1. Introduction
Hello to all Inkiens (or Tapastrians),
I'm A. I am a french amateur author and artist. And about 3-4 years ago, because I wasn't able to afford the video games that interested me, I set out to create my own. As a custom game, personalized just for me. From this wish, I started to research and try to learn video game development. Not yet convinced that graphics weren't the most important in a video game, and having a hard time admitting that sooner or later I had to end up needing to know computer programming, I made the mistake to want to start by learning to draw. Or more exactly, model 3d models. Ouyep! Basically I'm a 3d modeler, so to speak. But a beginner, eh! Not a pro.
Otherwise, I eventually came to my senses and finally started to learn to program with the C # language. Then the C (friend advice, do not try to start with this language if you are new to programming, I can assure you that it is not for nothing that we say that it is a very difficult language to use), C ++ and a tad of HTML. Ah yes ! Too ! In the meantime, I also got seriously into game design, because code isn't everything. Besides, I am also learning to draw. And it's very useful to know the basics of drawing, even for 3d modeling ... and it's also true for any medium / artistic tool.
Anyway, among all my beginnings of studies, to be able to write the history of my game, I thought it would be interesting to work on my pencil stroke and my pen while making comics ... well, rather a comic strip from the story I had in mind. Finally, the original idea was until I realized that it will be impossible for me to create my Triple A game, with a story worthy of a saga and breathtaking graphics (on the other hand for this one , I already suspected it.)
In the end, here I am now with less nebulous and Dantesque ambitions ... well almost? (You will know why in a few lines below)
Since then I have posted a few of my drawings here and there on the web. And I created short comics that I published on Tapas, DeviantArt and Mangadraft (a website like tapas, but where the works are mostly made by and are French speaking.)
2. Project / pitch / sample details
The project I would like you to participate in is just a fragment of a bigger multimedia project, or even transmedia *. For now, I name him Signé A. Yeah, I know that's my nickname but I haven't been able to find a more relevant name than that.
As I am always bad at drawing, and that I can not be on all fronts, I wondered if it would not be faster and more efficient that there is an artist with me who does the drawing of the boards of my comic strip , "Only simple shapes". And like that, I would also no longer be limited in terms of creativity in my scriptwriting choices. Because at the moment I'm not good at drawing characters or sufficiently furnished sets, or even, there is no shading at all in my comics. And when I say backdrops provided, I mean more than my full empty, white background with only the line of sight just to get the correct perspective.
If this interests you more than working on the comic book I quoted above, as I do quite a bit in writing comic strip, it may be that with your artistic talents and my little experience in creating short story scenario, that we can manage to find an agreement to create a new story or a series of which we would be the two investigators. Instead of it being: a work on the series that the other has already created.
However if you don't mind working on my comic, I will try to do my best to leave you as much free space in the layout, the scriptwriting rearrangements if you deem them necessary for the good of the story telling and a bunch of other situations that could arise during the production of the sketches. I say try because I do not know if my way of acting would create misunderstandings between us. What I hope not of course!
Otherwise with regard to the mother project, it is just a question of training me to have a level at least beginner / false beginner / intermediate in enough disciplines having a relationship with the creation of video games. That is, art, animation, audio, design and programming. All while allowing me to try out jobs that fascinate me at the moment. Including video editor, animator, comic book author, songwriter, etc. So that's why I want to create at least one work in each of the following categories: literature, art, radio, audiovisual and multimedia.
For literature, which allows you to learn to create, write, structure, document yourself in order to create and script stories, there is my comic strip, Only simple shapes.
For art, which will allow me to learn to draw, make the composition of an image, apply shading, build a landscape or an environment, characters in perspective, etc ... There are some scenes / objects that I wrote down in my corner as things that I would like to represent: like a room with a bed, a computer and lots of other objects / accessories.
For audio, which will allow me to learn to compose music and create dialogues for it, there is the song that Alex, one of the two main protagonists of my short story on the artist teams, that he is supposed to sing in front of a jury, which is called: I always wanted to be a singer.
For the audiovisual sector on the other hand, it is simple ... well to achieve it will require as much work as the others, but in any case this time I will not start from zero because it will be neither more nor less, to adapt my comic into a cartoon. More precisely in a series of small animated short films, so you would have become so to train me to do animation.
