Description for page three with dialogue

Kassandra video conferences with Theus.

“Kassandra, I tweaked Alchemis’ algorithm and did a second run confirming what you have already found.”

“Detective Foster knows it’s not Xochitl. I’ve tapped into their systems and am recording her interrogation.”

“Cinnamon Irons was killed in the heat of passion. The multiple stab wounds. The object isn’t a knife, but I don’t see anything else in the room it maybe. I recommend examining the results of the bottle of wine  if the police do anymore testing since finger prints weren’t found.”

“I’ll have Alchemis keep reviewing for more data on the wine bottle.”

“Kassandra, are you sure about working with Xochitl? You can’t let this partnership reveal your location. Acario won’t stop looking for us.”

“I know Theus.”

“Keep me informed. I will call in if I find more information.”

“Thank you, Theus.”

K2 turns her attention to all the crime scene information that she has hacked from the police servers and recording from her planted camera that is still monitoring the crime scene investigation activity. K2 turns up the sound on Xochitl and Detective Foster then zooms in on the video.

See sketches of interrogation:

http://delusionproductions.com/2010/08/sketches-during-workshop/

Description for page two with dialogue

My mentor recommended that I view a video found on Vimeo, “Doug Tennapel speaks at the Art Institute Inland Empire.” After watching this video completely it gave me insight into another artist’s process for writing. By combining his style explained and the plot chart learned in the graphic novel class that I took in conjunction with readings like Will Eisner’s book, I’m starting not only to feel more confident about  my own process, but about the understanding of the storytelling.

And not just the learning of Aristotle and beginnings, middles and endings, but also that stories need to build upon empathy. A reader or audience needs to be able to empathize with the characters in some way. While I’m still learning to get better finding the qualities in a story that will help a reader to empathize; I know that because I’m willing to be flexible and make changes and try different approaches that I will eventually find the best way to tell my stories. It will take some time and constant writing and sketching, but I will get there. By just continuing to write the story and rewriting, I will get there.

For episode one, page two:

K2 finishes soldering, takes the board and slips it into a socket.

“I’ll go to Cinnamon Irons apartment tonight while Ms. Teague’s ex-girlfriend is out. I will search for the ring or any evidence that she sold it which I don’t think that she has. There are no big deposits in her accounts.”

“You have my office tapped?”

“The entire office is secured, monitored and taped. I correlated the data for both the client, Ms. Teague and case during your conversation with her.”

“Right. Don’t know how I feel about that.” Pause. K2 goes back  to working on her project.  “Well, then I guess I can go get ready for my date tonight.”

Xochitl hits the button on the edge of the workbench. The door that she entered through slides open and she leaves.

Marshall Teague knocks on Cinnamon Irons apartment door. Cinnamon opens the door, sees Marshall and goes to close the door. Marshall stops her. “Just one minute. I deserve one minute.” Cinnamon stops trying to close the door on Marshall. “You deserve it?”

“Please, let me explain.” Cinnamon sighs. “Explain. Isn’t it a bit late?” Marshall pleads. Cinnamon opens the door. Marshall enters.

See panels for the next moments:

http://delusionproductions.com/2010/09/remake-of-panels-to-go-with-plot-chart-for-page-two/
http://delusionproductions.com/2010/09/remake-of-panels-to-coincident-with-plot-chart/

Webcomics… and description for first page with dialogue

There are different kinds of webcomics or online graphic novels. Some like Girl Genius or Tina’s Groover is more like a print comic scanned and displayed online. Then there are comics like Blank or Nowhere Girl that were designed to be online graphic novels. Then there are some that are similar to newspaper comics like Velia, Dear or 7 Extraordinary Things which puts out a strip of three panels that all ties to each other to build its story.

Of these variations of webcomics / online graphic novels the format that best seems to fit K2 Investigation is the one that is designed specifically for being online. Something very similar to Nowhere Girl but with a more film noir style similar to Sin City. Blank also has a very unique style like Nowhere Girl that is more digital illustration and I like this style for the graphics.

Each page will need to be able to stand alone like in Velia, Dear, but also relate each page to each other to tell a bigger story. The framing and panels of the page should have a beginning, middle and end. Using the plot chart has helped to map this out and formulate the story for each character, each page and the over all story. For the first episode, the first two pages establishes the situation which is the introduction to the case. (Plot chart #1) The next two pages work to solve the case and the final two pages wrap up the case and solve the crime. Below is the description for the first page.

For episode one, description for page one:

K2 Investigations office is in an old building on Downing street downtown in Greenwich Village, NYC. The top floor of the old building with access to the roof all belong to K2 Investigations. The offices, though in an old building, are modern and minimalist. Xochitl runs the offices and is the face of K2 Investigations. She mans the boss’ desk, while behind the boss’ wall, hidden is the lair of her partner Kassandra Kinkade or K2.

This lair is cramped, crowded and contradictory to the outside office that faces the clients who enter. It’s where K2 lives and works. The space is stacked with three racks of servers that take up one wall, another wall is covered with touch screen monitors, another wall is her work bench and shelves stacked with tools, equipments, parts and finally the last wall is her bunk bed elevated off the floor. Underneath the bunk bed is a small desk and a filling cabinet. K2 is the ‘investigator’ of the private investigation agency while Xochitl manages the clients, business and relationships with the police.

Xochitl  presses down on the right side of a portrait on her office wall of Athens, Greece. It clicks and the wall slides forward and then slides left opening to gain access to the lair that is behind it. Xochitl enters and immediately the wall shuts. She drops a folder on the workbench where K2 is working on a piece of machinery.

“We’re taking this case. We have to. We need the work. I’m not going to continue spending and wasting my money for your toys.”

K2 says nothing, only continues to look through her microscope soldering a computer board.

“K?”

K2 stops. “Okay.”

“That’s it.”

K2 goes back to working on her computer board.

“Fine. We just need to convince the girlfriend to give back the engagement ring. Our client doesn’t want to have to go to court. I’ll talk to her, but I think you should look into both and if you can location the ring in her house, you know make sure she still has it.”

K2 continues her work.

“I don’t if I’ll ever get use to your asbergergers’.”

K2 stops, but this time she puts down the solder and goes to her computer. “Alchemis pull up Marshall Teague. Give report to Xochitl.”

“You were listening?”

K2 smiles briefly, “Yes.”

Beeping, then reports are pulled up onto a big monitor. A robotic voice starts to give the details of the report will K2 goes back to her on her work bench.

Remake of panels for page two

Interrogation sketches for page three

Remake to coincident with plot chart for page two

Episode #1 panels for page 2:

Redraw of murder for episode #1

Sketches during workshop