The fact that a panel like “Creating a Graphic Novel Hollywood Will Buy” is needed shows that there’s still some great divide between two of the great visual media. But, as screenwriter-turned-comic writer Martin Shapiro proved, the relationship can be a fruitful one.
Everyone knows about the big-name comics-to-movies adaptations (Superman, Batman, X-Men, Watchmen), but there are the lesser-known successes stories (like the multi-billion dollar Men in Black franchise and 30 Days of Night). But Shapiro argued that, just as many comic writers look to film for their big break, writers might want to look to the printed word. That’s exactly why he started publishing his Chopper horror comic through his Night Owl imprint.
A graduate of UCLA’s screenwriting program, he decided to circumvent the movie development process by working on graphic novels when he saw the creators of the <a href="http://freshmencomic.com/"target="_blank"Freshmen getting star treatment at San Diego Comic Con. “Of course,” Shapiro added, “It helps if your high school buddy [and Freshmen comic creator] is Seth Green.”
While movie scripts and comic scripts are more similar than many writers might expect, that still leaves finding an artist. Again, if you know where to look, that’s not too hard. David Wohl (currently with Radical Publishing but a veteran of Marvel, Top Cow and John Woo’s Tiger Hill Entertainment) said, “I can go on deviantARTright now and find 25 artists.” Social media also works: He met Eduardo Francisco, the artist on Executive Assistant: Iris, through MySpace. The trick, he added, is that “You have to find a guy whose style really works with what you’re doing.”
Final proof that this seemingly lengthy way to break into films can work? According to his Linkedin profile, Shapiro has sold the option for Chopper to Legacy Filmworks.
This article appears in March 12 • 2010.
