Post by Bolt on Aug 25, 2019 21:33:40 GMT -5
Who am I? Just a conscience!
Introduce yourself
Hey, howdy, hey! The name's EbonyPatriot, and I wished upon a star from Whatsits Galore many moons ago (possibly linked from the old Disney Ever Notice Site?). My other imaginary friends include Ronno. Bolt and I are so very eager to join the Worlds of Disney circle of life!
Character basics
Character name: Bolt
Age: 5 years old
Species: American white shepherd mix (about 50% American white shepherd, 37.5% Australian cattle dog, and 12.5% Seppala husky), Canis lupus familiaris
Birthplace: Amarillo, Texas, USA
Movie: Bolt (2008)
Custom title: A Dog’s True Superpower
Why'd you pick this character? I’ve always had a soft spot for almost all critter movies and books, so a Disney movie about a talking dog? Sold! And what a good movie it was! Bolt quickly became one of my favorite movies.
Then three years later, my family adopted Sprx (named after the Super Robot Monkey Team Hyperforce Go! character), an Australian cattle dog/border collie mix.
Sprx is so much like Bolt, both in looks (about the same size, with upright ears, stocky muscular legs, tail carried upright, sharp ‘stop’ to his head, and medium-length muzzle) and personality: self-assured, 100% convinced that he’s the only one between his family and certain doom, that no not-family is to be trusted— and what’s more, they’re all against him: but with a huge heart and very emotionally vulnerable. In fact, he’s such a match in all but color (he’s coal-black) we sometimes call my Sprx the Anti-Bolt and/or Tlob (both in reference to the Fairly Oddparents).
Naturally, my love of Bolt only grew!
Character appearance (try to get at least 2 or 3 sentences for each section)
Hair description: Bolt is covered in the milk-white fur that defines the true American white shepherd. Bolt’s coat is medium-length, similar to German shepherd (from which the American white shepherd traces its root) in texture. Like most dogs, Bolt’s coat covers all but his black and lips, rostral pinna, and gray paw pads. The fur on the top of his head naturally grows as though it were permanently combed back.
Facial description/mood/expressions: To Bolt, whatever he’s doing is of the utmost importance and his expressions reflects this. With ears upright, eyes focused and muzzle tight, Bolt’a face is one of strict focus. With Penny, Bolt can relax enough to grin and loll out his tongue, with wagging tag and calm pose. Only when he is completely relaxed do his ears stop their alert, antenna-like motion. When emotionally hurt, every inch of him shows his misery.
Clothing style: Bolt’s only clothing is a strong, brown leather buckle collar. A single round tag, with his name on one side and the address on the other, jingles from its loop.
Body build: Bolt is very short and stocky for his breed, reflecting his mixed heritage. Bolt’s build is sleek and strong, neither a racer or a bruiser. Bolt has a sharp ’stop’ (the space between his eyes and muzzle) to his head, with a concave, medium-length muzzle. Bolt carries his bottle-brush tail (usually slightly curled at the tip) over his back when a good mood, down near his hocks (ankles) when running.
Any unique traits (optional): Formerly a black lightning bolt spray-painted on his left side.
He still has long ears and the “look of eagles” in his eyes.
Original character analysis (In your own words and please be thorough)
Personality:
Bolt is both very naive and very paranoid at the same time: on the one hand, he’s rather gullible and has a childlike, slightly egotistical outlook on the world. However, he also has a very tight circle of loved ones: the rest of the world he views as troublemakers. Bolt is convinced that he is the only hope for his girl, a job he is 100% focused on. To Bolt, everyone is either a foe or ally in a world that revolves around him and his needs. Yet he’s also rather easily tricked, especially when it concerns Penny.
Penny is the center of Bolt’s world, and Bolt fully expects to be the center of hers. To Bolt, to not be with his girl— especially to scent and hear her, but not be with her— is the worst torture. Bolt’s bond with Penny, like many dogs, a mix between a mother, sister, and daughter relationship. Bolt can be aggressive and suspicious with strangers, but Penny can do anything she wants to him.
