tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85740170368058022152024-03-13T12:01:05.074-07:00A Man Amid The WreckageAlex and Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03322157226349051301noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574017036805802215.post-61036465031380269992008-12-09T11:16:00.000-08:002008-12-09T11:27:34.614-08:00PrologueThe planned prologue will be something a long the lines of this:<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">According to all the best sources, primes are the building blocks of mathematics. The golden ratio appears to be an important building block in our universe - like an four by two lego brick - fundamental, ubiquitous, unavoidable.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">It's the fibonacci sequence which gives us access to the golden ratio, which only has a minimal amount to do with primes...</span><br /><br />And then there would be a conclusion....<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">So there are two sets of numbers that keep the architecture of the universe upright, those friendly with the primes and those friendly with the fibonacci's.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Two sets.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Both infinite, but in different ways. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">So, two different kinds of infinity.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">That'll do you head in on a Sunday morning, when you're just hungover enough to regret it but not enough to swear off it forever.</span><br /><br /><br />Something like that anyway.<br /><br /><br />.<br /><br />CAlex and Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03322157226349051301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574017036805802215.post-52098663329646417792008-11-26T01:15:00.000-08:002008-11-28T08:12:28.886-08:00The difference between writing and drawingThe trouble with being a writer is that every so often ideas pop into your head, sometimes at inopportune moments.<br /><br />I was day-dreaming yesterday about the beginning of a film that I'm currently working on and then started thinking about the start of the story and then started thinking whether its the best start possible. I think it very well maybe <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">y'know</span>.<br /><br />However, I am seriously considering writing a prose prologue that Alan Moore, Grant Morrison and Neil <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Gaiman</span>, to name but a few (I'm aiming high aren't I), often have at the start of their work.<br /><br />I may also start including footnotes as I get a lot of enjoyment from the silly ones in Terry Pratchett books.<br /><br />But absolutely no appendices, they used to do my head in when I read Lord of The Rings as a teenager. But not as much as the songs, oh boy.<br /><br />.<br /><br /><br />CAlex and Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03322157226349051301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574017036805802215.post-84785762344716190752008-11-11T08:26:00.000-08:002008-11-28T08:13:37.527-08:00Watching the WatchmenWe could have done with <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Watching-Watchmen-Definitive-Companion-Ultimate/dp/1848560419/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1226420690&sr=8-1">this</a> a few months ago!<br /><br />Still, Christmas is on the way.<br /><br /><br />CChrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00211638265851177768noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574017036805802215.post-52519349387965948482008-11-04T01:55:00.000-08:002008-11-10T03:54:25.612-08:00Writing StyleIt's just occurred to me that although Alex and I have had many discussions about how we want the work to look, we have yet to have any discussions about writing style.<br /><br />I don't know whether this means that Alex has no opinion about my writing or if he's happy with it.<br /><br />Maybe I'll ask him this week some time.<br /><br />I'm also thinking that maybe we should have started with a story about werewolves and such like, which I suspect we may have had more fun with. That could always be the next one of course.<br /><br /><br />.<br /><br /><br />CChrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00211638265851177768noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574017036805802215.post-5394934445200713542008-10-21T05:24:00.000-07:002008-12-30T05:14:48.672-08:00Re-writesSo I'm going to a do a major re-write of the story and introduce a second protagonist, whose own story affects and is affected by that of Ulam. This new character will be one of the team that helps communicate with the aliens and of course gets some important stuff wrong, like some fundamentals about weights and measures. This character - possibly called Reeman will provide some light relief and also provide a substantial hook on which to hang a lot of the dialogue about maths.<br /><br />Here are the first three pages that Alex has been working to:<br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-family:georgia;">A MAN AMID THE WRECKAGE</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-family:georgia;">PAGE ONE</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-family:georgia;">Frame: A broken laptop screen being typed into by a man, Ulam, the text on the screen, reads ‘Einstein was wrong.’</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-family:georgia;">Final frame of the sequence, which should be a full frame picture of the Monkey Nazca line. Could you alter the dimensions of the Monkey so that it adheres to the golden ratio please. You could also make the spiral more regular and place the Astronaut Nazca line. Could you also put in those incomplete triangles just to the left of the astronaut in as well please.