Line #37 Film/YouOughtToBeInPictures


1	[[quoteright:250:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/250px-You_Ought_to_Be_in_Pictures_screenshot_7150.jpg]]
2	[[caption-width-right:250:TheyWalkAmongUs.]]
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4	"You Ought to Be in Pictures" is a groundbreaking WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes short from 1940 directed by Creator/FrizFreleng made during UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfAnimation. Though not the first to do it, it's widely considered to be the film that perfected the art of [[RogerRabbitEffect making cartoon characters interact with live-action actors]], a special effect that had had several failed starts during UsefulNotes/TheSilentAgeOfAnimation and would only be surpassed 48 years later with ''Film/WhoFramedRogerRabbit''.
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6	The plot of the short follows WesternAnimation/PorkyPig and WesternAnimation/DaffyDuck, who are AnimatedActors that reside at the cartoon studio "Termite Terrace". During lunch time, Daffy, wanting to become the star of the studio and usurp Porky's fame, tricks Porky into tearing up his contract with Leon Schlesinger and leaving to try and make it big in feature films in another studio. {{Hilarity\|Ensues}}, naturally, [[HilarityEnsues ensues]].
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9	!!"You Ought to Be in Pictures" provides examples of:
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11	* AsHimself: WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes producer Leon Schlesinger.
12	* AttentionWhore: The reason Daffy wants to get Porky out is so that he can take his place and rise in popularity.
13	* BewareTheNiceOnes: This short includes one of the rare moments where Porky Pig gets angry, and gives Daffy a NoHoldsBarredBeatdown.
14	* CharacterisationClickMoment: This is the first cartoon to toy with Daffy's more devious glory-obsessed side, attempting to usurp Porky's then-role as the studio's big star. While Daffy would remain a loveable screwball for a few years after, he would slowly evolve into a more ambitious and egomaniacal character, with his role as a conniving show business antagonist intensified in the likes of fifties cartoons such as ''WesternAnimation/ShowBizBugs''.
15	* ConspicuouslyLightPatch: Certain objects, such as the Stage 7 door and Porky's torn-up contract, as well as the flurry of papers Porky pulls out of the wastebin, become hand-drawn cartoon objects when the 'toons need to manipulate them. The scenes in which the live actors physically interact with the 'toons are also noticeably blurrier (most of the shots otherwise have them acting against still photographs) due to the double-exposure to make the magic happen.
16	* CreatorCameo: Numerous Looney Tunes staff made cameos in this film:
17	** Producer Leon Schlesinger appears AsHimself in the cartoon.
18	** Among the staffers running out of the studio for lunch are directors Creator/ChuckJones and Creator/BobClampett.
19	** Writer Mike Maltese appears as the studio security guard (although his voice is dubbed over by Mel Blanc).
20	** Animator Gerry Chiniquy plays the studio director who calls for the stage to be quiet (although like with Mike, his voice is dubbed over by Mel Blanc). Staffers Henry Binder and Paul Marin make cameos, and Henry is the stagehand who throws Porky off the set.
21	* DoubleTake: Porky Pig does this when the guard says, "So I can lose my job." At first Porky nods, but then he shakes his head.
22	* ExtraLongEpisode: The average ''LT[=/=]MM'' short was around 6 or 7 minutes, but this clocks in at 9:44, making it their second longest short (''WesternAnimation/HortonHatchesTheEgg'' is 6 seconds longer).
23	* FishOutOfWater: The primary reason for Porky's troubles at the film studio. First of all, he does not know that you cannot simply enter a film studio unannounced and start work, which results in him making an enemy of the studio guard. When he does manage to sneak in, he does not know where to go, resulting in him wandering around a number of sets and sound stages and causing problems, much to the staff's displeasure.
24	* {{Flanderization}}: This is the very first time Daffy was depicted as a selfish and greedy schemer, beginning his {{Flanderization}} into the money-grubbing, [[SmallNameBigEgo egotistical]] ButtMonkey he was characterized in several later cartoons.
