We use to call it the San Diegan, then in the year 2000 Amtrak decided to remain the train and it’s been the Pacific Surfliner ever since.
And so it was the Pacific Surfliner that Shannon and I traveled on down to the San Diego Comic Con International and then back home again.
It is a great way to travel. Sitting back and relaxing, take a nap, read a book or write one. Sure beat being trapped in traffic on the 5 Freeway.
It was also a whole lot less expensive then trying to get a hotel room.
I am my own worst enemy.
Aren’t we all?
I can be extremely shy. Not only with people I haven’t met yet, but also with people I really respect and don’t want to come off looking like a fool. That fear has saved me from time to time, but more often than not it has been a hindrance to achieving what I was really after. Letting great opportunities slip away.
In a Comic Convention setting this can be a real problem. So many people wanting to talk with the same people you want to it is so easy just to chicken out.
As professional animation writers, Shannon and I have been able to attend the Writers Guild of America gathering at ComicCon. Over the years we’ve gotten to know several people in the group, and with some it’s really easy to talk with. However even within that environment it can be difficult to talk with others beyond a few words as more and more people crowd the room. After a while we end up standing off to the side and I return to being my usual Wallflower self for the rest of the TWO HOURS as the event goes on.
There’s where the answer lies.
This year, as mentioned previously, Shannon and I were taking the train back and forth to ComicCon each day. This limited our schedule, but that actually turned out to be something good.
In order to attend the party this year, we had reserved tickets on a later train, but were required to be at the station at least an hour early. (Anyone who took the train will tell you just how long the lines were. You’d think they were waiting to get into Hall H.) Because of this we were only able to stay at the party for only the first half hour.
With only 30 minutes we watched the door as different people signed in. Anyone we knew, or wanted to talk to, we immediately said hi to and began to chat. We only got a few minutes with each person, but they were well-spent minutes.
In those thirty-minute we probably spoke with more people than we usually do in an entire two-hour evening. There was no time to become wallflowers.
What I learned from this night is this: don’t plan to stay at the party all night. Set yourself a limited amount of time and with that deadline talk with as many people as you can. Keep moving around, or find a good position near the entrance where people are forced to walk past you. Quickly say hi, make introductions and chat for a while and then let them get on to the food while you find someone else to talk to.
This may not be what works for you, but it will be how I will fight the Wallflower Wars from now on.
Yes, we did catch our train on time and even chatted with more people in line, but more of than next time.
Many of my professional comic book and animation friends on facebook and twitter have commented how this was one of the best San Diego Comic Cons they have had. Each say this for their own reasons, and it’s up to them to tell you why, but let me talk about why this is one for me.
As I’ve written about before, when I first got into reading comics I discovered the Justice Society of America before I really knew the Justice League was more than SUPER FRIENDS. Soon after that I found a comic called ALL-STAR SQUADRON. This book was written by Roy Thomas, and in one way or another included every single ‘Golden Age’ hero that DC Comics owned.
For many years, Thomas had his hands controlling the greatest of characters from both Marvel and DC.
Because as a kid he grew up reading all the original Golden Age characters he maintained a passion for all of them when he became a professional writer himself. I’d like to think I’m following in his footprints.
At the first ComicCon I attended, I was excited to attend a panel on Roy Thomas and his books. Unfortunately, for one reason or another, he couldn’t make it to the panel but con personnel said he was there. So another attendee and I mustered up enough courage to go to the info booth and ask to have him paged. (Realize I was a very shy kid in my early teens. Of course I’m still rather shy in my mid—never mind.) But Mr. Thomas never showed up. I was disappointed, but didn’t have any negativity against the man who controlled all these great characters.
Years later after getting my first job in the comic book industry, I met him extremely briefly while attending Pro-Con in Oakland. (Anyone remember that?) But he and Marv Wolfman were in deep discussion that I didn’t want to disturb him.
(I lost a lot of opportunities over the years because I didn’t want to disturb people. Finally getting over that. That’s a blog post all into itself.)
Finally we reach this year. Shannon and I attended a couple of spotlight panels. One on the artist George Perez, and the second was on Roy Thomas. The panel was moderated by Jon B. Cooke (editor of TwoMorrow’s COMC BOOK CREATOR magazine), and they talked about Thomas growing up and reading comics as a little boy, on to writing and editing for Marvel, and then doing what he says is his favorite book for DC Comics ALL-STAR SQUARDRON.
