Q&A With Matt Wayne

painlee wrote:is there a reason why Milleus and Attea have 5 fingers wile Bullfrag and the regular incursion soldier have 3 fingers?

Ursalink wrote:Hello once again, Mr Wayne.

First of all, I want to congratulate you and the rest of the team for "The Frogs of War". Once I saw them completely, my mind blew up in "awesomeness". You made an excellent work with these two episodes!! But, if you don't mind, there are some things I want to ask you about some elements of the episodes that called my attention.

1º) The Way Bads. I have to say, I didn't see these coming. They were sent to the Null Void, but I'm sure they will return; possibly under command of another villain. (I'm sure Vilgax would love to have these monsters for an army). Since they are "feral", they even made think they could be the perfect "predators" of the Tokustars. Anyway, the female one particularly called my attention. Any chance we will see a "non-mutant" female Tokustar in the future? (I'm starting to think it could even be another alien girlfriend for Ben; this time, as Way Big).

2º) It called very much attention the "cartoonish" faces of the characters at some points of the story. For example, Kevin's "disgusting face" after Ben flirted with Attea, or the team's surprised faces after Attea revealed it was all part of her plan. This is something we have never seen before in a Ben 10's series, and it reminded me a lot the old "Teen Titans" series. That made me think, there's a chance that the crossover episode ("T.G.I.S.") will be actually between "Ben 10: Omniverse" and "Teen Titans"? (I also suspect it because "Teen Titans Go!" will debut this April).

3º) After seeing the angry mobs from the first part, I suspect my theory of the "anti-alien group of hate" will happen; because I'm sure not ALL humans will accept aliens living among them. Well, but I have to say, now I REALLY hate Will Harangue even more than I hate J Jonah Jameson as a Spiderman's fan. Is it possible that Will Harangue will be the main villain in the 4 arc?

4º) It kinda worries me seeing Ben becoming such a "ladies' man", now possibly adding Attea to the list where we should include Ben's other love interests (Julie, Eunice, Elena, Ester and Looma). Now that "Rules of Engagement" is finally going to be aired, I regret it's actually an "out of order" episode; because I would really like to see Attea involved in this story too. Is it possible that we will see Attea fighting against other of Ben's "love interest", like Looma?

I'm sorry if my questions are a little long, but that's an effect of the great impression "The Frogs of War" had on me after seeing it. I hope you can give some answers, please. I'm not asking for real spoilers, just if you think some of the things I mentioned could happen or not. I thank you again for these amazing episodes.

Lukey wrote:Frogs of War has to be one of the best episodes of the entire franchise yet. Undeniably amazing.

Anyway, I'm sure the following question has been asked before but I've always wondered about it.

1) Is Wildmutt sentient? Whenever we've seen others from his species they have been rather animalistic.

2) Arc 3 has been the best arc yet, any more space-centric stories or arcs coming up?

3) Do you prefer watching/writing the show with more or less main characters? I really loved the dynamic of the second Frogs of War episode with the ensemble cast.

4) Any chance of more episodes with a larger main cast?

Kariachi wrote:Liked the episode. Didn't love it, but then anything involving 'The Resistance' sorta dies for me. Well done though.

1) Derrick mentioned that Kevin's puddly-mutt was originally in the episode, but that the scene with her was cut for time. If you can, did she do anything, or just sit next to Kevin and get head-scritches?

Matt Wayne wrote:

Kariachi wrote:Liked the episode. Didn't love it, but then anything involving 'The Resistance' sorta dies for me. Well done though.

1) Derrick mentioned that Kevin's puddly-mutt was originally in the episode, but that the scene with her was cut for time. If you can, did she do anything, or just sit next to Kevin and get head-scritches?

She didn't like Argit.

Matt Wayne wrote:

verbomaniac wrote:Is the frog-like species spelled Incursion or Incursean?

Incursion. But in the first script I spelled it Incursean and that spelling turns up now and then.

Matt Wayne wrote:

Matt Wayne wrote:

verbomaniac wrote:Is the frog-like species spelled Incursion or Incursean?

Incursion. But in the first script I spelled it Incursean and that spelling turns up now and then.

I just checked with the line producers--It is Incursean. But misspellings of the name have been rampant. Probably because of the word "incursion."

Kariachi wrote:Okay, another question about the Puddly-Mutt Supreme.

1) How much more can we expect to see of her? I mean, I know we'll only be seeing her in eps with Kevin, but how often will we be seeing her in them? A little, a lot, or you can't say 'cause spoilers?