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-family:georgia;">Text that comes before the title page:</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-family:georgia;">“God does play dice </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-family:georgia;">these are part of the same sentence but need to be separated in some way to make the gag work.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-family:georgia;">and I suspect that he cheats.”</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-family:georgia;"> </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-family:georgia;"><br />PAGE TWO:</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-family:georgia;">I think this page should somehow be related to the golden ratio as well. Also you need to put the number 24,024 somewhere in it – explicitly – I’ll come up with some more ancient numerical symbols for you.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-family:georgia;">Panel 1: Close up of Ulams face, a bit battered and bruised. </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-family:georgia;">Laptop text in a narrative box at the bottom of the panel “That’s the only coherent conclusion I can arrive at.’ </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-family:georgia;">Panel 2: Low angle of Ulam amid the wreckage of the hot air balloon with the Andes in the background – a stunning shot showing the grandeur of the location. David Lean territory.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-family:georgia;">Laptop text in a narrative box at top of panel: “ ‘Coherent’, of course being a relative term as I am losing blood at a rate of knots, am quite possibly concussed… ‘ </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-family:georgia;">Narrative box of laptop text at bottom of panel: ‘…suspect that both of my ankles are broken, and may well be suffering from altitude sickness.” </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-family:georgia;">Panel 3: Wide of the Nazca lines, including the Astronaut, the triangles and that strange thing that looks like a stanley knife blade above the monkey. Ulam and the wreckage need to be visible somewhere.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-family:georgia;">Laptop text in a narrative box at top of frame: “Not that I know anything about altitude sickness, (I’m a well respected consumer electronics journalist), I just saw a documentary about climbing the Tetons in America once and the presenter got altitude sickness and a bit tearful.’ Laptop text in narrative box at bottom of frame ‘They kept the camera running though.’</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-family:georgia;">Panel 4: Wide of the monkey birds eye view ‘Now it’s the end of the world and I am a man amid the wreckage of a hot air balloon. Among the Nazca lines. In Peru. In excruciating pain. With no water. No food. And a laptop with no long term memory. Plus. I’m. Dehydrated.’</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><br /></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-family:georgia;"> PAGE THREE</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-family:georgia;">Panel 1: Classic image of Saturn in space</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-family:georgia;">Narrative box top of frame:“I feel like having a bit of cry myself…</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-family:georgia;">Narrative box bottom of frame: ‘…but don’t want to waste water.’</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-family:georgia;">Panel 2: Wide of Saturn in the distance with a spaceship in the foreground.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-family:georgia;">Narrative box top of frame: ‘ Seem to remember being at work when everything started to go…’</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-family:georgia;">Panel 3 – space ship bearing down on Earth – with Jupiter in the extreme foreground, Mars in the mid and Earth in the background. There are some images of Jupiter with the sun flaring behind them so the sun could be just behind Earth – some flares off into space. </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-family:georgia;">NARRATIVE BOX bottom right hand of frame “…odd.’</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-family:georgia;">Panel 4: Close up of a front or a radio – all the bits on the front adhering to the golden section - I’ve put a marker in the Golden Section book as a reference – the square with the divided circle in the middle at the bottom of page 30 should have echoes in the speaker grill design of the radio. – Radio announcement - in an electronic looking speech bubble – marker in Create Your Own Graphic Novel – ‘I’m terribly sorry but I’m afraid we’re going to have to interrupt todays…’</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-family:georgia;">Panel 5: Mid of consumer magazine office with the radio maybe in the middle at the back. Ulam is there and a couple of others. Windows down one wall, desks and computer screens, wastepaper baskets. Radio announcement in spiky speech bubble ‘…coverage of the Ashes for a sort of a news flash.’</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-family:georgia;">Panel 6: Close up Ulam - speech bubble - ‘***#$@**>, the Queen’s kicked the bucket.’</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-family:georgia;">Panel 7: Mid - 2nd Journalist ‘Or The Duke of Edinburgh.’</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-family:georgia;">Panel 8: Close up Ulam from side ‘No ***^%$^%$ way. They wouldn’t interrupt the cricket for him.’