Update on my option...

A

alveraz

Veteran
Hey guys, I'm keeping a running blog on my recent option agreement and other project news here: www.alveraz.blogspot.com

Subscribe if you'd like updates on my exciting life behind this desk ;)

Anyway, thanks for the support, I need it!
 
Excellent and congrats. You seem to be living what I've been busting my ass to get (but has been avoiding me).


Well done.
 
All those sketches and stuff up there yours? If so, you are a very talented artist and I envy you. That's some really sweet stuff.
 
Thanks guys. Keith if you mean the art in my comic-book series, no. As I mention in the blog there are three artists on that project, I'm just the writer.

Thanks again guys :)
 
Just curious, what software are you using for the text part of the comic? There's a rumor Celtx has something in the pipeline--might consider bumping the publish date until it's released...
 
Hey Alverez,

I read in your blog about distributors and your western. Would you ever consider blogging about your experience with distributors? Esp with that kind of film? I don't recall seeing any star names/faces in the trailer. And it is a western(Is that good or bad for distribution? Meaning easier or harder, or did you even consider these things, or just made it and let the chips fall where they may?)

Or does this exist somewhere already?
 
Hi Mark, Just keep in mind that was four years ago and I would have done so many things different if I knew then what I know now. With that said we have 12 distributors that have approached us over that time, 3 of them are large. It's just a low-budget Western, nothing too fancy, but there's a market out there but I wouldn't say it's a big one.

This will most likely be a STV thing and that will be that. We do plan to take the festival run as well though. I'm so over this project at this point I just want to be done with it in all honesty. I've grown as a writer/director over that time and have split feelings now about that product. However it was a labor of love and finishing it was a tremendous achievement for us, considering the hurdles we had to overcome.

As far as the genre, I'm not much for selecting genre based on its marketability. If it's a killer film, it will make money with the right distribution and promotion, regardless of it's genre. Don't throw out a Western concept you have based on what it can pull in later, that's silly. Shoot the film you feel passionate about.

We had unknown actors because this was a low-budget film. But, our casting process was more extensive than most films and we pulled real quality actors for the parts. It was shot on DVX by the way and it's what led me to this forum back in '04. All in all it was a fun learning experience. Good luck on your decision.

Take it easy.
 
KeithK said:
All those sketches and stuff up there yours? If so, you are a very talented artist and I envy you. That's some really sweet stuff.
Click to expand...

There was this cool Kevin Smith movie with Ben AFfleck (Chasing Amy?) that had a comic book artist duo. And it looks like your artists have the same set up, where one guy draws and the other colors. So is that status quo? That seems weird since if you're talented enough to draw sketches wouldn't you also know how to do the colors? and likewise, if you can do the colors why couldn't you also do the drawing? If Alveraz or anyone else can throw a little light on this...
 
The classic status quo in the comics industry was for one person to draw, another to "ink" (hence Jason Lee in "Chasing Amy" being called a "tracer"), another to color, another to do the lettering, etc. Not sure if technology is changing that these days, though...
 
Many artists in the comic world focus their talents in one area, further strengthening that ability to find work and beat out the competition. It's like working on a car. If I wanted to be a detailer I wouldn't focus all my time on the transmission, other detailers would beat me at my own game because I was not focused on that particular part of the car. This is why pencilers train in that area and colorists train in colors. Both are very defined parts of the medium and require specific talents and tools.

However, there are countless artists that do both, I'm just explaining the standard. Also keep in mind, publishers will hire someone based on one particular skill. For instance they may have an excellent stable of pencilers but lack in colorists, so they hire a colorist that excels over the rest. As for inkers, many pencilers do their own inks but again, there's folks that excel in that area because it's ALL they work on, day in, day out.

For a more relative example for lack of better ones, take filmmaking. How come the director does not write his own script? Some do, but most find the folks qualified and trained to do so. Why doesn't the actor split his time between acting and directing? Because she would fail as an actor, thinning her craft.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top