New update

Good Thursday to you all. Hope it is a good one and deadline pixies are staying away ;-)

I'm trying to juggle some small assignments until the bigger ones come through in a couple of weeks (they said) and in between my comic story which is going well. I've been tied up and it seems I haven't posted my "semi-regular, but working on posting more frequently" update. Thanks go to Allison who reminded me that yes, people are reading this. That's good news, so I'll try to update more. Lastly, make sure to run over to my portfolio site which I updated with some new production art. www.flickfolio.com/craiggilmore/.
So........the last topic today is........

My workflow step 3) Thumbnail sketches and the art of drawing really small....

Well, after I have all the script broken down into all those circled paragraphs etc. I will draw a number of small boxes next to each circled section to draw a visual "note" to myself about what I want the panel to do. I've often heard from my fellow artists that these rough thimbnails are notes only I can decipher, and indeed they are no more that scribbles and shapes for the most part. Honestly, sometimes they are so rough even I, look at them later and go "what the....is that a foot or a hammer?". At this stage of the game, that is all that I am interested in. I'm thinking about action, timing, composition, camera movement and clear storytelling. Not correct proportion, setting up vanishing points and the later stuff. So I will go back through the script, and basically draw all the key frames of action. I like to think of each one of these drawings in animation terms of being "keyframes" that will later have "breakdowns" and "inbetweens". When this process is done, for the most part, all of my job as a storyteller and the hard (but fun and challenging) part of the job is through because in my mind, I know exactly what I need and want to draw at this point. All that is left is to draw out the panels in the appropriate size and demensions, with all the eye candy added in i.e. correct perspective, figure proportion, drapery, lighting. All of this is no more than proverbial "icing on the cake". This brings me to the next step which will be posted later.....

#3) Approval stages, and finishes or "grab your director and tango"

Thanks for reading, until next time...

Craig

'lil bit about my storyboard/comics workflow

Hi all,

Since some people have asked....I thought I might talk a little bit about my workflow process as it relates to storyboard and comics. I'll have to break this up into sections as I will only cover one part of the development at a time.

1- Circles and words-
When I get a script, the first thing I am interested in doing is taking it and breaking it down into bite size digestable images. There is certainly a lot of information in a normal movie script so what I do (and this goes for comics as well) is take a Colerase blue pencil and read the script. As I go, I circle sections of the script that I think would make a cool image, always keeping in mind that the story is the thing. A cool image alone is great, but in storyboarding and comics every image has to have a purpose and move the story further. So each image *has* to supply the viewer the visual information to tell the story correctly while at the same time suggest camera angles, sets, animation, special effects, all the things a production would need. So I go and cover the whole script and in the end I have a bunch of circled "panels or frames" that I would draw out later. Also during this phase, I'll often write little notes to myself as to what I would like to do.

Next time....... 2) - Thumbnail sketches and the art of drawing really small....

Craig

An observation, a viewpoint, and a rant

To all the so called "filmmakers" and *Lo/NO pay productions*,

Of course I'm a little biased with this because I'm a storyboard artist, but this really bothers me.....

Why is it that filmmakers *want* storyboards, but view them as a *luxury* part of the development cycle, so "we won't have them". I can't tell you how many people I have spoken with that are doing a film, but "don't have the budget" for *one of the most importaint parts of *ANY FILM DEVELOPMENT CYCLE*?!! They look at it like its an option. That statement cannot be further from the truth, and I pity any filmmaker who thinks this way. In fact, that addition of storyboards is most importaint factor in pre-viz, and in reality *saves* the production money in the end by simplifying, *clarifying* the filmmaking process. Look at all the greatest filmmakers of our time, the ones you say are your inspiration and influence. *They* used/use storyboards, and saw them as not just a "luxury", but as a necessity. Wake up people....You call yourselves a real filmmaker, but you don't use boards for your production.....hmmmm........let's think about this.....and start preparing for the inevitable loss of time and precious money that your production will inevitibly rack up for *not* having them. Think about it.....

I've purged my system....

Craig

"Time and time again" and movie

Good morning!

Haven't posted in a while. Its been hectic around here in the last few weeks, but all is getting back to "normal" it seems. I just got the go ahead from my publisher to delve head first into the comic book story I want to do. Not that it matters. I intended to do it anyway, even it it was going to see the published light of day, BUT, this helps the motivation factor for sure. I'm already making some headway on it, so I'm happy. Its a return to the medium that started it all for me career wise, and one I haven't worked in for about 10 years. I'm excited again, and find myself flourishing creatively, after a number of years of being disheartened with the comic book medium as a whole. After.... I've been thinking of possibly shooting a short film version of it after its complete. The comic book story will basically be the shooting storyboards any way, so will be ahead of the production process. Of course I'll probably have to do additional boards but thats what I love to do so no work involved. I'll talk to some actors and scout set locales this fall. Once again just thoughts right now, but definitely something I am interested in following up on when its done and persuing. I've been finding myself going more and more towards film as my career progresses. Its a natural step and the industry I was intended to work in since birth. A culmination of all my talents and experience, a place to stay challenged, and a comfortable place to call "home". Time will tell...... my creative wheels are always turning. More later!

Craig