The Network Email!

Well we've started taking a much closer look at all aspects of the book, The Underground. This intensive research does not stop with the story though, indeed, we've even started looking at the business structure surrounding this series. What was discovered? There is no structure!

The Underground is a great series which I am very passionate about, but it is merely a job to create it. An entreprenuer must strive not to create a job, but build a business. Thus I'll be dusting off the Twisted 'T', and introducing the world to Twisted Studio! The Creative Development team and myself will be preparing a business plan with hopes of creating a local business which can not only produce The Underground, but also murals, t-shirts, graphic design, promotional materials, logos, and more! Eventually we will be able to enlist the help of other local artists and writers, it will be a shout back to the Artists Guilds of olde.

The first step we've taken is what's called; The Twisted Studio Network Email. This will be a liason between the team, and business people, artists, writers, readers, fans, publishers, and anyone with a constructive opinion to offer to the mission! As of this morning the first network email has been sent to 44 people! This contact will be repeated every three months to keep everyone posted as to what we're working on. Everyone's opinions, guidance, and advice is welcomed, and encouraged. Through the strengths of many, we will succeed. If you have not received this email, and would like to, then I'd love for you to get it! Send me an email at; paulreaume@hotmail.com

Just give me your email address, and we'll get you up to speed.
For more information, please check out any of our supporting sites...
http://theundergroundcomic.t35.com/
http://www.dimestoreproductions.com/forum/topicview/misc/the_underground_comic.htm
http://www.facebook.com/groups.php?ref=sb#/group/php?gid=37802346048
And as always, thank you all for your continued support.

Location, Location, Location!!

So we've started to really plan out Issue #2: Bad Seeds. One thing we are doing to build on the culture, and continuity of The Underground is to research themes to be used in every key location. By using this theme to illustrate the area, and flush out it's history, we add a new level of complexity to this world in progress. Walt Disney once said when producing 'Bambi'...

"We're not trying to make the impossible possible. We're trying to make the impossible plausible."

I think this holds true to our efforts with re-envisioning The Underground. By no means can I expect anyone to believe that bugs can walk around upright, speak with one another, fire and build weapons...but I can put enough work, and research into the world that these fantastic things happen. Then maybe....you (the reader), may be able to suspend your disbelief long enough to get lost in my world.

The first two locations we're really diving into in the series are; Coryn (home of the ants), and The Fly Federation. Both are going to be alot of fun to work with, for drastically different reasons. The two locations are so glaringly opposite from one another that it should prove a good test in design to make them feel this way. Enter the themes. Coryn, being a defensive stronghold and powerful icon, will be following a Romanesque theme. We've started researching architecture, and banners/heraldry. Already I can see a more realistic ant colony forming.

The Fly Federation on the other hand is built in a trash heap. It's a dark, dirty, filthy place...perfect for flies, and many other insects. One constant peril of working on The Underground is forgetting the perspective of the characters. Where a trash can is gross and disgusting to us, this can be a sprawling metropolis to bugs! Thus I set out in search of images that could mix both the resource facility, and filth which comprises the Federation. Admittedly most of my images can from just over the creek in Detroit, Michigan. I also found some old factory images from Germany.

Photo references are a great tool when designing anything. I've used them when drawing complicated positions of humans, and animals, but never to develop a them such as this. I look forward to where this new research, and the continued efforts of my Creative Development team is going to lead.

Thanks all, and keep checking out this, and the other supporting sites.