Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Monday, February 7, 2011
Street Kids #4 (By Ken)
Situation - The neighborhood kids are having great fun playing their usual game of hide and seek when Big Billy shows up. When he plays he always changes the rules and uses his size and strength to get the upper hand, ruining everyone's day. But Herschel has other plans for Big Billy.....
Dialogue - "Hey!, I want to play too!", demands Billy. "Sure, Big Billy, we'd love to let you play with us." Buzzy looks at Herschel like he's gone crazy, but Herschel knows what he is doing. "Okay Billy, you just need to go hide while the rest of us count to 100. But you can't hide anywhere in the neighborhood or you'll be disqualified." "Where am I supposed to go?", says Billy. "You have to go where we can't find you, silly." Billy is totally confused as he is last seen mumbling to himself heading off to who-knows-where. Meanwhile, as the "street kids" continue with their usual game of hide-and-seek, Herschel once again takes pride in his handling of Big Billy.
Dialogue - "Hey!, I want to play too!", demands Billy. "Sure, Big Billy, we'd love to let you play with us." Buzzy looks at Herschel like he's gone crazy, but Herschel knows what he is doing. "Okay Billy, you just need to go hide while the rest of us count to 100. But you can't hide anywhere in the neighborhood or you'll be disqualified." "Where am I supposed to go?", says Billy. "You have to go where we can't find you, silly." Billy is totally confused as he is last seen mumbling to himself heading off to who-knows-where. Meanwhile, as the "street kids" continue with their usual game of hide-and-seek, Herschel once again takes pride in his handling of Big Billy.
Street Kids #3 (By Ken)
Situation - Harry's candy store is the "mecca" for street kids. Harry's has all the basic food groups for kids: ice cream, soda pop, chewing gum, candy, and best of all a pinball machine. You can spend an entire day in Harry's and not spend more than 50 cents (10 big bottles). Buzzy and Herschel were making their way to Harry's, all fired up to play the pinball machine, until they noticed Big Billy was already flippin' and shakin' the big metal balls for all he was worth.
Dialogue - "Heck Herschel, he's gonna be playin' that thing all day!" "Not a problem", says Herschel. "I'll have him out of here in no time." Herschel walks over to Big Billy and says: "Ya know, it's a proven fact that playin' a pinball machine too long causes you to lose your ability to communicate." Billy responds, "that's silly!" "What?", says Herschel. "I said that's silly". Herschel's voice gets louder, "WHAT? Big Billy is aggitated but responds again, "I SAID, THAT'S SILLY!!" Herschel looks at Buzzy and says, "can you hear what Billy is saying Buzz?" Buzz responds, "did Big Billy say somethin'?" Oh my God, it's true, it's really happenin'." "Here, you guys can play til' I see a doctor....." "Buzzy says to Herschel, "How do you do that?" Herschel smiles and says, "it's like taking candy from a baby!"
Dialogue - "Heck Herschel, he's gonna be playin' that thing all day!" "Not a problem", says Herschel. "I'll have him out of here in no time." Herschel walks over to Big Billy and says: "Ya know, it's a proven fact that playin' a pinball machine too long causes you to lose your ability to communicate." Billy responds, "that's silly!" "What?", says Herschel. "I said that's silly". Herschel's voice gets louder, "WHAT? Big Billy is aggitated but responds again, "I SAID, THAT'S SILLY!!" Herschel looks at Buzzy and says, "can you hear what Billy is saying Buzz?" Buzz responds, "did Big Billy say somethin'?" Oh my God, it's true, it's really happenin'." "Here, you guys can play til' I see a doctor....." "Buzzy says to Herschel, "How do you do that?" Herschel smiles and says, "it's like taking candy from a baby!"
Street Kids #2 (By Ken)
Situation - Buzzy delivers newspapers for the "Bulletin", both weekdays and Sundays. The papers are the heaviest on Sundays when all the ads were stuffed into the news section. Sometimes Herschel likes to walk with Buzzy to keep him company. This day is no exception.
Diaglogue - "Hey Buzzy, how are ya?" "Okay Hersch, you too?" "Yep! Mind if I tag along?" "Naw, suite yourself" "How long ya plannin' on deliverin' newspapers Buzzy?" "Gotta save up enough money to buy a new football helmet for next season." "How many newspapers do ya need to deliver to buy a helmet?" "Don't know exactly, maybe 1,000 or so." That's a lot of newspapers for a football helmet! Is it really worth all the trouble?" "Well", says Buzzy, "Big Billy tried playin' without a helmet when he was my age, and......"Say no more, I see what ya mean!"