</span><br /><br /><br /><br />.<br /><br />C</div>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00211638265851177768noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574017036805802215.post-54051628850068050312008-10-20T05:13:00.000-07:002008-10-20T05:36:45.594-07:00Day 3: All targets missed...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_l92kI4ng0lI/SPx2uzAY7qI/AAAAAAAAACA/50kUqqkOQ4s/s1600-h/page+3+pencils"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_l92kI4ng0lI/SPx2uzAY7qI/AAAAAAAAACA/50kUqqkOQ4s/s400/page+3+pencils" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259209011199798946" /></a><div>Page 3 pencils, 5pm, Day 3.</div><div><br /></div><div>So that's as far as we got. We were on schedule to finish page three, I think, by late morning on Day 3. But then it dawned on me that having drawn the many boulders on page 2, panel 3 (see previous post) individually, then I was going to have to do the many many many boulders from further away in panel 4. It works well, I think, but it took a long time.</div><div><br /></div><div>So I didn't get started on page 3 until after our quick lunch break. Chris had lots of research all lined up for me (pictures of Saturn; Babylonian Numerology inspired spacecraft designs), so the pencils came together pretty quickly (despite it being fairly elipse heavy in the first few panels), and I even got going on the inks, but not far enough.</div><div><br /></div><div>We realised at some point in the three days that what we were actually doing was making a comic the way comics were made when we were kids - but without the staff. Pencils and ink on Bristol board, with letters done separately, was the way comics were made when we first nurtured those dreams of making comics ourselves. These days there are more computers involved. Something for us to think about when we start work on Chapter 2 (or rather, start finishing off Chapter 1). More research and practice required before then, I think.</div><div><br /></div><div>They weren't particularly long days, but my brain is tired today. The level of concentration was higher that I expected. But as it came time to finish yesterday, I was disappointed to not have more drawing time.<br /><div><br /></div></div>Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04202310627787275446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574017036805802215.post-89030102944731884112008-10-19T07:50:00.000-07:002008-10-20T05:32:36.410-07:00Page 2, inked<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_l92kI4ng0lI/SPx1jKPQwDI/AAAAAAAAAB4/BUiCLGO9TxA/s1600-h/page+2+inked"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_l92kI4ng0lI/SPx1jKPQwDI/AAAAAAAAAB4/BUiCLGO9TxA/s400/page+2+inked" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259207711766134834" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div>Again, click on the image for more detail. We'll post better scans of the pages when we can access a big enough scanner...</div>Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04202310627787275446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574017036805802215.post-50980498415305217132008-10-19T07:48:00.000-07:002008-10-19T08:00:38.318-07:00The storyQuite a few people have been asking me about the story. Which means I've had to repeat and develop it several times in day. Which means I've become increasingly aware of all of its 'faults'. Which means I've tried to think around all of the 'faults'. Which means I've had to come up with some 'solutions'.<div><br /></div><div>These solutions have so far taken the form of coming up with new and increasingly complex plot and narrative points. Like the introduction of different dimensions to cope with all of the applied mathematics involved. Which actually doesn't solve anything to do with the holes in the story.</div><div><br /></div><div>I've also yet to figure out any meaningful motivation for the protagonist, or indeed any meaningful characteristics and that an audience could empathise with.</div><div><br /></div><div>So far I've just thought that 'his' voice would mirror my own. But considering that he's a bit of an adventurer and lives in a mixed up world being played with by two different sets of aliens, this seems naive and lazy.</div><div><br /></div><div>I need to tackle these problems and make Ulam a real person and not just a convenient hook to hang my ideas and obsessions on.</div><div><br /></div><div>That said Alex said something earlier today 'the story is actually about how much Chris loves numbers.'</div><div><br /></div><div>A visitor also clarified the form which the story is taking by using the example of love stories that happen to the background of war. This was helpful as it stopped me worrying about the way the two main plot lines don't really relate to each other. Stopped me worrying quite so much.</div><div><br /></div><div>But I do need to tackle my character, especially as he's the only one I've got and therefore the only one that the readers have got.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>.</div><div><br /></div><div>c</div>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00211638265851177768noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574017036805802215.post-27682491690659041602008-10-19T03:21:00.000-07:002008-10-19T03:26:28.426-07:00Sunday morningI'm having quite a gentle time at the moment. I've just done a couple of sketches as to what the spaceship may look like - utilising babylonian symbols for numbers and roman symbols for powers of 10, <div><br /></div><div>We really should have had a discussion as to the overall look of the piece. However, we haven't and now I think we're experiencing some 'issues'.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm going to research some images of Saturn for Alex now.