Open Letter to Gregg Vanzo

[rikki_rakko]

To: Gregg Vanzo
Owner and President, Rough Draft Studios, Inc.


Dear Mr. Vanzo,

I think I speak for everyone when I say it is a great privilege to work at RDS. You have established a thriving creative environment here, a place where artists are bound by only imagination, budgets, and schedules. For this we are truly grateful.
However, you do have your tough side, Gregg, and this austere manner of yours makes it a trifle daunting for even your most seasoned employee to approach you. ( I for one have witnessed more than a handful of my fellows shrink back under your whithering gaze.) Therefore, we, your humble servants, feel we need a forum in which we can safely voice our concerns without incurring your wrath.

Thus, our newest creation is born: this thread.

I would be honored to christen this thread with something that has been on my mind for a long time now. It has to do with teamwork and pulling together as a group. Overall, I think everyone in the studio does his/her fair share, but it should surprise no one that I single out a certain individual who has "flown under the radar" for some time now. I speak of course, of Jorge.
Nice guy? Absolutely. But what in heaven's name does he think he's doing? Who's agenda is he carrying out? Certainly not the team's. We are so busy right now, everybody is giving their 110%...but where's Jorge? I'll tell you where. He's running around with a ladder changing lightbulbs, or in the men's rest room unclogging an overflowing toilet, or (my newest favorite) up on the roof in the rain trying to patch a leak in the skylight.
Need I remind you this is an animation studio you're running here, Gregg, not a fix-it shop. But not for Jorge, oh no, he's on his own schedule. And when he's isn't scampering through the building doing this and that, he's online ordering equipment, out on the loading dock helping the CostCo guy haul in crates, moving furniture, etc. etc. etc...this goes on all day long!
Look, I like the guy, but he really needs to focus on the task at hand. I think if he put as much effort into animation as he does with his "busy work", the guy could be a super star.
Anyway, thanks for taking the time to read this. I give the floor to the next speaker.

[Cochino Muerto]

Thank you for establishing this forum, Tikki.

Well, I'll keep this first one short, just as a test to make sure Gregg's not going to jump all down my throat. But in keeping with the above message, I'd like to suggest that it is perhaps Gregg's fault that Jorge does all this "busy" work.

How many times have I wandered through Rough Draft, only to see Gregg wiping the ceiling, wet-vacuuming the carpet by the water bottle or installing cigarette trash bins? Perhaps Jorge is original, but I'd bet that this non-animation producing cancer started in the head (ie Gregg) and is now working its way down to the feet (ie animators) of the studio.

[rikki_rakko]

I appreciate the support, Cochino, but I find flaw in your analogy -- a cancer that originates in the head and moves down to the feet?! What the h**l kind of cancer starts in your head and works its way to your feet?! Seriously, I'm not trying to be mean or anything, but I think if you had cancer in your head my friend, you wouldn't live to see it make the slow journey down your body and settle in your feet. I'd give you to your lower neck or chest, tops. Just my opinion.
Anyway, I agree, Jorge may have picked up some bad habits from Gregg. Good call, Cochino.
And another thing: Gregg, when are we going to get that soda dispenser for the kitchen that Claudia was talking about?

[Cochino Muerto]

Thanks for the back-handed compliment, Rikki.

I was just using an analogy. It's not like I sat there and tried to figure out all the logistics. But still, thanks for the props. Also, what's this about a soda dispenser? You have to wait in line behind us folks who are waiting for the bathroom condom dispenser.

[rogerlodge]

Cochino and Ricki, after your short stint at the condom machine, do you plan on a pitstop at my favorite basement men's room for a little "glory"? Now that's what i call teamwork!

[Cochino Muerto]

Let's get back to the "open letter" to Gregg Vanzo.

I have just 8 words...

Glendale stole your idea for cigarette dispenser boxes.

What's wrong with these words people?? I'll tell you what's wrong; there's no animation involved in putting up a cigarette dispenser, and yet Gregg invented and executed the concept (in Glendale)!!! Let's focus. Let's focus. Next thing you know, Jorge'll be installing syringe dispensers down in the stairwell leading to the color department, where all the mainliners hang.

[Chilisize]

is that "dispenser" or "disposal".

I mean, if it's dispenser, what the hell happened? I go away for 2 weeks and Greg comes back and starts handing out smokes? whats with the celebration folks? if i went on vaction for four weeks would you have thrown a block party for downtown Glendale? I wonder, Geraldine was pushin kinda hard for me to take a long vactation.

[Cochino Muerto]

Hey, welcome to the board, Chilisize.

I stand corrected. The proper word is "disposal", not dispenser. By the way, I guess you missed those $1,000 bonuses that Gregg DISPENSED to everyone while you were gone.

Oh well. Hope you enjoyed your trip.

[rikki_rakko]

<bumping this boy up big time>

Well, it's been over a year now since I wrote my original post on this thread, and has anything changed? Oh, lets see...why it was just today that the thermostat in my office was set wrong and guess who popped in to fix it?
Yep. Jorge.
I nearly bit through my lip as he explained that the reason it was so stuffy in my room was because the fan wasn't on. He then proceeded to turn it on and was off on his next little adventure.
Thanks, Jorge. Thanks, Gregg.

[chili-size]

and lets not forget the coffee maker...

Jorge and little Vanzo worked on that thing for several days before Jorge took command and walked over to Williams and Sonoma and DEMANDED his coffee maker be replaced... of course they complied... they knew better than to get on Jorge's bad side...

remember... turn out the lights when you leave.