Read about my Day Two and Day Three and Four experiences as well.
Thursday (July 21, 2016)
Top Shelf Productions: Live!
The imprint sounds like it is doing a lot of great work, particularly with March. March is a three volume series written by Congressman John Lewis and his aide Andrew Aydin with art by Nate Powell. The trilogy features Lewis’ account of the civil rights movement. The first volume was selected by Michigan State University, Marquette University and Georgia State University as summer reading for incoming freshman. It is also part of the ‘NYC Reads 365’ program.
Getting Into Comics and Staying There
There was so much good advice given on this panel that I don’t even know where to begin. It was definitely the best panel of the day. Jim Zub is definitely a comic book guru. I had previously read his series of articles about comic book writing and doing pitches for comics. He advised writing a pitch of only a page at most or, even better, a paragraph.
Kyle Higgins also had a lot of good advice:
"Take something you really really like and write the reverse script for it." -Kyle Higgins #SDCC2016
— Nicole D'Andria (@Comic_Maven) July 21, 2016
"Even if it's bad, you have to finish. That's how you grow." -Kyle Higgins #SDCC2016
— Nicole D'Andria (@Comic_Maven) July 21, 2016
"People who are serious about making comics make comics." -Kyle Higgins #SDCC2016
— Nicole D'Andria (@Comic_Maven) July 21, 2016
From Concepts to Comics: A Conversation About Editing in the Comics Industry
The panelists talked about the importance of working with an editor, as well as the difference between good and bad editors. As an editor myself, I found this very informative. So much so I tweeted just about every other thing said.
Word association for editors: "invaluable" (Hope Larson) and "trust" (James Tynion IV). #SDCC2016
— Nicole D'Andria (@Comic_Maven) July 21, 2016
Simon Spurrier calls an editor a "surrogate brain" for the writer. #SDCC2016
— Nicole D'Andria (@Comic_Maven) July 21, 2016
Hope Larson talks about the benefit of getting editing notes that are really questions. #SDCC2016
— Nicole D'Andria (@Comic_Maven) July 21, 2016
Mairghread Scott talks about the importance of a writer being honest with their editor. Don't just ignore them or deadlines. #SDCC2016
— Nicole D'Andria (@Comic_Maven) July 21, 2016
"Editors I work best with are people I know are smarter than me." -James Tynion IV #SDCC2016
— Nicole D'Andria (@Comic_Maven) July 21, 2016
"I text with my editors and I'm sure I irritate them all the time." -James Tynion IV #SDCC2016
— Nicole D'Andria (@Comic_Maven) July 21, 2016
Scott mentions a common miscommunication is not understanding an editor's notes and assuming they're wrong. Talk to them. #SDCC2016
— Nicole D'Andria (@Comic_Maven) July 21, 2016
Carlson learning more about editing through writing, including emphasizing with the writer. #SDCC2016
— Nicole D'Andria (@Comic_Maven) July 21, 2016
Tynion talks about finding a center and himself in the licensed characters he has to write. #SDCC2016
— Nicole D'Andria (@Comic_Maven) July 21, 2016
"two great mistakes writers make are writing homogenous characters or characters that aren't really characters." -Mairgheard Scott #SDCC2016
— Nicole D'Andria (@Comic_Maven) July 21, 2016
"Editing is about bringing out the best in others." -Bryce Carlson #SDCC2016
— Nicole D'Andria (@Comic_Maven) July 21, 2016
Inside the Voice Actors Studio
Delaney offered several pieces of advice for aspiring voice actors:
"If you suck, don't let on.... suck with gusto!" -Delaney #SDCC2016
— Nicole D'Andria (@Comic_Maven) July 22, 2016
"You are your best source for material." -Delaney on voice acting. #SDCC2016
— Nicole D'Andria (@Comic_Maven) July 22, 2016
Delaney suggests making a demo reel that is a minute. "30 seconds if you can do it." #SDCC2016
— Nicole D'Andria (@Comic_Maven) July 22, 2016
Advice from Delaney: To save your voice, try scheduling on a Friday. Or don't take a job if it will be too much of a strain. #SDCC2016
— Nicole D'Andria (@Comic_Maven) July 22, 2016
Spike & Mike’s Festival of Animation
The first day of comic con was a fun and jam-packed day and not nearly as overwhelming as I thought it would be. I would soon find out that Friday’s and Saturday’s were the days when things really kicked off…
Until next time!