking about backstories in the restaurant
Tinkerballa’s job kind of sounds like the plot of a contemporaneous TV show
Vork doesn’t do much right now
He lives with his grandfather
Codex explains the Zaboo situation
Zaboo loves bringing Game language IRL
How can Codex get Zaboo to understand
Vork brings up the Blaze issue
Blaze shows up
Blaze is trying to be smooth but comes across as not cool
Blaze’s younger sister comes in to tell him Dad is waiting in the car
Blade has everything in his personal hold
Ep 6 again?
I can’t believe this Blaze situation
Tink and Blaze are close
More miscommunication on their friendship
Codex just broke up with someone
An actual moment of bonding
Zaboo has to go, a little down
The Guild discusses what to do with Blaze
Zaboo isn’t logging on because he’s upset
Clara’s kids are causing havoc
Vork could be a nanny for Clara
Tink and Vork fight over being nannies
Vork really needs that guild money
Zaboo’s mom shows up at Codex’s door!
Zaboo says he and Codex are in love!
What a cliffhanger!
SWM+ THANKS
Sam, Alison, John, Robert, Andrea, Laura, Christy, Emily, Audrey, Adam, Erin, Christina, Allison, Jenny, Luce, Rebecca, Daphne, Cameron, Jake, Tamara, Simon, James, Jonathan, Mary, Monica, Daniel, Amanda, Krista, Paul, Erica
SUMMARY:
Episode: 1272
Title: The Guild Part 1
Deep Dark Night United: n/a
Plugs: Orlando Park Stop Fundraiser; Sleep With Me Plus; SleepPhones; Rusty Biscuit Links; Emily Tat Artwork; NAPAWF; Anti-Racism Resources; Ukraine Relief; Crisis Textline
Sponsors: Claritin; Dusker; Helix Sleep; Odoo; Air Doctor Pro; AquaTru; Zocdoc; Progressive
SWM+ Thanks: Sam, Alison, John, Robert, Andrea, Laura, Christy, Emily, Audrey, Adam, Erin, Christina, Allison, Jenny, Luce, Rebecca, Daphne, Cameron, Jake, Tamara, Simon, James, Jonathan, Mary, Monica, Daniel, Amanda, Krista, Paul, Erica
Notable Language:
- Gildies
- The Soft Space This Show Rests Upon
- Nice Low-Level Thumping (NLLT)
- MMORPG
- J-E-R-K
- Doorstepped
- A Nice Formal Colon
- Undeniable Keyboard Chemistry
- Networked
- Greetings, Guildies
Notable Culture:
- The Guild
-
- Taylor Swift
- Gilda Radner
- Richard Pryor
- Gene Wilder
- Mark Rothko
- Felicia Day
- SAG-AFTRA/WGA Strikes
- Wikipedia
- World of Warcraft
- It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia
- Scriptnotes
- Nintendo DS
- AOL Instant Messenger
Notable Talking Points:
- Thoughts that are trying to get your attention
- We all have the freedom to be a little bit off here
- We need you out there, for real
- The majority of people would prefer to be a passive member of the community
- And others interact, and that’s also great
- We’re all part of this broader community
- Other people out there can relate to you
- The Soft Space This Show Rests Upon
- I guess there’s still air in the middle of a marshmallow
- Don’t at me with what’s actually in the middle of a marshmallow
- I aspire for the podcast to be like a Rothko
- A rave at a distance is my favorite kind of rave
- Nice Low-Level Thumping (NLLT)
- The structure is familiar but different every time
- Variety really works in my opinion
- Easing You Into Bedtime
- Maybe you do or don’t know Felicia Day
- Let’s talk about The Guild and why I’m talking about The Guild
- This is derived from the strikes last year
- There’s one more looming negotiation, so I don’t want to get too involved in a TV show yet
- So what is The Guild?
- A webseries written by and starring Felicia Day
- A team playing a MMORPG
- This jumped all over platforms
- Man, this was on XBOX Live
- Day wanted to maintain creative control
- It got Streamy Awards, not Steamy Awards
- She wrote a Sitcom pilot after getting into games
- It stayed generic, but she based it on WoW
- They had to crowdfund after 2 episodes
- Started in 2007 – 2013
- We’ll definitely cover season 1
- What’s the connection between The Guild and SWM?