One of my multimedia projects, on the other hand, is special because it is the main reason why I do all that, that is to say, create one and even ... video games. So as not to have to wait to have a high level in all the other disciplines, I would start the development of a small game requiring as few resources as possible. And allowing me to focus on learning game design and programming. The game is just the rock-paper-scissors adaptation of a video game.
In case you're wondering how I'm going to learn if I don't draw my own comic, you see I've given it some thought and I'm not going to completely give up drawing "Only Simple Shapes" or any other story than I may be brought to create with you. On the contrary, depending on the parameters of the story, that is to say the different graphic elements that will have to be drawn, either I would take care of the entire storyboard or if it has for the moment impossible to draw certain things, like characters for example, I will be satisfied either if you wish to make a storyboard with abstract figures or I will send you a complete scenario with descriptions of what should contain each box per board.
In any case, whatever the situation, I will continue to do what I already do: research and writing the story, writing the screenplay, the storyboard and the lettering. It's just that I would have less to do the sketching and final inking. On the other hand, you will tell me if you find that my digital lettering denotes with your artistic style. If this is harmful to the comic, in your opinion, I will try to find another solution. Like for example, starting to create or finding another text font.
* transmedia storytelling consists in creating a universe whose development is extended not to a single original work, followed by adaptations, but of several autonomous works distributed over, and using several different media which fit into the same universe. At least, that's what I understand. But I prefer to let you make up your mind on this subject by reading the following Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transmediastorytelling_
3. Remuneration and status of the collaboration
If you choose my first request to be the designer of my comic book, which will become ours, then it will be a partnership. On the other hand, if you prefer the second option, which is to create from start to finish a new short story or short story series together, then it will be a collaboration between you and me.
However, both proposals are unpaid. I cannot guarantee you anything because I do not plan to make a living from my works, but if there is an opportunity that will allow you to earn money in order to reward the efforts / energy and pay for the material, l electricity, water and so on, that you will have put in this project, I will let you know. For example, it might be interesting that you create the artbook of the project or whatever related products to sell it. Like this, your designs and all your artistic works will not only be used to make comic strips, but also to enlarge your gallery or even if you are a beginner to start creating, your personal portfolio.
Otherwise, if you have to do that, we will have to consult in order to settle the administrative paperwork that results from such a process. To manage copyright and neighboring rights, the creation or not of a common business or an exchange of services between professionals, etc. But all this is only one example among so many other possible ones serving as a means to dispel your doubts about this aspect that a collaboration / partnership can take.
And if you want to have a clear number or percentage, I would say that for collaboration it would go from a 50/50 to one earns more than the other if he has to do more work. And for the partnership, it would be a 40 (me) / 60 (you) because I already know roughly who will have the most work, and it seems to me that this is one of the standards of the industry, right ?! Even if normally, if all goes well you shouldn't be the only one working hard, but you never know. Better to be careful.
Of course, these estimates should be taken with a grain of salt because if there is no money coming in (or, not enough,) there will also be no money to share (or it will be difficult to do it.)
4. Skills sought
Artistic style (optional)
I have no preference, whether your style is close to oriental, European or American works, I don't mind. The main thing is that you know how to draw sets and objects in perspective, and that you are comfortable with character drawing.
Also, traditional, digital or mixed, it's the same thing.
Techniques
Whether you are a confirmed artist or a fake beginner who is or is not already used to the process of creating a comic book, it doesn't matter to me. As soon as you know the basics of drawing and have a level where you can go from a simple sketch to a finished work, so inked and shaded will be perfect. However, it doesn't matter if you're not comfortable with coloring yet. I will already be delighted with a black and white comic.
And when I'm talking about the basics of drawing, I mean the rules of composition, perspective, foreshortenings, anatomy, observational drawing, values and shading, etc. Obviously, you don't have to be excellent in all of these areas, I am not. I haven't even managed to have a good result in some yet. But notions such as perspective and rules of composition will be a real plus because my story has for theme "comics" and its graphic and script codes, I use it to construct the scraps of the gags of this one.
Language
In absolute terms, I would prefer to have a teammate who can read and write in English. With at least a false beginner level. On the other hand, if you are good with another language, such as French, it will be of great benefit to you.
Because English is not my mother tongue, and I am not too confident in my English. So I often use google translate. This is why it would be interesting to have a partner or collaborator with a better level than me in English.
