As many of you know, I'm working on a comic book mini-series called LEGACY.
And yep, there's now a 7 page preview LIVE ON THIS WEBSITE! Either click the page link to the right or:
Click this! http://roughcutramblings.blogspot.com/p/legacy-7-page-preview.html
LEGACY: When an inheritance of darkness walks the streets of Preston, two brothers will have to search out the differences in light and darkness to save the town in which they live. Guided only by the mysterious Malachi, Detective Jackson Talbot and Pastor Dameon Talbot must learn of their own past and heritage in order to stop a relentless killer from destroying the city of Preston.
Words and Pictures: Martin R. Oakley
Edits: Don E. Smith Jr.
FIRST ISSUE COMING SOON!
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Christianity and Comics
I've been thinking a lot about the past 16 years that I've been in and around the comic book industry, and the Christian Comic Book niche industry in particular. I've written for such companies as Kingdom Comics, Quest Comics, and done drawing work for both of them as well. I've also worked for such secular companies as Main Enterprises, and done an outright ministry/tract comic for Street Church in Calgary, Alberta Canada. Yet throughout the past 16 years I've seen many things come and go. Many projects start and fail to finish. Many cool comics fail due to whatever reason.
Including my own.
That's more the fault of myself than anything and anyone else. I didn't have the artistic chops to finish until a couple years ago. Now I'm over halfway finished with my first all creator owned issue for a mini-series that I'm working on called Legacy.
But this has opened my thoughts once again to exactly how to bring my personal faith into line with working on a comic book property that may sell. If you put too much blatant Christianity in it, the only people that will read it are Christians. Too little and the Christians won't touch it with a ten foot pole. So who is my audience? How do I reach them?
A couple questions I'm working on.......will post more later.
Including my own.
That's more the fault of myself than anything and anyone else. I didn't have the artistic chops to finish until a couple years ago. Now I'm over halfway finished with my first all creator owned issue for a mini-series that I'm working on called Legacy.
But this has opened my thoughts once again to exactly how to bring my personal faith into line with working on a comic book property that may sell. If you put too much blatant Christianity in it, the only people that will read it are Christians. Too little and the Christians won't touch it with a ten foot pole. So who is my audience? How do I reach them?
A couple questions I'm working on.......will post more later.
Friday, February 3, 2012
When a computer crashes.........
As some of you may know, thanks to my facebook page; I have recently undergone a complete computer crash. While this happened about two weeks ago, I've been taking some time off to recharge before returning to work on Legacy and other projects that I am working on.
Part of the reason is this: It was simply overwhelming at that exact time to redo all the work that I had done with digital inks and colors. Since I'm self-publishing, and not on a deadline that's set in stone, I was able to take a couple weeks to recharge my creative energies and try out some new games that are on the market. (Or an old game that's right up my alley: Star Trek Online.)
Now that a couple of weeks have passed, I'm returning to work slowly. Tonight I'm hoping to restart the digital inking process on the rescanned pencil pages of LEGACY and to get back on track with this series. Also, I'm awaiting some word on another shorter project that I will be scripting for.
I'll write more soon.
Part of the reason is this: It was simply overwhelming at that exact time to redo all the work that I had done with digital inks and colors. Since I'm self-publishing, and not on a deadline that's set in stone, I was able to take a couple weeks to recharge my creative energies and try out some new games that are on the market. (Or an old game that's right up my alley: Star Trek Online.)
Now that a couple of weeks have passed, I'm returning to work slowly. Tonight I'm hoping to restart the digital inking process on the rescanned pencil pages of LEGACY and to get back on track with this series. Also, I'm awaiting some word on another shorter project that I will be scripting for.
I'll write more soon.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
STOP THE SOPA ACT NOW!
Today, we are striking against censorship
Join the largest online protest in history: tell Congress to stop this bill now!
I will not be posting on Facebook, Twitter, or posting any blog updates today between the hours of 8am EDT and 8pm EDT!
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
On how I work (Part 2)
Last time I covered some about the concept. Today it's:
WRITING THE DARNED THING!
I write in full script method. It closely resembles a movie script, but instead of fades it has "Page One: Panel One, Panel Two....." etc. There's another method of working, which I personally hate but some pro's prefer it, and that's the Marvel Method or plot method. Where you break down the book into a plot (I've heard of a book where it was like two sentences long) and then give that plot to the artist to break down into the story you read. Stan Lee back in the day wrote most of his stuff this way, which is why it's widely called Marvel Method now. But I digress.
