Anatomy of a Scene: Part IV

Once Noel’s finished his work on a scene it’s time for me to go in and give the dialogue one final polish (I’m something of a perfectionist). Sometimes I don’t need to make changes at all. Usually, however, I do.

For instance, this scene saw the addition of one or two panels on each page. Obviously this means I need to review the dialogue’s placement, making sure it’s still appropriate given the page’s new layout.

From there I want to make sure the dialogue compliments the art. Sometimes Noel’s work isn’t exactly what I pictured in my head. Sometimes it will say enough that I can delete some dialogue. Other times, I need to add a line or two for clarity.

This scene saw a few minor tweaks. The biggest came on page 66. You may remember that initially there was no dialogue in the first panel. When I saw it, however, I didn’t think reader’s would understand the old man was coming out of his desk because he was angry and felt the addition of a line or two was called for.

Once I’ve finished tweaking everything I send a “lettering script” to my letterer with the art. He takes it from there.

Here’s a look at what one of these shortened scripts looks like…

****

PAGE SIXTY-FIVE

PANEL THREE:

Dawson (standing): PLEASE, TIM. YOURS IS THE ONLY HOUSE WITH A STORM SHELTER FOR TWENTY MILES.

TOM (on left): THE CHURCH IN TOWN HAS A CELLAR.

JACOB (far right): AN’ IT’S FILLED TEN TIMES OVER BY NOW.

PANEL FOUR:

TOM: I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU TWO WANT, I DO. BUT UNTIL MY DAUGHTER IS SAVE NONE OF THIS IS GOING TO BE OPEN FOR DISCUSSION.

PANEL FIVE:

JACOB: BUT MY DAUGHTER’S HERE.

TOM (off panel): I KNOW THAT, JACOB.

PANEL SIX:

DAWSON: CAN YOU LET US DOWN FOR NOW? AS SOON AS KIM SHOWS, WE’LL–

TOM (off panel): IT’S NOT GOING TO BE THAT EASY.

PANEL SEVEN:

JACOB: GODDAMNIT, SHARDER!

PAGE SIXTY-SIX

PANEL ONE:

TOM: YOU KNOW? I THINK I’VE HAD JUST ABOUT ENOUGH OF THIS!

PANEL TWO:

KIM (off panel): DAD!

PANEL THREE:

TOM (far right): OH, THANK GOD.

PANEL FOUR:

KIM: IF I’D KNOWN…

TOM: I KNOW, SWEETHEART.

PANEL SEVEN:

JACOB: YOU TWO JUST REMEMBER WHO WAS HERE FIRST.

Anatomy of a Scene: Part III

This one doesn’t require much explanation. Once Noel and I are both happy with the layouts, he goes to work. A few weeks later, I end up with something like this waiting in my inbox…

I know, I know. Someone shouldn’t get to work with an artist THIS talented on their first book. But hey, someone has to be the exception that proves the rule. Might as well be me.

Anatomy of a Scene: Part II

Yesterday I shared an excerpt from THE BROADCAST’s script, today I want to give you a look at the next step — layouts.

Essentially, Noel takes the script and does a very rough version of the illustrated page. It’s a vital step in the process because it gives us a chance to make sure the story is being told visually.

While you want the art to work hand-in-hand with the dialogue that will eventually be included, a good artist will tell the story without a word on the page. Just look at the first set of layouts…

Already, we know three men are meeting behind closed doors (see how Noel stuck that panel in — and rightfully so).

We know that two of these guys are here to see the old man, and we know they’re pressing him about something (see how one of them is leaning forward, hands on the desk?)

We know it isn’t going well. Just look at the body language in panel five. Even in these rough drawings you can see he is getting upset.

And finally, we know the situation reaches a boiling point when the young guy finally snaps and pounds a fist onto the desk.

You’ll notice Noel added two panels to the second page. The last panel is a particularly important addition.

I initially wrote this page to end with Jacob’s dirty look — but showing Gavin and Eli as they watch Jacob storm away is a far stronger moment to end with. After all, Gavin and Eli are two of our most important characters. Leaving this scene without showing their dumbfounded reaction would have been a huge mistake.

Anatomy of a Scene: Part I

This week I wanted to give a behind-the-scenes look at how Noel and I collaborated on THE BROADCAST.

Below I’ve attached a small script excerpt that takes place near the beginning of the book’s second act. I’d love to tell you this is the first step in the creative process, but I’m just not that good. The truth is, this is what my scripts look like after endless outlining, note-taking and re-writing.

You’ll notice I use a sparse writing style, and it’s a very deliberate move on my part. While I usually have an idea how a panel should look, the truth is I try to give the artist as little description as possible. After all, he’s probably going to have better ideas on how the story should be told visually — why am I going to handcuff him with a list of things he “HAS” to include?

