Today in the Life Of...

My cable was cut off early today thanks to some lack of communication and stuff. We obviously got it back on, or I wouldn't be typing this right now. But it put me behind in contacting everyone today, though I still managed to get some correspondence out.

Michael Kasinger, one of the artists I was going to work with for the CBC had to drop out due to his workload. But that's cool because the story I came up with for him is a really good one, I think, and without that push I might have never come up with it.

I haven't heard back from Jason Moser yet, so at this late stage (with just over a week to go) I doubt that one will happen either.

On the other hand, the one Scott and I are working on may just happen. And even if it doesn't we are still going to work on it as I mentioned before I believe.

Still waiting to hear about that potential job. I thought for certain I would have heard something by now, but nada. I've got a couple of other leads, so I hope they hurry up before I take something else!

One venture I was very excited about is now not going to happen. My partner had some doubts due to recent events, and her points were valid. I'm saddened by it, honestly, but I understand and all is good. It just wasn't meant to happen I suppose.

I finished up a small writing gig today and got another one, slightly larger, so that was cool.

I was adding up numbers for Wizard World Chicago, and it's going to take some doing for me to be able to make it this year. I have two options, one going for the whole four days, and one going just on the weekend. The latter is the cheaper of the two options, but it's a bit more of a hassle with all the logistics. So we'll just have to see how things go. I might not be able to do either.

I found - or rather they found me - a local music group that sounds pretty cool. It's hip-hop/r&b, but it's two white boys from Kentucky! Needless to say, I was surprised how good they sounded. I'll get a link and give them their own post here soon.

I reconnected with a friend last night via telephone and chatted for about 30 minutes, which was cool. We used to hang out all the time, but haven't for three or four years now.

The past two or three days I've not felt well, and I've just been sluggish and not very motivated. I've pushed through it and made quite the progress on things by and large, but I just haven't felt myself. I don't know what it is. Well, the not feeling good I know what it is, but not the other. I'm just frustrated with a lot of things this week, and the unknown in a lot of areas is probably the biggest culprit. So all of that has just got me out of sorts I guess. I'll bounce back, though. I always do, glory be to God.

And I suppose that's it. It's almost 2am, I'm tired but not sleepy, and though I have a ton to do, I'm bored and restless out of my mind! lol. So I think I'll try to lay down and watch a bit of TV and try to doze off if I can. More soon.

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Comic Book Challenge

As I mentioned before, I am still heavily considering entering the contest, but it depends on a number of factors. One very important one being my artists having time to work on the projects, and me being able to compensate them in some way, shape or form that works for them.

That said, there are three possibly concepts I may enter. Scott (Simmons) and I are working on a project that is fleshing out quite nicely as of today. But Scott has some other important work in front of that, so we'll see.

I'm also working on a fantasy project with Michael Kasinger (Tiki's Phayrie) that I've revived from three or four years ago. My brother actually came up with the concept for it, roughly, and I just fleshed it out and made it into a story. It was going to be a part of the universe of a comic company I edited for back then, but they've since gone out of business, and I've removed references to it in the script. (NIX THAT! As I was typing this, Michael emailed me and said the story was cool, but wasn't for him, even though he dug the plot initially. So... I think we're going to try to come up with something new).

And third, I have a horror project in the works with Jason Moser (Ellium), but most likely his schedule isn't going to allow time to work on it before the deadline.

With at least two of these we are definitely continuing on whether we enter the contest or not, and whether we place in the contest or not. The other I'm not sure as I haven't talked with the artist beyond the contest.

Now, added to the hesitancy about rights that I mentioned a few posts ago, something else came to my attention yesterday that makes me a little wary as well. DJ Coffman, the winner of the first CBC with his book, Hero By Night, blogged recently about Platinum canceling his book due to some financial issues. DJ still praised Platinum in the post, but one still has to wonder if the same couldn't happen to the winner of this year's contest. Granted, Platinum did put out the first mini series, and three issues (I think) of the ongoing before canceling, but still...

Providing the art is completed in time, I'll still enter, and I'll cross those bridges if one of them makes it into the top 50, which is when you have to start signing stuff.