Do I skip the plot part entirely? No I don't. In fact I do write out a loose plot. No one sees this but me. It resembles a loose list of plot points that I want to cover in the series. Nothing more, nothing less. "This guy does this which leads to this and this then this happens" to put it in a run on sentence. It's a shorthand map for me to refer to when I'm working on the script, and often times things change as the script takes form.
For Legacy, since I've been working on this story in one way or another for over a decade, I already have the loose plot in my head. It was very simple for me to sit down and start the scripting process. A few notes at the top for my editor, so he doesn't get lost and then it was straight into the script. (My editor on this project is close friend and professional writer Don Smith Jr.) So, here's the first page of script, re-edited to make it work in this post.
(START SCRIPT)
As you can see, it's a quick description of what's happening in the panel, and you could take this and film it like in a normal movie script. But I need to make a couple notes here:
#1) I write more sparsely for myself than I would for another artist.
#2) I adjust things in the script as I draw them. What may be written down may not be what the final panel looks like, depending on how things go.
As I progress on my story, the characters begin to take on a life of their own (so to speak). If you've ever written anything, then as you're writing you begin to feel the story come alive in your sub-conscious, you know what I'm talking about. There's nothing supernatural or evil about it (That's for the few ultra legalistic Christians that read my blog). It's just that your mind has internalized both the plot and the way the characters act. Totally normal for a creative to experience.
For me, Legacy started that about midway through Issue #2. I really started to feel that I knew and understood the characters, and was very happy with where the plotline was going. Then when I began on Issue #3, I began to slog down a bit having to work things together consciously instead of just letting things flow. Introducing a new character (or two) throughout the first few issues will do that to you, yet I know when I finally get moving on Issue #4 that it'll start moving quickly again.
Scripting is a process I enjoy. This is a part of the process I can do very quickly if it's for myself. If it's for someone else (like another project I'm working on) It takes a bit longer. Especially if you have space constraints. (Say a six pager you need to write and enough content in your mind for a full issue.)
As I'm able to, I'll revisit this particular part of the discussion. As for now, I'm getting a late start on some digital inks I should get done.
WRITING THE DARNED THING!
I write in full script method. It closely resembles a movie script, but instead of fades it has "Page One: Panel One, Panel Two....." etc. There's another method of working, which I personally hate but some pro's prefer it, and that's the Marvel Method or plot method. Where you break down the book into a plot (I've heard of a book where it was like two sentences long) and then give that plot to the artist to break down into the story you read. Stan Lee back in the day wrote most of his stuff this way, which is why it's widely called Marvel Method now. But I digress.
Do I skip the plot part entirely? No I don't. In fact I do write out a loose plot. No one sees this but me. It resembles a loose list of plot points that I want to cover in the series. Nothing more, nothing less. "This guy does this which leads to this and this then this happens" to put it in a run on sentence. It's a shorthand map for me to refer to when I'm working on the script, and often times things change as the script takes form.
For Legacy, since I've been working on this story in one way or another for over a decade, I already have the loose plot in my head. It was very simple for me to sit down and start the scripting process. A few notes at the top for my editor, so he doesn't get lost and then it was straight into the script. (My editor on this project is close friend and professional writer Don Smith Jr.) So, here's the first page of script, re-edited to make it work in this post.
(START SCRIPT)
Page One:
Panel One: A young Jason Talbot, eyes wide with fear. Sitting in a chair in what seems to be an office. Next to him in a car seat is his baby brother, asleep and sucking on a nook.
Caption #1: “The Past.”
Social Worker: (OP) “You can be assured, Mr Talbot, that we will attempt to place your children in the best homes possible.”
Social Worker: (OP) “It’s a very brave thing that you’ve done, giving them up for adoption. I wish that more parents would do so if they felt unable to raise them well.”
Panel Two: Jason Talbot stands over his children, looking down. He’s mostly in silhouette here. It’s not time to see what he looks like, just time to establish the fear that Jason feels and how he views this memory.
Jason: “We going home now Daddy?”
Father: “No Jason. We’re not.”
Panel Three: Jason walking away down the hallway.
Father: “Someday you’ll understand why I done this.”