Yay, me too.
Here’s the cover of the very first Issue I bought:
Getting to hear him talk about all that was really good, but the day wasn’t over. After a dinner at the hotel before heading to the Writer’s Guild of America gathering, we were coming down an escalator and knew we had a limited amount of time. Standing in the corner by the Starbucks in hotel’s lounge stood Roy Thomas.
What feels like the first time in my life, I didn’t hesitate or think about what I was doing, and just went up to Mr. Thomas and introduced myself.
He was extremely friendly as I told him how ALL-STAR SQUADRON not only got me into comics, but also into enjoying history of World War II. That pleased him, because he was always incorporating history into the stories.
I told him how I later worked for Brian Murray who had been one of the artists on the follow up series YOUNG ALL-STARS.
Shannon spoke up saying how as an editor at Marvel, Roy had given a writing assignment to Christy Marx who later became a mentor to her which lead to her own career in animation.
I thanked him and his wife once more and headed off to meet more of our fellow writers. I was walking on cloud 9 almost crying with joy. Nothing could have made this Con better, and yet there were other things that we will be talking about for a long time to come.
Though most of those ‘golden age’ characters have dropped back into the shadows as new generations of writers and characters take over, Roy Thomas and the ALL-STAR SQUADRON will forever be the heart of what makes comics special to me and why I write and draw them.
Thank you Mr. Thomas.
Well, I’m back from ComicCon and survived being one in 130,000 people on the convention floor.
I won’t tell you how many conventions I’ve been too, and have only missed one in all that time, but what I can say is this may have been one of the most productive cons so far.
Over the next week I plan on writing short blogs about different parts of the con that I experienced. I hope it’s worth the reading.
Shannon and I road the Amtrak Train “Surfliner” down to San Diego and back home again each day. (We didn’t go for Sunday. We needed the rest.) It was a relaxing way to do it, and actually get some writing done. On Saturday we met someone at our hometown train station that was also going to Con, and saw again when we got back late that night. It turned out we had other connections, and this chance meeting may lead into some positive networking with companies down the road. We can only try.
Each day was crowded with people, and sometimes that can be frustrating when you’re trying to keep up with your partner salmon swimming up stream, but it is still fun.
The TV news kept going on about the costumes (or cosplay), but there was so much more to it than that. Though there were some really great costumes. The ones that really got to me were the families. Not just a group of people together, but families. A family that was dressed as Superman/Wonder Woman and Supergirl/Superboy. Another family that was the main pantheon of Star Wars characters. Do what you’re children love, and your children will do what you love.
As stated in my last blog we were going to avoid Hall H and Ballroom 20. However we did make one attempt to get into 20, Steven Moffat was there about the TV series SHERLOCK. The line which began at ground level near went up a long set of stairs and then Disneyland Lined back and forth. We spent 40 minutes in the line, but once the actual program began we knew we’d never make it inside. A friend of ours spent 3 hours in line for the same panel and still never got in.
We never even contemplated going to see DOCTOR WHO in Hall H. Not only getting in line itself can be bad, but also a lot of people decided to camp out in line or in the Hall itself once inside. The simple concept is that you go into see one panel even if you’re not interest in it and stay there until you see the panel you want. Sometimes if you sit in an earlier panel you might discover something new that interests you. Sounds like a good plan, but then you decide to do it for Hall H. Waiting 3 hours might be okay for some, but would you be willing to camp in the Hall our outside the convention center all night long? Well a lot of people did. Not me; no way!
Even avoiding the masses, we did end up in some very good panels. We sat in on one about writing for television and the experience in the “writer’s room.” It was fun that one of our friends was on the panel, would be even more fun if we were friends with the rest of the panel. We got in but the line beyond use couldn’t, this was a much smaller room.
Shannon really got a lot out of a panel on Digital Comics in Schools and Libraries. She’ll be writing her own blogs about that.
There were also a couple of spotlight panels that we attended. Those were cool to hear the people we look up to talk about their careers in their own words. I’ll be writing about one of those later. Of course it was also great to meet people on the floor, in artists alley, they we’ve worked with in the past.