I'll keep you posted.

B-Out

Comic Book Challenge 2008

Platinum Studios' annual Comic Book Challenge is back in '08 according to a press release sent out late yesterday (which I have posted below). The past two years were successful endeavors for the company, first bringing us DJ Coffman's Hero By Night, and debuting this weekend at Wizard World LA is last year's winning entry, Gunplay by Jorge Vega. So this year should be highly competitive as well.

Over the past couple of years, Platinum has really grown. The went from a house of ideas and projects in the works, but no publications to publishing several books including the CBC winners. While they generally look for properties that translate well into other media, it's still a cool way to get your stuff out there if you're willing to let go of any multimedia rights.

This year they've stepped up the rules a bit. In previous years all that was required was a synopsis and a single page of sequential art. This year they are calling for three pages instead (although they still haven't updated the official site to reflect this).

Out of all the entries 50 will be chosen by the judges to present their pitches live at the San Diego Comic Con in July, and from those 10 will be chosen. Fans will watch the pitches of the top 10 and vote online for their favorite.

The contest submission process begins May 1st and ends May 31st.

I haven't entered in previous years because it wasn't feasible for me to make it to San Diego, nor is it at this point this year. However, I think I might just enter and see what happens. It's a pretty cool opportunity, and it might be worth a shot. I'll keep you all posted on that front.

Here's the press release that was sent out:

PLATINUM STUDIOS PRESENTS THE COMIC BOOK CHALLENGE 2008

Artist Hopefuls Can Begin Submitting Their Work May 1st

LOS ANGELES, March 13, 2008 - Platinum Studios, Inc. (OTCBB: PDOS), an entertainment company that controls an international library of more than 3,800 comic book characters which it adapts, produces and licenses for all forms of media, announced today the launch of The Comic Book Challenge™ 2008 at www.ComicBookChallenge.com. The launch of the site will coincide with the release of Jorge Vega's 2007 winning title, Gunplay, at the Wizard World LA convention on March 15, 2008. Submissions for this year's contest officially will open at 12:01am on Thursday, May 1st, 2008 and close at 11:59pm on Saturday, May 31, 2008.

Changes to The Comic Book Challenge™ submission process are detailed on the contest website, but include the submission of three pages of artwork, instead of only the single page required in previous years. Aspiring comic book creators will have one month to submit their entries at www.ComicBookChallenge.com. An internal Platinum Studios committee will select the Top 50 entrants, who then will move on to pitch their ideas to a panel of celebrity and entertainment industry judges on July 24th during the 2008 Comic-Con International in San Diego, CA. The finalists chosen by the judging panel will then have their work voted on by fans across the globe, with the winner receiving a multitude of prizes including the coveted publishing deal.

"We're upping the ante a little bit this year with our three-page requirement because comics are about effective storytelling in a visual medium and not about key art or character designs," said VP of Content Development, Dan Forcey. "We really want to see what your vision for the piece is and that you can really shine in the medium of sequential art."

"We have seen The Comic Book Challenge grow significantly in just a few short years, said Platinum Studios Chairman & CEO, Scott Mitchell Rosenberg. "With last year’s entrants representing nearly two dozen countries -- triple the number of countries from our inaugural contest -- we look forward to continuing to build on the success of The Comic Book Challenge." The Comic Book Challenge 2008 winner will receive a publishing deal with Platinum Studios, which will include print, online, and mobile distribution. In addition, the company will help develop the property for film and television. The Comic Book Challenge past winners include DJ Coffman's "Hero By Night," which sold out through Diamond Comics Distributors during its first print and is now an ongoing series in its second volume, and Jorge Vega's 2007 winning entry, "Gunplay," which will debut at Wizard World LA this March.

For more information on the 2007 Winner of Platinum Studios' Comic Book Challenge, please visit: www.GunplayTheComic.com

For Platinum Studios' Wizard World signing schedule, please visit: http://www.wizardworld.com/platinumboothschedule.html

To learn more about the company and to sign up for our newsletter, visit www.platinumstudios.com.

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