Monday, February 23, 2009

Appetite

As the process moves forward, many may wonder what a "script" for a comic book/graphic novel might look like. Below I've included the first few pages of a story I had started awhile ago called "Appetite". Things like "Caption" refer to little boxes of text within a comic book page panel that help to establish information pertaining to setting or tone in the "scene". "Panels" are basically snap shots of moments in time within the story. These are the stills of how the story play out. Within them we have action and dialog play out. I thought I'd put these up so you could get a sense of how it all looks at this stage of things and to see a little of my style. Enjoy:

Mark Turner/Apocalypse Tomes #1/ ”Appetite”

Script page 1

Splash Page: Long shot/Day. Scenic view of Louisiana Bayou. It is a strange blend of forest and swamp, weeping willows and pines. A large body of water (swampy river) dominates the foreground. The sun brightly shines overhead while shadows in the forest seem to menace and conceal something sinister. On the woods edge, a lone deer drinks at the waters bank, not far from a dilapidated shack over run with growth (this is the only hint that man has touched nature here).
(note: this is a splash page because we really want to create tone. The setting should suggest the beauty and slow laconic way of the south while hinting at something not so pleasant lurking beneath the beauty. This gives the penciler a chance to really work the detail here)

Caption: Hunger...

Panel A (lower right corner): Close up of deer. It’s head snaps to attention, eyes wide with fear as it is startled by the sound of something snapping off panel.

SFX: SNAP!

Script Page 2

Panel A: Close on a booted foot stepping on a twig.

Panel B: Tight shot of a man’s forehead peppered with beads of sweat and eyes wide with anxious anticipation.

Caption 1: The one word that captures the essence of...

Panel C: Tight shot of man lips being bitten in nervous anticipation.

Caption 2: Greed...

Panel D: Tight shot on finger as it squeezes trigger.

Caption 3: Covetousness

Panel E: Mid shot of hunter decked out in camo gear as he fires from behind a tree with a scope mounted rifle. Fire leaps from the mouth of the barrel.

SFX: CRACK!

Script Page 3

Panel A: Mid shot. The deer bolts as the bullet strikes a tree mere inches from it’s head.

Caption 1: Gluttony...

Panel B: The hunter stands with a look of disbelief on his face. We can now see that this is no seasoned hunter, but a relatively young man (early 20’s). He is flanked by two men both dressed in similar fashion, one an older gentleman (50’s) with the square jaw and buzz cut that screams “jar-head”. He scowls with disgust at our “hawkeye”. The second, close in age to our shooter and slightly pudgy in physical stature, carries what looks like an AK-47 laughs uncontrollably.

Laughing Boy 1: What a loser! You are such a turd!

Panel C: Mid shot. Jar-Head slaps Laughing Boy in the back of the head, while Hawkeye looks at the ground crestfallen.

JarHead 2: Cut it out. It’s late. Time to head back to camp.

Panel D: Mid shot. As they leave the woods, Hawkeye looks back over his shoulder. He stands in the foreground, the opposite shore of the river where the deer just narrowly escaped death strangely silent and still.

Panel E: mid-shot. From the shadows, not far from where the deer stood, we can see a man, dressed in buck skins, stands in the darkness and seems to look out at us (as he watches the opposite shore and the hunters leaving). His face is scarred and grim and seems to suggest that he is not happy at all.

Script Page 4

Panel A: Close up. A hand holds a snap shot photo of Hawkeye with his arm around the waist of a beautiful girl. Both smile out at us, his seems to suggest a fatal over eagerness while hers seems to be slightly forced.

Caption 1: Lust.

Panel B: Medium wide shot of camp. An RV sits parked close to the woods edge , while numerous animals hang gutted from trees. It looks like our hunting party has been busy, and obviously bagged more than they could ever carry. In the background Jar-Head is stringing up a deer. Hawkeye sits by a campfire that cooks what looks like a rabbit, looking at his photo. Laughing boy stands behind him, looking over his shoulder.

Laughing Boy 1: So is that her? Is that the one that shot you down?

Hawkeye 2: (MEEKLY) Yeah.

Panel C: Laughing Boy snatches the photo, a look of brutish glee painted across his chubby features. Hawkeye looks shocked as the photo is swiped.

Laughing Boy 3: Jeez.

Panel D: Tight Shot. Laughing boy crumples the photo.Laughing Boy 4: You seriously better grow a pair, before this trip is over.

Panel E: tight shot of Hawkeye’s face. His mouth is a grim line and the look in his eyes seems to say that he may just do that.

Caption 2: All are states of being that seek to fill that gnawing emptiness...to sate the appetite that exists within because of our own inadequacies.

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Sea Wulfe

So the gears of the machine grind slowly sometimes, but at least they are still moving....well,that is what I tell myself at this point. For the past month I've been existing on a steady diet of graphic novels (right now I am reading JINX by Brian Michael Bendis...I really like his use of natural dialog. Something that I am aspiring to achieve), visual references (photos, painting, and moments in film), researching the art form of manga (a form of Japanese story telling) and personal reflection as this project moves forward. Right now, the overall story has been fleshed out. The first two issues have been outlined (the first having a page by page breakdown of what needs to happen). And the actual writing of the first pages of the book has begun. At this time, the goal is to have the first issue script completed by the end of February (if I maintain my current output level, I should be able to met the deadline with a few days to spare) One of the greatest challenges is putting so much of oneself on the page. It means exposing yourself...sharing with the world that side of yourself that sometimes may not even be accepted by individuals, let alone the masses that may read your work. Intimidating, yes, but refreshing as it gives me an opportunity to look at where I really stand and feel about life in general.

What is the story about you may ask...well, you already have the title (see the heading for this post). What images does it conjure for you? (I'd love to hear some of the impressions that it may leave). As far as the plot and premise....those will be revealed later. Suffice to say, that the project is a fantasy piece. An adult fairy tale to some degree. This is where the personal reflection comes in. I am a believer in fairy tales, magic and happily ever after...well, in most cases. I may not be a participant in these miraculous unfoldings of wonder that I see around me, but I have been honored to bear witness to these moments in time that bring about instances of "wow". This work, this labor of personal expression is an effort to comment on things that prevent us individuals from really being in touch with this "thing" that happens all around us, even when the world seems to be filled with so much darkness and despair. The story beings with the assertion: "In the beginning there was darkness. And when the gift of light was given, some remained in darkness...for they forgot to open their eyes"

Let's see how many eyes can be opened.