We also attended the Writers’ Guild of America gathering, but could only stay for about half an hour, as we had to get to the train station.
It doesn’t sounds like a whole lot, but the little things are what matters. Each a small part of my #Mission818
We really had a good time.
More Con Blogs to follow.
As I write this thousands of people are arriving into San Diego for Comic Con International and many are attending “Preview Night”. I’ve never been there on Wednesday nights. It originally was a special “Preview” for professionals and retailers, but now it has grown to be nearly as busy as every other day at Con.
Shannon Muir and I will attend the convention Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. We are riding Amtrak trains to and from San Diego each day, but it is much more inexpensive and relaxing than trying for a hotel room.
We attend Con to meet up with many of our professional friends and network with many of the companies in attendance.
This year I am bringing #MISSION818 with me.
If you’ve been around my blog long enough, or a regular visitor and follower of my facebook or twitter feed you’ll know what #MISSION818 is. For those that don’t here is a brief description.
Shannon and I are engaged to be married, and I plan to move to be with her in the Glendale/Burbank area, and so my Mission is find employment in or around the 818 area code before our wedding.
I would prefer to find employment with an animation production company or comic book publisher, but am open to other positions and companies in that region.
I am a scriptwriter, having written professional in television animation, and been hired to develop series for independent producers. I am also a comic book illustrator, novelist, and book cover artist.
If I could have the exact job I’m after it would Senior Vice President of TV Animation Series Development, but that’s not going to happen right away. In the mean time I’ll be quite happy to assist the guy in the position now. I’ll even bring my own broom.
For my professional friends on facebook and twitter, you know that as I further my career I tag them with #MISSION818. So, this year I will be wearing a #MISSION818 T-Shirt and you all can find me in the Comic Con crowd. See the photo to know what you’re looking for:
Feel free to stop me and say hi, and like my facebook post. More importantly, lets talk about what I can do for you.
Hope to write a Post-Con Blog next week, or maybe some on spot posts to my facebook page while I’m there and let you all know how #MISSION818 worked out.
Thank you all for the support.
Kevin Paul Shaw Broden
Four Names of Professional Creativity
Do you have someone who’s willing to give you a good swift kick in the pants? You should.
Someone willing to tell you when you’re heading in the wrong direction, or not moving at all. Who can pull you off the couch and down into the desk chair and stand over your shoulder to make certain you start working.
They’ll remind you of what your original goals are and help you refocus on your target once more.
You might get momentarily upset with them. After all getting kicked in the rear hurts. But the sting will fade, and it’ll be soon be forgotten as you thrown yourself back into the work that is your passion, whether it be writing the novel that’s been collecting dust, or finishing the next page of your comic book.
Or, get back to writing that blog you left hanging several weeks ago. (Who, me?)
For me, that person is my fiancée Shannon Muir who last night wanted to know what I was currently doing in my writing. I told her of all the plans for this project or that.
That’s when she gave me that strong swift kick in my pants.
She didn’t tell me anything I didn’t already know, but reminded me of all I was capable of, and what I should do to get myself moving again. I had no right to complain I didn’t have enough time (that’s an easy one, I know you’ve used it too), but she gave me the kick saying that I’m only working three days a week while she works a full five days and sometimes more and is still able to find the time to write the latest installment in her WILLOWBROOK SAGA series of novels.
Shannon also gave me some guidance towards how to get myself and my books noticed and revive my existing websites to use them for the best outcome and promotion.
So with her standing over my shoulder ready to give me that next hard kick, expect to see more of my work, and more activities out there starting this week.
Thanks Shannon it only stung for a little while, I still love you.
Kevin Paul Shaw Broden
Four Names of Professional Creativity
I’ve been doing a lot of old style pulp writing recently, and had a sudden thought about characters. So I wrote down several brief character descriptions
Tell me if you recognize them, and if you thought I got them correct?
Kevin Paul Shaw Broden
Four Names of Professional Creativity
BLOG – Animation Pitch
As promised, here are my first thoughts after having the opportunity to pitch an animated series.
This is not the first time I’ve pitched to television. The first time was a live action sitcom that I pitched to two of the cable networks. There was some interest but no bite, then an animated series to one of the educational networks. No bite or response there.
I can’t tell you a whole lot about the current pitch itself because I expect to hear back from the producer with in the week.
