Shop Talk- Scripting the Bean.

Let’s talk about my process, and mainly focus on scripting the bean. There are many ways to script and not everyone will have the luxury of being able to script their own work. Since I write and illustrate everything about “The Bean” I am able have a little more creative freedom when I script and I do not usually follow the industry standard for comic book scripts.

So what do I do?

The first thing I do is build or create a dummy book. Even though “Bean” is shown on the web, my final goal is to create a printed book. I know that book printers work in sets of 8. This is why comics are usually 24 or 32 pages. 24= 3 sets of 8 pages, 32 = 4 sets of pages. By building on this principal, you can build almost any size graphic novel. Bean is built to be a 152 pages of story with extras. So when I am scripting I know that I have to find some closure of the book in 152 pages. You can leave it on a cliff hanger, but the book needs to have some resolution. Books 1, 2 & 3 each have their own story arc, even though they are part of a much bigger and longer tale.

I used to build my dummy books with copy paper and staples. 20 sheets stapled equals a 40 page book (I work on front & back, but more on that in a minute). This method is fine, but you will find that you use the dummy book quite a lot and the staples start to fall out and then you end up fixing the book all the time. This frustrated me after 12 40 page comics like this. I was determined to not let that happen for book 4.

One day at a local office supply store, I found a compilation book for engineers. It is a 76 sheets of graph paper that is bound together, it is also 9 x11 in size so it is bigger than most notebooks. This is what I needed to help me in my scripting. Why graph paper you might ask, well as we talk about my work model further, you will see how important graph paper has become to the process.

I have chosen to draw my comic book landscape or widescreen. I do this because it translates perfectly for the web and looks fantastic in print. Just like a Calvin and Hobbes book. I also like the freedom landscape gives me as I work. The eye moves easier from left to right than from up to down. Plus no scrolling it’s a nice feel. (Only drawback is comic book stores cringe at this because they are set up for traditional style books . So a good portion of my sales come from online, which is better for me)

So back to scripting. When I am ready to start my next chapter I pull out my book and map out two pages. The graphing makes mapping and panel layout so much easier to block. You have instant guidelines. I also like how it works with perspective. Since I draw vertical I can fit two pages to a page. Which means with a compilation book of 76 pages I can map out 152 pages of story. That is 4 chapters of a 172 page book. See it fits perfect for the bean.

Now I gather my notes , scrap papers, sketch books, plug in my music and begin plotting. I work each page individually and at times with it’s opposite, drawing how I would envision them to be. This is a quick sketch as you notice from the pictures. The goal is so I understand. I try to use a pencil, so I can erase and move stuff around. I have used pen, but that gets messy at times. There are times though that I get a little more detailed in the sketch process, especially when I world build or need to see detail. The graph paper also helps me to change camera angles and figure out quick perspective for the pages. I do not write a description of the page I actually draw it. This is what I will use as a guide (key word here: GUIDE) when I start working on my actual page. I can change, add or take away at will.

I also try and limit my panels per page. I have found with this size that 4 or 5 panels should be the limit. Anymore than that and it becomes jumbled. Since Bean is an graphic novel I do not feel that I have to spell it all out either. Many pages are just one or two panels. Visual for me is just as strong as the written word.

It is here that I also lay the text out for the story. I treat this as a guide as well and there have been times that I have completely changed the text as I began to lay the book out in indesign.

I use my script as starting point. The visual aspect combined with only what the characters say create a very clear picture on what my comic is about and how it will end up. Sometimes I am detailed about it and sometimes I am not, because I get in a really powerful groove and need to just get out. I will return and flesh it out later if I must or as I am actually penciling a page. Sometimes I realize that the layout just doesn’t work on a page, since I script/draw in pencil, I can erase the page and re-sketch it out, until it looks right.

The most important thing was to make it easy for me. I need to see it visually and these thumbnails make it possible and the bound together, so i don’t have to worry about loosing pages. It also makes it fun, scripting should not be complicated and by drawing it out like this for artist/writer it allows you to see if something will work visually or not right at that moment.

So that’s it. Maybe next time we will approach more on how I tell the story. Today is a tech day, and that is good too. By seeing how others tackle their goals might give us an idea on how improve or maybe just push through a rough creative block. The most important thing is find what works for and keep going forward.

keep creating
trav-

Also if you have any questions or comments, please share.

When I write and draw I will usually slip on a pair of headsets and fall deep into the world of the brokenmoon or any other project I am involved in.

When I am working on scenes or specific moments, I usually focus on soundtracks. Instrumental only. I look at bean as a movie in my head. The characters and the action that goes on is very much alive and so a soundtrack in my opinion is needed.

Many times the sound tracks are to movies I have not seen. This is done on purpose so I can keep a scene pure. Yet sometimes a sound track is so good I cannot pass it up. These soundtracks I usually keep to myself.

Yet I also enjoy a wide variety of music and over the years, I have found myself returning to these songs to help define the characters. Especially their moods and emotions. It makes it easier for me to write, when I identify a song or several songs to make the character a little more emotionally realistic.

I guess there are some minor spoilers, or not as you see personalities from certain songs…so read at your own risk:) Also some songs fit multiple characters as well.

Bean- There are a wide variety of songs that helped make up the bean and some of them I wont post yet, since he is pretty simple as a character. He does get a little more complex as the story matures.

Little Wonders- Rob Thomas

I’m going to go back there some day – Paul Williams & Great Gonzo

I’m with you -Avril Lavigne

I’m still here – GooGooDolls lead singer

– Ravna is as complex as the bean. She has a wide variety of songs that also fit her personality. Yet for now, I will post a few that have added a depth to her character that I really appreciate.

Iris- Goo Goo Dolls

Drive- the Cars

Woman in Chains- Tears for Fears

Don’t Get me Wrong – the Pretenders

Round here – Counting Crows

Siv These songs also just don’t represent the character, but also feelings they might have for another. I use these songs not always for the message they bring, but the emotion they might stir to make a characters action believable. Some songs have even changed the course of certain character interaction and have even made other character relationships stronger. Siv hits both of these categories as does Ravna.

Angel – Sarah Mclaughlin

I’m moving on – Rascal Flats

Walkaway Joe- Trisha Yearwood

Wandering Star- Paint your wagon, Lee Marvin

Alive and Kicking- Simple Minds

Gort is pretty simple- In fact certain songs just fight his mood perfect.

Everybody want to rule the world- Tears for Fears

Funny little Things- Hobbit- Glen Yarbrough

Folsom Prison- Johnny Cash

A boy named sue- Johnny Cash (and its sue either:))

A good place to stop-

In light of making this a really long post I think this is a good place to stop. It is important some songs I didn’t post because it would ruin the story and so I might do this again with other characters:).  I just thought it would be fun to show you a little of where some of the inspiration came for certain characters. There are many other factors that go into character creation well chat about that at another time.

For now…. just sit back and enjoy the music. As you read the comic though you might want to shuffle through some of these songs and you might catch something about these characters that you might or would not have caught before.

Until then- keep creating

trav