BERKELEY – Nominated for a highly respected writing award, Charley and Vlas Parlapanides, who grew up in Seaside Park and attended local schools, said they still feel like outsiders in the world of Hollywood.
The Writers Guild of America (WGA) published their nominations for outstanding writing in a number of categories, and their show, “Blood Of Zeus,” is up against some of the pantheon of modern animated shows. The awards will be presented on February 15 at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles. The brothers took a moment to speak with The Berkeley Times about writing in animation and their local roots.
“We’re very proud to be in the Guild,” Vlas said. “To be recognized by your peers is a big honor. The other writers nominated in our category are very talented and they are as deserving.”
The nomination is specifically for episode 3 of Season 2, “Winter Is Born.” Individual episodes are nominated, which is why – of six noms – three are from “The Simpsons” and two are from “Bob’s Burgers.”
This is not too surprising. When you say “animation,” most people think “cartoons,” and therefore “funny.”
“Blood of Zeus” is a serious adventure and the main characters are the little people whose lives have become collateral damage of the gods’ schemes.
Hades and Persephone might not be what viewers expect of these mythological beings. (Photo courtesy Charley & Vlas Parlapanides)
The WGA only started recognizing animated shows in 2002. Since then, that category has been dominated by humor. The only non-comedy nominations have been “Justice League” in 2004 and “Star Wars Rebels” in 2016. “Undone” was nominated in 2022 and won.
Still, they are an underdog up against the juggernauts of the Fox Broadcasting Company.
“Our business in Hollywood is high school with money,” Charley said. There are cliques and you learn quickly which one you belong to. Comedy, for example, is not put on the same pedestal as drama. Animation is not seen as positively as live action.
“Animation is not given the love they deserve,” he said. “Adult dramas have segued into the animation space. We’re one of the first. For one day, we get invited to the cool kids’ table.”
Different outlets like Collider will rank shows based on Greek mythology and “Blood Of Zeus” is up there with live action. “It validates that we told a good story. What matters most is the telling,” Vlas said.
The Parlapanides brothers are not new to Greek myths, having written “Immortals.”
The stories that are told in “Blood Of Zeus” would cost $200 million if it was live action like that 2011 film. Audiences want the same high-energy, high stakes action. “They want that spectacle,” Charley said.
Animation is a less expensive way to get your imagination onto the screen. Netflix gives them a healthy budget and they’ve been great partners, Vlas said. “We’ve been able to tell the story that we wanted to tell.”
Charley and Vlas Parlapanides (from left) spoke with The Berkeley Times about their writing. (Photo courtesy Charley & Vlas Parlapanides)
“When you’re afforded the ability to tell a story the way you want to tell it, a lot of your personality gets into the story,” Vlas said. “A lot of who we are is in ‘Blood Of Zeus.’”
They might not be part god like the main character, Heron. But they understand not fitting in. Heron doesn’t feel at home among mortals or on Mount Olympus.
“Our mother was born and raised in Greece and we grew up on the Jersey shore. We always felt like a little bit of an outsider. We didn’t look like it but we were,” Vlas said, joking about how other kinds wondered why they were bringing spanakopita to lunch.
“Part of it is because we’re Greek, and every story is either a comedy or a tragedy. That’s part of our DNA. It’s been imbued in us,” Charley said. “Being a kid playing GI Joe and making up a story – that’s what we’re doing now. It all bleeds into what we are and what we do.”
“There’s always common themes – family, self-sacrifice – and it always shows in our work,” he said.
Their parents both worked two jobs. Their mother, for example, worked at the board of election and then would go park cars because the family owned a parking lot.
“We’re always rooting for the underdog and that’s what finds our way back in our work,” he said.
“We always root for people from our area,” Vlas said. People like fellow Central grad Al Leiter, or Keith Elias (even though he’s from Central’s rival – Lacey) are true tales of hometown kids going far. It provides inspiration for other kids growing up in the area.
“At our core, we’re dreamers. If you worked hard you can do what you need to,” he said. Then, referring to he and his brother: “These guys made it and they didn’t know anyone in Hollywood. We were quintessential outsiders.”
“Blood of Zeus” was often in good company to see what was trending. (Photo courtesy Charley & Vlas Parlapanides)
But being different doesn’t mean you don’t have the same feelings as everyone else. In addition to otherness and self-sacrifice, one of the themes they tackle is anger.
“Seraphim has anger issues; he’s not able to control it,” Vlas said of Heron’s opposite number. “Heron is finally able to handle his anger. (The goddess) Hera has anger and it changes her – people will see in season 3 – it changes her for the better.”
These emotions we all feel connects us to the characters, they said.
“Our society is crafted by stories,” Charley said. “What makes society is the shared stories we tell.”
Season 3 is scheduled to air in May on Netflix.
The brothers have three features in development: “Demigod,” “Live Bet,” and the autobiographical “Summer Rental.”
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