Posted by Wolf on Oct 13, 2009 in
General We are incredibly happy to announce that Tom Taylor has been selected as a recipient of an ‘Emerging Writers Grant’ through the Australian Society of Authors and the Australia Council.
The total number of applications (226) was almost four times as high as the Literature Board
received last year in the Emerging writers category (58).
In very positive news for the medium, as well as ‘Brief Cases’, three other graphic novel proposals received funding.
This grant will enable Tom to put a lot of energy into Brief Cases and the book will be much stronger for it.
A big thank you to the ASA and to the Australia Council.
Tags: Australia Council, Australian Society of Authors, Emerging Writers Grant, Tom Taylor
Posted by Tom on Sep 25, 2009 in
Reviews A couple of wonderful reviews have recently surfaced for The Example – the catalyst for the Brief Cases project. Click the site names for the full reviews.
“This Schrödinger’s Cat scenario is explored comprehensively via Taylor’s rhythmic dialogue. Sam and Chris riposte to and fro with the sort of casual offhandedness afforded to transient relationships. It’s almost flirtatious, but never dull, and the naturalness of their humour contrasts beautifully with the silent menace of the briefcase… a burst of applause to all concerned, and a note to other creators and publishers out there – this is an example worth following.
- (Cool) Shite
“For anyone new to comics, this is a great entry. For any wannabe writers, this is a great lesson in pacing and suspense. For wannabe artists, this is a great lesson in panel design. Like Watchmen, it uses a simple 9 panel grid on almost every page, but you won’t even notice. I mean, this is just two people talking at an empty suburban space, yet you’ll be lost in the world it creates.”
- Comic Book Jesus
Tags: Brief Cases, Colin Wilson, Comic Book Jesus, Cool Shite, Gestalt Publishing, The Example, Tom Taylor
Posted by Wolf on Sep 5, 2009 in
Illustration 
Posted by admin on May 6, 2009 in
General Brief Cases is being mentioned in all the right places at the moment.
The Example is the first story in Brief Cases and is enjoying a limited release.
There has been a lot of press surrounding the launch of ‘The Example’ and the anthology ‘Flinch’.
Here in The Australian
Here on the radio program ‘Faster Than Light’
And here on Cool Shite.
Go. Read.
Posted by Tom on Feb 13, 2009 in
Illustration
Ten pages of dialogue between two characters who just stand and talk to each other would normally have me running in the opposite direction, quickly. The Example was different….
SAM
Early Sketch of Sam
Sam seemed more knowledgeable, more in touch with her surroundings, and I saw her as having a very definite look.
The final version of Sam
CHRIS
Early Chris, a bit too ‘Clark Kent’ so the glasses moved to Sam
Chris is more the everyman. Generalized, your average businessman, at least visually… slightly old-fashioned. Giving Chris that hat was my idea… the world needs more characters with hats….
THE PANELS
I’ve never drawn ten pages of dialogue between two characters before.
The challenge was to make the story as visually interesting as the
dialogue demanded.
Tags: The Example
Posted by Tom on Jan 19, 2009 in
Writing Every good story is a thriller.
You want to turn the page; you want to watch after the ad break. When the action moves away from a set of characters, you scream ‘Nooooo!’ and when it comes back you curse it for doing so – because those other guys are still trapped with the Necronauts in the afterlife ship, with barely any oxygen, and the pterodactyls are right outside!
A good thriller grabs you and doesn’t let go. It also keeps you guessing, which brings us to, “What’s in the box?”
A well-known plot device, a MacGuffin is an object that links a story together. It may or may not be integral to the story; it’s all about keeping the audience guessing. In film, the MacGuffin is often a briefcase…
When I wrote The Example in 2005, it was the beginning of my professional writing career. The success of that one 10-minute-play about a briefcase on a train platform gave me the belief I needed to be a professional writer. The Example has gone on to win a heap of awards, it’s been produced in four countries, it’s been studied at Melbourne University and the University of Southern California, it’s been on at the Sydney Opera House and been in the Edinburgh Festival. Yet none of this compares to the first time I saw it illustrated by Colin Wilson.
When I first saw the Example illustrated, I knew I didn’t want to be a professional writer anymore… I wanted to be a professional comic book writer.
The Example is the first story in this collection. It’s fitting; it’s been the start of so much. The Example will be joined by some other great stories, some also adapted from award-winning plays, like Falling Praying and Believe, and some brand new ones, like Status Quo and Mystery Flight, and all of these stories will be linked together by great artists and briefcases.
Being a comic book writer is not an easy thing to aspire to, in this country especially, but thanks to fine publishers like Gestalt Publishing and fine people like Wolfgang Bylsma, this is becoming a reality.
Posted by Wolf on Jan 18, 2009 in
General Brief Cases is an upcoming graphic novel anthology featuring the writing talents of Tom Taylor alongside the illustration talents of luminaries such as Colin Wilson and a collection of emerging artists.
This production diary will detail a ‘behind the scenes’ look at the production, illustration, compilation and publication of the Brief Cases book and will, hopefully, incite enough interest to keep us all in the manner to which we have grown accustomed.