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All Posts for August 2008

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SPOILER ALERT!  ...

SPOILER ALERT!

 

In a recent blog a comment was made about when we will see the demise of Steel. Well that depends. Steel will indeed die (at least if I have anything to say about it). I have always said, and still maintain, that killing Steel is merely the beginning of the story. The story, as it grows, is to me, about choices and consequences. It is about choices that seem crystal clear becoming cloudy and tough to discern. Things are rarely as black and white as we like to pretend and are more likely resting firmly within some shade of gray or another. As to when we will see the demise of Steel?well, when depends on the format that the story would be adapted into. As I plot things out, and fantasize of the dream deal (you know the one, where not only does Supremacy get picked up but I maintain creative control of the property), I realize that my pacing shifts, depending on what I am adapting it for.

The Comic

If Supremacy was to be picked up as an ongoing comic then Steel?s demise is plotted out to happen in issue six. Why issue six, you ask(okay maybe you didn?t, but here is my thinking anyway). Six, 22 page issues is 132 pages. A nice sized graphic novel, or trade, and six issues works nicely for a limited mini-series. That way if a studio wanted to test the waters with my book they could provide the fans with a nice storyline that has some decent closure. If it never went beyond that, then the fans and myself would get a certain amount of satisfaction knowing that the story was not just stopped, but rather ended, at least to a degree. What I see as the bulk of the story would come after the enormous success of that mini-series proved to the studio that they had struck gold in myself and my book. (If one is interested they could go to the original pitch and peek under the world section to see a quick summary of the first 18 or so issues, under the heading ?Where do we go from here?. But that is kind of like looking at the last chapter of a murder mystery before you read the book.)

The Television Series.

If Supremacy was to be snagged as a future T.V. show, then Steel?s death would happen around episode 13. The reasoning here is similar to the comic-book theory. A studio is unlikely to just give me five seasons (they may want to know I can go that far if I have to, but they aren?t just going to hand it to me), in fact, 13 episodes for a first season maybe ambitious thinking on my part (The Sarah Conner Chronicles only got 9 or 10 episodes and that was based on a successful existing franchise). So the thought process goes as such?I get my 13 episode deal and it ends on the death of Steel for very similar reasons as the comic scenario above. It gives fans, and anyone who buys the DVD set, a certain amount of closure if it goes no further (and we all know the quality of a T.V. show is not always reflected in its longevity, Firefly and Daybreak were excellent shows). Then when they renew me for 4 more seasons I get down to the story as I see it. Like Lost I would want a termination date. I think more television shows should have those. It would allow the creators and the writers to tell stronger stories because they wouldn?t have to water down the 5 years of material they have in order to make it to season 7. It would also help shows avoid getting Gilligan off the island too soon(see Prison Break, currently airing its third season since they actually broke out of prison) or resorting to jumping the shark( well since Happy Days started it, I will point the finger at them, but several shows are guilty of it).

The Movie (trilogy)

Guess?That?s right, Steel would die at the end of the first movie. Reasons? See above. Closure, uncertainty of being able to do a second and third, yaddayadda.

 

So there you have it. The death of Steel. Now if only we could find a way to get to see it happen?hmmmm.

Well, if you are checking out the site you could become a fan of Supremacy. Give it your support through blogs(make sure you tag them Supremacy: Dawn of Heroes), through rating the book(ratings and comment page can be found at the very end of the book) and doing some fan art or some such.

If you are a comic, television, or movie producer type person, you could give me that fantasy deal.

 

Later

Greg-mekikas

 

Coming soon-a blog about Supremacy: the movie trilogy.

 

AND

 

I have completed writing issue 2, so I will probably be putting it up in the pitch doctor soon.

Top Rated Comment of 1

Juiceboy

Mon Sep 1st, 2008 06:04

I look forward to reading issue #2 of Supremacy.  Supremacy was the first issue I read and the opening layout was fantastic with Steel hovering over the city with great dialogue.  The first...

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Trying to add a blog on my property page is making everything wonkey and it does not seem to be posting. Just checking to see if it is a property page specific problem, or something bigger, like hurricane Gustov, or my computer.
Trying to add a blog on my property page is making everything wonkey and it does not seem to be posting. Just checking to see if it is a property page specific problem, or something bigger, like hurricane Gustov, or my computer.

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I finally have a write-up on all my main characters for Super.

I had some trouble with Jimmy and Mark. Jimmy's the main character, and wants to be a superhero. Mark's an actual superhero, but wants to be Jimmy's sidekick. I wanted people to...
I finally have a write-up on all my main characters for Super.

I had some trouble with Jimmy and Mark. Jimmy's the main character, and wants to be a superhero. Mark's an actual superhero, but wants to be Jimmy's sidekick. I wanted people to empathize more with Jimmy than with Mark, but in my mind Jimmy kept being the zany one (and no one empathizes with the zany character - the more they do, the less funny and more pitiful he becomes).

So I brooded it out, and finally it felt like a good time to write something. Mark is pretty flat - I find it easier to write for characters who are self-reflective like I am - but I think he needs to be a bit flat or people will take him too seriously.