Diaglogue - "Hey Buzzy, how are ya?" "Okay Hersch, you too?" "Yep! Mind if I tag along?" "Naw, suite yourself" "How long ya plannin' on deliverin' newspapers Buzzy?" "Gotta save up enough money to buy a new football helmet for next season." "How many newspapers do ya need to deliver to buy a helmet?" "Don't know exactly, maybe 1,000 or so." That's a lot of newspapers for a football helmet! Is it really worth all the trouble?" "Well", says Buzzy, "Big Billy tried playin' without a helmet when he was my age, and......"Say no more, I see what ya mean!"
Street Kids #1 (By Ken)
Strip #1
Situation - Herschel is walking down the street with his "Red Flyer" wagon, filled with bottles, on his way to "Harry's" candy store. Harry buys empty bottles back, 2 cents each for small bottles and 5 cents each for large bottles. Buzzy is play "wall-ball", but stops to talk with Herschel. Buzzy is warning Herschel about "Big Billy" who is roaming the neighborhood looking to spoil someone's day.
Dialogue - Herschel says to Buzzy, "I can't go too fast or I'll break my bottles and they won't be worth nothin'! Buzzy suggests: "cover the bottles with your jacket so Big Billy can't see what you got! Great idea Buzzy!" So Herschel covers the bottles just as Big Billy comes around the corner, and he asks Herschel, "whatcha got in your wagon?" "Oh, nothin', just some old magazines." "Magazines?", says Big Billy. How come they're rattlin' around like glass bottles?" "Cause the magazines have pictures of glass bottles in them, silly". "Oh, no wonder. See you later Herschel".
Situation - Herschel is walking down the street with his "Red Flyer" wagon, filled with bottles, on his way to "Harry's" candy store. Harry buys empty bottles back, 2 cents each for small bottles and 5 cents each for large bottles. Buzzy is play "wall-ball", but stops to talk with Herschel. Buzzy is warning Herschel about "Big Billy" who is roaming the neighborhood looking to spoil someone's day.
Dialogue - Herschel says to Buzzy, "I can't go too fast or I'll break my bottles and they won't be worth nothin'! Buzzy suggests: "cover the bottles with your jacket so Big Billy can't see what you got! Great idea Buzzy!" So Herschel covers the bottles just as Big Billy comes around the corner, and he asks Herschel, "whatcha got in your wagon?" "Oh, nothin', just some old magazines." "Magazines?", says Big Billy. How come they're rattlin' around like glass bottles?" "Cause the magazines have pictures of glass bottles in them, silly". "Oh, no wonder. See you later Herschel".
Jake and Friends #5 (by Shay)
Strip #5 - "A Visit to the Vet"
Dan and Jake are walking to the local veterinarian where Dan works after school for his father. As he enters the office, Jake bites Dan on the arm. "Ooow!" yells Dan. Jake drops from the backpack, runs and jumps into the arms of Jake's father. "Hey, dad", Dan mumbles. "Hello son, what's happened to your arm?" "Jake bit me!" Dan's dad looks unsure, "Must have been a good reason", as he gives Jake a treat. "But he bit me!" explains Dan. "Aw, you'll survive, now get to work cleaning the bird cages." Jake makes his escape, but returns later riding a huge mastive dog and yelling, "CHARGE!" as he runs toward Dan who's busy on his knees cleaning cages. Dan tries to fend off the 200 lb. dog but is knocked into the bird cage along with the bucket of soap. As Jake rides off into the sunset you can hear a distinct, "Ooops!"
Dan and Jake are walking to the local veterinarian where Dan works after school for his father. As he enters the office, Jake bites Dan on the arm. "Ooow!" yells Dan. Jake drops from the backpack, runs and jumps into the arms of Jake's father. "Hey, dad", Dan mumbles. "Hello son, what's happened to your arm?" "Jake bit me!" Dan's dad looks unsure, "Must have been a good reason", as he gives Jake a treat. "But he bit me!" explains Dan. "Aw, you'll survive, now get to work cleaning the bird cages." Jake makes his escape, but returns later riding a huge mastive dog and yelling, "CHARGE!" as he runs toward Dan who's busy on his knees cleaning cages. Dan tries to fend off the 200 lb. dog but is knocked into the bird cage along with the bucket of soap. As Jake rides off into the sunset you can hear a distinct, "Ooops!"
