Comments (15)

• It is this cheesy behavior that is cheapening both comics and films. Comics have their own storytelling techniques – manipulation of time, perspective, insane soapy-scifi storytelling, the ability for a reader to control the amount of time a story is followed, tiny details hidden in still images – that are very different from film storytelling.
  Seeing desperate ‘industry players’ pretend to be into comics in a bid for relevance and money is really tacky – and you know you’re in trouble when socially autistic comic geeks are revolted by tasteless public behavior. WRITE A GOOD STORY! Try that…

  Comment by DrFate — Tuesday July 7, 2009 @ 11:53am PST  Reply to this post

• Marv and Wendy are interesting but I wouldn’t listen to the rest of that panel’s opinions if I was paid.

  And Jon Levin is a nice guy who is a Black Hole.
  Material goes into him and is never seen or heard from again.

  Comment by ReelBusy — Tuesday July 7, 2009 @ 12:50pm PST  Reply to this post

• How turn your spec that no one will buy into a comic book that gets optioned and never made!
  This is so sad. Just another example of the powers that be promoting the “re-package old crap and sell it as new crap” philosophy.

  Comment by tada — Tuesday July 7, 2009 @ 1:03pm PST  Reply to this post

• Dr. Fate makes some excellent points. And I certainly agree that a good story goes a long way. However, I think comic book adaptations access a visual learning style that has become increasingly prominent among children and young adults. With all due respect, the comic book artist/writer imbues his story with image vocabulary unavailable to the screenwriters. And while older screenwriters may believe a comic book makes a poor movie, the younger visual learner who enjoys reading a comic book at his/her own pace is able to identify and interpret the subtle “storytelling techniques” to the benefit, and not expense, of the movie. Long story short: comic books = modern day hieroglyphs. I’m excited to see where the art takes cinema!

  Comment by Jimmy Olsen — Tuesday July 7, 2009 @ 1:20pm PST  Reply to this post

• Scott Agostoni made a panel? Mr. Free Option? Woo Hoo!!! Counting the days till the WME brass realize that he doesnt generate any money from his comic book business and only could lose them larger clients since the producers dont have any paper to tie up properties. WME should hire someone who actually gets stuff done.

  Comment by cynical — Tuesday July 7, 2009 @ 2:54pm PST  Reply to this post

• It’s interesting to note that while many comic book writers have made the leap to screenwriting, virtually ALL of them have either continued to write comics as well, or just plain given up on screenwriting. The “big money” and “glamour” never QUITE makes up for the bullshit, and they realise there really IS so much more creative control and freedom. And we’ve already started to see screenwriters start to write comics, and find they like it enough to continue at least part time. I think we’re going to see MORE cross-over writers, and and it’s only a matter of time before that changes the KIND of material we see in BOTH mediums.

  Comment by cst — Tuesday July 7, 2009 @ 3:38pm PST  Reply to this post

• Is it free?

  Comment by Anonymous — Tuesday July 7, 2009 @ 3:56pm PST  Reply to this post

• The comic book world is overwhelmed by writers looking for artists. To confirm this, check out web sites like penciljack and digital webbing. And top artists don’t work for free. They’re employed by Marvel or DC or are happily involved with their own “creator owned” projects. If a comic book doesn’t have a name artist attached its prospects are nil. Comic books occupy their own little universe. And it is awash in self-published titles that do nothing but empty the creators’ wallets

  Comment by mr. paranormal — Tuesday July 7, 2009 @ 4:21pm PST  Reply to this post

• Tada,

  Javier Grillo-Marxuach tried to sell The Middleman as a TV show, but execs just couldn’t see it. He then paid a talented artist to help him make it into an indie comic book which he could then show to execs. They liked it and made it into a series.

  Granted, his is the exception (and he had a hell of a track record before this), but still a neat story and be fun to hear him talk about it.

  Comment by Michelle T — Tuesday July 7, 2009 @ 5:04pm PST  Reply to this post

• I get the cynicism at taking an unwanted script and turning into an unwanted comic. But as a screenwriter working on my first comic, there’s also something to be said for the creative satisfaction of actually seeing your story realized.

  Yes, a screenplay has to be adapted into a comic – you can’t just reformat it. No different than any other other adaptation.

  Comment by Ben — Wednesday July 8, 2009 @ 6:05am PST  Reply to this post

• I’d be a billionaire if I had a penny for every who wanted to me to draw ideas.

  Everyone is a writer. That is truth.

  Comment by schmalettzenwaldenperf — Wednesday July 8, 2009 @ 10:03am PST  Reply to this post

• Cynical, Agostoni is a stand up guy who has built up a successful reputation and niche in a short space of time. Hate the game not the player.

  Comment by Comic Book Guy — Wednesday July 8, 2009 @ 12:42pm PST  Reply to this post

• I know many in this town who have sold books for a lot of money. Mr Free Option is not one of them. Emphasis on “Free.” Hint to Comic Book Guy: When a latte costs more than you make from the option its not a good deal. Sure he’s a fanboy but not a guy who makes people a lot of money.

  Comment by Cynical — Wednesday July 8, 2009 @ 9:00pm PST  Reply to this post

• @ schmalettzenwaldenperf:

  Sure, everyone thinks they’re a writer — but the vast majority of those who do aren’t very skilled at it, overconfident typo-prone artists included.

  Now THAT’S truth.

  Comment by Luzid — Thursday July 9, 2009 @ 2:00pm PST  Reply to this post

• One sentence. Good movies again….someday????? PLLLLLLEAAASSE. Talk to Clint Eastwood-he knows how.

  Comment by bailoutchick — Thursday July 9, 2009 @ 11:36pm PST  Reply to this post