Despite this, Bolt wears his feelings on his sleeve, so to speak. When sad, he becomes deeply depression, grief etched in every line. When cheerful, all is right with the world. Bolt is incredibly emotionally vulnerable, despite his normal air of self-confidence and self-importance.
History:
Bolt’s tale begins with that of his grandparents, at the Americana Canum Kennel, dedicated to the development and, hopefully, AKC recognition of the American white shepherd. Much to Chris Walton’s chagrin, in 1995, two of his dogs, Americana Canum Radar and Americana Canum Battleship, remained small— too short. But they were from separate lines— how did they get similar mutations?! While Mr. Walton was puzzling this, his daughter Emily Greno (she had married a solider, Jake Greno), asked if she could have these dogs. Mr. Walton agreed on the condition that neither breed.
Well, he forgot to tell Radar and Battleship. In 1999, Radar fell for Destiny’s handsome red Australian cattle dog, Tigercat, while Battleship fell for Jake’s beautiful blue-gray Australian cattle dog/Seppala husky mix, Reveille Song.
Both resulting litters consisted of one pup: Radar’s daughter Phantomcat and Battleship’s son, Rain Major. Mr. Walton was quite upset, but Emily had a suggestion: for some time she had that the Australian cattle dog’s fearlessness and the Seppala husky’s tireless nature would only benefit the developing breed: why not breed the two mixes? The resulting pups would be considered “purebred” again after five generations, and the young couple already had some friends in mind who would like some of the mixes. Reluctantly, Mr. Walton agreed; luckily Phantomcat and Rain Major fell for each other.
There were eight pups whelped on November 21, 2003, all named as dramatically as their ancestors: four females: Stormcloud, Lightning, Admiral, and Battalion; and four males: Puma, Thunder, Maverick and Voltage. Only Maverick and Voltage had the milk-white coats that define an American white shepherd.
Oh both were far too small, with over prominent “stops” on their heads, concave nose bridges, eyes that were dangerous closely to a round instead of an almond shape, ears that were too long, and short limbs. But at three days old (the age when Mr. Walton, like many breeders, thought that a dog’s adult looks could be determined), every other inch of their promising build— even the “look of eagles” in the eye— were that of the true American white shepherd!
Unfortunately, it was not to be.
Jake and Emily were deployed out of the country. Mr. Walton agreed to keep Radar, Battleship, Reveille Song, Tigercat, Phantomcat, and Rain Major— but it was too much to take the pups. Mr. Walton knew how to sell purebreds (as well as screen the potential owners of purebreds)— but how would does one adopt out mixed breeds pups? Fortunately, a friend of his, Byron Powell, ran the Silver Lake Animal Rescue. When the pups turned eight weeks old, Mr. Walton gave them to the rescue, promising, as all good breeders do, to take in any of the dogs who couldn’t find homes.
Now, there was no actor like Bill Sanders. Every show he starred enjoyed success the others could only dream of. The world lost a great actor when cancer took him in 2001— but Penny lost even more: her Dad.
Bill had mentioned a premise he had been working to his agent, Leroy Small: an action-adventure show where a dog saved his girl from constant peril. Leroy pitched the idea to the famed Director, Julian Kane, who green-lit the show— and Leroy’s suggestion that they ask Penny if she wanted the role.
Penny’s mother, Patty, wanted nothing to do with the idea. She remembered too well the long hours Bill had endured. However, Penny pleaded with her Mom: what better way to honor her Dad than follow in his footsteps? To make his dream a reality? Patty reluctantly agreed, on the condition that Penny wait until her seventh birthday in 2003.
Julian Kane agreed— what’s more, Julian’s team would provide the dog for Penny’s birthday— the dog who, hopefully, could be trained to be TV star.