25	* IWantSong: Daffy gets one in which he begs Schlesinger to give him a larger role. He does this to sate his ego.
26	-->'''Daffy:''' ''[singing]'' And now you that have seen my act, how's about a nice contract?
27	* ManipulativeBastard: Daffy talks Porky into quitting, but only so he can have a chance to talk Schlesinger into giving ''him'' a contract.
28	* NiceGuy: Defied with the security guard. Porky was hoping he would be this, but the guard openly admits, "I'm not a nice guy!"
29	* NoCelebritiesWereHarmed: At one point, Porky pretends to be [[Creator/LaurelAndHardy Oliver Hardy]].
30	* NoHoldsBarredBeatdown: Porky gives an offscreen one to Daffy near the end. He's covered in bandages the next time we see him.
31	* NoSmoking: Porky briefly passes by a "No smoking" sign.
32	* OhCrap: Porky during a DoubleTake with the guard.
33	* PerformerGuise: In an attempt to get into the studio, Porky disguises himself as comedian Oliver Hardy using a wig, mustache, and hat. It works at first, until the guard realizes Hardy already entered.
34	* PorkyPigPronunciation: From the TropeNamer, most memorably being unable to finish "Mr. Schlesinger", and finally just calling his boss Leon.
35	* RealLifeWritesThePlot: Friz allegedly based the events of the short off of a real life event where he briefly left the Warner Bros. cartoon studio to work at MGM. However, they barred him being creative with his artistic choices, and the only work he got there was on the schlocky ''[[ComicStrip/TheKatzenjammerKids The Captain And The Kids]]'' shorts, which he absolutely loathed. As soon as his contract expired, he went right back to Leon's studio, using this real life event as the basis for this cartoon.
36	* RogerRabbitEffect: A milestone in the technique. However, due to a low budget, there are only a handful of shots where the toons actually appear in the same shot as the live actors. Said budget is also why all the characters, including the live action characters except Schlesinger, are dubbed over by Mel Blanc (since they couldn't afford sound recording on the set).
37	* SneezeOfDoom: After sneaking into a studio, Porky lets out a sneeze that knocks over a ladder and a table, disrupting a film shoot and prompting the director to have him thrown out.
38	* TearUpTheContract: Subverted. Leon tears up some random papers to make Porky think he's tearing up his contract. When Porky returns, Leon reveals that he never tore up the contract and Porky is free to get back to work.
39	* TitledAfterTheSong: From the 1930s song "You Oughta Be in Pictures", which is even used as the short's opening theme.
40	* {{Toon}}: Daffy and Porky are both cartoon characters who interact with humans.
41	* UnprocessedResignation: When Porky goes into Leon's office to resign, Leon seemingly tears up his contract and tosses it in the trash. After Porky leaves, however, Leon [[AsideGlance turns to the audience]] and says, "He'll be back." Sure enough, after Porky returns to ask for his job back, Leon tells him he never tore up the contract.
42	* WeAreNotGoingThroughThatAgain: When Daffy tries to get Porky to quit his job again, the latter responds by [[ProducePelting throwing a tomato at him]].
43	* WellThisIsNotThatTrope: when Porky tries driving into Warner Bros. lot and is confronted by a security guard.
44	-->'''Guard:''' Who do you think you are, driving through here like that?\
45	'''Porky:''' Why, I'm P-P-P-Porky Pig.\
46	'''Guard:''' Oh, so you're Porky Pig? ''[Porky nods]'' And you wanna go in there? ''[Porky nods]'' And you want me to be a nice guy and let you go in there? ''[Porky nods]'' So I can lose my job? ''[Porky starts nodding, then catches what he just said and shakes his head]'' Well... I'm ''not'' a nice guy! And I'm ''not'' gonna let you in! And I'm ''not'' gonna lose my job! But I ''am'' gonna throw you out!

Context Film / YouOughtToBeInPictures