Ask the mods anything

@Zaknel  
You can do whatever you want in PMs as long as it’s not illegal and the other person agrees.

When you submit a report, is the message shown to the moderators completely parsed?
 
If I ever have to link a post in a report, I don’t bother making it clickable because I’m not even sure if that helps the moderators or not.
 
Besides, typing a report “like this”:/dis/ask-the-mods-anything/post/3881545#post_3881545 makes it hard to read if it is not parsed.

@Starry Mind
 
It is.

@Mildgyth  
That was a very fast response, and thank you.

Are nonsexualized, reasonable genital bulges, like what is in this image, considered safe or suggestive?
 

@Starry Mind  
Usually bulges are rated questionable actually, but considering how discreet it is I think suggestive is fine.

@ArmadilloEater  
Oh, thank you again.

@Starry Mind  
I’d love to wear his outfit. <3

@Nittany Discord  
Would you explode if you didn’t mention wearing dresses for a day?

@ArmadilloEater  
Would you explode if you didn’t eat stinky cheese for a day?

@ArmadilloEater  

 
He would, yes

@Joey  

 
What he said.

@Background Pony #EF43  
No. I would melt into a puddle of mush and scream like a banshee as I disappear. Though I have like 3 cheese makers near my home, so I’m pretty safe.
 
@Nittany Discord  
Let’s unite our obsessions then. BEHOLD, CHEESE DRESS!  

@ArmadilloEater  
I am pretty sure underside of your balls don’t count :V
 
pretty dress

What would you do if your ship has sunk by canon?
 
Is there a possibility for fanfiction to be adapted as a film or a series (fanmade or otherwise)?

@ArmadilloEater  
Want.

@Hollowfox the Stallion  
If you consider that some of the writers and producers are fans, then yes - they have been. Just submit your proposal on the Hasbro site for review if it’s a product you’re making yourself, as some schools have, or if you have a screenplay talk to the appropriate folks at AllSpark (having an agent might help, but knowing someone in the studio is also an avenue that sometimes works).

@Ciaran  
Wait, isn’t fan fiction prohibited for the show’s staff?

@Hollowfox the Stallion  
Yes. No one on staff is going to read your fan fiction. But if you want to produce your own show you can license the characters or sell sufficient rights or give up enough control that the studio will take it on as either an in house or an out of house project, or you can make it yourself with your own assets and either hope for the best or work out an arrangement with Hasbro as a part of it.
 
You’re right, they’re not going to make your fanfic. That’s not going to happen. But if you become a writer for them then your screenplays are basically your fanfics, with other people’s notes and direction, for pay.
 
And if you don’t want to become a writer for the show, or can’t for some reason, then if you want to make your own show, there’s people who have, and you can, too.
 
There’s no guarantee that Hasbro won’t shut you down, but you could land an internship with them and then maybe with your institutions backing you can create a project with them that uses their licensed characters, within the framework of the class project.
 
They aren’t going to produce your fanfic, and no one is going to help you turn your fanfic into a screenplay. But if you want to write MLP shows, and see your work on the small screen, all you have to do is become a writer for them. People do that, and you can, too.
 
Look at the Hasbro jobs page, get a degree from the kinds of places the other writers have gotten theirs, get into an internship, and write MLP episodes.
 
Or, find a bunch of friends an make your own, and either approach Hasbro for permission to do it first, or be ok with a C&D after. People have done both, and to be honest I’m not sure which is worse or better.

I have to admit, I seriously considered applying at DHX even just as a intern to get in some time on the show. I suppose now it might be better to go to Top Draw instead. Huh. According to their website, if you’ve got the chops they even have an “academy” program where you can show them what you’ve got.
 
Seems like ToonBoom is the way of the future.
 
At this point, anyone wanting to work on the front end of the show would probably be better off aiming for G5, which I think is going to be made in Ireland, instead of Canada … at least, that’s what appears to be the case based on where all the hiring for ToonBoom folks is based. But that might be some other brand, it might not even be MLP at this point.

@Ciaran  
Well, thanks for answering my second question. It made me feel a little bit better after… some saltiness that I had to deal with in another thread.

@Hollowfox the Stallion  
IDW is hiring, too they’re looking for an editor, and unpaid editor interns. You don’t get to pick the brand or title you work on, and most people work a half dozen or more each month, but it might be a way to get your foot in the door of seeing one of your stories eventually become a comic. And who knows, maybe one month it’ll be the latest MLP that lands in your desk, so you’ll get to spend some time with the folks writing and creating that brand :)
 
As an editor you’re working other people’s stories, not your own, so that’s not what you’re looking for, but it’s a way to get a start in the industry, and if they are ever looking for a freelance writer to fill in then you’ll already be there. And being there is often the thing that makes the difference.
 
Mind - editing and writing are VERY different disciplines, but it looks like the interns are expected to work the San Diego ComicCon, and working tradeshows is an awesome way to meet folks who are good to know, too. There’s something about being tired and worn out together behind the scenes at a trade show that makes it easy to get to know folks who otherwise are celebrities and are inaccessible.

@Hollowfox the Stallion  
But, seriously, if you just want to get your story made, then find some friends who draw and some friends who want to do voice acting, and a director, and an editor, and make an episode yourself. Put it on YouTube and it it’s really great you’ll have your own personal chance to talk with Hasbro’s legal team, which is always a lot more fun than places like Sony.
 
And if you don’t have those kinds of friends, sign up for some animation or writing or production classes at your local art school.
 
That’s how a lot of this stuff happens.
 
Folks hanging out at art schools who need to do a project for a grade are a great way to make fan videos. And the schools usually have the kind of equipment and production studios on hand for you to use that you might never be able to afford yourself.

Why are the DHX staff prohibited from knowingly reading fanfiction? Man how paranoid can the top exec get!?

@Absol95  
It’s not about paranoia. It’s a common thing in staff of series that are not allowed to read fanworks just in the rare offchance they could end up accidentally put into official media for legal reasons and stuff.