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Following my review of The Dreamland Chronicles a few months back,
I received an e-mail from the comic's creator, Scott Christian Sava,
whom you may also know from his work on "The Lab" and "Spiderman: Quality of Life."
One thing led to another, and next thing I knew, I was interviewing Mr. Sava
via instant messenger. Our interview turned into more of a discussion about animation and computer graphics than comics, but it was enjoyable nonetheless.
AJ:
This is my first time doing an interview, so please forgive me if I ask some lame questions!
Scott:
AJ:
So, I know you from your work on The Dreamland Chronicles... are you working on any other projects right now?
Scott:
Well, yes....but I don't know how much of it I can talk about...ha ha. The Lab trade is due out next month, it has both issues.... The Lab 1 and The Lab 2: Electric Boogaloo.
AJ:
Scott:
Oh... tsk tsk. Don't know The Lab?
AJ:
Scott:
Hold on, let me get you a link.
AJ:
I just found it on your site.
Scott:
Ok, yeah. The Lab was my first self-published comic.
AJ:
Scott:
The first one came out in... um... let's see, before Spidey, so I think 3 years ago. Then I did Spiderman: Quality of Life, then The Lab 2, then Dreamland.
AJ:
Will you have the trade paperback ready in time for San Diego Comic Con?
Scott:
Yes, it's at the printer now, and it's a lot of fun. There's 120 pages, and it includes games, and jokes, and lots of new stories. It's more of a variety show than a comic book... ha ha. The book is fun, and is my homage to The 3 Stooges and Bugs Bunny. Esteban the Weasel and Livingston The Mole are fun characters, I enjoy them immensely.
AJ:
So, a lot of fun, slapstick humor?
Scott:
Yeah. Anvils dropping on heads, and stuff like that. It's hard to do in comics and would be a lot easier in animation, but I just love comics.... and do enough animation during the day.
AJ:
Do you have any plans to do an animated series based on any of your comic concepts?
Scott:
Oh, absolutely! Mike (Kunkel, co-founder of The Astonish Factory and creator of Herobear and the Kid) and I both have a few of our projects already in production at studios. That's some of the things that we can't talk about yet, but we've sold a few of them and are writing, directing and producing the shows and movies, as well as our animation studio doing the animation. It's a lot of work.
AJ:
Scott:
People wonder why our books come out so sporadically, but... we do a lot more than just comics.
AJ:
Are you able to give an ETA on when we might see some of these animation projects come to fruition?
Scott:
Well, lawyers... Those darn lawyers take so much time getting those contracts just so. It could be next week, or it could be next year.
AJ:
Ha ha, okay, I guess we'll move on to a subject less wrapped in legalese!
Scott:
Mike's Herobear movie at Universal has been on again and off again for over a year now, but we can't show anything. Still, things are great. It's just those contracts keep us from showing you anything we desperately want to.
AJ:
Is it safe to assume that as soon as you can share something, our readers will be able to find news about it on your site?
Scott:
AJ:
Scott:
Mike and I keep joking about somehow accidentally leaking the animation out... ha ha. But... you know... sigh.
AJ:
Don't think the lawyers would appreciate that one much!
Scott:
Ha ha, true. So... back to the books, I guess. Oh, one bit of animation news! We are working on a TV show for Kids WB. A little show called Balloonatiks... not our property. We're mainly just doing the animation... but it's something I can mention, I think.
AJ:
Scott:
And we're also doing more game cinematics for Predator, which should be out in a few months.
AJ:
You guys really do keep busy!
Scott:
Ha ha, yeah. We did AVP (Aliens Vs. Predator, in case you've been living in a cave -AJ) a year ago, and really enjoyed it.
AJ:
AVP has been getting a lot of buzz in my circle of friends.
Scott:
It should be fun. It's a blast bringing the preds and aliens to life. news:I hope the movie is good.
AJ:
So, you have The Lap TPB coming out soon, are you working on any of your other books right now, or is the animation work keeping you pretty busy?
Scott:
Well, animation keeps us busy for about 10 hours of the day. The rest of our time, when not spent with family, is dedicated to our future books. Mike's got his Herobear/Decoy crossover which will hit in San Diego, and he's got a new Herobear story he's working on as well. I'm writing out all 24 issues for Dreamland, and it's looking like it's going to be too big for a comic, so it'll most likely be split up to many graphic novels.
AJ:
Well, I guess I don't need to ask if you've got Dreamland planned very far in advance!
Scott:
Ha ha. It's a huge epic; I wanted to do something big. The problem is the cost, really. Every object, from a light stand to a hat, has to be modeled. All the characters - and there's well over 200 characters - have to be modeled. Oh. First designed, then modeled, rigged, morphs set up for faces, textured, and so forth. The environments have to be designed, and modeled, textured, lit, and all put together. It's a movie production, all done out of pocket.
AJ:
Which would explain why there aren't a lot of CG comics on the market!
Scott:
No, that's the thing. When there are CG comics, they're usually done cheaply. Who wants to lose money? Ha ha. So far, I'm the only idiot right now willing to do that. But as long as the animation goes well, and Mike doesn't mind me spending the money, I want to do this. It's how I've come to enjoy telling stories.
AJ:
I hope you're able to continue doing it, I think the story has a lot of promise.
Scott:
AJ:
In the several years I've been reading comics, I've come across very few which I felt were appropriate for children, but enjoyable for all ages... Dreamland seems to fill that niche nicely.