Come 2004, with Penny’s seventh birthday drawing near, Leroy mentioned to Julian how one of his clients, an animal trainer named Mark Howard, had discovered and adopted a white puppy from the shelter, Maverick. Not only was Maverick’s heritage unusual (working out to about 50% American white shepherd, 37.5% Australian cattle dog, and 12.5% Seppala husky)— but all of his grandparents could provide a five-generation certified pedigree (albeit of different breeds).
Julian contacted the shelter. Oh, Maverick and Thunder had been adopted, but the rest of the ten week old litter was still there. A white puppy? Why yes there was a white pup left, Voltage. Julian liked that name and decided to use that for his new show, which he half-jokingly been calling "Canine Kane." But Penny liked a different name and so, for the first and last time, Julian gave in to his crew’s suggestion.
Julian had a leather collar made, with a custom tag reading the address of the studio on one side, the show’s logo on the other.
When Penny came into the shelter, a little white puppy caught her eye. Voltage had been bravely pouncing and chewing on a carrot squeaker— however when he met with girl’s eyes, he forgot all else. Voltage chose Penny. Penny chose him and gave his new name: Bolt. It was love at first sight.
Bolt loved his new person, although even as a puppy, it struck him as odd that Penny had a whole pack with her, only one of which scented like her. The rest were genetic strangers (at least to judge from their scents), peering at him with pencils and pads.
Bolt bonded with Penny and celebrated her seventh birthday with her on January 30, 2004. The next day, Penny brought the puppy to the studio.
Initially Mark was going to train the puppy: surely the already well trained Maverick could play the “stunt double," while Bolt, who was already well bonded and responding well to young Penny, would do the close-up “acting scenes.” (Which is common in the world of animal training: one animal for closeup, one animal for action shots).
That is until Mark spoke with Julian. Julian wanted a different kind of acting: one where the dog would believe he was invincible and the only one who could defend his owner. Mark pointed out that that wasn’t too different from how the K-9 Units were.
But Julian was also determined that Bolt really think he have superpowers!
Mark was speechless. Timidly, he pointed out all of the problems with it: a dog really wouldn’t get the whole superhero notion; the dog would need to run through his cues and hit every mark independently (normally the trainer sits just off camera), the dog would be unable to use a double, the dog would have to be far more desensitized to all of the required effects…
Julian was adamant. Don’t human actors do that everyday? The dog would have to do all of those things.
Well. Mark finally told Julian that was beyond his abilities— but not beyond Frank Duncan, his mentor.
Frank Duncan, the famed animal trainer arrived on set. Julian liked his looks and, following Mark’s suggestion, cast Frank as Penny’s TV father. (This way, Bolt could at least have his trainer on set for some of the time— and, as Julian said, would make Bolt less suspicious of getting trained from him).
Bolt did find it rather odd that Penny’s sire scented nothing like her. Nor did he act very paternal: oh he was fond of her, but more like she was just a pup in the pack, rather than his own litter. Why wasn’t his scent in Penny’s house?
However, Penny seemed to get along well with him and soon helped in Bolt’s training.
Bolt had so much to learn! Fortunately, Bolt was one those rare pups, who seem to know all of his tricks already, and for whom training is more a reminder; one of those dogs who only need to hear a command once to learn it forever.
Frank worked on first strengthening Bolt’s desensitizing. It was not easy, even for a brave puppy like Bolt, to not be afraid of the lights, scents, and sounds of the studio. Worst of all, the Chamber, with its flashing lights and spraying mist (unbeknownst to Bolt, a pet-safe dye; Julian knew he wanted a special trademark-friendly marking, a lightning bolt— he just didn’t know where on Bolt he wanted it). However, Penny comforted him— and told him to stay. The pup, who do anything for this girl, soon learn to think as little of it as he did of Penny brushing his coat.
Frank had no choice but to minimize Bolt’s natural canine instincts. Biting and snapping, even in play, was the first to go and received the harshest punishments Frank was willing to do (which was not much— Frank was a firm believer of positive enforcement). Dogs were allowed to grab objects, Bolt soon learned, but no tooth was allowed to touch a human. Fierce stares, pounces, and taps with the paws were the only contact allowed.
