New Project At Disney!

We're working on a big, female driven feature comedy with our good friend, "Superstar!" Molly Shannon!

DEADLINE HOLLYWOOD - EXCLUSIVE: Molly Shannon teamed with veteran scribes Rob Muir and Bob Hilgenberg to sell an untitled comedy feature pitch to Disney. They will write the script together for a film that could be a star vehicle for Shannon. It’s based on their own experiences as parents, and the comedy focuses on the social world of motherhood. The film will be produced by Andrew Panay (Wedding Crashers), and Shannon will be exec producer. Hilgenberg & Muir are currently scripting a live-action version of The Family Circus for Fox and Walden Media. Shannon’s repped by Gersh and Framework Entertainment, the scribes are repped by Summit Talent & Literary.

It's a far cry from the days when we were knockin' around comedy clubs in LA with Molly. The Rob & Molly Show was a showcase that led directly to getting Molly on SNL! After that, Rob was stuck with Bob.

Below, Molly tells the kind of stories that led to the three of us coming up with the idea for this project.

Glee's Jane Lynch and ABC's Man Up! Christopher Moynihan in "Scribes"

You'll see in this "sizzle reel" that actress Jane Lynch ('The 40 Year Old Virgin', 'Glee') plays the part of a studio head that we actually pitched and sold a film to. Everyone has their guesses as to who the character is based on...(in the real meeting, Diane Keaton was in the pitch with us, as she was attached as actress and producer). The dialog in the short film "Hiding In Walls", which "Scribes" is based on, was almost verbatim!

When we sold the pitch, we were baffled by what the studio head had liked, as he/she hadn't really understood the story we were telling AND had odd interpretations about the whole idea. As we stood outside in the parking lot, Diane lamented, "I don't know what they just bought...I'm just glad I don't have to write it!" As it turned out nobody did and the project crashed and burned just about the time the studio chief was fired. Look for our buddy Machete star DANNY TREJO turning in a comedy cameo, as well! You can watch the entire short film "Hiding In Walls", here http//www.outofpocketfilms.com/home.html

Grown-Ups (PART 1)

This is a pilot we created and wrote for Columbia/Tristar Television, a number of years ago. In a perfect world it would currently be running in syndication after a seven year network run! But, this was the year Reality TV took center stage...woo hoo! At any rate, we had a great cast and a great time producing this little four-camera-comedy. Enjoy Grown-Ups, the Bob & Rob version. (click-through to watch on Youtube, there are four parts).

The Family Circus - Casting in our heads.

When we write screenplays we like to have some of the characters already "cast' in our minds...it helps us keep the voices consistent. On this project we have what we consider a "dream cast" as a starting point! Kevin James as Bill, (Dad) and Tina Fey as Thelma, (Mom). Having just completed the first draft, we want to thank Kevin and Tina for their help!

The Family Circus!

We have sold the pitch and have been commenced by Twentieth Century Fox and Walden Media to write the screenplay for this classic comic! John Baldecchi and Stacy Maes are producing. We're really excited about writing this live action film with lots of CG elements. Over 70 million people a day read this great family comic, which is still written by its creator Bill Keane along with his son Jeff. More here... http://www.deadline.com/2010/10/fox-walden-media-win-the-family-circus/

Bob & Rob (us) at the Tink screening with Brad Raymond and John Lasseter.

After a lot of work the Tinker Bell film is ready for launch! We had a really nice day at the Cast and Crew screening of the film on the Disney lot. Especially cool was that our offices are about twenty feet away in the Old Animation Building. As mentioned multiple times on this blog, we are incredibly proud of this film and feel honored to have been a part of it. Sometimes you get lucky and catch lightning in a bottle...we think we did just that with this classic Disney tale.

"Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue" Premiere

"Tinker Bell" Red Carpet, left to right, Producer Helen Kalafatic, Writer Bob Hilgenberg (of Bob & Rob), Director Bradley Raymond and his wife Mayada.

What an amazing night we had out under the stars watching the premiere of our film, "Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue"! Held at a park in Beverly Hills, Disney pulled out all the stops for this "Picnic In The Park" party and screening of the film. A HUGE screen displayed Tink in all of her magical glory. Guest included cast members, actor Michael Sheen, (Dr. Griffiths), Mae Whitman, (Tinker Bell), Raven-Symone, (Iridessa), Pamela Adlon, (Vidia) and Jeff Bennett, (Bobble). Tons of other celebs and their families were in attendance as well...former Laker turned actor Rick Fox even donned a pair of fairy wings for the entire night!

The film opens this weekend at The El Capitan Theater in Hollywood! If you get a chance see it on the big screen, it's stunning! Oh, we should add Rob was there, he just left the photo ops to Bob...he couldn't tear himself away from the free gourmet food!