Panel Four: Jason standing up, reaching towards the reader. An adult has him in a gentle hold, holding him from following the man that was his father.
Jason: (LOUD) “DADDY! NO!!!”
(END SCRIPT)
As you can see, it's a quick description of what's happening in the panel, and you could take this and film it like in a normal movie script. But I need to make a couple notes here:
#1) I write more sparsely for myself than I would for another artist.
#2) I adjust things in the script as I draw them. What may be written down may not be what the final panel looks like, depending on how things go.
As I progress on my story, the characters begin to take on a life of their own (so to speak). If you've ever written anything, then as you're writing you begin to feel the story come alive in your sub-conscious, you know what I'm talking about. There's nothing supernatural or evil about it (That's for the few ultra legalistic Christians that read my blog). It's just that your mind has internalized both the plot and the way the characters act. Totally normal for a creative to experience.
For me, Legacy started that about midway through Issue #2. I really started to feel that I knew and understood the characters, and was very happy with where the plotline was going. Then when I began on Issue #3, I began to slog down a bit having to work things together consciously instead of just letting things flow. Introducing a new character (or two) throughout the first few issues will do that to you, yet I know when I finally get moving on Issue #4 that it'll start moving quickly again.
Scripting is a process I enjoy. This is a part of the process I can do very quickly if it's for myself. If it's for someone else (like another project I'm working on) It takes a bit longer. Especially if you have space constraints. (Say a six pager you need to write and enough content in your mind for a full issue.)
As I'm able to, I'll revisit this particular part of the discussion. As for now, I'm getting a late start on some digital inks I should get done.
On how I work (Part 1)
I've gotten a few questions about how I work lately. So I thought instead of writing a huge tome about how I work in e-mail and copying and pasting it numerous times, I'd just throw it on my blog and direct people to it.
A couple notes right off the bat:
#1) Any time I refer to a project, I am talking about LEGACY as that is the current project I am working on and is freshest in my mind.
#2) I may use shorthand in some ways. Such as BWS for STARS ON BLACK BACKGROUND or ECU for EXTREME CLOSE UP. If you're confused, leave me a comment and I'll explain my shorthand. Most of what I use is common in the movie and comic book industries.
#3) When I talk about writing a script, it is a full script with panel by panel descriptions. This is the only way that I write for comic books. I never do "Marvel Method" or "Plot method".
THE CONCEPTUALIZATION OF THE PROJECT
This is the first, and in my opinion the most important part of the project. You come up with a concept. As Legacy has been in my mind since I was a teenager, I've had years to refine this concept down to a single sentence. "The Journey of Light and Darkness." Or "The Battle of Light and Darkness." Both of these are equally important to the story of my project. One is the journey that light and darkness take in the story, the other is the battle. Light and Darkness are eternally at odds. No matter if you are Christian or Non-Christian, this is played out in any mythology. Light and Darkness are also synonymous with Life and Death in many cultures and belief. An allegory so to speak. (I made a funny!)
Now that I have the concept, what form does it take? Generally about now I start scribbling in a sketchbook. (Well, not really for Legacy as it's been drawn, redrawn, and I'm as familiar with these characters as I am familiar with my son.) But let's examine a hypothetical project, how would I decide what form this would take?
At it's very base it would be black and white. Okay, not very entertaining. So what forms does the darkness and light take? In this hypothetical let's say Light is Humanity and Darkness is an invading Alien Race. So who would be the figureheads for these two forces?
See how my thinking progresses? See how I continually boil down the concept to what it needs to be for the particular project? By moving in this manner while creating a comic book series (Or novel series that doesn't sell worth beans), you become intimately familiar with all thoughts and assumptions that people will have. In essence you are continually boiling away the garbage (dross) to be left with the pure metal.
In the case of a group book, it'd be "This group is Light."
In case of a Zombie Apocalypse things are much simpler.
Now I'm trying to keep this somewhat short, and since I'm writing this one just before 1:00am it's probably a lot shorter than what I will write in the future, but I feel that you're getting an idea on how the conceptualization of the project takes place in my mind. Idea------Basics-----How/Who-----Basics------Plotting.
Next I'll talk about writing the plot (no, I never draw from one) and the scripting of a project.
A couple notes right off the bat:
#1) Any time I refer to a project, I am talking about LEGACY as that is the current project I am working on and is freshest in my mind.