Scott:
Well, that's our goal, with all of our books. We don't try to talk down to kids, we just have fun. Dreamland will actually get more adult, not in nature but in philosophy. So hopefully it'll be a bit of a thinker for the adults - get you thinking about reality and such.
AJ:
So the story will be appropriate for younger audiences, but not dumbed down for them?
Scott:
Exactly. The visuals are there for the kids. But there's also the characters, the action, the cool places, and the story should be relatively easy to follow for anyone. Hopefully there will be something "higher" for adults to focus on, if I can get that across.
AJ:
Very cool. I've noticed lately, when watching cartoons and animated movies mainly geared towards younger audiences, they're peppered with "adult" humor... what's your opinion on this trend?
Scott:
AJ:
That would be a notable example, yes. Though I must shame-facedly admit that I haven't seen Shrek 2 yet!
Scott:
Ha ha, ok. Me neither, but Spidey comes first in my books anyhow. I loved the first one, but felt it was in NO way worthy of an Oscar... not when up against Monsters Inc. From a talent point of view, Pixar has it all. Great storytelling, terrific animation, and great designs.
Scott:
As to your question about the adult humor - I noticed now, watching the James Bond movies I grew up watching... I realized "Hey! They're talking about SEX!" I couldn't believe it.
AJ:
Scott:
As a kid, I never realized it wasn't just James Bond with the cool gadgets. There was a whole level that went right over my head. So now, I look at Shrek and see it's the same kind of thing, referring to the adult stuff... I think it's fine, and the box office show's it's a hit.
AJ:
Scott:
...won't be as funny in a few years. Yeah. Whereas a Pixar movie relies on good jokes, punch lines, and timeless stories. I think that's where the next level is.
AJ:
I think, in general, most movies aren't concerned with being "one for the ages", they're interested in raking in the box office dough.
Scott:
Yes, very true. But that's where you get studios who just look for the quick buck, and movie makers who want to do their art. Fortunately for Pixar, they seem to get both ends. It's sooooo much easier to do potty jokes, and pop culture references. I've written comedy with The Lab, and I even made references to pop songs in The Lab 2: Electric Boogaloo. I mean, even the name has references to the 80's. So I'm not on a high horse or anything, just saying... It was way easier to have Livingston dancing to "I Like Big Butts" than it was to come up with good, witty humor that didn't reference anything. Still... I don't know if I answered your question, ha ha. Did I?
AJ:
Yeah, you did. Another question. Back when I was a kid, admittedly not too long ago... Animated movies were voiced by people who no one outside the animation industry had heard of. Sure, you'd have famous singers doing some of the music, and you might have a few famous actors playing bit parts, but most of the main roles were done by professional voice actors. Now most of the major roles in most major animated features are done by famous actors... what's your opinion on this trend?
Scott:
Hm... Well... I thought Eddie Murphy did a great job as Donkey. I loved John Goodman and Billy Crystal in Monsters Inc, but didn't like Nemo, mainly because of Ellen Degeneres. So, I think sometimes if you know an actor, and it throws you off, that could hurt. Like Woody Allen doing Ants - it just didn't work. But I think that's also a flaw of Dreamworks. Their new movie Sharkslayer, they actually tried to make the sharks look like DeNiro and Jolie and the others, so you have these weird fish/caricatures, it's awful. My point being if done right, it's cool and totally helps - look at Woody and Buzz - but if done wrong, it can ruin a project.
AJ:
So, if you had an unlimited budget for an animation project, which actors would you want to hire to voice your characters?
Scott:
Ha ha, well... all I have right now for sure is Patrick Stewart for Nickodemus the Dragon. I'd love that!
AJ:
Scott:
The rest... maybe John Cusack playing Alexander. I've have to see. See, I'm afraid I'd pick actors and actresses I'd want to meet, not necessarily those who are qualified!
AJ:
Do you have any new (specifically Dreamland-themed) merchandise planned for the store?
Scott:
Ha... Well, we have a Paddington Rumblebottom III plush, he's here in my studios. But he needs some work, and honestly I didn't want him to be available until you meet him as an adult in the comic. We're talking about some t-shirts and hats, but I don't think it's going to happen until later this year. Mike is a merchandising fiend, so he's constantly on my case about it.
AJ:
So what are your plans for the San Diego Comic Con? I assume that The Astonish Factory will have a booth?
Scott:
Yes, a pretty good one this year. We always have a great crowd and a good location. This year, we have a nice double corner, and will have some great products. We have the Herobear/Decoy crossover trade, we have The Land of Sokmunster, Dreamland, Spooner is new this year, and Spooner will have a trade as well, so there's a lot of new stuff. Each year we grow bigger and bigger, but the fans are so great.
AJ:
Do you have the booth number handy?
Scott:
No, not yet, sorry. (Scott is going to give me the booth number when he gets it, and hopefully we'll be able to sneak it into this interview later this month. Otherwise you can check the Astonish Factory forums)
AJ:
Are there any panels or special events that you'll be part of?
Scott:
I don't think so this year. We've done some panels, but this year I think we both just wanted to be there for the fans... and also take some time to look around.
AJ:
Now there's a crazy idea!
Scott:
You miss so much doing a booth, and with the incredible lines we get, it's hard to walk away.
AJ:
Well, in closing, is there anything you'd like to say to our readers?
Scott:
Well... thanks for reading our books! And thanks for your patience with how they come out. We love doing them, and hope you enjoy reading them just as much.
And I hope that if you're looking for some good All-Ages comics, you'll pick up one of Scott or Mike's comics and see them at Comic Con if you'll be attending! For more information, you can visit their site at www.theastonishfactory.com
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