Probably the most frustrating thing of the day was that I was late. Late by only a few minutes, but late all the same. The producer wasn’t bothered by this, but it really shouldn’t have happen. I’m prone to showing up places early, so this was really bothering me as I was stuck in snail crawling traffic. But I can’t let that frustration get to me, admit it, apologize and move on. No excuses.
The next thing that came, as it should, was the casual chitchat. The producer was quite happy to show off how his office was starting to look better since they moved in. They even had their sign up since the last time I was there. We then ended up talking about the fly over of the Space Shuttle Endevour earlier in the day. One of those things that everyone was chatting about that day. (I got to see it while it flew over Disneyland.) He also asked about how things had been with me since the last meeting. I told him about my part time job at the college’s foundation and the scholarships they give out.
Let the producer guide the chat, it’s his time and office, so when the moment is right he’ll ask to know what you brought.
Based on what we had discussed during our first meeting I put together what I hoped would interest the producer. The first was a pitch for a complete animated comedy adventure series. That was followed up with two ‘short subjects’.
I’ll admit right here that I stumbled a bit in my transition between one pitch and another. But once I got past that things went smoothly.
When I was done with my three pitches the producer did mention that he had seen something similar to one of them before. Actually, he had seen it a lot, and he explained when he meant. I’m never one to ride the wave of what’s currently ‘hot’. Know that I won’t be pitching any ‘sparkly’ vampires. The concept of my pitch, however, from what the producer had seen, had been on several people’s minds. Sometimes that happens.
This wasn’t a rejection, and he went on to say that after he read more of my pitch packet, if it had a unique enough hook there was still a change.
Sure I might be disappointed, but I did understand what he meant. I look forward to his thoughts.
He did react and know exactly what I was going after with one of the other pitches. So that was good.
The meeting was short, nice, and very friendly. Even if nothing further comes out of these pitches, it was a great learning experience. I now can put more notches into my animation development belt and work on the next one based on what I’ve learned here.
What comes next? More writing, more developing, and more meetings.
That last part for me is the hardest, the networking and getting to know more people to arrange such meetings, but over the last while I am improving with that as well.
This is all part of #Mission818 and things are going along very nicely.
Right now I’m contemplating if there is a way for me to pitch my novel “Revenge of the Masked Ghost” as a live action series. Now to find the right producers that would be interested in talking with me about it.
Thanks all for your support. Hope to tell you more when I hear back from the producer.
Kevin Paul Shaw Broden
Four Names of Professional Creativity
Thirty-One years ago today, I put a mask on my cat.
I had only been reading comic books for a couple of years, if that, but had fallen in love with all the super heroes. One of the earliest books I picked up was a reprint of JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #100 which had dozens and dozens of heroes in it. I reread that story over and over, and I tried to learn about all of heroes.
I had only begun to draw them. (I’ve long destroyed those pictures.) Once I drew a hero I called “Captain Combo” (dumb I know), whose costume was made of every single one of the super heroes I knew about.
In my childish thoughts, Captain Combo needed a sidekick. What better partner could there be than my cat Sunshine? So I drew a mask with all the hero emblems on it, cut it out the eye holes and tried to put it on the cat’s face. To say Sunshine didn’t like the idea would be an understatement. Don’t know why the cat wouldn’t wont a secret identity. Wouldn’t you?
I never got a second chance at putting the mask back on Sunshine because we had to take my grandfather to the doctor’s office, and that day would change our family’s lives forever.
The day was already strange, and for those of us who believe in the supernatural side of the universe, sometimes things happen all at once and you wonder what else is going to happen.
We had been living down at my grandparents house to take care of Dad for a while, as my grandmother had passed away only nine months earlier.
That was the day of the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana; it was also the day that our cousins left to become missionaries in Taiwan. It had two major things happening, for us a third thing was about to happen.
We took my grandfather to the doctor’s office. Being my mother (his daughter), her brother, and my father. My sister and I were basically tagalongs, we went everywhere as a family.
Less than a mile away, us kids waited in the waiting room. As stated, I was on my way to becoming a comic book artist and so had a pad of paper and a pencil.
The doctor examined Dad and even said something like ‘this is the best I’ve seen you in a while.’