Ursalink wrote:Hello again, Mr Wayne.

I beg your pardon, but today I have read something about the series that it really REALLY confuses me. Allow me to explain:

I was checking Ben 10 Wikia to take a look to the list of Ben's love interest; which by the way, it's not short at all. Maybe Ben inherited this "ladies' man" charms from his Grampa Max, because of Verdona and Xylene's cases. Well, anyway, according to something Rook commented in "Showdown: Part 1", Ben's first crush was a girl named Patty Berkenfeld from 3rd grade. I don't understand this. As far as we have seen, Ben's first crush was Kai Green, back in the first series. Then, in Alien Force's movie, "Aliew Swarm", it was said that Elena Validus was Ben's first crush. And now, they give that role to this "Patty Berkenfeld". Mr Wayne, which one should we really consider as "Ben's first crush, please?

By the way, since they have mentioned her, will we see Patty Berkenfeld in a future episode? For some reason, I think she could be the blond girl with a ponytail that appeared in Billy Billion's flashback in "Arrested Development"; the one who picked Ben in a gym class for her team. The girl who, according to the wikia, looks pretty much to Mazuma, Billi Billion's robotic assistant. Is this just a coincidence, or Billy really based Mazuma's human look on that girl?

I hope these questions won't bother you, Mr Wayne, and you can give me some answers, please. Ben's love gallery is getting very interesting to me, so I would like to have these doubts clear, please.

Ursalink wrote:Thank you so much for the answer and the explanation, Mr Wayne. If you allow me to say:

+ I don't see why Billy's jealousy of Ben can't be well-founded. I mean, I like the comedy factor in Omniverse, but it's not so funny when it turns into a "cartoonish non-sense". Besides, as you describe it, it reminds me a lot something from "Danny Phantom"; another tv-show where you worked on. It really reminds me Vlad Plasmius's insane jealousy on Jack Fenton, who took "the love of his life" (Maddie) from him; so Plasmius tried to "compensate it" creating his own "Holo-Maddie". Now that was funny and creepy at the same time.

+ I really hope you will introduce Patty at some point in the future. Now I'm really interested in this character, even if she only makes a cameo.

+ Two of my favourites episodes in "Ultimate Alien" are the ones with Elena: "Revenge of the Swarm" and "The Perfect Girlfriend". The cliffhanger at the end of "The Perfect Girlfriend" intrigated me very much, so I really REALLY hope you will bring Elena back someday. I don't see why Elena shoud cease to exist after the universe was recreated. I mean, Ben wanted to create a perfect copy, so even although it's not 100% exact to the old one, I don't think Ben would have wanted to make anyone cease to exist. To prove that, Vilgax and Aggregor still exist.

Thank you again for the explanation, Mr Wayne. And I hope my comments didn't bother you. I just wanted to say my honest opinion.

Hawkeye & Hulk wrote:

6. I have a big problem with this. The Incurseans took over the world too easily. Yes they had an army and Way Bads, but still. You must remember. All armies on the planet would be united against them. Not to mention the Plumbers. Also, super heroes and villains across the globe would fight them as well. I mean really, you think Hex, Dr. Animo, Rojo, Clancy, Darkstar, etc... just say around and didn't fight back? Not to mention the Forever Knights (If they are still an active group) So basically all inhabitents of Earth and several from other planets fighting an army of frogs. Unless they had the largest and most powerful army in the universe I see no way that they would win.

Hawkeye & Hulk wrote:1. Is the randomizer function still avaliable for Ben to use?

2. Did Azmuth unlock the Life Form Lock function and is it still avaliable to Ben?

3. Can you list a few things besides Primus that have been erased from continuality?

4. How did the Null Void Projector focus on the Way Bads? It shot them like a beam. This has never happened before.

5. How do you apply for a job to write for Cartoon Network, Marvel, or DC?

6. I have a big problem with this. The Incurseans took over the world too easily. Yes they had an army and Way Bads, but still. You must remember. All armies on the planet would be united against them. Not to mention the Plumbers. Also, super heroes and villains across the globe would fight them as well. I mean really, you think Hex, Dr. Animo, Rojo, Clancy, Darkstar, etc... just say around and didn't fight back? Not to mention the Forever Knights (If they are still an active group) So basically all inhabitents of Earth and several from other planets fighting an army of frogs. Unless they had the largest and most powerful army in the universe I see no way that they would win.

Matt Wayne wrote:

Hawkeye & Hulk wrote:1. Is the randomizer function still avaliable for Ben to use?

