STAPLE! The Independent Media Expo 2008

I’ve heard a few folks say lately that having a comic done of a story nowadays can help to get a script sold or a film made. I don’t know if that’s true or not – I’m not really tapped into the filmmaking world – but, personally, and this is just me, I kind of object to the idea of comics being used as more or less a "stepping-stone" into film.
I’ve thought about this a lot lately and there are a few reasons I feel this way. To wit:
I believe that comics are a valid storytelling medium and art form in and of themselves. Their creation should be approached with the same care, respect and integrity that should be employed in any other artistic endeavor, be it a film, a novel, a painting, music or anything else. It’s an entirely seperate discipline than film, and, though there are a lot of parallels between the two, comics call for a different skill and mind set. You don’t bake a pie to write a symphony. Or vice versa.
If a person’s ultimate goal is to make a film, a worthy challenging goal, to be sure, then they are probably not going to be putting 110% into the comic they’re making that’s supposed to help them get their movie made. They’re not going to be trying to make the best comic they can and will probably wind up making a bad comic which will A. probably not help their cause and B. further dilute the comics medium, which, sadly, is already a rather thin gruel.
There is already a lot of dross out there in the comics world; the same being true of movies, books, etc. Why add to the pile?
Brass tacks: If you want to make comics, make comics. If you want to make movies, make movies. To the best of your abilty. And best of luck to you.
I can respect the impetus and desire to do whatever it takes to see a project through. Film is a difficult and expensive medium to work in. Without a doubt the most expensive (unless there’s a sculptor out there who works exclusively with dinosaur bones and diamonds). Having tried it myself years ago, I know this from experience.
Film, not dinosaurs. Anyway..
Comics are certainly cheaper to make, and therefore, a more open field. Not everyone can make a film. Damn near anyone CAN make a comic. Not everyone can make a GOOD comic.
With all that in mind, I have to say I wouldn’t think less of a person for trying the comics-to-movies scheme, though I would CAUTION and URGE them to A. DON’T DO IT! or B. if you must, then do it as well as you possibly can, and put every bit of love into it that you intend to put in your film, and if you can’t do that then for the love of your favorite god, DON’T DO IT!
And, most importantly, don’t expect to find any good artist willing work on spec. ;p
As I told the poor unsuspecting person who asked me about this, I don’t consider mine the final word here. Love to hear everyone’s thoughts and opinions on the subject.
...Aaaand ACTION!

I agree.
I especially dislike a lot of comics nowadays that seem to want to be animated films, and don’t offer anything that that medium can’t. It seems like the paradigm for a lot of indie guys producing self-contained color books. If it’s not doing something that film cannot do, then it is failing in my opinion. I think there are a lot of books that are like this (even several very popular ones).
However, I do think there is a lot of good stuff out there. I generally believe comics are getting better, not worse.

I also think there are plenty of good comics available – more now than ever before really. My monthly comics expenditure will prove it. I don’t want to give the impression that I think it is [i:6d7f4acab2]all[/i:6d7f4acab2] dreck. Just mostly. The same could be said for any media out there though.
Part of what causes that problem imo, esp. as it pertains to literature and comics, is that some of the creators have in mind that what they [i:6d7f4acab2]really[/i:6d7f4acab2] want is their story to be made into a movie, and the book or comic is just a shortcut to making that happen. Ever read a novel that reads like a script treatment? Usually they suck. Again, my opinion.
For the most part, until recently (as far as I can tell), this problem has been limited to writers and creators already working in lit or comics who want to get into film. But now, with the recent proliferation of comic book related movies, it’s starting to creep in from the other side. Aspirant filmmakers and script writers are trying to get they’re story out in comic form, purely as a marketing tool for their script or film. That bugs me. It really bugs me. Really, really.