Out of Town Comics Presents
The Animated Feature and Graphic Novel Workshop
FAQ's:
How long will each Live Session be?
A: Each Live Session will range anywhere from 1 hour and 30 minutes to 2 hours. Each session will consist of a lecture portion and a sharing/feedback portion.
Live sessions will take place 3 days a month, on Sundays, at 2:30pm Pacific Time.
Considering the time difference, can residents outside of the US also participate?
A: Yes! Live Sessions will be recorded and shared on our Slack Channel for those who cannot attend. Most of our non-session communication will be through Slack as well.
Is a workshop syllabus available?
A: The workshop syllabus(subject to change before the beginning of the workshop) can be viewed here.
Is this a workshop for building a portfolio? Will there be opportunities to connect to the industry?
A: No, portfolio-building is not part of this workshop, and this workshop is not intended for facilitating industry connections for those looking to enter it.
If anything, it is the opposite; this is a workshop for industry professionals, who through experience, have come to understand the limitations and mounting challenges within the industry, and want to explore self-empowered and independent methods of making their dream project a reality. This workshop is intended to help with the creative development portion of that journey. It is for those with experience who want to fully own their projects, and take matters into their own hands.
What are the material outcomes of this workshop?
A: Material outcome is one of the primary objectives for this workshop, but each participant will have their own set of customized goals(and process) based on their project’s unique needs. What we are trying to create is the most effective set of tools for your project's next steps to production. Determining this will be the focus of Phase 1 (as listed in the syllabus) which also involves individual 1:1 consultations. For participants who prefer to follow a more standardized syllabus, which will also be an option, click here to see examples of material objectives.
I want to participate, but I am worried about the workload and time commitment as I also have a day job.
A: Many of the participants, including myself, are currently employed at studios where work schedules can be demanding. This workshop was created with this very much in mind, including the syllabus and assignment options. As stated above this is an individualized workshop; each participant will have their own customized set of objectives determined at the beginning of the workshop.
But also here’s something to consider; I believe that the group and cohort setting that this workshop provides can be a great organic motivator for getting much more done than if you were to go about this alone.
Who is this Workshop for?
A: This workshop is primarily for industry professionals with some years of studio working experience, or graduates of visual narrative programs who want to explore self-empowered ways of making their passion project a reality, instead relying solely on the outer authority of studios (who are increasingly becoming less reliable and fear-based).
What genre of projects would be appropriate for this workshop?
A: As an artist, I have my own subjective taste that colors both the work I create and the type of work I respond to, and will inform what I share my material and insights in live sessions. I am drawn to work that aspires to imbue itself with depth, wonder, beauty, and expansiveness. I am moved by the transcendental, the strange, the mutative. Works that are singular.
However, even though projects rooted in mass-market commerciality may not be my personal inclination per se, I can recognize that those projects may be in genuine alignment with other artists’ authentic paths- which I will firmly support and champion in this workshop. I also have (almost exclusively) worked in large commercial studios targeting mass-markets, and therefore feel confident that I can facilitate projects within that framework.
But most importantly, I believe the methods that I utilize will be very effective entirely separate from my taste, because they are fundamentally not about the improvement of craft(as most trade-based classes tend to be), but a deeper understanding of what is truly, authentically correct for your creative soul, and what will align you to your correct trajectory.
What if I don’t know yet if I want to do a Graphic Novel or Animated Feature?
A: That’s OK! That’s what Phase 1 of this workshop is for.
On the registration form, you will notice that one of the questions is “Will you be developing an Animated Feature or Graphic Novel? - [I don’t know yet] is a perfectly fine answer.”
I am not a professional writer, and am unsure about my writing skills. Do I still need to write a script for my project?
A: Great question. My answer is Yes!
To be frank, when it comes to studio-produced animated films, I am not not a believer in a “Script-first” animated filmmaking. However, when it comes to your own, personal, independent animated film made under your ownership, I believe the first draft of the script, written by the creator, is an invaluable, powerful, and necessary tool, even if you plan on having another professional writer go over it later. I will be going over the reasons for this in the beginning of our workshop.
I have also prepared a lot of great material to help not only guide you through your script process one step at a time, but also elevate your writing to make it that much more effective.
Does the workshop have an NDA?
A: Yes! I am a very firm believer in creator-ownership, and take intellectual property matters seriously.
All participants are required to agree with the terms and conditions of the class, which includes the NDA. I will cover the importance of this at the beginning of our first session as well.
Will there be more workshops in the future?
A: While I can’t promise future installations of this workshop at this time, depending on the outcome of this first cohort, more workshops are definitely a possibility.