It's Melvin Mania.

And.

Today's guests.

Well, folks, if only happened.

Our set has been upgraded.

What do you think, Steve-O?

Shall we take a little Absolutely.

Let's do it.

Stella, would you mind queuing up the tour?

Oh, yeah.

Coming up, the tour music now.

first up, we have our brand new carpet.

This multistage carpet is top of the line and has lots of colors, including orange and red.

And teal and brown and whatever color this is.

Light brown, I guess.

Anyway, this carpet is also really special because our awesome PBS Kansas corporate account executive, Kerby, got it for us Oh!

That's awesome.

Did you remember to tell her?

Thank you.

my goodness, Steve-O!

I totally forgot.

I'll be right back.

Hey, Kirby, it's Melvin.

I just want to say thank you so much for the new carpet in the studio.

No problem.

Melvin, you're very welcome.

Next up is this brand new orange recliner.

It's super comfy, and it also doubles as a bed.

When I had to spend the night in the studio.

How often do you sleep at the studio?

Melvin?

Not that often.

Do you have, like, a rough estimate would probably be like, you know what?

I would really like to just get back to the tour, if that's okay.

Oh, yeah.

Of course.

Sorry.

I didn't mean to throw you off.

it's all good.

Stella, can you put the music back Can do.

Let's get back to the tour.

Next up is our new 50 inch flat screen TV.

It's pretty nice.

And it can display video in high definition.

So I'm excited to see what that looks like.

From what I've heard, the visuals are so clear that you can count each individual hair on someone's head.

Pretty crazy right?

Stevo?

wild man.

Technology has really come a long I know it's crazy.

Next thing you know, we'll be able to access the internet on a TV.

Anyway, before I forget, the last few things that are new on our set.

Are these items sent in by one of our Melville maniacs, Woodrow Massey?

He sent in a puppet turtle and al hippo and a necklace with my face on it.

Each thing is so cool, but I think the necklace is my favorite.

Anyway, I think that concludes our tour.

Stella, do you mind, playing some new music as I head to my desk?

got it, Melvin.

Here's some new studio tunes.

So, Steve.

Oh, I'm just going to cut right to the chase.

I want to make a movie.

really?

Okay.

What makes you want to do Well, I was thinking we upgraded the studio.

So the next logical step is to upgrade the show think making a movie is the best way to do that.

to be.

I mean, what's bigger than the I guess it would be a movie.

Exactly.

And what sounds better to you is Devo, Melvin Mania, the TV show, or Melvin Mania?

The It does sound pretty cool, but are you sure you can undertake an entire movie, Melvin?

I mean, have you ever made a movie before?

haven't, so this will be my first time doing it.

Which leads me right into our first segment of the show.

Melvin's first time.

In today's edition of Melvin's first time, I will be making a movie.

Okay, Steve-O, what do I need to do first?

I don't know the first thing about making movies.

Oh, really?

Stella, do you have any experience making movies?

don't.

The only experience I have with movies is watching well, it looks like we're really starting from square one.

I was really banking on one of you knowing how to make a movie, but that's okay.

Steve, I know you're not an expert, but what do you think we should do first?

I still think we can make it happen, but with all of us being so new to this, we're definitely going to need That's true.

Honestly, I'm thinking the best type of person would be someone that could teach us how to make a movie.

Exactly.

Someone that's like a film professor would be perfect for something like this.

professor.

Where have I heard that before?

Wait, Steve-O.

I know exactly who to Really?

Who?

You know a film professor?

do none other than Wichita State's very own Robert Thomas.

Robert Thomas is a filmmaker, educator, and the associate director of the School of Digital Art and program coordinator of filmmaking at Wichita State University.

He has over 15 years of experience in the film space, shooting everything from commercials to short films and feature length projects.

Please help me in welcoming Robert to the show.

Oh, yeah.

We have a new TV.

Let me just grab the remote real quick.

There we go.

Welcome to the show, Robert.

Thanks for having me.

Am I on two TVs You, we're pretty high tech around here, Melvin.

Mania.

And what's better than one TV?

Two TVs.

You almost got it.

But it's actually the only thing better than one.

TV is a small TV inside a bigger TV.

But you were very close.

Anyway, as much as I would love to continue talking tech, I have a question for you, Robert, that doesn't have anything to do with filmmaking that I wanted to get out of the way before we started talking moviemaking.

Are you cool with that?

Of course.

What's Well, I was looking at the Wichita State website and it said you were the director of soda.