</div><div><br /></div><div>And the Silver Surfer.</div><div><br /></div><div>.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>C</div>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00211638265851177768noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574017036805802215.post-21111624631327402162008-10-19T02:49:00.000-07:002008-10-19T03:04:36.142-07:00Day Two: Some Improvement, Could do Better.It felt great to actually get started on the inking. I had realised at the start of the day that the way of improving, of learning, is to actually finish some pages. We talked a bit about Dave Sim's work on Cerebrus; in the first collected edition he points out that he's only reprinting the first strips for narrative completeness, because the drawing isn't very good (my paraphrasing). And the improvement in the drawing by the end of the first volume is remarkable.<div><br /></div><div>So getting page one done felt good. I know, it's only one page. It's no where near as competent as what I had in my head, but it seemed to get a fairly positive response from Chris and some of our visitors. Page two started quicker, and we seem to be working well on developing and changing the structure and layout, now that Chris is giving me his loose layout ideas. He's also revised the narrative well, so now it doesn't take three pages to establish that Ulam is sitting in the middle of the Nazca Lines. Sometimes he changes the script and forgets to tell me, but so far that hasn't led to any major disasters. </div><div><br /></div><div>I realised I had got the lettering far too big on page one. May have to get re-done. </div><div><br /></div><div>So, day three's work: finish inking page two, pencil and ink page three. If we get there, after two and a half days work, we'll have done okay, I think.</div>Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04202310627787275446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574017036805802215.post-31327415990393847622008-10-18T06:45:00.000-07:002008-10-18T06:47:07.654-07:00PatternIn what is becoming a bit of a pattern, I'm printing something out and sticking to the wall. <div><br /></div><div>Because I don't what to with the bottom of page 4.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>c</div>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00211638265851177768noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574017036805802215.post-20028800517707657432008-10-18T05:53:00.000-07:002008-10-18T06:00:20.153-07:00Rough layout ideas<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Qfc4zTseRS4/SPndyxa_cvI/AAAAAAAAAAU/WdgbasSUWaI/s1600-h/CHRIS+PAGE+2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Qfc4zTseRS4/SPndyxa_cvI/AAAAAAAAAAU/WdgbasSUWaI/s320/CHRIS+PAGE+2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258477904261509874" /></a><br />I've discovered that Alex and I can collaborate on a much clearer level if I do my own rough layout of what I think the panels should look like. It helps me too.<div><br /></div><div>Here's what I gave him for what I think page two should look like.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>c</div>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00211638265851177768noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574017036805802215.post-7665982848920154912008-10-18T05:00:00.000-07:002008-10-19T03:05:03.103-07:00Page 1, inked<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_l92kI4ng0lI/SPnQs1-GAOI/AAAAAAAAABw/cAE1H2EmouI/s1600-h/page+1+inked.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_l92kI4ng0lI/SPnQs1-GAOI/AAAAAAAAABw/cAE1H2EmouI/s400/page+1+inked.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258463508752105698" /></a><div><br /></div><div>Click on image to see full size.</div>Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04202310627787275446noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574017036805802215.post-63798785524679049812008-10-18T03:19:00.000-07:002008-10-18T03:27:22.863-07:00Mess<div><br /></div><div>The story is just a mess. There's this spurious mission that starts at the end and has nothing really to do with the rest of the stuff that just happens in the background. I can't think of a decent way of linking up the two.</div><div><br /></div><div>Maybe I shouldn't worry about it, it works/worked for Vonnegut and worked for Douglas Adams but I am having a crisis of confidence that it can work for me. And then there's all the numbers that I would ideally like to saturate the whole work with. Maybe this isn't the piece to do that with.</div><div><br /></div><div>I keep finding myself thinking with an editors sensibility and not with a writers sensibility. As an editor everything has to work and be reasoned and link together. The small writer bit of me is currently losing the battle to the overbearing and experienced editors side. I've stopped reading any reference material, even though I bought it Watchmen today as it seems like looking at the Taj Mahal when I don't even know how to lay a brick wall yet.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>'</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>C</div>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00211638265851177768noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574017036805802215.post-78758223398183290382008-10-18T01:19:00.000-07:002008-10-18T04:59:29.498-07:00More PrimesI was reading my 'Music of The Primes' last night. I'm now all excited about the Riemann hypothesis and still thinking about Goldblach and his conjecture and about twin primes.