#2) I may use shorthand in some ways. Such as BWS for STARS ON BLACK BACKGROUND or ECU for EXTREME CLOSE UP. If you're confused, leave me a comment and I'll explain my shorthand. Most of what I use is common in the movie and comic book industries.
#3) When I talk about writing a script, it is a full script with panel by panel descriptions. This is the only way that I write for comic books. I never do "Marvel Method" or "Plot method".
THE CONCEPTUALIZATION OF THE PROJECT
This is the first, and in my opinion the most important part of the project. You come up with a concept. As Legacy has been in my mind since I was a teenager, I've had years to refine this concept down to a single sentence. "The Journey of Light and Darkness." Or "The Battle of Light and Darkness." Both of these are equally important to the story of my project. One is the journey that light and darkness take in the story, the other is the battle. Light and Darkness are eternally at odds. No matter if you are Christian or Non-Christian, this is played out in any mythology. Light and Darkness are also synonymous with Life and Death in many cultures and belief. An allegory so to speak. (I made a funny!)
Now that I have the concept, what form does it take? Generally about now I start scribbling in a sketchbook. (Well, not really for Legacy as it's been drawn, redrawn, and I'm as familiar with these characters as I am familiar with my son.) But let's examine a hypothetical project, how would I decide what form this would take?
At it's very base it would be black and white. Okay, not very entertaining. So what forms does the darkness and light take? In this hypothetical let's say Light is Humanity and Darkness is an invading Alien Race. So who would be the figureheads for these two forces?
See how my thinking progresses? See how I continually boil down the concept to what it needs to be for the particular project? By moving in this manner while creating a comic book series (Or novel series that doesn't sell worth beans), you become intimately familiar with all thoughts and assumptions that people will have. In essence you are continually boiling away the garbage (dross) to be left with the pure metal.
In the case of a group book, it'd be "This group is Light."
In case of a Zombie Apocalypse things are much simpler.
Now I'm trying to keep this somewhat short, and since I'm writing this one just before 1:00am it's probably a lot shorter than what I will write in the future, but I feel that you're getting an idea on how the conceptualization of the project takes place in my mind. Idea------Basics-----How/Who-----Basics------Plotting.
Next I'll talk about writing the plot (no, I never draw from one) and the scripting of a project.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
My wife and Technology II (And more, I promise!)
Yesterday I wrote about my wife and her experiences with Technology.
I felt bad.
Now I do not feel bad anymore, after experiencing another bout of my wife vs technology.
Let me explain.
Cleaning the house, she wishes to listen to Christmas music. She asks what kind i have on my computer. Now I'm not the holiday kinda guy who likes to listen to Jingle Bells and The First Noel ad nauseum. So I don't have much. This offended her sensibilities. So what does my wonderful wife do? She gets on my computer (I'm in the kitchen, cleaning the kitchen, which I have been at this time trained to do....more on that later) and brings up Yahoo Messenger thinking to use the plug-in to play Christmas music.
I then hear, and no I am not making this up: "DANGIT! How do you get this thing to play? There's no SOUND coming out! HONEY!"
I'm up to my armpits in soap suds scrubbing. I yell back "Is the volume up?" What she replied to me with cannot be repeated in polite company.
So she's at my computer, trying to get music going. Suddenly I hear 90's pop followed by electronica followed by ghetto blaster followed by classical followed by Christian followed by God knows what but I think they killed a cat making it. All the while I hear "DANGIT! DANGIT! DANGIT! DANGIT!" as each snippet plays. At this time I am no longer up to my armpits in suds, but attempting to stifle the laughter that I feel bubbling up from deep inside me. Because, you see, I am a trained husband.
Now for those of you males who read this and don't understand is that if you have a monther, a girlfriend, or a wife you are being trained. Since all of us males have one or more of these (Good God I hope you don't have a girlfriend and a wife......you're a dead man) I figured I should explain for you younger folks how the training works, and how to realize that you are being trained.
In my case it's simple.
Today after I woke up my wife came in and said to me very sweetly: "Do you want to get the dishes done today?"
Without thinking about it, I said YES.
Now let me explain to you about me and dishes. It's like a cat and a shower. The two do NOT mix. Yet after nearly 11 years of marriage I replied YES to the question and for a moment actually BELIEVED that I wanted to get the dishes done!
This is TRAINING FOLKS.