So I had a few questions regarding that.

Oh, okay.

Yeah.

I guess I was just wondering, are you like in charge of all the soda in the world, or do you just pick the flavors?

I mean, either way, I assume you're around soda all the time.

you might be a little confused, Melvin.

The soda that's on the website is not the soda you drink.

It's an acronym, and it stands for School of Digital That makes more sense.

In all honesty, you should be glad, because I had a lot more complaints than questions regarding soda.

So you would have heard all about how I think soda is in a really tough spot right now, and I don't think it's really been hit its stride since 2005.

But that's a conversation for another day.

Let's move on from soda and talk about the real reason you're here.

Robert, I want to make a movie.

that is awesome.

How If I had to put a percentage on it, I would say, 0%.

we're really starting Unfortunately, yes.

I'm very sorry.

problem, Melvin.

Should we get started?

literally what's the first thing we should do?

Well, every great movie starts with a Gotcha.

A script, what exactly is that?

Essentially, a script is when you take all of your ideas and write it down.

You'll have specifics, like dialog.

What the characters say or actions, what the characters do.

You'll even write down the locations you plan to film Oh wow, that sounds so hopeful.

Especially because I feel like I have most of the movie in my head, but writing it all out would show me what I actually have and also help me remember everything.

Exactly.

Obviously, it's super fun to use our imaginations and and think about what our movie can be.

But until we start putting pen to paper and writing those ideas down, well, that movie will never Oh, never thought of it that way.

So when it comes to writing a script, is that's something I have to do by myself or not.

Filmmaking is all about collaboration.

And a lot of people that write movies have writing partners, which can be super helpful when you need someone to bounce ideas that makes a lot of sense.

Steve.

Oh, Stella, do you guys want to be my writing partners?

That sounds like a blast.

I'm so down.

Perfect.

Okay, Robert, we're going to head to the PBS Kansas board room and start writing.

We'll be right back.

All right, everyone, welcome to the first ever writing session for Melvin Mania the Movie.

I'm thinking the first thing we could do is you both can just name a bunch of stuff you want in the movie, and I'll write it down.

Stella, would you mind if need us with some writing montage music?

Let's get to writing.

Hit me with your ideas.

The movie needs action.

You can't have a movie without a little bit of romance.

Robots.

Dinosaurs.

Oh, I really like that.

You should definitely be the main character.

Melvin.

There needs to be a lot of twist.

I don't want to see what's coming next.

Trains.

How did I not think of that?

Bananas, Puzzles.

trucks.

Make sure it's a little scary, but not too scary.

The movie has to have music.

don't we just use AI to write the script?

Get Oh.

here.

Let's get back to it.

Spaceships.

Swords.

There needs to be a little drama just to keep the story interesting.

The movie should be funny, but I also know when it's time to be serious.

Okay.

I think that's good.

I'm just going to add vacuum pizza.

Maybe there can be some cameos throughout the movie.

All right.

It's pretty much a perfect list.

Thank you guys so much.

And now let's start writing.

Once upon a time.

All right.

Robert.

We got it.

Here's our script.

Just under 100 pages of absolute gold.

Wow.

That's great.

And it only took you like 15 minutes to put it all I know once Steve on Stella started throwing her ideas, my wheels just started turning and we were like a well-oiled machine.

So, what do we do next?

now that you have the script written, you can go ahead and shoot your movie.

And from the looks of it, you've got the cameras taken care of.

So now you just need to pick where you want to record I actually do have a place in mind, but I wanted to get your thoughts on it first.

okay.

What were you thinking?

I just thought I could record the movie at the Creation Station and the PBS Kansas Coach Garvey Children's Education Discovery Center.

Plus, with us making the movie there, because I inspire some kids to visit the creation station themselves.

Maybe they could make a movie just as good or better than ours.

a great idea, Melvin.

Do you think you're going to need any help with the tech?

Oh, for sure.

But don't worry, Len's over there and she'll show me exactly how to use it.

I'm going to grab my script and I'll head that way.

Now.

Man, this is way more complicated than I thought it was going to be.

Len.

Len.

No.

Oh, I hear.

What do you need?

Well, I was wanting to make or keep this on the down low.

Okay?

I'm wanting to make a movie.

Okay.

Very cool.

Anything.

And I want to make it in the video creation station.

Okay, but I don't know exactly how to use this.

Okay.

And I'm a little nervous because I don't want the entire movie to be green.

I just knew this was a video creation station, so it made the most sense to record the movie here.