Then we guided him back out to the car and my father and uncle helped him get into the car. That’s when it happened. My father, who had his arms around my grandfather at the time and half way into the car, swears he could feel the soul leaving. My grandfather was dead.
What was I suppose to do? This was now the third family death in a very short time.
I was angry, but didn’t have the strength to even break the pencil I was holding. I so wanted to, but couldn’t. It was like my hands were numb.
So with the world celebrating a royal wedding, our family had very little to celebrate. Yet we did celebrate in a way, that my grandfather was now reunited with his love. For nine months earlier he had told her “Keep the gates open.”
He died of a broken heart.
I couldn’t draw a super hero to save him from that, I couldn’t draw one to save us from the pain of loss.
We would have to be each other’s heroes to get us through the days, weeks, months, and years to follow.
Sunshine the cat never did wear the mask, but became a source of comfort as I held it and it purred back. So in a way he became the perfect sidekick when needed.
When I first attended the San Diego Comic Convention, I couldn’t believe there would be that many people interested in comic books and get together in one location. That year there was this shocking number of over 5000 people in attendance.
This year the Convention Center has capped the attendance at 130,000 people.
That’s quite a bit of a difference, and that’s a whole lot of years in-between.
Through those years my goal has been work in the industry; first as a comic book artist, then as a writer both in comics and in animation, and pursuing a career in production as both.
As Image Comics is celebrating a major anniversary in its existence I remember how it was through them I got my first professional credits (though my name only appears in one of the books I worked on), that year I got to sit in the company booth and I even signed my autographs on a few items.
I’ve only missed one year over all these year. And though I have never completely gotten over all my nerves each year I get better and better at talking with the professionals as I am one of them. I am.
So once again, I am heading down to San Diego to schmooze with my fellow script writers, authors, artists, editors, actors and producers. And Mission 818 is going with me.
This is the third year that I am taking the train down and riding it back home each night. It’s a relaxing trip, and it is a whole lot cheaper than any hotel you’ll find (or not find) in the entire city this weekend.
Can’t promise that I’ll be blogging all through the weekend, but check out my twitter feed at @Kevinpsb00 I’m sure I’ll have something to say.
Kevin Paul Shaw Broden
Four Names of Professional Creativity
UPDATE – Sept 17. 2012 – See bottom of post.
What is #MISSION 818?
The name of my blog is “Four Names of Professional Creativity” and I have posted about my writing, about my artwork, about comic books and movies. I’ve also given suggestions and guidance to new writers on how to find ideas out of the world around them. I’ve promoted my novels, and written reviews of the novels of others. This week I’m writing about employment and my continued long-term career search and what I call Mission 818.
For over a year I have been in a part-time job with the Fullerton College Foundation where I design, assemble, and write content for newsletters, event programs, and advertisements that have increased the Foundation and it’s scholarship programs. They tell me I do a good job.
I am blessed by this job, and glad to help to the Foundation and my alumni of Fullerton College, however I know it is time I turn my focus towards the future.
I am engaged to one of the most – no, make that the most – wonderful woman in the world. We’ve been together for years and we share so much including a lifelong passion for television animation. It is time we get married and I become the best husband she deserves.
To make that happen, I need to find a full time job and join her in the 818.
With that intent, I can’t continue the way I have. Whether it be at an animation studio or not, I must find employment now and it must be near her in the Burbank area, hence the 818.
So, what is Mission 818?
It is my quest to find employment, be married, and live in the 818 area code.
As I’ve mentioned before, since heaven knows when I have wanted to work in comic books and animation. My goal was patricianly achieved in comics, but I still intend to do more with it and I keep my hand in with the webcomic “Flying Glory and the Hounds of Glory” (now in it’s eleventh year). As for animation I got my first script writing credits on several episodes of a show called “Midnight Horror School” in Japan. Unfortunately it has never aired in the U.S. I have also professionally written and developed series.
Additionally I have worked with numerous studio executives and producers as a contracted assistant from time to time over the years (read temp.) With every job, no matter how small, I have gained experience, which I bring to the next one.
Though my dream is to be a scriptwriter on a long running animated television series, or better yet, create my own show that runs for multiple seasons with fantastic rating numbers (I really am dreaming), for now that’s not what Mission 818 is about.