Here's a few other instances
You know you are a trained male when: Your wife says that she is cold at 3:30am and you wake up, get out of the warm bed, and go on the Search for the Holy Blanket to keep your wife warm. Forget turning up the thermostat, you need to find a BLANKET. And if you don't, she'll take yours.
You know you're a trained male when: (This one is more for me) Your wife comes to bed at midnight, shakes you awake, and says "It's too quiet, could you please turn the stereo (which is on the other side of the room) on?" And you do it!!
You know you're a trained male when: Your son forgets to put the toilet seat up when peeing. This puts you into a complete panic because you're afraid that your wife will find out!
You know you're a trained male when: Your wife wakes up in the middle of the night with an itch, and you ITCH IT TO THE POINT YOU'RE AWAKE!
You know you're a trained male when: You know what the sound effect "WHAP!" both sounds and feels like.
Now whap is a sound effect of being hit by a female woman who is as ticked off as a wet cat. The sound does NOT give the *WHAP* justice. The *WHAP* is done BACKHAND so it hurts more. The *WHAP* is always done in the same place. And the *WHAP* follows with........."Don't be a baby." after you're massaging the forming bruise.
I cleaned the kitchen.
I felt bad.
Now I do not feel bad anymore, after experiencing another bout of my wife vs technology.
Let me explain.
Cleaning the house, she wishes to listen to Christmas music. She asks what kind i have on my computer. Now I'm not the holiday kinda guy who likes to listen to Jingle Bells and The First Noel ad nauseum. So I don't have much. This offended her sensibilities. So what does my wonderful wife do? She gets on my computer (I'm in the kitchen, cleaning the kitchen, which I have been at this time trained to do....more on that later) and brings up Yahoo Messenger thinking to use the plug-in to play Christmas music.
I then hear, and no I am not making this up: "DANGIT! How do you get this thing to play? There's no SOUND coming out! HONEY!"
I'm up to my armpits in soap suds scrubbing. I yell back "Is the volume up?" What she replied to me with cannot be repeated in polite company.
So she's at my computer, trying to get music going. Suddenly I hear 90's pop followed by electronica followed by ghetto blaster followed by classical followed by Christian followed by God knows what but I think they killed a cat making it. All the while I hear "DANGIT! DANGIT! DANGIT! DANGIT!" as each snippet plays. At this time I am no longer up to my armpits in suds, but attempting to stifle the laughter that I feel bubbling up from deep inside me. Because, you see, I am a trained husband.
Now for those of you males who read this and don't understand is that if you have a monther, a girlfriend, or a wife you are being trained. Since all of us males have one or more of these (Good God I hope you don't have a girlfriend and a wife......you're a dead man) I figured I should explain for you younger folks how the training works, and how to realize that you are being trained.
In my case it's simple.
Today after I woke up my wife came in and said to me very sweetly: "Do you want to get the dishes done today?"
Without thinking about it, I said YES.
Now let me explain to you about me and dishes. It's like a cat and a shower. The two do NOT mix. Yet after nearly 11 years of marriage I replied YES to the question and for a moment actually BELIEVED that I wanted to get the dishes done!
This is TRAINING FOLKS.
Here's a few other instances
You know you are a trained male when: Your wife says that she is cold at 3:30am and you wake up, get out of the warm bed, and go on the Search for the Holy Blanket to keep your wife warm. Forget turning up the thermostat, you need to find a BLANKET. And if you don't, she'll take yours.
You know you're a trained male when: (This one is more for me) Your wife comes to bed at midnight, shakes you awake, and says "It's too quiet, could you please turn the stereo (which is on the other side of the room) on?" And you do it!!
You know you're a trained male when: Your son forgets to put the toilet seat up when peeing. This puts you into a complete panic because you're afraid that your wife will find out!
You know you're a trained male when: Your wife wakes up in the middle of the night with an itch, and you ITCH IT TO THE POINT YOU'RE AWAKE!
You know you're a trained male when: You know what the sound effect "WHAP!" both sounds and feels like.
Now whap is a sound effect of being hit by a female woman who is as ticked off as a wet cat. The sound does NOT give the *WHAP* justice. The *WHAP* is done BACKHAND so it hurts more. The *WHAP* is always done in the same place. And the *WHAP* follows with........."Don't be a baby." after you're massaging the forming bruise.
I cleaned the kitchen.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)