<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I didn't really know what to do with myself towards the end of yesterday. I could keep on revising the script until the cows come home but that wasn't very constructive. I'm trying to get more gags in but am finding opportunities for gags a bit limited - which of course hints at major revisions in the script - but that in turn will mean revisions to the pictures which I'm currently reluctant to suggest.</div><div><br /></div><div>I also think that forging ahead and reformatting then whole of the original text may not be that helpful in the short run, which is the only run we're worried about at the moment!</div><div><br /></div><div>Anyway we're starting a new day today and I'm quietly optimistic about the whole enterprise.</div><div><br /></div><div>.</div><div><br /></div><div>c</div>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00211638265851177768noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574017036805802215.post-80159161135639177462008-10-17T12:10:00.000-07:002008-10-19T03:05:33.724-07:00Day One: Hard WorkAnother decision we had come to - slightly acrimoniously - was that we were attempting to do 5 pages in this 'three day challenge'. I say acrimoniously, but that's probably unfair. I think Chris was disappointed that we weren't trying to do a whole 21 page comic, but I was certain that was way too much. 5 pages seems more realistic and suggests an episode in 2000AD or Deadline or another multi-story comic.<div><br /></div><div>So last night I re-read the first 5 pages of <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Watchmen</span>. That sets the bar pretty high; not sure if it was more inspirational or intimidating.</div><div><br /></div><div>So today I was aware that we really needed to be a good way into inking the first page by the end of the day - assuming we would speed up over the next two days. But we haven't even started inking that first page. It was pretty much completely laid out and pencilled, until we changed our mind about it at the end of the day...</div><div><br /></div><div>It started okay, and although it was a bit of a slow start working out the golden section layout, I was pretty pleased with the first rough draft. Then when it came to doing the 'proper' page, I found the drawing was much less relaxed, the lines kind of uptight. I liked it much less than the rough layout - a familiar feeling, the 'good' version having less life than the original sketch.</div><div><br /></div><div>The gap between your ambition and your talent. At one point I did think: I can't do this. I was trying to draw Ulam's hands typing on the keyboard - and they were awful. I just had to keep erasing them (so I found out why Bristol board is so important - it's lovely to draw on, and it erases beautifully, repeatedly). I gave up and decided to come back to them after the rest of the page. Then I realised that I had drawn the afternoon-sun shadows in completely the wrong place in panel two, because they would mean that the sun was directly on his laptop screen, so I re-did them, worked out panel three and then decided that I really didn't like the first panel at all. And Chris agreed. That first panel is actually a pretty big area to fill; I usually draw quite small - or rather, if I'm drawing in a bigger area, I'm usually using a thicker mark-making instrument like a marker pen or charcoal stick. It's the ratio of the drawing area to line thickness that is important here (at least for me). So, we're flipping the layout, starting with smaller frame, because we don't need to see the whole laptop - just the words 'Einstein was wrong'. And I don't have to draw his hands.</div><div><br /></div><div>During all this we found out from one of our visitors that a page a day is usual for professional comics artists (which makes sense given that monthly comics are usually 21/22 pages long) - so I feel slightly less slow and ponderous. But more concerned about how much we can achieve.</div><div><br /></div><div>Anyhow, first thing tomorrow, we'll see how my inking is...</div>Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04202310627787275446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574017036805802215.post-68402086465648466962008-10-17T08:18:00.000-07:002008-10-17T08:20:42.272-07:00stuckOne page two of my working script I've hit a bit of a snag so I'm going to write a list of<div> plot points as a guide. </div><div><br /></div><div>And to delay the decision making process.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>.</div><div><br /></div><div>c</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00211638265851177768noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574017036805802215.post-21569713432170011992008-10-17T07:38:00.000-07:002008-10-17T07:39:24.166-07:00Layout Page 1<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_l92kI4ng0lI/SPijZECgmeI/AAAAAAAAABo/pdubqHTiL_E/s1600-h/layout+page+1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_l92kI4ng0lI/SPijZECgmeI/AAAAAAAAABo/pdubqHTiL_E/s400/layout+page+1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258132215931378146" /></a><br /><div>Yes, it's mainly boxes, but they are very carefully proportioned boxes.</div>Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04202310627787275446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574017036805802215.post-52545039737211710992008-10-17T06:47:00.000-07:002008-10-17T07:05:10.466-07:00Alex's drawingAlex has started drawing and it took him almost 3/4 of an hour just to draw a box.<div><br /></div><div>I'm not entirely clear as to what his working process is and although I've known him since 1995, I'm somewhat reluctant to ask him.</div><div><br /></div><div>He's on a 'layout page' and he keeps asking me stuff like ' what's he wearing?' and 'what time if day is it?'</div><div><br /></div><div>.