Tuesday, April 08, 2008

In Search of a New Title

So here's my bombshell..."Bagged and Boarded" is in search of a new title. Here's the wrap-up...a few weeks back I got a call from a guy who told me he owned a trademark on the term "bagged and boarded." And he named his store after the trademark. The call came at midnight, so I was a little too distracted by my amazement that a stranger would call at that hour to really get into a conversation over legalities. The call dropped, and of course his number was private so I couldn't call back.

It's true though...a man does own a trademark on that term, even though it's a very common term that's been used for decades in the comic community. I got some advice from a trademark attorney on the subject (for FREE, 'cause I got mad connections). He said the case was up in the air...if I stayed with the title and he took me to court, it could really go either way. He also said that the term is in fact vague enough where a trademark like that might not hold, and he could risk losing it if I felt like challenging it.

Do I feel like challenging it? Not really. I don't want to hold up this project anymore than it already is, and it's not worth the cost. I was never too attached to the title, truth be told, and I'm getting a lot of feedback that other people were never crazy about it either. In fact almost everyone I'd told this to has been kinda relieved! It's easy to change it at this stage...I'd just change the logo and web site. I haven't made any publicity material or anything yet, so this news came at a good time and might even be a blessing in disguise.

I need a new title, and I'd like it to maybe be something that everyone understands...not just comic geeks. If you have any ideas, send them to me only if you have the understanding that the only reward you'll get is a screen credit. No one is getting paid for a title. Period. I've got nothing more to give. I really like quirky titles like "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia." Something like that would be awesome. "Bagged and boarded" trademark owner: if you're reading this, feel free to call back and preferably not at midnight this time.

Here's a fun video I found on youtube:



17 comments:

Anonymous said...

I DON'T WANT TO BUY YOU COOKIES!

Anonymous said...

You know what I mean Ralph sorry bob! will come up with more check last site for some more of mine! PAPER OR PLASTIC ARE YOU GOING TO HELP US OR WHAT? COLA NUT! COME DOWN FROM YOUR HIGH HORSE! I GOT A MILLION OF THEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

I must count myself as one of those who is relieved by the title change. I always thought it was weird-sounding, to be honest, and wouldn't be very attractive to non-comic-geeks. Hell, I'm just a regular geek, and I still didn't know what the phrase meant!

So as for alternate titles, hmmm...

- Turn the Page (sounds shmaltzy, I know, but it does have some double-meaning that relates to the film)

- Drawing Outside the Lines (okay, perhaps this is cheesy too; damn, I thought I was cleverer than this)

- Girl and the Geeks

- Purgatory Comics (as you can see, I'm getting more original by the second)

- Danny's Big Action Adventure (of course, this would require you to recut the film so that I'm the star, but that's a sacrifice I'm willing to make)

All right, so I wasn't much help. But I'll make up for it by offering to design a logo, for free, if you end up needing one for the new title. Lemme know.

Hope all is well in post-production land...

Ralph said...

Actually, before "Bagged and Boarded" the film was called "Turning the Page." Even early drafts of the script have that on the title. But Laura and I thought it sounded like a coming of age Diane Keaton movie so I ditched it.

I needed to send in the script to get copyrighted asap and I needed a title for it, so I threw "bagged and Boarded" on there.

Anonymous said...

I STILL LIKE "I DONT'T WANT TO BUY YOUR COOKIES" pw

Anonymous said...

Cndescending Cola Nut Purgatory Comics Ace Amoeba Meet and Greet The Mother of them all Cola and Danny sittin in a tree! Hamsterflap Adventures of Zomby Gal and Ace Amoeba I will not Acknowledge I washed my hair today Money doesn"t buy my happiness Itty Bitty Sweaters for Poodles Temple of Geeks and Virgins We're the other one Cola thats a fun name! MY FAVORITES KEEPING IT! Sense of Security Because it Matters Failure Commitment Cliche PAPER OR PLASTIC AND MY FAV I don"t want to buy your cookies!!! Hope I helped PW bob

Zung said...

no more bagged and boarded?! no take his midnight calling butt to court!


possible titles:

Purgatory Comics

Purgatory is a Comic Book Store

Fanboys

I will never read booster Gold

Anonymous said...

I DON'T WANT TO BUY YOUR COOKIES! PAPER OR PLASTIC BECAUSE IT MATTERS! FAILURE COMMITMENT CLICHE KEEPING IT SENSE OF SECURITY nice aren"t they would go well on the title cookies fav THE OLD FART HIMSELF PW

Caleb said...

"Fair Condition"

"The 20-something movie that involves comics."

"Wear and Tear"

"Collecting Dust, my Life"

"Creasing the Line"

"Don't Fold, Don't Bend"

"Grown-ups don't collect Comics"

"Protected against the elements"

"Crying will stain the first issue"

"No reprints in real life"

"Mint Condition Papercuts"

"Love, Life, Responsibilites...Comics. Not in that order"

Anonymous said...

COLA AND THE NUTZ COLA'S COMICS AND COOKIES COMICS AND COOKIES COMICS COOKIES PAPER AND PLASTIC I WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE GEEKS AND THE GIRL COMICS COOKIES COMICS COOKIES JIZZ AND ZOMBYS THE COMIC BOOK SIGNING (not bad this one plain) THE ADVENTURES IN THE TEMPLE OF COMICS COOKIES and GEEKS rs I DONT'T WANT TO BUY YOUR COOKIES FAV

Anonymous said...

THE THREE C'S cola comics cookies PW

Anonymous said...

COLA COOKIES and COMICS the local comic book store THE SIGNING

Anonymous said...

SLEEP SLEEP SLEEP SLEEP SLEEP SLEEP SLEEP SLEEP SLEEP SLEEP I DON'T WANT TO BUY YOUR COOKIES!

Ralph said...

Okay it's a safe bet I'm not going to put "cookies" in the title, Mr. Socci...

Anonymous said...

A COMIC BOOK STORY I will acknowledge the comic COOKIES, COMICS AND WARM MILK! (STILL TRYING) The Local Comic Store We are the other one! Way back in the day! The censored comic What censored comic? No cookies for you! STILL AT IT WILL CONTINUE pw

Brian "Arkle" Webber said...

I actually liked the "Bagged and Boarded" but oh well.

How about "Latest Issues"?

Unknown said...

Plastic Wrap

The Page Also Turns

And Featuring...

Truth, Justice and Cookies

There's Always Another Page

She Wrote The Book

My Funny Things