Relational
I would like to work with someone who shares a minimum of interests with me, in terms of cultural works. Like for example the genre of comedy, sports, video games, romantic stories (between two heterosexual protagonists), a bit of science fiction, action and adventure too, (as soon as it is not extremely gory,) to name a few.
Except if I come across something daring, in a work not tagged as such. I don't like and watch / read / listen to NSFW works (included porn or erotica). I'm not too furry, I watched shows with anthropomorphic animals ... almost like everyone else, with Disney and company. But other than that, my interest in this philosophy of life does not go further.
In short, now that you know that, you will know what to expect if you work with me. Especially, if you want us to go for the second option, which is: create a new IP together.
Other prerequisite
Or rather a question. Don't you mind working on a short story? Because I haven't tried it yet and I don't feel capable of creating a long story. Already 19 pages + the cover is a huge challenge for me.
5. Tools required (optional)
For the scenario
Currently none. I use a simple text editor to write my screenplay, synopsis, etc. because I was all alone. But if someone joins me, I should change this habit. So if you have to choose a particular tool, I would say that my (my) future collaborator or partner should know how to use the basic functionalities of LibreOffice Writer. Or any other text editor for that matter.
For the drawing (storyboard, layout, boards, etc.)
According to the doc of my drawing software, GIMP, it is possible to open a .psd file in it. But I never tried to do it. So if you are already familiar with GIMP, and used to working with it when creating your digital designs and / or reworking your traditional designs, that would be great.
On the other hand, if you work traditional, it's ok! You just have to be careful to leave me enough space for me to do the digital lettering. And digitize everything.
File format
Okay, this is a subject that I would prefer to discuss when the collaboration or partnership is sure to start. But if you really want to know which format I preferred to use, I would say JPEG. This is the one I am using at the moment. But I'm thinking of changing to the PNG. So that's why I don't want to go too far on this kind of thing until I have had a conversation with my (my) future partner / collaborator / collaborator.
6. Calendar / scale
Pace of publication
For my comic, I don't publish regularly. So the pace you will have will be very flexible. From what you can see on the project page, the deadline is a minimum of one story per month.
On the other hand, if we are led to create a new story, maybe that will change. In case this posting speed doesn't suit you. But for my part, I would like to continue my momentum, perhaps with more consistency. Including the vagaries of life of course!
To be honest, I had a hard time putting up with the deadlines. And this is not empty talk, because I have tried it before, and it has not worked for me. To be honest, like a lot of other people ... even professionals sometimes can't.
When does the collaboration or partnership start?
This will take effect immediately after all uncertain parts of the collaboration or partnership, such as compensation, the choice to create a new story or take an existing one, have been resolved.
Basically when you start working on the plank for the next episode of "Only Simple Shapes" or when the two of us start thinking about building the storyline and art style for the new story.
How long could it take to create a new story?
As I said above: "at least one story per month". So count maybe, 1 to 6 months to build the comic. Taking into account, my writing pace, your experience in drawing, the complexity of the story and its length (in boards or boxes), as well as other parameters that I have not yet thought of.
7. Contact information
So for contacts, I have two solutions: either we communicate via private message on the Tapas forum or we use a service like discord. Or as a last resort, by e-mail.
Please know that I don't mean to offend anyone, but I prefer to start small. You never know who we might come across on the internet. So your best to take precautions. Besides, I will understand if you too felt the same towards me.
8. What I am doing or has already done so far
Like I said, I am learning to be a versatile writer and artist in order to create video games. But also, because I ended up getting into the game. So I have different jobs, in different fields related to the cultural sector. Good ... go I start:
Artistic side
I'm sure DeviantArt and BlenderArtists there I plan to publish more artistic than literary works.
DeviantArt: https://deviantart.com/signera
BlenderArtists: https://blenderartists.org/u/signeda
Literature side
There is my comic strip that I publish on Tapas but also on Mangadraft (same as tapas except that most of the works are in French) and some improvised stories, experiments and shitpost that I published on DeviantArt, twitter and Mangadraft.
Mangadraft: https://mangadraft.com/user/signe-a
Twitter: https://twitter.com/signed_a_
Tapas: https://tapas.io/signeda and check my series of comic-strip "Only simple shapes".
Other than that, my other links are either just placeholder accounts for my future projects or unfinished and paused projects for now. Like my blog: https://signe-a.over-blog.com.