A question about writing TV spec samples…

Why can’t I write a TV spec sample using my favorite TV show that’s been canceled? I just don’t see why it has to be a current show.

Marcie Ross, Sunnydale, CA

Dear Marcie,

Some might think it’s just a big network conspiracy to make sure aspiring TV writers watch every episode of as many current shows as possible while also investing in DVD collections of those same shows. But there’s actually a method to the madness. It’s a means of letting execs see a little variety in the specs that pile up on their desk week-after-week… year-after-year.

Especially after they’ve read a gazillion variations of this spec script…

Read the rest of the article here…

Looks like The Pulse has the the early list of this year’s Eisner winners.

Congrats to Scott Kurtz (Digital Comic), Bill Willingham (Best Serialized Story … Fables) and Zeus Comics (Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailer Award). And I want to point out one of the other retailer finalists, Austin Books… both of those retailers are great, and I’m sorry Austin Books was nominated two years in a row without getting the award (I hope you get it next year, Brad).

This trailer almost felt right. The visual style feels more in line with the comic books I remember reading in my youth, but I doubt the story will be as dark and violent as the original comics (you’ll see what I mean when you see the trailer). But I do like that CGI a lot more than I did the costumes of the earlier movies.

Tags: comic - movie trailer - TMNT - CGI

For those viewing through news feed readers, you can find the trailer here.

Special thanks to Jason Chalker for his help in bringing this trailer to life.

Tags: comic - science fiction - military - Task Force 1 - Shadowline - Image Comics - trailer - soldier

As thousands of aspiring writers storm into San Diego this week, there’s one big question on their minds… How do I approach editors at a con?

Well, The Creative Adviser shares his foolproof strategies for becoming an instant celebrity at the show (or at least showing up on the 11 o’clock news) in this week’s article, The Editorial Approach.

Task Force 1, the book I’ve been writing for Jim Valentino over at Image Comics is now available.

Created by Jim Valentino, Task Force 1 features artwork by Comic Book Idol II winner and former ShadowHawk artist, Carlos Rodriguez with colors by Joel Seguin and letters by Jason “Jaco” Hanley.

Here are some comments about Task Force 1:

• “…everyone buy his book TASK FORCE ONE when it comes out… I seriously am telling you it’s very very good!” –Gail Simone (Birds of Prey, Secret Six, The All New Atom)

• “It’s a summer blockbuster movie in a comic book. Definitely on our “must list”. –Sharp Brothers

• “I know it’s a soldier story, but geez, the blood starts on the 2nd page, and keeps gushing.” –luna (from the semi-secret Shadowline clubhouse out in the ether)

• If it weren’t for the fact that f***er shot me in the wrist with a nail gun, I’d buy this book in a heartbeat. –what one of my buddies from my military days will probably say about this book when he hears about it

You can check out 10 pages of issue #1 here (well, 9 pages plus the inside front cover) and 5 pages of issue #2 here. For even more information, links to interviews with the creative team at Newsarama and Comic Book Resources are also available at those links.

To read about the soldiers of tomorrow today, you can pick up a copy of the first issue of Task Force 1 at fine comic retailers everywhere. To find a retailer near you, check the Comic Shop Locator Service online or call 1-888-COMIC BOOK.

Tags: comic - Task Force 1 - Image Comics - military - science fiction - terrorism - soldiers