I know a fair few SS members have other creative side projects going on. John with Hyper Epics, Dustin and Mark with their fingers in every pie, so I thought I'd start a thread where we can share and discuss these projects, and potentially do some shameless plugs.

I started putting some money towards turning a feature of mine into a graphic novel, the feature is the one that made the BlueCat semi-finals and is currently in the PAGE quarterfinals.

I started in September last year after having a few discussions with members here about their experiences. It was quite a task finding an artist that I felt really delivered what I was looking for but after a lot of back and forth emails I got myself an artist and a letterer. For those that don’t know, the whole process can involve quit a lot of people, you have pencils/inks, colours, and letters, there are also people that specialise in just one part of that process. Lucky for me my guy does all the art so I only needed to find someone to do the letters (dialogue etc.).

Unfortunately this is a long and expensive process. I have 10 completed colour pages that still need dialogue and I'm just about to start 5 more.

It's quite unrealistic that I would be able to pay for this to be completed but it may end up on Kickstarter late this year or early next.

Either way this is a really fun and rewarding experience, it's a great way to see your script come to life, and a huge positive is that you have complete creative control over your work. I'm consulted at every stage of the process, and if I don’t like something it gets changed until I do.

I'm going to include a couple of pages here.

So what has everyone got going on?

Well done for taking the plunge, Warren and going for it with your graphic novel project. That artwork looks amazing and it is so rewarding to be involved in such creative endeavours.

Things have been a bit quiet for a while for me so I’ve been focusing on writing my first novel. 50k words in and about 30k more to go! It’s an adaptation of Cyborn (I’m Cyborn obsessed it seems!) and I’m loving the experience so far.

I’ve various short scripts optioned but they seem to have all stalled. One is in post-production so I’m hoping that one at least makes it across the line but these things take ages.

There’s a feature deal option for Dollmaker but I’m only advising on the treatment with the director at the moment. It’s another one that seems to have stalled and things are taking aaaaaagggggeeees. I doubt I’d be taken on board as a writer anyway, they want Matias and who can blame them!

Recently a production company read my Nearscape pilot and liked it, asked me if I could write something more contemporary so I’m expanding one of my OWC scripts (The Broken Kingdom) into a 30 min pilot as it’s won quite a few competitions and seems to be the type of TV show these guys are interested in. They have ‘opened a file on me’ and I’m free to send in any script so I’m trying to take advantage while I can.

I haven't done much of anything the last 2.5 years. I have five grandkids now so focus has shifted. That's all good, but as a result, not much is happening on my end as far as optioning/selling scripts go either. There are producers/directors out there willing to read whatever I have, but I just don't have any new material. I'm starting to miss it. Starting to feel left out. Forgotten. Left at the platform while the train pulls away, lol.

I wrote a short, should be posted here soon, that Dena and I will shoot in August. That should be fun. We always work well together. It's titled Robocaller, but that will probably change since the story took a different turn once I started writing it.

I also hired someone to do a comic style pitch for a feature, but it didn't workout real well. The guy did a beautiful job, just didn't get the story I wanted it to tell. That's what happens I think when you hire someone online from a hiring service where you can't talk to each other than in text form. I told him in text what I was looking for and he thought he got, but...

Forgot, Warren, that looks awesome! Great that you are exploring other avenues. Good luck!

These look GREAT!

I recently did a $5 comic to help pitch a feature. I have not had great luck with it yet.

Wow - the art work looks fabulous!! That was neat seeing

Warren - Fantastic artwork! Best of luck with the rest of the novel. I'm sure you'll let us know if/ when you get a Kickstarter going. Count me in for a few $$.

Mark - Nice to hear Cyborn is still alive and kicking (pun intended). Very worth the effort to take that one further.

My efforts have seen a bit of impact from my real job (travelling to Perth for a week in August if anyone has any recommendations), but I'm still cranking some comics out. Issue II of Badman (Two in the Bush) should be posted on Hyper Epics in a week or so, and issue III (Three of a Kind) is drafted. I hope to have +/-6 issues in all.

Just found out that my feature 'Impasse' was a finalist in the 2019 Filmmatic Drama Screenplay Awards! That and $5 will get me a cup of coffee somewhere. I think Impasse is one that needs revisiting/revising for another comp or two. Always been a favorite of mine.

Warren - wow, these look great. I'll keep an eye out for the Kickstarter, can't wait to see the finished result. Lots of things going on with 'Shaka'.

Pia - if you're in the mood to try again, there are some good comic artists in this subreddit:

https://www.reddit.com/r/ComicBookCollabs.

Not sure about their rates thought.

John - Congrats! My short Glass Bottles was a finalist for the 2019 Filmmatic Inroads Screenwriting Fellowship (a sister competition that Mark won last year, I think...) so I'm sure you're very proud of it (at least I was). I don't know if Impasse is still here for download but I saw it's on ScriptRevolution. It certainly looks like something I'd love to read.

Congrats to all of you for going for it through different means -- there is some great artwork on display on this thread.  I hope it helps you get much more exposure!

Gary

Quoted from MarkRenshaw There’s a feature deal option for Dollmaker but I’m only advising on the treatment with the director at the moment. It’s another one that seems to have stalled and things are taking aaaaaagggggeeees. I doubt I’d be taken on board as a writer anyway, they want Matias and who can blame them! Recently a production company read my Nearscape pilot and liked it, asked me if I could write something more contemporary so I’m expanding one of my OWC scripts (The Broken Kingdom) into a 30 min pilot as it’s won quite a few competitions and seems to be the type of TV show these guys are interested in. They have ‘opened a file on me’ and I’m free to send in any script so I’m trying to take advantage while I can.