So I'm glad you came over.

So do you want to talk about the green screen and what this is all about?

Yeah.

Yeah.

Of course.

Yeah, let's do it.

So this is just a technique that video producers use.

and what's really interesting is the reason is green is because humans don't have any green in them.

That makes sense.

Yeah.

Then what video editors can do is they can take out the human and put whatever background they want you can put whatever background you want out there.

Anything So you do it on this tablet right here.

let's have the camera guy come over here.

Let's see.

Let's see this.

All this action right here.

Now this is all set up.

I'll back up a little bit.

Okay.

The first thing that they do is they always add the camera.

We have the camera here, but we're just going to pretend okay we're adding the camera.

And so if you come over here Melvin a little bit we can see you in there.

Oh, look at that.

That's okay.

And then we go in here and we have a whole bunch of backgrounds saved some of our favorite backgrounds of the kids like to use.

I'd like to do the cat background.

Okay.

And it looks like one of our friends also loves cats.

So we say, here we go.

And there's a wow.

Just like that?

Let me go back a little bit.

Yeah I better oh Yeah.

That looks great.

Oh I love to.

You know I learn I'm ready to make my movie.

Right?

There you go.

Yeah, I as well just do it right now.

I'm already here.

You already here?

You're looking good.

Okay, Melvin.

Okay, you know what?

You you're going to come in five.

Okay.

Four.

Three.

Two.

One.

Thanks, Lynn.

Well, Robert, I've written the movie.

I've recorded the movie, and now I'm ready for the next part.

Melvin, you are on a roll.

The next part is editing that movie Okay, cool.

How do I do that?

first you're going to want to download a video editing app to your computer, tablet, or even your Gotcha.

And which of those devices would you suggest I edit on?

I just want to make sure I picked the right one.

up to you, mouse.

And with editing, there's a lot of repetition.

You're listening to the edit again and again, trying to find that perfect cut.

So I recommend you pick whatever you're most comfortable with.

For me, that's a Well, I want to be like you, Robert.

So I'm going to pick a computer to.

Melvin.

I'm positive.

How hard could it be?

Let's go do some video editing.

Okay, so I got the editing app up, and this is a lot more complicated I thought I was going to be I thought I was going pretty simple, just kind of put them accepted.

And Okay, so I found a tutorial.

It's called a really good at it, twirl it in HD, which is awesome.

It's by, the editing master.

Okay.

Here we go.

The editing master.

All right.

Let's do it.

editing.

All right.

Robert, I'm finally done editing, and the movie is done.

Robert.

Steve-O.

Where's Robert?

time ago.

Melvin.

I mean, you've been gone for, like, a a month?

I've been editing for a month.

Steve-O, why don't you come and get me?

I did, Melvin.

Hey, Melvin, Robert's about to head out.

should be out there pretty soon.

Stable.

I got about 17 hours of the tutorials, so, I shouldn't be much longer Oh, yeah.

Well, did he say anything before he left?

but I am just now remembering he did leave a note on your Oh, good.

Oh, there it is.

Let me let me read it.

Hey, Melvin, it's Robert.

I hope your video editing went well.

Once you were gone for five days straight, I decided to go ahead and head out.

If you have any more questions regarding your finished movie.

You can contact my own personal producer, Mrs.

Rock.

She's great at the business side of movies and would be happy to help you out.

I can't wait to see the movie.

All the best.

Your friend Robert.

Wow.

I'm really surprised he was able to fit all that on this sticky note.

He just has a really small handwriting.

Anyway, I do have a few more questions, so I think it'd be a smart move to talk to Mrs.

Rock.

Mrs.

Rock is a drawing that was into by one of our viewers to put in our creative box.

And if you're interested in having your drawing featured on the show, you can email us at melvin@kpt.org.

Mrs.

Rock was sent in by Aspen from Derby.

Okay.

Welcome to the show, Mrs.

Rock.

Okay.

So basically, I was thinking that, like.

chase, Melvin.

You got eight minutes.

Now.

There's no way.

Seven minutes have already You're right.

12 minutes have passed.

You got three minutes.

man, this is so stressful.

I got a busy schedule, Melvin.

One minute.

I made a Oh, yeah.

Is it any good?

It's good.

It's great.

Is it good or great?

Which one?

Melvin.

great.

hear.

You wanted to show it That would be amazing.

But I did just get this new TV for the studio that I thought we could show it on and we no, no.

That TV's way too small.