***

PAGE SIXTY-FIVE

PANEL ONE:

Emma and Sharon share a couch in the Shrader living room, three children crammed between them.

PANEL TWO:

Tom sits calmly behind his desk as Jacob and Dawson try to plead their case.

Jacob is in a chair. Dawson stands. The old man’s fingers are steepled in front of him.

DAWSON: PLEASE, TOM. YOURS IS THE ONLY HOUSE WITH A STORM SHELTER FOR TWENTY MILES.

TOM: THE CHURCH IN TOWN HAS A CELLAR.

JACOB: AN’ IT’S FILLED TEN TIMES OVER BY NOW.

PANEL THREE:

Tom leans forward.

TOM: I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU TWO WANT, I DO. BUT UNTIL MY DAUGHTER IS SAFE NONE OF THIS IS OPEN FOR DISCUSSION.

PANEL FOUR:

Jacob fights to keep his anger at bay.

JACOB: BUT MY DAUGHTER’S HERE.

TOM (off panel, softly): I KNOW THAT, JACOB.

PANEL FIVE:

Dawson’s talking to Tom but has his eyes on Jacob as he does. He wants to make sure Jacob doesn’t lose his cool.

DAWSON: CAN YOU LET US DOWN FOR NOW? AS SOON AS KIM SHOWS, WE’LL…

TOM: IT’S NOT GOING TO BE THAT EASY.

PANEL SIX:

Jacob slams his fist down on the desk. It catches everyone off guard. They jump back from the outburst.

JACOB: GOD DAMN IT, SHRADER!

PAGE SIXTY-SIX

PANEL ONE:

Tom comes out of his seat, enraged and ready to let Jacob have it.

PANEL TWO:

Dawson comes between the two as Tom rounds the desk. He has a hand up to each man, hoping he can stop them both.

KIM (off panel): DAD!

PANEL THREE:

All three men turn to see Kim coming into the room.

TOM: OH, THANK GOD.

PANEL FOUR:

Kim and her father embrace.

KIM: IF I’D KNOWN…

TOM: I KNOW, SWEETHEART.

PANEL FIVE:

Jacob looks over at Gavin and Eli who just appeared in the doorway. He doesn’t look happy.

PANEL SIX:

Fuming, Jacob storms out of the room. He eyes Gavin and Eli as he goes.

JACOB: YOU TWO JUST REMEMBER WHO GOT HERE FIRST.

Wired on H.G. Welles (and The Broadcast)

Wired put a piece on their website today in honor of H.G. Wells birthday and we were mentioned.

It’s a nice little article, not only showcasing some of Wells’ most beloved work but the books, movies and television series that his work has influenced. While this isn’t a feature on our book by any means, it’s cool for me on a couple fronts. First, I’m a regular reader of Wired magazine, so being mentioned briefly on that site is pretty cool for me. And second, it’s nice to see THE BROADCAST listed alongside LOST and Jeff Lemire’s THE NOBODY. The writing of H.G. Wells may have influenced them, but those two works have been a huge influence on me.

Also of note, THE BROADCAST is now listed as “In Stock” on the Amazon website. Be sure to grab a copy the next time you’re making an order there. If you’ve already picked up a copy and enjoyed it — well, we would greatly appreciate it if you took a few minutes to stop by Amazon and give us a review.

The book hits comic shelves this week. I can’t wait to hear what everyone thinks.

The Broadcast To Debut At SPX

Tomorrow morning I’ll be waking up at around 4:30 am to catch a plane for DC so I can attend  the Small Press Expo in Bethesda, MD for the premier of my new book from NBM, THE BROADCAST. This is the first chance fans will have to get their hands on the book so I am really excited to show everyone what Noel and I have been working on. If you’re in the area, be sure to stop by and visit the NBM booth as I will be there most of the weekend. Can’t wait to let you all see what Noel and I have been cooking up the last two years!

One Million Words

There’s an old saying that every writer has a million bad words in them, and that the only way you can become a decent writer is to get through those first million words as fast as you possibly can.

Now, I can’t say for sure if I’ve written a million words. I think the chances are pretty high. I’ve written an awful lot. But while I can’t tell you for certain how many words I’ve put on the page, I can tell you there was a moment when writing THE BROADCAST when I felt as if the last bad word had escaped and I was finally writing something readers would find special.

Most my stuff sees huge changes as I re-write, but this scene is almost word-for-word exactly as I wrote it the first time out. I’ve written better stuff since. Heck, it probably isn’t even the best scene in THE BROADCAST. But this scene holds a special place in my heart. It was the first time I ever sat down, read my work and believed I actually had a chance to sell the damned thing.

Enjoy: