ReGenRex: The Fight to get GR Back on the Air

[Straya]

When Generator Rex first went off the air, Joe Kelly told a fan over Twitter to “gather your armies.” If we want GR back on the airwaves in the US, that’s what we have to do and unfortunately, as things stand right now, the fanbase is too scattered. Some fans on Deviant Art don’t necessarily know what’s going on via tumblr, or those just using Twitter may not be aware of attempts being made over Facebook. Some fans will obviously be using multiple social media platforms and sites, but it’s already been pretty much proven that only having a DevArt group or only a petition isn’t going to cut it. The former is a good idea, but it’s not that useful for anyone who doesn’t have a DA account. It’s too limited.

What we need is a central site that’s updated regularly and backed by a schedule. That site also needs to be hooked into major social media platforms - Twitter, Facebook and tumblr - to make it easier to keep track of updates so that fans don’t have to remember to check the site via a bookmark every other day.

And that’s what Project ReGenRex will be.

It also occurred to me that we needed a central voice to sort of rally the troops. It’s worked well in past Twitter campaigns, such as Steve Blum asking his followers to tweet repeatedly at Cartoon Network about getting Toonami back on the air. He would get them going and for a number of hours, that’s what they would do, really concentrating their efforts.

Well, if we’re Rex’s Army, it wouldn’t be such a bad thing to have Rex leading it, would it? Unfortunately, the good folks who worked on GR are far too busy for any one of them to take up the role. So again, this whole thing is in fan hands. In thinking on this, I realized that maybe my two plus years of role playing Rex might actually be good for something. If I could take up the site updates in an IC fashion, it would at least keep things interesting. It would sort of be like an ask blog, just with a lot more content and pro-active posting, including dates set for Twitter and letter writing campaigns.

So this is what ReGenRex will be… A central site with posts written by “Rex” and updates sent out over the major social media platforms. The site itself is close to being ready to go and the three social media platforms of choice have been set up.

ReGenRex via:

- Tumblr
- Facebook
- Twitter

Follow one, follow all three, whatever you’d like to do if you’re interested in trying to help get GR back on the air in the US and lend your voice in calling for a fourth season/new series. Before you make that choice, however, here’s how these accounts will be operating.

The tumblr and Facebook accounts will deliver blurbs about website updates along with links directly to the updates, sometimes with accompanying graphics. Both of them will be “staff run” for the most part. (And you’ll have to be rather patient with me on the Facebook end of things, I’m still getting the hang of using it. But I’ll get it!) The Twitter account, however, will be largely manned by “Rex” himself. Updates will flow through that account with links as well, but obviously with less information due to the 140 character limit. The plan with that account is that it will also deal a bit more in interactions with fans since it will be taking point in any “tweet at CN” campaigns that may happen.

[macgaulyver]

Lead the way, Straya - this project couldn't be in more capable hands;)

[sadie]

I'm with you all the way Straya, just say what needs to be done and I'll try and help where ever I can.

[Aenrhien]

I'm happy to see a project like this in the hands of someone who isn't going to use it as an excuse to email bomb CN or MoA. Gives me a bit of hope that it might actually work, even if all it manages to do is get the rest of the series aired.

[xXSpiritKeeperXx]

Awesome! have you been talking to Shakabraw aka fillmarc?

[Straya]

Jul 18, 2012 10:39:52 GMT -5 Aenrhien said:

I'm happy to see a project like this in the hands of someone who isn't going to use it as an excuse to email bomb CN or MoA. Gives me a bit of hope that it might actually work, even if all it manages to do is get the rest of the series aired.

I don't know why anyone ever thinks it's a good idea to email bomb Man of Action. They come up with ideas and develop them, write episodes, etc. They don't have a single say in what continues into another season/series or what stays on the air. I guess it's how some people blame movie directors for everything that goes wrong in a movie, even though it takes an entire crew to make a film... Also I wish fans would quit going after Derrick Wyatt. Yeah, he's heading up the art department on Ben 10 Omniverse, but pleading with him to bring back GR won't do a single thing except to irritate him.