If this movie's great, you'll want to show it on a big screen.

Okay.

Let's do that then.

I already made where you already made calls.

Boulevard Theater in downtown Wichita in 52 minutes.

Talk to Tyler when you get there and don't be late.

amazing.

Thank you so much.

How could I ever repay Just send a check in the mail.

Wow.

That was incredible.

I feel like I just ran a marathon.

Steve-O.

know I feel the same way.

She's very good at her job.

You could say that again, Steve-O.

Well, I probably should head to all of our theaters.

I don't know exactly how to get there, but I got about 50 minutes, so I got plenty of time to figure it out.

I know, I know.

52, 53, 54, 55.

56.

57.

58.

59.

60.

52 minutes.

All right.

Sorry.

Tyler.

This, Mrs.

Rock was very serious about me being here exactly at 52 minutes, Anyway, here is the tape for my movie.

so we can show it.

So, what theater will we be watching the movie in?

We will actually be watching it in our deluxe theater.

Oh.

Do you want any snacks or drinks?

Well, actually, I brought my own, popcorn from home that I'm going to be planning on eating out in the theater.

Oh, Oh, Melvin, if you're gonna watch a movie of all of our theaters, you got to have all of our theaters.

Popcorn.

okay.

Well, let's go get some, then.

Let's do Do you want any butter on that, Normally, yes, but I'm currently on the no butter diet, so I'm going to have to pass by.

Man, that looks good.

Especially because it's like liquid butter.

Actually, just put it on there.

Okay.

Put it on there.

All right.

Let's Don't tell him.

Don't tell my all to the doctor.

Don't tell my doctor on my fitness coach.

All right.

Oh, I'm being bad today, Tyler.

Okay.

Here we are.

All right.

Oh, are you ready, Melvin?

I think so, I'm.

I'm a little nervous, though I won't lie, there's no reason to be nervous.

All right, let's go ahead and start it.

Roll it.

The moon.

The big rock in the sky.

Most people like looking at it at night, but they don't realize that there.

There's something mysterious about the moon.

And that mysterious thing is, I live there, but not by my own choice.

It's because I was framed and I am currently in moon jail.

Man, I cannot believe I am in moon jail.

This is just terrible.

And the only thing they feed me here are these bananas.

And I'm just getting sick of them.

Oh, man.

The good thing, though, is that I'm about to give my phone call back to Earth, so I'll be able to talk to someone.

So, What does that actually believe?

Okay.

Looks like I'm going to be able to get my phone call right now.

Come on, pick up, pick up.

Come on.

Pick up.

Hello?

Hey, Steve.

Oh, it's Melvin.

I chose you to be my, phone call home on moon jail.

How's it going back on Earth?

It's going pretty okay, Melvin, but I won't lie.

Earth has changed a lot since you left.

But I think once your sentence is up in eight days, we can get you back on Earth and you can start defending your name.

I just don't know, Steve-O.

Eight days seems like too long.

I think it's time for me to escape moon jail.

Melvin, I just don't know.

You've only been on moon jail for two days, and your sentence is ten days, so I just feel like you should stick it out for three more days, and then.

Hello, Melvin.

Melvin.

Melvin, how is moon jail?

Moon jail has been pretty tough, but no worries.

I won't be here very much longer.

Yes.

Your sentence is eight more days.

Maybe.

Or perhaps I will be leaving sooner.

I don't understand not computing.

What do you mean by leaving an eight?

In less than eight more days.

Alert.

Alert!

Where did Melvin go?

His cell is empty.

Oh, shit.

Here.

Push, push push push push.

Wow.

Stevo wasn't kidding.

Earth is completely different now.

I was on the outer moon jail for two days.

But, man, everything has changed.

Well, as much as I would love to continue exploring this planet, I need to stay focused.

And I need to go find Lynn because she has gathered up a lot of new evidence to clear my name.

And I need to see, what she has.

And, I need to see if she has something new that will help me figure out, what I need to do next.

I'm going to go there now.

Oh, she'll.

Crash!

Lynn, I just don't know.

These files aren't saying anything.

We'll find it, I promise.

Don't lose hope.

We will find it.

Melvin.

Let's just keep looking.

Go through your papers.

I'll go through my files here.

We will find it.

I just want to.

I need to prove that I'm innocent.

And all these files are just saying that I'm guilty.

And that's just not true.

It is.

It is not true.

Nobody believes that.

Nobody.

I was framed, Lynn, I know it.

Oh, we will work it out.

We will work.