Now's your turn to comment.  And coming up next: a script outline.  Probably once school's up and running, in one to two weeks.

Top Rated Comment of 1

Yen

Mon Sep 1st, 2008 21:07

I think this premise is great (and have made a couple of comments on the pitch). I don't think Mark is coming across flat at all... the potential is really there for some great humour. The gap...

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Tories hack Telefilm's $14.5M new media fund CBC News ...

Tories hack Telefilm's $14.5M new media fund

Canada's Conservative government is axing a $14.5 million program ? administered by Telefilm ? which fosters the creation of internet content and its distribution, according to a report by the Globe and Mail.

The story, published Saturday, says the Canadian New Media Fund has been cancelled.

The move comes in the wake of a series of cuts by the Tories to several arts programs this summer.

Only last week, the government had announced it would slash the following programs because they were deemed out of date:

  • Trade Routes ($9 million).
  • the A-V Preservation Trust ($300,000).
  • the Canadian Independent Film and Video Fund ($1.5 million).
  • the National Training Schools Program ($2.5 million).
  • PromArt ($4.7 million).

All programs will disappear by the end of March 2009.

Arts communities have been outraged by the cuts and say they are hoping for announcements of new programs soon.

Canadian Heritage Minister Josée Verner has not indicated whether the programs will be replaced. Rather, she has stated that they needed to be updated.

Raja Khanna, a co-CEO of GlassBOX Television, says the cut has dealt a hard blow to Canada's interactive media industry.

"We have no idea what's going on," Khanna told the newspaper.

GlassBOX captured a Gemini Award and other international trophies for Degrassi.tv, an online community website. The company also created the acclaimed website of Discovery Channel's Race to Mars series.



Can this travesty have an effect on future installments of CCN?!? Where the hell is our culture headed?!? The Tories are raking in billions of dollars for this nation yet they seem intent on killing its cultural impact locally and abroad.

What gives?!?

Top Rated Comment of 11

songteller

Sun Aug 31st, 2008 22:19

Everyone should get up in arms over this.  There's a probable election coming in the Fall, so now's the time to speak up.  Here's a website with a lot of info that can help you do...

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So, I changed the name of the title from what I had originally posted... just a little.  I don't think I have written a shorty story since high school... and I remember those being much more verbose.

BCLaraby - you're a tough act to...
So, I changed the name of the title from what I had originally posted... just a little.  I don't think I have written a shorty story since high school... and I remember those being much more verbose.

BCLaraby - you're a tough act to follow.

Alas here is my entry to Genrewriter's Short Story contest;


Final Exam

Jeff Wakelin is calmly sitting in a typical doctor's waiting room, starting at the overhead fan as it spins around.  He is the only one in the room save for the receptionist playing solitaire on her computer.

 

"I hate waiting rooms.  It's always a room with no windows and lousy chairs waiting to talk to someone who may or may not help you.  Contrary to popular belief being nice doesn't change the outcome of your appointment, only..."

 

The receptionist stirs Jeff back to life - "Mr. Wakelin?  Doctor Renthault will see you now."

The second waiting room is old and tired a throwback to the 70s down to the old green linoleum floors and tiled walls.  Jeff's demeanor has changed from calm to slightly agitated as he continually checks his watch.  He mumbles to himself while pacing the room - "More waiting, c'mon man I got 2 hours before my exam.  I'm think I'm screwed.".  Doctor Renthault - a tall, skinny man arrives, a look of skepticism on his face.

 

"Hello Mr. Wakelin. So I see here you need the mind of a... physicist... for a few hours.  Is that right?"

 

"Yeah, I have an exam very shortly... and I'm uh... not the best student but still need to pass.  I just need a guy's mind with some serious knowledge of physics so I can ace it."

 

Doctor Renthault consults his clipboard, and then looks up at Jeff, sizing him up for the procedure that lays ahead of him.  By no means will this be the payday he is looking for, no this will only get the Doctor through the rest of the day, his vices are expensive, and this will have to do.

 

"We have 3 physicists in stock, 3 models if you will.  The first one was a physics teacher at a local high school, second candidate worked at NASA and the third was a Nobel Physics nominee.  The going rate for a mind graft of this pedigree for a few hours ranges from $250 to $1,500."

 

Discouraged Jeff slumps in a chair and resigns his fate - "Crap, I only brought $300? high school teacher it is."

 

"Actually, the $250 mind graft is for the Nobel nominee.  He had a breakdown in his later years and we had to discount his graft, not only that but he never really won the Nobel... nominees sell movies and rentals, not mind grafts."

 

Jeff quizically - "What kind of break down?"

 

"He became paranoid of the world around him.  Fear not, we only graft the frontal lobe of the donor to your mind - the thinking part, not the temporal lobe - the perception part, you should not experience any of these symptoms.  These effects are only temporary, in 5 hours you will lose all knowledge that you have gained through the graft."

 

Jeff still focused on his watch - "Nobel nominee it is."