As for email bombing CN, well... We won't be doing that. Not entirely. I do want an organized effort for online letter writing through their feedback section, however. I plan to do this by providing "prompts" every 2-3 weeks for "letter essays." Sort of like fan fic prompts, only geared more toward 200-500 word mini essays with planned topics to give fans something to write about, specifically, so there's direction and provided inspiration. I think that shows a level of organization, passion and dedication, since it involves more than just a brief message of, "Please put GR back on the air!" Like one week, the topic might be, "What Generator Rex means to you as a fan." Another might be "who your favorite character is and why you'd like to see them in a season 4/new series." It's someone's job to read all of this. Someone gets paid to pay attention to that stuff. So if people start submitting in an organized fashion, it would take a complete idiot not to notice there's some sort of trend that's being followed.

Jul 18, 2012 16:39:03 GMT -5 xXSpiritKeeperXx said:

Awesome! have you been talking to Shakabraw aka fillmarc?

On and off. I'm also working on an GR art collaboration with him right now - his line work, my inks and colors. I have the inks finished. Just have to get to the colors.

Also, in case anyone didn't catch it via DA or tumblr or elsewhere... The site is now active, and yes, I did get a domain name for it! www.regenrex.com

[Aenrhien]

Jul 24, 2012 9:15:53 GMT -5 Straya said:

Jul 18, 2012 10:39:52 GMT -5 Aenrhien said:

I'm happy to see a project like this in the hands of someone who isn't going to use it as an excuse to email bomb CN or MoA. Gives me a bit of hope that it might actually work, even if all it manages to do is get the rest of the series aired.

I don't know why anyone ever thinks it's a good idea to email bomb Man of Action. They come up with ideas and develop them, write episodes, etc. They don't have a single say in what continues into another season/series or what stays on the air. I guess it's how some people blame movie directors for everything that goes wrong in a movie, even though it takes an entire crew to make a film... Also I wish fans would quit going after Derrick Wyatt. Yeah, he's heading up the art department on Ben 10 Omniverse, but pleading with him to bring back GR won't do a single thing except to irritate him.

As for email bombing CN, well... We won't be doing that. Not entirely. I do want an organized effort for online letter writing through their feedback section, however. I plan to do this by providing "prompts" every 2-3 weeks for "letter essays." Sort of like fan fic prompts, only geared more toward 200-500 word mini essays with planned topics to give fans something to write about, specifically, so there's direction and provided inspiration. I think that shows a level of organization, passion and dedication, since it involves more than just a brief message of, "Please put GR back on the air!" Like one week, the topic might be, "What Generator Rex means to you as a fan." Another might be "who your favorite character is and why you'd like to see them in a season 4/new series." It's someone's job to read all of this. Someone gets paid to pay attention to that stuff. So if people start submitting in an organized fashion, it would take a complete idiot not to notice there's some sort of trend that's being followed.

I think most people just don't understand how the whole process works. They see "created by Man of Action" on the title card and assume that means they have their hands on every stage of the process, including the decision whether or not it stays on the air. I didn't even know people were going after Derrick Wyatt too; did he even work on Generator Rex, or are they going after him because Ben 10 was one of Man of Action's projects too? Either way, that's... all kinds of not cool at all.

An organized letter writing campaign sounds much better than an email bombing, which I seem to remember someone suggesting not long after the series was taken off the air. I have to wish you the best of luck on keeping something like that organized considering how many people would end up taking part. With any luck, everyone will cooperate and everything will go smoothly instead of devolving into insanity.

[Straya]

Jul 24, 2012 9:58:22 GMT -5 Aenrhien said:

Jul 24, 2012 9:15:53 GMT -5 Straya said:

I don't know why anyone ever thinks it's a good idea to email bomb Man of Action. They come up with ideas and develop them, write episodes, etc. They don't have a single say in what continues into another season/series or what stays on the air. I guess it's how some people blame movie directors for everything that goes wrong in a movie, even though it takes an entire crew to make a film... Also I wish fans would quit going after Derrick Wyatt. Yeah, he's heading up the art department on Ben 10 Omniverse, but pleading with him to bring back GR won't do a single thing except to irritate him.