2. Did Azmuth unlock the Life Form Lock function and is it still avaliable to Ben?

3. Can you list a few things besides Primus that have been erased from continuality?

4. How did the Null Void Projector focus on the Way Bads? It shot them like a beam. This has never happened before.

5. How do you apply for a job to write for Cartoon Network, Marvel, or DC?

6. I have a big problem with this. The Incurseans took over the world too easily. Yes they had an army and Way Bads, but still. You must remember. All armies on the planet would be united against them. Not to mention the Plumbers. Also, super heroes and villains across the globe would fight them as well. I mean really, you think Hex, Dr. Animo, Rojo, Clancy, Darkstar, etc... just say around and didn't fight back? Not to mention the Forever Knights (If they are still an active group) So basically all inhabitents of Earth and several from other planets fighting an army of frogs. Unless they had the largest and most powerful army in the universe I see no way that they would win.

1. I don't think Ben has enough control to trigger the randomizer on purpose. The function still exists though.

2. Ben unlocked it with a code, but he didn't set it--that was Azmuth. Ben can't maintain a transformation.

3. No.

4. Opening a portal the size of a Waybad would have endangered Bellwood. Whether the projector needs to be set manually to accommodate something of that size or it automatically adjusted itself remains to be seen.

5. There are only a few hundred people writing for TV animation and making a living. There are many more people who want to do it. But with all writing, you write samples and get whoever you can to read them (not me!). It's not a strict meritocracy, but being able to write well gives some people an edge. There are a lot of books about doing that.

6. The Incurseans destroyed Pluto with one blast from a ship-mounted weapon. The armies of Earth know this. If you need to imagine off-camera carnage of the Mars Attacks! variety, feel free, but we're doing a kids show and have to imagine that nobody got hurt.

Hawkeye & Hulk wrote:
5. Could you tell me who I could send it to then? I read in a book that you send it to producers. So do I send it to Charlotte Fullerton or someone like that?

Hawkeye & Hulk wrote:1. Is a DC or Marvel crossover for Ben 10 in the future a possibility? I'm not saying this series or even the rumored T.G.I.S. crossover. But COULD it happen. With trademark rights and all that. Even in the comics not just the show.

2. Could you invite other cast members to answer questions on here? I know Derrick J. Wyatt is happy...I mean upset about the closing of Formspirng. Maybe you or we could invite him here. Maybe even one of the voice actors too. Paul Eiding is a really nice guy, maybe he would join in.

3. At the moment, who are the top 10 most wanted fugatives in the Ben 10 Universe? (You know like FBI's Most Wanted but instead Plumbers Most Wanted)

4. I know you guys are not allowed to read fanfiction or take in fan aliens. (I know I wouldn't want to. There are some aweful designs and fanfics out there) But would it be possible to send them in to Cartoon Network Studios, and show them to the producers? I personally write fanfiction all the time and I try as best as possible to go by mainstream continuality. Although I am the guy who wrote the whole "Epic Rap Battles of History: Ben 10 vs Superman" Paul Eiding, Yuri Lowenthol, and Charlotte Fullerton seemed to like it very much! If you would like to see it, I can post it here. I can show you the comments too. Anyway, I have a dream to write for Ben 10. (DC and Marvel too but I can wait)
And would like to submit my writings. (By mail of course) Is there a remote possibility of someone actually reading them or even contacting me if I do send them in?

Matt Wayne wrote:
3. You could name them as easily as I could. Vilgax definitely.

Matt Wayne wrote:

Hawkeye & Hulk wrote:
5. Could you tell me who I could send it to then? I read in a book that you send it to producers. So do I send it to Charlotte Fullerton or someone like that?

We don't read unsolicited specs. Some agents do, and so do some shows and publishers--you should do your own research.

I have counted on my credits and professional network to open doors for years now. You need to build those assets up for yourself.

I can't stress the networking aspect of the above enough. Look into local writers groups and professional organizations. Most writers (including myself) have poor social skills, but need to develop them. Getting out and having a professional/social circle is important for a) finding a dupe who will read your script and give you feedback, and b) analyzing contemporary writing (aka "bitching about the movie you just saw," which is fun in itself).

And even then, there's an element of luck. I'm doing this because I was an aspiring screenwriter and a good friend of a comedy writer/fanboy who heard of an opening at Marvel through his professional network, started pitching, and turned out to be the best writer of cartoon superheroes ever. It all might have gone another way.