 

Doctor Renthault moves in, needle in hand - "Excellent, sit back this won't hurt a bit."

 

The confidence flows through Jeff as he leaves Doctor Renthault s office, his perception of all things around him has changed as he determines the rate of movement, vector, effort and energy of the birds in the sky and cars on the road.

 

Jeff has started his exam and is breezing through the questions, his classmates look over at him rifling through the pages, marking down his answers with incredible ease.  They are dumbfounded and astounded.

 

"Hooo baby... this is a breeze...best $250 I ever spent my money on, I'm surprised the administration hasn't caught on to these mind grafts.  Give'em ten years to catch up to the world and I'll be long gone."

 

Jeff is broken from his elation as he notices one of his classmates walking towards the front of the room, exam in hand - "What the hell?  Porter's finished?  How could he be finished before me?  How could I be passed over again?

 

"He's cheating.  He must be cheating, get up there, expose him before he takes your place and beats you"

 

Perplexed at the thoughts racing through his mind, Jeff steadies his head and closes his eyes - "My test, I need to finish my test."

 

But the voices continue - "He's cheating, he's going to beat you, you'll be passed over.  GET UP THERE!"

 

Jeff instinctually bolts from his desk, his paper in hand and reaches for Porter's test, Porter shocked and perplexed - "Jeff, what the -   Professor?"

 

"Mr. Wakelin give me Mr. Porter?s test or I will have you removed."

 

Jeff is going through the pages of Porter's exams, checking each page, 2, 3, 4 times.  "No, he cheated, he had to of cheated.  There's no way he could finished so fast.  He's wrong, he's wrong, these can't be right.  How did he finish so fast?"

 

"Mr. Wakelin, give me your exam, I can not let you continue."

 

The paranoia has set in, Jeff is no longer here nor there, beads of sweat pour down his face as he throws his exam in the air - "No, no... I don't need it.  I'm better than all of you.  You're all just amateurs, hacks trying to answer a few paltry questions... but you don't know the real question do you?"

 

"Mr. Wakelin I'm going to have to call security if you do not vacate the premises immediately."

 

Defiantly, Jeff points to the meek Porter, his right-hand on the table in front of him, screaming and growling - "Security doesn't know the real question either, only I know, but him... he's a cheater, I know it... I KNOW IT."

 

The pen is a weapon, Jeff stabs Porter's hand, breaking the skin - "Arrgh!" - Porter falls to the ground clutching his left hand.

 

"Security!  Security!"

 

Two guards drag Jeff from the exam room kicking and screaming as they try to muffle him - "Put me down, let me go.  He's a cheater... you won't beat me... this is my year... I'll show you all."

 

The professor helps Porter up off the ground - "Mr. Porter are you alright."

 

"Yes sir, just broke the skin a little, I'll be fine.  Professor?"

 

The professor still staring at the door wondering what has just happened - "Hmmmm... yes m'boy"

 

"I was wondering if you could explain Question #2 to me?"

Top Rated Comment of 7

BCLaraby

Mon Sep 1st, 2008 20:36

Nice ending!  Paranoia's a b*tch, eh?

(hey, who said that?!)

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There are as many ways as there are people (so, 6 billion and counting), but here are a couple that I like:

Take things literally. If someone says they're so hungry they could eat a horse, I let myself imagine them eating a horse. Would they...
There are as many ways as there are people (so, 6 billion and counting), but here are a couple that I like:

Take things literally. If someone says they're so hungry they could eat a horse, I let myself imagine them eating a horse. Would they act like some human anaconda?  What's so special about horses that we'd should wait to eat them until last?  I can envision a society where horses are more valuable than people.  Taking things literally leads you to think sideways.  You don't actually need to think outside the box, you need to think outside the normal path (which, if you hadn't guessed, is straight ahead).

Ask 'what if?'.  I read a post here where someone said there's a pitch for everyone here, even for your dog.  What would a comic written for a dog really be like?  Voici, an idea.

Use dreams.  Keep a notebook by your bed, and think about your stories for a little while just before you go to sleep.  It can work wonders.

Get your mind in the habit of gathering ideas from everywhere.  I often carry and pen or a notepad in my hand, to remind me not to let chance ideas slip away.  Sometimes it's all about that great little thought that made everyone laugh, and if you don't right it down it might be gone forever.  Until someone else writes it, of course . . ..

Mix disparate ideas together.  This is probably *the most* powerful option available to a writer, and it works for everything.  With one caveat: it's better not to just mix genres together.  Because anyone can mix genres together, and only the best writers will do a good job at it.  If you, like me, are less experienced or less published, try mixing two of your somewhat interesting ideas instead.

Also: probably the best book I've ever read on idea gathering is _How to Write Science Fiction_ by Orson Scott Card.

Anyone have other suggestions?

Top Rated Comment of 5

genrewriter

Mon Sep 1st, 2008 01:18

Good advice. I can't count how many times I had an idea that I didn't get around to writing down...and then lost it forever. Too many times.

I find collaborating is a good way to bring out new...