The Dollmaker is an excellent script and top notch short film. Also a great premise for a feature, I'll definitely be watching if it ever happens.

Good luck with the prodco connection, hopefully it turns into something good.

Quoted from Grandma Bear I also hired someone to do a comic style pitch for a feature, but it didn't workout real well. The guy did a beautiful job, just didn't get the story I wanted it to tell. That's what happens I think when you hire someone online from a hiring service where you can't talk to each other than in text form. I told him in text what I was looking for and he thought he got, but...

I'd be interested to know what you wanted vs. what you got. The artwork is impressive. What didn’t it convey?

Quoted from Pale Yellow These look GREAT! I recently did a $5 comic to help pitch a feature. I have not had great luck with it yet.

Care to share?

Quoted from eldave1 Wow - the art work looks fabulous!! That was neat seeing

Thanks, Dave. Your words are in there as well

Quoted from JEStaats Warren - Fantastic artwork! Best of luck with the rest of the novel. I'm sure you'll let us know if/ when you get a Kickstarter going. Count me in for a few $$. Mark - Nice to hear Cyborn is still alive and kicking (pun intended). Very worth the effort to take that one further. My efforts have seen a bit of impact from my real job (travelling to Perth for a week in August if anyone has any recommendations), but I'm still cranking some comics out. Issue II of Badman (Two in the Bush) should be posted on Hyper Epics in a week or so, and issue III (Three of a Kind) is drafted. I hope to have +/-6 issues in all. Just found out that my feature 'Impasse' was a finalist in the 2019 Filmmatic Drama Screenplay Awards! That and $5 will get me a cup of coffee somewhere. I think Impasse is one that needs revisiting/revising for another comp or two. Always been a favorite of mine.

Thanks, John, the artist is pure genius in my opinion. The things he can do with my words blows my mind.

So are you an official collaborator with Hyper Epics now, if that’s a thing? Look forward to seeing the new instalments.

Congrats on the placement.

Quoted from Philostrate Warren - wow, these look great. I'll keep an eye out for the Kickstarter, can't wait to see the finished result. Lots of things going on with 'Shaka'. Pia - if you're in the mood to try again, there are some good comic artists in this subreddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/ComicBookCollabs. Not sure about their rates thought. John - Congrats! My short Glass Bottles was a finalist for the 2019 Filmmatic Inroads Screenwriting Fellowship (a sister competition that Mark won last year, I think...) so I'm sure you're very proud of it (at least I was). I don't know if Impasse is still here for download but I saw it's on ScriptRevolution. It certainly looks like something I'd love to read.

Thanks, mate. Won’t be anytime soon, but hopefully one day I'll have a complete graphic novel to wrap my hands around.

I second the reddit group, that’s where I found my guy. The rates are quite varied, but I don’t think I could find a decent full colour page for less than about $80 USD. Yes you will find cheaper, but don’t expect Picasso.

Congrats on the placement as well.

Quoted from Gary in Houston Congrats to all of you for going for it through different means -- there is some great artwork on display on this thread.  I hope it helps you get much more exposure! Gary

Thanks, for me though, it’s purely about the graphic novel. Would be great if it did lead to more exposure, but that isn’t why I'm doing it. I just want to do a graphic novel

Quoted from Warren Care to share?

NO FRIGGIN CLUE HOW TO EMBED AN IMAGE BUT HERE IS THE LINK
Sure here is my $5 comic. I got it back in 12 hours.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0BxRoibUm5UCQZmFrSjRWSmZyQWp5U0xRQzFtWUJRV25hVlY0

Quoted from Pale Yellow NO FRIGGIN CLUE HOW TO EMBED AN IMAGE BUT HERE IS THE LINK Sure here is my $5 comic. I got it back in 12 hours. https://drive.google.com/open?id=0BxRoibUm5UCQZmFrSjRWSmZyQWp5U0xRQzFtWUJRV25hVlY0

Definitely can't complain about that for 12 hours work and $5, looks good.

Thanks for sharing.

Dena it's pretty good.

Just at the top, edit (if you can) to either 'A cripple' or 'A crippled boy'.

I'd personally not use 'a cripple' though cause in this PC world the actual language could cause offence for some - use 'disabled' Instead. Jmh.

The images (love the illustration in the first frame) are nicely done and very evocative.

Some nice artwork on display here - Exciting stuff.

And well done to you Warren for taking the plunge and putting some money into your own project.

I'm too new at this to have any side projects - Only thing that comes close is I got speaking to a filmmaker who told me his comic friend is looking to make a short film based on one of his characters - so I whipped up a quick synopsis in the hopes they ask me to write the thing lol

I do like seeing and hearing your stories of projects and stuff though, gives me inspiration, so keep 'em coming  

Been a slight change of plan as far as how Shaka the graphic novel is going to happen, and for me it's quite exciting.

I rewrote Shaka into graphic novel format last year sometime and it blew my 115 page script out to almost 200 pages. At over $100 a page for full colour you can easily see where the issue is. The plan was to run a Kickstarter to try fund it, that also seemed quite unrealistic. Now I've decided to break it up into 10 comics. I'll fund the first one completely out of pocket then run a Kickstarter to 'fund' it retrospectively (is that the right word, I don't know) and use those funds to complete the second comic, then rinse and repeat until the story is complete.

It's exciting for two reasons; one, that I will have a completed comic to hold in my hands no matter what, and two, that it's a way more realistic figure to try and achieve through crowd funding.

If by some miracle we get to do the 10 volumes, I'll then reprint all the art into my initially intended graphic novel.

Watch this space

Oh, and I won't be putting the Kickstarter on SS. So please don't think I'm doing an early hustle for money. Thread just for fun.

Quoted from Warren