As for email bombing CN, well... We won't be doing that. Not entirely. I do want an organized effort for online letter writing through their feedback section, however. I plan to do this by providing "prompts" every 2-3 weeks for "letter essays." Sort of like fan fic prompts, only geared more toward 200-500 word mini essays with planned topics to give fans something to write about, specifically, so there's direction and provided inspiration. I think that shows a level of organization, passion and dedication, since it involves more than just a brief message of, "Please put GR back on the air!" Like one week, the topic might be, "What Generator Rex means to you as a fan." Another might be "who your favorite character is and why you'd like to see them in a season 4/new series." It's someone's job to read all of this. Someone gets paid to pay attention to that stuff. So if people start submitting in an organized fashion, it would take a complete idiot not to notice there's some sort of trend that's being followed.

I think most people just don't understand how the whole process works. They see "created by Man of Action" on the title card and assume that means they have their hands on every stage of the process, including the decision whether or not it stays on the air. I didn't even know people were going after Derrick Wyatt too; did he even work on Generator Rex, or are they going after him because Ben 10 was one of Man of Action's projects too? Either way, that's... all kinds of not cool at all.

An organized letter writing campaign sounds much better than an email bombing, which I seem to remember someone suggesting not long after the series was taken off the air. I have to wish you the best of luck on keeping something like that organized considering how many people would end up taking part. With any luck, everyone will cooperate and everything will go smoothly instead of devolving into insanity.

I guess part of why it doesn't make sense to me is why make a show and then pull it six episodes before finish? Then again, thinking on it more, I'm not sure some people realize how bad and annoying email bombing is.

Aside from what you mentioned with the MoA association, I think part of what the problem with Wyatt is that there's also that backlash against Omniverse that's going on right now due to the style change. People might be blaming Omniverse for GR going off the air. Like a Ben 10 vs GR thing or...something? Because you're right in that Wyatt didn't do any work on GR at all.

Unfortunately, with the letter writing, I'm just going to have to put the instructions out there and hope that everyone follows them well enough, especially with remaining civil/polite. This thing is starting to pick up speed, though, which is good but also a bit scary. I've got a handful of people behind me to help with a few things (like we've got plans for Caesar to make a guest entry on Rex's blog and someone other than me has been picked to write it already), but the truth of the matter is that when it comes to the actual accounts, the keys are all in my hands. I could potentially pick a few of the people already helping to head up a couple of the other accounts, but more than that might get into the "too many chefs" problem, if you know what I mean. So thanks for the good luck wishes... I (and the people I've got helping) may really need it!

[grassyplain]

Yes, yes, yes. This , Miss Straya, is genius. Please continue.

[xXSpiritKeeperXx]

Woo! I love what you've done with the site. You've got 'Rex''s personality perfect, and everything is just full of yes.

OH BY THE WAY, CAN I BE HOLIDAY?!?!!!11!!one!

[Straya]

Jul 26, 2012 5:49:02 GMT -5 xXSpiritKeeperXx said:

Woo! I love what you've done with the site. You've got 'Rex''s personality perfect, and everything is just full of yes.

OH BY THE WAY, CAN I BE HOLIDAY?!?!!!11!!one!

Thank you! I've been playing Rex for more than two years now in a regular play by post game, so doing it this way just seemed like the natural thing to do.

Well, we've already got a Holiday in that people I've got behind me on this one include my current and past RP Gen Rex castmates. I'm not even sure just yet if we'll be working a post from the good Doctor or not. Caesar is a sure one and we've got one other character that I'm 90% sure will be making a guest post as well. In general, we have people on deck who can handle Holiday, Six, White Knight, Sqwydd, Van Kleiss and Gatlocke. Possibly also Biowulf. (The "villains" of course would need special circumstances to post.) Whether we actually work more than a couple of them in is another matter entirely.