Jake and Friends #4 (by Shay)
Strip #4 - "Jake's Advice"
Jakde and Dan finally arrive at school as Dan shoves Jake into his locker for safe keeping. "Hey!" yells Jake. "It's dark in here!" "Too bad Jake, now be quiet." One of Dan's classmates walks up to him and says "hi!" Dan, caught be surprise, tries to respond, "h-h-h-hi!", as he blushes so hard his hair nearly turns red. "I'm Sidney, what's your name?" "I-I-I-I'm Dan" still trying to recover from this awkward situation. "H-h-h-h-h-ow are you?" Before Sidney can respond, Jake interrupts from the locker saying, "Oh, just get on with it Dan, you big head!"
Jakde and Dan finally arrive at school as Dan shoves Jake into his locker for safe keeping. "Hey!" yells Jake. "It's dark in here!" "Too bad Jake, now be quiet." One of Dan's classmates walks up to him and says "hi!" Dan, caught be surprise, tries to respond, "h-h-h-hi!", as he blushes so hard his hair nearly turns red. "I'm Sidney, what's your name?" "I-I-I-I'm Dan" still trying to recover from this awkward situation. "H-h-h-h-h-ow are you?" Before Sidney can respond, Jake interrupts from the locker saying, "Oh, just get on with it Dan, you big head!"
Jake and Friends #3 (by Shay)
Strip #3 - "Jake to the Rescue"
Dan is on his way to school again when two little dogs in bright red coats come running up to them, "yapping" away. "Shoo! Get away!" Dan yells, "Go on, git!" But the dogs keep yapping and begin nipping at Dan's ankles. "Ouch!, Shoo!, Ooooww!, Stop!" cries Dan. By this time Jake is tired of all this noise, especially while he's been napping in Dan's backpack. Jake jumps out of the backpack, surprising the two dogs. They stop yapping and nipping and tilt their heads to the side while checking out this strange looking object that appeared out of nowhere. One dog comes closer to check Jake out, then the other approaches sniffing all the way. Without warning Jake lets out a loud "ROARRRRR! scaring the dogs, causing them to jump clean out of their coats and running away! Jake says, "would you mind keeping the noise down while I'm trying to sleep?" Dan just shakes his head............
Dan is on his way to school again when two little dogs in bright red coats come running up to them, "yapping" away. "Shoo! Get away!" Dan yells, "Go on, git!" But the dogs keep yapping and begin nipping at Dan's ankles. "Ouch!, Shoo!, Ooooww!, Stop!" cries Dan. By this time Jake is tired of all this noise, especially while he's been napping in Dan's backpack. Jake jumps out of the backpack, surprising the two dogs. They stop yapping and nipping and tilt their heads to the side while checking out this strange looking object that appeared out of nowhere. One dog comes closer to check Jake out, then the other approaches sniffing all the way. Without warning Jake lets out a loud "ROARRRRR! scaring the dogs, causing them to jump clean out of their coats and running away! Jake says, "would you mind keeping the noise down while I'm trying to sleep?" Dan just shakes his head............
Jake and Friends #2 (by Shay)
Strip #2 - Jake Gets Caught!
Dan is walking to school and you can see he's having a hard time carrying the backpack, something is obviously wrong. "Man! This backpack is heavy!" I don't remember bringing home any heavy books!" Out from the backpack comes, "Aaa-choo!", as Jake can't hold back his sneeze any longer. Dan stops, unzips the backpack and realizes Jake is in his backpack. "Jake! What are you doing in my backpack. You know you can't come to school with me." "Why not?" says Jake. "Because someone will see you, that's why!" "Like who", says Jake, "like your girlfriend?" "No Mr. Fuzzball, the Janitor!!"
Dan is walking to school and you can see he's having a hard time carrying the backpack, something is obviously wrong. "Man! This backpack is heavy!" I don't remember bringing home any heavy books!" Out from the backpack comes, "Aaa-choo!", as Jake can't hold back his sneeze any longer. Dan stops, unzips the backpack and realizes Jake is in his backpack. "Jake! What are you doing in my backpack. You know you can't come to school with me." "Why not?" says Jake. "Because someone will see you, that's why!" "Like who", says Jake, "like your girlfriend?" "No Mr. Fuzzball, the Janitor!!"