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>C</div>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00211638265851177768noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574017036805802215.post-77876804772052367262008-10-17T03:44:00.000-07:002008-10-17T03:53:55.320-07:00Protagonists nameAfter a brief chat with Alex this morning, (which felt a bit like collaboration I have to say, so I'm quietly proud of myself), <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">we</span> have decided that the main characters name will be <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Ulam</span>. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">We</span> haven't decided whether its going to be his first name or his surname. Maybe I won't specify. I like <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Ulam</span> because of its association with <a href="http://ulamspiral.com/generatePage.asp?ID=7">spirals and primes</a>. <div><br /></div><div>You can even buy a <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/ulam_prime_spiral_t_shirt-235740077295954682">t-shirt</a> with the prime spiral on it. Its not on my <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Christmas</span> list because, between you and me, sometimes I get a bit sick of primes.<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>C</div></div>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00211638265851177768noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574017036805802215.post-26634976748050868032008-10-16T14:37:00.000-07:002008-10-16T15:12:40.627-07:00Decisions and GivensA conversation with Chris today during which I realised that despite my moaning about collaborative decision making in my last post, I had actually made some decisions that I hadn't informed Chris about. Or maybe not decisions, rather there are a few things that I had assumed were givens that maybe needed some discussion. These are:<div><ul><li>I am drawing everything, including speech balloons and lettering - we're not using a computer programme to do this.<br /></li><li>The panels will all be hand drawn, too - straight lines, but hand drawn straight lines, not done with a ruler.<br /></li></ul></div><div>These are givens to me because it's just how I draw - it's what feels, and looks (to my eye), right.</div><div><br /></div><div>A decision that we have arrived at jointly is that the page layout will be based on the Golden Section. I had previously understood a bit about this, but last year I picked up Scott Olsen's book <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://www.woodenbooks.com/paperbacks.htm#golden">The Golden Section: Nature's Greatest Secret</a></span>, which is actually pretty mind-blowing. It's too complex (for me) to fully explain here, but you can of course read about it on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Section">Wikipedia</a>, but Olsen's book (published by <a href="http://www.woodenbooks.com/feature.htm">Wooden Books</a>) is more aesthetically pleasing.</div><div><br /></div><div>A conversation early tomorrow will have to be about whether we're going for portrait or landscape layout. Pretty fundamental...</div><div><br /></div><div>As I've thought about what I'm aiming at for the look of the strip. It has been impossible not to pitch it, in my head at least, in relation to the work I know, to the comics I have read over the years. As we approach the time to actually start drawing the work, my instinct seems to have settled on a look somewhere in between two key influences: the cleanness and poise of Dave Gibbons' work on <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Watchmen</span> (and a strip he drew for <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Doctor Who</span> comic, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Stars Fell On Stocksbridge </span>[?]), and the anarchy and energy of Jaime Hewlett's early black and white <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Tank Girl</span> strips for <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Deadline</span> magazine. That ambition of course is then filtered through, or restricted by, my actual ability, and we'll see pretty soon how that turns out.</div>Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04202310627787275446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574017036805802215.post-20604584701047471532008-10-16T05:26:00.000-07:002008-10-16T06:09:27.087-07:00Collaboration(!)<div><br /></div>The original 'story' is also written in the third person, the first thing I need to do is change it to the first person in what I hope will not be a vain struggle to evoke an emotional connection the with the reader.<br /><br />There will probably be a sentence somewhere in the book that goes something along the lines of <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">'It was there that I discovered that in Armenia, schnapps, a bit like time, is a relative concept. But after a few glasses of relative Armenian schnapps you just don't care anymore, which isn't the case with time is it?' </span><br /><br />Ah, but then some of you are saying that rhetorical questions shouldn't be in scripts. And you'd be right, or would you?<br /><br />.<br /><br />CChrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00211638265851177768noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574017036805802215.post-52531562477954887592008-10-15T02:58:00.000-07:002008-10-15T03:04:49.567-07:00PrimesIs every even number the sum of two primes?<br /><br /><br />What are the 16 Sutras of the Vedic mathematic system?<br /><br /><br />.