Oh, look what I found.

What is it?

I found a file that is going to prove that you're innocent.

Okay, what does it say?

But there's one challenge.

Okay.

We have to go to Dinosaur Planet to get that file.

Okay, so this file tells you that we need to go to Dinosaur Planet to find another file.

And then I know you said we have to go.

It is far too dangerous for you to go to dinosaur in there with me.

I will be going by myself.

Will you be safe, Melvin?

Yes.

Okay.

But listen, I'm going to need a ride there.

So let's take your truck.

Okay.

To the, closest spaceport.

Okay.

And then I will travel the dinosaur planet, and I will be retrieving the file.

Okay.

And I have a really fast truck, so we will get there fast.

Let's go.

People.

Honk honk honk honk honk.

Well, then I guess this is goodbye.

I have to head to Dinosaur Planet to prove my innocence.

You do?

Will I ever see you again, Melvin?

I think so.

I don't know how dangerous this mission is going to be.

I'm going to try to make it back alive.

But if I don't, Yeah, that's just going to be what happens.

Well, you know that I love you, Melvin.

Then I. I love you, too.

Oh.

Thank you.

Specifically as a friend, though.

Just a friend.

I would not have it any other way.

Perfect.

Let's go ahead and give each other a high five real first, and I will see you then when I get back, I promise I will be back.

All right, be safe, Melvin.

We'll do.

Wow.

Dinosaur planet.

Well, I need to go find that file so I better in Dinosaur Castle.

How do I get there?

Hey, you.

Yeah, you.

How do I get to Dinosaur Castle?

The crane.

I can take a train there.

Sound interesting?

Whoo hoo!

Drop drop drop drop drop to do something.

Well, there it is, Dinosaur Castle.

And it looks like I can only get in with three different ways I can either solve a puzzle, I can find my way through with a sword, or I can put on a disguise.

Which one?

Well, I'm not very good to puzzles.

I want to say peaceful, but a disguise.

I think I could do that, and I think I know exactly what to disguise myself as.

Okay.

Time to get out of my disguise, man.

It was weird being a vacuum, but there it is.

The fire.

All I have to do now is grab it.

Not so fast, Melvin.

Wait.

Who are you?

It's me, Kevin the Rat for Melvin season one, episode six.

Remember me?

I'm so confused.

Kevin.

What?

What does this file have to do with you?

The files.

Oh, the files have everything to do with me, Melvin.

Because I'm the one.

The framed.

Yeah.

You want to know why I did it?

Because I want your show.

I want Kevin mania.

The people, the man.

Kevin hosts the show.

Melvin the people want Kevin sitting in the desk, cheese all over the desk, talking about his favorite things with cheese, cheese, pizza, cheese, crackers, just plain slices of cheese.

It don't matter.

Kevin, what's the cheese?

And if your God, Kevin gets this show.

Kevin the rat mania I was recording the entire time you were talking, and I have already posted it on the internet, which means that when people see it on any social media site, they will now know that I am innocent and that you found me.

And that was not a very cool thing to do.

And you need to realize that when you do something like that to someone is very mean.

And, let's not do that again because that is not a cool thing to do.

So I have recorded all of it.

It will now be on the internet forever, because when you put stuff on the internet, it lasts forever.

And I will be posting it on all the websites in the world because you are afraid to me and I am innocent.

And that is the end of the movie and well, go, go ahead and roll the credits now.

Did I like it?

Did I like it?

Yep.

I think he liked it.

Well, look who it is.

It's Tim, the timekeeper.

How'd the show So good.

Tim.

I made a movie.

For real?

Why Oh, Tim, I'm so sorry, I. I just didn't realize that you would want to be in just messing with you, Melvin.

It's no worries.

I'm more of a book guy anyway.

good.

I promise, if I ever write a book, I'll let you know.

But in the meantime, shall we wrap up I think it's time.

Let's do it.

It's time to end the show.

We want to see you go.

We really have to say we have the perfect day.

All right, send the chorus now.

You're right.

Melvin mania.

Melvin mania.

Inside time.

It's time to go.

You're at Melvin Mania now.

In mania.

It's time.

It's time to go.

It's time to say goodbye.

I think I might just cry.

For Melvin and the crew.

It's time to say I do.

That means goodbye.

You're at Melvin mania.

Melvin mania.

It's time to say goodbye.

You're at Melvin mania.

Melvin radio.

It's time to say goodbye.

All right, well, I'll see you in the next episode.

Bye bye.