- I always had creative dreams
- But for a variety of reasons I didn’t have the ability to really make decisions
- Around 2008, I wanted to try to start changing my life
- I took some writing classes at a community college
- I wrote stuff with classmates
- I pointed to The Guild as an achievable goal / model
- My coworker Marta told me about The Guild
- I knew I couldn’t play WoW or else I’d go down a rabbit hole
- This eventually led me to starting the podcast
- I broke down all the shots for The Guild as a guide
- Lots of eye rolls from my collaborators
- The pre-pilot for Always Sunny was also an inspiration
- As was Scriptnotes
- So Good They Can’t Ignore You
- Ep 1: Wakeup Call
- I might do this one in at sub 1x speed
- Codex’s Room is relatable to me
- A very distinct theme song
- Is that a violin?
- Her therapist is letting her go
- I’m immersed in an imaginary social environment
- She’s on The Game
- I had no MMORPG experience before
- You’re playing with real people in real time
- The best experience is cooperative
- The world is the DM
- Codex is the healer in The Guild
- She’s distracted because of her therapist
- Vork is in a Work From Home environment
- Tinkerballa is in her childhood bedroom
- Guild Rule #4: No Finger Pointing
- Do we play this game too much?
- Blade is like a classic high school guy
- Blade has a really intense gaming chair
- Clara has a baby and no nanny
- Where’s Zabu?
- Remember, this is a comedy
- Incredibly Efficient Storytelling
- Vork is a father figure
- Zabu hasn’t logged on in 39 hours
- Someone is there with flowers
- It’s Zabu!
- I’ve doorstepped you!
- Ep 2: Zaboo-ed
- Starts again with a Codex premise setup
- Zaboo has an old-fashioned suitcase, inspecting her apartment
- He took a Greyhound
- Codex isn’t happy about this
- Codex has seemed sad lately
- Zaboo came in person to help her
- A wrong sense of friendship
- Interpreting some in-game chats
- That winky smile was a typo!
- A Nice Formal Colon
- Undeniable Keyboard Chemistry
- A lot of this stuff is pretty dated by this point
- They’re really just kids here
- Ep 3: The Macro Problem
- Codex doesn’t cope well
- You can’t log off IRL
- It’s very relatable to me
- She tells the Guild about Zaboo
- Networked
- Blaze is a troll
- They got a 24 hour ban
- Trolling is not good for the Knights of Good
- Blaze logs off
- Zaboo has a photoshopped picture of him and Codex
- Can we meet in person to discuss all this?
- The Guild is reluctant to meet
- Vork didn’t budget for social activities
- Ep 5
- Zaboo likes to joke around
- Of course Coda has a Green Honda Civic
- I think they’re in LA
- They just have flip phones at this point
- Vork didn’t want to invite Blaze
- Cheesy Beards, the restaurant
- Which person is Vork?
- More introductions IRL
- Ep 6
- A great highlight of acting with Codex lying about dealing with Zaboo
- Talking about backstories in the restaurant
- Tinkerballa’s job kind of sounds like the plot of a contemporaneous TV show
- Vork doesn’t do much right now
- He lives with his grandfather
- Codex explains the Zaboo situation
- Zaboo loves bringing Game language IRL
- How can Codex get Zaboo to understand
- Vork brings up the Blaze issue
- Blaze shows up
- Blaze is trying to be smooth but comes across as not cool
- Blaze’s younger sister comes in to tell him Dad is waiting in the car
- Blade has everything in his personal hold
- Ep 6 again?
- I can’t believe this Blaze situation
- Tink and Blaze are close
- More miscommunication on their friendship
- Codex just broke up with someone
- An actual moment of bonding
- Zaboo has to go, a little down
- The Guild discusses what to do with Blaze
- Zaboo isn’t logging on because he’s upset
- Clara’s kids are causing havoc
- Vork could be a nanny for Clara
- Tink and Vork fight over being nannies
- Vork really needs that guild money
- Zaboo’s mom shows up at Codex’s door!
- Zaboo says he and Codex are in love!
- What a cliffhanger!
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