Bolt learned to respond instantly, how to spring over seemingly increasing distances, how to bend seemingly thicker barriers, how to jump down without pain, how to climb all barriers, how to drag Penny with a rope, how to remove and place items on people, how to stop cars, multiple commands… It took years.
During the time, Frank focused on strengthening the bond between Bolt and Penny. Every moment she could, Penny spent her time with Bolt— they even set up a dorm for her and her mother, so Bolt could sleep at the foot of her bed. Bolt could not go outside— his umwelt, his around-world, needed to view the scents and sounds of the soundstage as real. Frank insisted however, on creating an open-air enclosure, complete with fresh grass to romp on. Those were the best hours of Bolt’s life.
Once Bolt turned a year old, it was time for his villain. Julian cast Tybalt Macavity to play the vile Dr. Calico. Bolt’s American shepherd and Australia cattle dog heritage made him naturally suspicious. All that Frank and Penny had to do was act the slightest upset at Tybalt— Bolt would then view him as trouble.
Frank needed to distance himself from training Dr. Calico’s cats, leaving the task Mark and his assistant, Stan. Thankfully, Julian didn’t insist on Veteran, the cat, requiring method acting. However, none of the humans realized that Veteran had a cruel side to him— nothing pleased him more than torment the dog, cementing his growing disgust of all cats.
Four long years passed, years of constant training, constant desensitizing. The studio was reluctant— this was taking too long, too much test footage to figure out the best angles. Julian was so determined that “art couldn’t be rushed” that he paid for all costs. Not many studios could resist this, including Sovereign Enterprise.
Finally, the show could start!
Frank took Bolt from a ‘sleeping’ Penny and took him into the Chamber, which was now old hat to the dog. Even the whoosh of the dye didn’t bother him.
Frank and Penny continued to work on Bolt’s training, adding in Bolt’s superpowers. Frank told Penny that now, with Bolt’s training complete, they could work on reintegrating him to normal canine life. It would be difficult, but it should be doable to at least have him go home with Penny on weekends— perhaps getting him to associate a loss and gain of his powers.
Penny was thrilled, but Julian refused. Even though Frank tried to argue, Julian was adamant. Besides, Penny didn't own the dog— Julian did.
Patty was furious, but Penny begged her Mom to let her stay: she didn't want to loose Bolt, or let down her Dad's last wishes. Reluctantly, Patty agreed.
Leroy Small was unable to take on Penny, so Penny had to settle with Bruce Mako, a hotshot and self-centered agent. Bruce initially saw no need to set a separate account for Penny's stipend: why not just use Patty's account. Patty however, insisted Bruce set up an account in escrow, into which all of Penny's wages went, not be touched until Penny turned 18. Tybalt and Frank, who were disgusted at Julian's actions would, unbeknownst to Penny, give Patty money "for Penny's college fund").
A trailer was brought in to serve as Bolt's den and transportation to various soundstages. Penny would stay with him as much as possible, helping Stan kept Bolt well groomed and cared for (and retouching his lightning bolt). Bolt soon learned to dread the sound of Penny's cell, which meant she had to leave— something she had to do more and more.
The studio was happy to see that despite the long production (five years from the time Penny adopted Bolt until the opening was filmed), the show went full charge, stopping only for weekends and Penny's schooling. Before the year was even out, 32 episodes were completed and aired, with 64 filmed and ready to use if needed (if they could convince the Director— Julian felt these were "not good enough"). It was a runaway hit!
Penny was proud of her Dad and Bolt's hard work. But still she wondered if this was the best life for Bolt...
The network had one worry though: their ratings suggested that 18-to-35-year-olds did not like the guaranteed happy endings...
Julian, for once cowed, agreed on a two parter. Bolt had never gone without rescuing his girl— —and he wouldn't stop now!
After his greatest adventure, learning his only superpower was his canine loyalty, traveling across country with Mittens and Rhino, Bolt was happy to enjoy his retirement on the family farm: the same farm he has celebrated Penny's birthday so long ago.