I will not to give up that dream (even those ratings) and will keep fighting for it. Yet, right now, I need a concrete foundation to build that dream upon. I am seeking a “day job,” a secure position in the production offices of an animation studio or prod co. Yes, I know there is no such thing as a long-term secure position in our industry, especially now, but that’s what I’m after. Receiving a regular paycheck while helping produce the best animated television series.
So what type of position am I looking for? It would be so easy to say, I want to get my foot in the door. Well, that’s not enough any more; I need to get my entire body in the door and down the hall. A Production Assistant or Coordinator on a show would be great start, and wouldn’t turn it down, but with my experience and skills I’m looking for something more.
The assistant position I am seeking is in the Television Animation Series Development department of a major studio. A few years ago, I had a temp job in the development department of one such studio, and even though I was there for a short time, it was an extremely thrilling experience as new and potential shows passed across my desk. I fell in love with those offices and am looking to return and be part of that work on a long-term basis.
Additionally, working in a studio’s development department may have a whole lot more stability than in the production of a show.
As much as I would like the above jobs and working in animation, I won’t say no to other positions in or out of the entertainment industry. My only requirement is that should be in the 818, preferably Burbank/Glendale area.
So Mission 818 has begun, seeking employment, and planning for marriage.
Part of this is asking my friends in the industry if they know of or could keep an eye out for any job opening inside or outside of television animation.
All help is appreciated. Know that this isn’t just for me but for the woman I love.
Who knows, one of the studios might need someone to work on their newsletters. I’ve been told I’m pretty good at them.
UPDATE – Sept 17. 2012 – I’m still pursuing employing with in the 818 Area code and the studios. This coming Friday I will be visiting the offices of an Animation Production Company and have the opportunity to pitch a television series. I’ve prepared a pitch bible for a action adventure series, and a pitch for a short, and have also have a back up in case the producers ask “What else you got?” This is very important.
I’ve had the opportunity to pitch before, and even if the shows are bought or turned into successful series, the experience is always good. A little scary, a little fun. It’s a great learning experience.
Hope to write a blog about the experience next weekend.
My #Mission818 continues.
Thanks for the support.
The End of the World came on Good Friday.
A million wings flaps and the sounds of thunder rolled across the horizon. The Heavenly Host was so massive that their very angelic presence blocked out the sun sending the entire world into darkness.
Each Angel drew their sword that sparkled like lightning and fire. The first of these flaming swords had blocked reentrances in to the paradise garden and access to the Tree of Life. Now a million more such blades were about to do the deed for which they were forged.
The world is full of sin. There was no one righteous, not even one.
For man had abandoned the ways of God, and even now rejected him when he walked among them.
The mission of the angelic army was to bring the Wrath of God upon the world and to destroy all sin.
This time they would not Passover, their command was irrevocable. There must be payment for man’s sin. It would be total, it would be ultimate, and it would be finished. It would be the end of the world.
The order was given, they moved out. Their very approach towards the world brought forth earthquakes.
One was sent ahead, it was the very same angel that had blocked the way towards the Garden, now used its burning blade to cut the curtain in the temple. Access to the holy of holies was now open but there was no longer anything inside. God was not there.
Their eyes burning with anger and wrath the angels approached the city, none would be spared.
But then a shout came from below: “It is finished!”
Suddenly their wings altered direction, and a million angelic torpedo’s with blazing swords ahead of them all dove towards one location; towards one man, one man hanging upon a cross.
Did they know that the man their blades were striking, one for every sinful soul upon the earth, was their own God who had sent them on this mission?
They could not hold back their blades, even if they wanted to.
In seconds, their mission was complete, the man was dead, sin and evil was defeated.
The world of sin came to an end.
A new world would dawn three days later.
Kevin Paul Shaw Broden
REVENGE OF THE MASKED GHOST revealed.
Over the last year a lot of you stuck with me as I released chapter after chapter of my pulp mystery serial REVENGE OF THE MASKED GHOST.
With in the next week I will be releasing it as an eBook.
Before that happens, I wanted to let you get a preview of the cover art.
I painted it using Corel Painter, just as I did for CLOCKWORK GENIE.
Thank you all for the support. Hope you enjoy the art. I’ll let you know when the book is released.
Kevin Paul Shaw Broden
Four Names of Professional Creativity
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