<br /><br /><br />CChrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00211638265851177768noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574017036805802215.post-46036143916771174032008-10-14T15:20:00.000-07:002008-10-14T15:54:23.952-07:00Preparatory Sketches ListI have re-read Chris' original synopsis/short story, that is the basis for our graphic novel collaboration, as research for who and what I need to do some development work and preparatory sketches of, before actually drawing the first episode.<div><br /></div><div>I talked to Chris about doing these sketches and he said "What do you mean? I'll just tell you what they look like." This made me think of hearing Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons talk at a comics convention in Birmingham, years ago, just after the first issue of Watchmen was published. They continually talked as if they were both the joint authors of both the narrative and the layout of the book. They used the word "we" a lot.</div><div><br /></div><div>Anyway, I noted everything I felt I ought to do a bit of work on, if the comic stays true to the original story. </div><div></div><blockquote><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; font-size: 13px; ">Characters & Creatures:</span><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">the journalist</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">the cabbie<br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">the old italian</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">the suitable monk</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">the 'n' (alien race)</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">the 'x' (alien race)</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">a goat</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">the previously most deadly carnivorous birds on the face of the planet (who are now shivering and cowardly)</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">noah</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">noah's son</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">monks (in general)</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">nuns</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">the liquorice novice<br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">the peruvian monk (who has 'the face of an owl' and a haircut 'like captain kirk') </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">the infinity monk</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">the rogue monks</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">huskies</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">the huskie team boss</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">stalin</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">estonian factory workers</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">polish eunuchs</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">surfers</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Places, Objects, Things:</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; ">the broken laptop</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; ">the library</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; ">the books</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; ">the citadel of dunarkin</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; ">noah's ark</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; ">mount ararat</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; ">yerevan (in general)</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; ">the old italian's house/shack</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; ">the 'n''s space craft</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; ">the 'x''s space craft </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; ">jupiter</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; ">mars</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; ">charon (moon of pluto, not guardian of the river styx)</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; ">a trabant taxi</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; ">the nazca lines</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; ">a supermarket in yerevan</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; ">an estonian factory</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; ">detonators</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; ">moscow</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; ">sexy but strange flying machines</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; ">the peruvian embassy, yerevan</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; ">the orkneys</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; ">a top top secret research station</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; ">the andes</span></span></div></blockquote><div>So, there aren't many women in this story, apart from the nuns. I think this is one of the areas I'd like to develop, if I am able to influence the direction the narrative takes as Chris is re-working and re-writing, and the process becomes more collaborative. Although I find women harder to draw than men, so we don't want to introduce too many of them.</div>Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04202310627787275446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574017036805802215.post-9897479417291572062008-10-14T03:35:00.000-07:002008-10-14T03:38:13.790-07:00T - shirtAlex and I have also come up with a <span style="font-weight: bold;">t-shirt design</span>. Which we both believe is important in the process of creating a graphic novel.<br /><br /><br />We haven't actually drawn it or anything like that but are planning to wear our limited edition t-shirts at some point during our time in the galleries.<br /><br /><br />CChrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00211638265851177768noreply@blogger.com0