Jake and Friends #1 (by Shay)
Strip #1 - Jake Comes to School
"Jake!", Dan yells. "I'm headiing out, please don't trash the house again while I'm gone, ok?" Jake doesn't answer. "Jake!", Dan yells again; still silence. Heading out the door Dan mumbles, "Wherever you are at least your not with me." Dan has his backpack on and you can see two eyes staring out from an unzipped pouch on the backpack as Dan heads off to school.
"Jake!", Dan yells. "I'm headiing out, please don't trash the house again while I'm gone, ok?" Jake doesn't answer. "Jake!", Dan yells again; still silence. Heading out the door Dan mumbles, "Wherever you are at least your not with me." Dan has his backpack on and you can see two eyes staring out from an unzipped pouch on the backpack as Dan heads off to school.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Buds "The backyard campout"
Panel 1
Tyler and Tate are sitting under a mountain of junk food out in Tyler's back yard.
Tate: Do you think we have enough snacks?
Panel 2
Tyler is surrounded by large spot lights and flash lights. Both Tyler and Tate are glowing in the light.
Tate: Do you think we have a good enough night light?
Panel 3
A horrible potato monster fills this panel.
Tate: Have you checked for the potato monster?
Panel 4
Tyler and Tate are surrounded by potato mashers.
Tyler: I don't think we have to worry about him tonight, I have mashers set up all over this yard!
Something like that. This is hard. I keep wanting to have the drawings tell me what to write, but I think that writing first will help the drawings come to life.
Tyler and Tate are sitting under a mountain of junk food out in Tyler's back yard.
Tate: Do you think we have enough snacks?
Panel 2
Tyler is surrounded by large spot lights and flash lights. Both Tyler and Tate are glowing in the light.
Tate: Do you think we have a good enough night light?
Panel 3
A horrible potato monster fills this panel.
Tate: Have you checked for the potato monster?
Panel 4
Tyler and Tate are surrounded by potato mashers.
Tyler: I don't think we have to worry about him tonight, I have mashers set up all over this yard!
Something like that. This is hard. I keep wanting to have the drawings tell me what to write, but I think that writing first will help the drawings come to life.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Script/Writing Template
Here is an example of how you might go about formatting the 6 -8 strips you are writing this week.
---
[PANEL ONE]
Clyde is sitting on the sidewalk playing his guitar. Roland is standing next to him.
Roland: Shouldn’t you be in Biology?
[PANEL TWO]
Clyde: I’m conducting my own “Music Appreciation” class instead.
[PANEL THREE]
Roland: Oh yeah? How many credits is that worth?
[PANEL FOUR]
Clyde looks down at his open guitar case.
Clyde: So far, two Canadian nickels and a gum wrapper.
Roland: Good thing education is its own reward.
---
And here is what the finished comic would look like (which we will work on next week):
---
[PANEL ONE]
Clyde is sitting on the sidewalk playing his guitar. Roland is standing next to him.
Roland: Shouldn’t you be in Biology?
[PANEL TWO]
Clyde: I’m conducting my own “Music Appreciation” class instead.
[PANEL THREE]
Roland: Oh yeah? How many credits is that worth?
[PANEL FOUR]
Clyde looks down at his open guitar case.
Clyde: So far, two Canadian nickels and a gum wrapper.
Roland: Good thing education is its own reward.
---
And here is what the finished comic would look like (which we will work on next week):
Getting Ideas: Bill Watterson (Calvin & Hobbes)
Q: With almost 15 years of separation and reflection, what do you think it was about "Calvin and Hobbes" that went beyond just capturing readers' attention, but their hearts as well?
A: The only part I understand is what went into the creation of the strip. What readers take away from it is up to them. Once the strip is published, readers bring their own experiences to it, and the work takes on a life of its own. Everyone responds differently to different parts. I just tried to write honestly, and I tried to make this little world fun to look at, so people would take the time to read it. That was the full extent of my concern. You mix a bunch of ingredients, and once in a great while, chemistry happens. I can't explain why the strip caught on the way it did, and I don't think I could ever duplicate it. A lot of things have to go right all at once. [1]
Q: Are the adventures of Calvin and Hobbes similar to your own childhood, or is the strip a way for you to create stories you never experienced as a kid?
