Sunday, August 29, 2010

Comics to movies (again)The Walking Dead.

Today's post is the 3rd type of Blog I've done like this about translating a comic property to film or tv.

The point of these Blog's are to show the times that Hollywood was faithful to the subject matter and how the public reacted,how the move/tv show did and the possible future for comic creators and their properties.

Today I'm gonna take a look at all that has happened so far concerning one of my personal favorite comics on the stands: The Walking Dead. For those of you out there that has never heard of The Walking Dead, shame on you. Okay,all kidding aside TWD is a great character driven story that apart from having zombies in it deals with a lot of different subject matter in every arc. All arcs have issues or topics that make each character identifiable to the average reader. It has great writing and great artwork. It's consistent in that the people involved have all shown their commitment by putting out the title for the most times around 12 issues a year. Just the fact that TWD is a black and white comic and since it began it's readership has grown continually and continues to do so.
In this day and age I find that pretty amazing. Most of the creators out there are always bitching about not enough work for everyone. Personally I've always believed that if you do your best work with the utmost passion and you show your commitment to whatever project you're attached to the readers will eventuallly follow. I know this is not a universal truth BUT there are a lot of times this is true.

More times than not.

I know that some of the great writers of our time didn't have any form of success until much later, sometimes after they have passed on they become huge. I find this unfortunate and unescessary. Unfortunately life is like that.

Getting back on topic of TWD - For a while we all had heard rumours of TWD tv show that was being developed and as images began to trickle out a lot of fans began to become hopeful that Hollywood wasn't going to screw this one up too like so many countless others. A very good sign indeed.

Then last week happened.

The Walking Dead trailer was put on the web. 4 minutes long and jaw dropping in it's overall depiction of Rick's story and TWD. By the end of the trailer my jaw was on the ground. The first season will be only 6 episodes but I can not wait for the fall( Halloween)

There is literally no other tv or movie that I'm looking forward to more,not even Machete that I've been dying to see can eclipse my excitement for TWD.

Anyone that still hasn't seen it yet trust me it isn't hard to find and it'll be so worth it.

This is showing a lot of creators out there several things: If you want to have Hollywood translate your idea you have 2 choices.
(1) Sell the idea,make your money but shut the hell up if the screw it up. Look at Alam Moore at least for the most part. Separate the comic from the show or movie.
(2) Fight with all of your might to make sure whoever in Hollywood is doing your idea that YOU have the final vitto or that you're on set as a consultant or at the very least hired as some kind of consultant to be involved with the production of your idea into whatever form it'll take.


My final word for today?

Things look really good for creators and their properties.

There is hope.

Have a great week.

Richard Serrao
Optimum Wound

Creator,Artist,Writer for
Memento Mori Volume 1
Silent Scream

Co-owner of www.optimumwound.com
www.myspace.com/richardserrao
www.twitter.com/richardserrao
richard@optimumwound.com

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