That is, until he found himself in the strange world of Walt Disney World...
Ambitions:
To never again leave Penny’s side!
To keep all he loves safe from any and all harms.
To be the very best pet he can for Penny, a task he’s still learning.
To enjoy every second he can with his family.
Someday, Bolt supposes, he’d like to settle down with a lovely mate and raise some puppies.
What Bolt doesn’t know is that this little matter is closer than he thinks!
The one thing all of the humans in Bolt’s life agreed on was that they wanted Bolt to breed someday. Julian refused to let Bolt breed until he was retired, since that would ruin his work (no amount of explanation that was thoroughbred stallions he was thinking of would change his mind).
In reality, however, Bolt would have refused a mate then: when he was fighting Dr. Calico every day, he didn’t have the time to think of starting a family!
After Bolt retired and his brother Maverick took his place, Mr. Walton found and secured a mate for Bolt, a female American white shepherd from the ‘Ohana Wave Kennel: ’Ohana Wave Delta, whose kennel name was “River.” River was a little shorter than Bolt, so Mr. Walton thought she would make a good match. The two were set to have their first meeting the following summer.
Strengths & abilities:
Incredibly clever, with the ability to learn a task after one repetition— as though each novel lesson was a reminder rather than a new experience.
Very fast and agile, with flexible wrists that allow his paws to rotate more than most dogs.
100% dedication and loyalty to his loved ones.
Very sharp hearing and impressive sense of smell.
Flaws:
Rather naive— he takes everything so seriously, he sometimes has difficulty with sarcasm and is pretty easy to trick.
Bolt's still a bit of egomaniac: he has the self-centered worldview of a child, and complete confidence that he's capable of protecting everyone himself.
Because of his early training, Bolt never uses his teeth to fight, which is a dog's major weapon: Bolt would have difficulty fighting because of this. (Nor does he use his claws, but dogs rarely do).
Despite his outside toughness, Bolt is very emotionally vulnerable and when the slightest bit sad, cannot function.
Likes:
Whenever he's with his small 'club' of loved ones mainly consists of Penny, with honorary inclusion for Penny's Mom Patty, Penny's TV Dad Frank, Mittens and Rhino. Everyone else can go pound sand!
Bolt's favorite toy, both as a puppy and as an adult: Mr. Carrot!
Romping through the field, fetching, running, and stick his head out the window.
Peanut butter and hot dogs.
Dislikes:
Bolt does not like or trust strangers, especially near his girl.
Though he's better about it, Bolt still views cats suspiciously, especially Veteran and to a lesser extend, Newbie the Himalayan.
The scent of citrus fruits and tobacco,
Vacuums and motorcycles.
Fears:
That Penny will stop loving him or worse yet, that he was wrong: that Penny never really loved him.
Failing to protect his people or really, them getting hurt in anyway.
The sound of thunderstorms, although he does enjoy the feeling of the rain on his coat.
Separation and isolation (he has severe separation anxiety).
Anything to add?:
The lookalike Bolt we see in the movie is actually his full brother and littermate, Maverick. The most noticeable difference is that Maverick's fur on the top of his is permanently scruffed rostrally (towards his nose) Likewise, the German-shepherd colored lookalike we see in Prep and Landing is actually his full brother and littermate, Thunder.
Bolt has a relatively high pain threshold (not as high as his Australian cattle dog heritage but more than his American shepherd heritage).
Though Bolt dreads loosing his collar (after all, it shows he belongs), he's actually microchipped.
Bolt is actually descended from Thunderbolt (from 101 Dalmatians) and therefore, the original Rin Tin Tin, through his maternal grandmother.
RP SAMPLE:
PAST TENSE ONLY. MUST BE ABOUT THE CHARACTER FOR WHOM YOU ARE APPLYING.
SEE RONNO
IF YOU ALREADY HAVE A CHARACTER WITH US, NO SAMPLE IS NEEDED; INSTEAD, PUT "SEE ____"