A: I'd say the fictional and nonfictional aspects were pretty densely interwoven. While Calvin definitely reflects certain aspects of my personality, I never had imaginary animal friends, I generally stayed out of trouble, I did fairly well in school, etc., so the strip is not literally autobiographical. Often I used the strip to talk about things that interested me as an adult, and of course, a lot of Calvin's adventures were drawn simply because I thought the idea was funny. In any given strip, the amount of invention varied. Keep in mind that comic strips are typically written in a certain amount of panic, and I made it all up as I went along. I just wrote what I thought about. [2]
Q: When you sit down at the drawing table, though, do you do one at a time or just keep going?
Watterson: I write separately from the inking up. I'm sure this varies from cartoonist to cartoonist; I find that the writing is the hard part and the drawing is the fun part. I like to separate the two so I can give my full attention to one or the other. Writing it, I'll sit down and stare into space for an hour and sometimes not come up with a single decent idea, or sometimes no idea at all, and it's very tempting to go do something else or just draw up a strip, but I find that if I make myself stick to it for another hour I can sometimes come up with several good ideas. And when I get to the drawing, I really enjoy taking a big chunk of time and working on the drawing and nothing else. That allows me to make sure that I'm really challenging the art, making each picture as interesting as I can...stick in a close-up or an odd perspective. This way, the writing doesn't distract me while I'm drawing and vice versa. I can devote my full attention to each. [3]
[1] Bill Watterson, creator of beloved 'Calvin and Hobbes' comic strip looks back with no regrets.http://www.cleveland.com/living/index.ssf/2010/02/bill_watterson_creator_of_belo.html
[2] Andrews McNeel Publishing: Fans From Around the World Interview Bill Watterson
http://www.andrewsmcmeel.com/calvinandhobbes/interview.html
[3] Honk Magazine Interview
http://bob.bigw.org/ch/interview.html
Getting Ideas: Rick Kirkman & Jerry Scott (Baby Blues)
Q: What was the inspiration behind Baby Blues?
Jerry: About 19 years ago, Rick and I were trying out all kinds of ideas for a new comic strip. Nothing we came up with was any good, but like the John Lennon line, "life is what happens when you're busy making other plans", real events conspired to create a unexpected opportunity. All the while Rick and I were working on ideas for The Great American Comic Strip, Rick and his wife, Sukey were busy dealing with their second baby, who was, um... a handful. The more time I spent hearing his stories of parenthood, the clearer it became to me that this was a couple who was dealing with a force much more powerful (and noisier) than themselves. After rejecting the twelfth or thirteenth stupid comic strip premise we'd come up with, I looked at Rick's unshaven face, pablum-stained t-shirt and wrinkly jeans and said, "Hey. What about a strip about a couple with a new baby?" [1]
Q: Where do you get your ideas for the strip?
Jerry: The ideas come from everywhere. Our own experiences, stories we hear from friends, and just good old warped imagination.
Rick: As I mentioned earlier, our families are a great source, but it doesn’t stop there. We observe a lot of friends and strangers and many readers have written us. They don’t usually translate directly into gags, but mostly serve as germs for ideas. I find that airports and shopping mall food courts are great places for inspiration. [2]
Q: Do you take ideas from your own family life?
Rick: Absolutely, as much as possible. In the first few years of the strip, before Jerry had kids, a great deal was taken from my family. We both shamelessly exploit our families for gags. Our wives are good sources of gag material, too, suggesting things from time to time. [2]
Q: What funny things have happened in your family that you haven’t shared in the strip?
Jerry: I’ve had to have a useable idea for every day of the year for the entire 18 years baby Blues has been in syndication. Not only do I use every possible funny thing that happens in my family, I use everything from Rick’s family, my neighbors’ families and any talkative strangers I come across. [2]
[1] Baby Blues: Interview with comic strip creators, Rick Kirkman and Jerry Scott
http://www.thisfullhouse.com/this_full_house/2008/10/baby-blues-inte.html
[2] An Interview w/ Baby Blues-THE COMIC STRIP
http://wearethatfamily.com/2008/12/interview-w-baby-blues-comic-strip/
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