Post by Jinsei on Aug 17, 2007 11:40:06 GMT -5
Local comic book artist tackles movies
By David E. Dooley
staff writer
ST. FRANCISVILLE - Making it in either the comic book or the movie business isn't easy.
Making it in both businesses while living in St. Francisville is almost unbelievable.
Comic book artist Jason Craig is currently a rising star in both industries, and he's loving every minute of it.
"I always wanted to do something in movies, and something in comic books," Craig said.
When Craig's talent was discovered at a comic book convention about a year ago, he began landing comic book movie adaptations, a lifelong dream come true.
One of Craig's latest works is an adaptation of the movie Seven, a horror film starring Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman, and Gwyneth Paltrow.
Proving that comics are no longer just for kids, Craig's adaptation is an unseen chapter of the movie focusing on a murderer's grisly form of twisted justice. The ending is not for the faint of heart and only for mature audiences.
After so many years of trying to break into the industry, Craig said it was exciting to see his name on the cover of a comic book. What's even more of a thrill is seeing his name on a pre-publication poster hanging over a convention in California that would make even the largest events in places like Evansville, Ind. look small by comparison.
Over the weekend, Craig's current project was revealed, a comic book adaptation of a not-yet-produced horror flick's screenplay featuring three of the genre's biggest names: "Freddy" from the Nightmare on Elm Street series; "Jason" of Friday the 13th fame; and "Ash," anti-hero first appearing in the "Evil Dead" cult classic.
Now, Craig is touring the states - from Orlando Fla., to Dallas, Texas - with his premier New Line Cinema and Sam Raimi characters crossover.
It was a long, hard road to break into the industry. While hard work and perseverance paid off, there was a lot of luck involved as well, Craig said.
In 1991, Craig did the convention scene like thousands of other comic book artists, taking his amateur work to the front line of professional talent scouts.
"I had a couple different editors give me a couple different opinions, and the consistent view was, 'you suck,'" Craig reminisced with a smile. "One of them went so far to tell me, 'Find a day job, because you'll never make it.'"
Craig didn't let that stop him.
"We kept going back year after year," Craig said. "That's how to get into industries of any kind."
However, the rejections were just as constant. After years of discouragement, and the death of his grandfather, Vic Buchanan, Craig all but gave up. "I don't want to say I gave up on comics, but I looked at my life and said, 'I'm in my late 20's, it hasn't happened.'"
In despair, Craig turned to alcohol, a path that lead to a couple high-speed vehicle accidents. With the help of family and friends, he managed to turn his life around.
About a year ago, Craig was contacted through his MySpace.com Web site and asked to do a few commissions. He hadn't drawn a comic page in years.
"I thought, 'I just took a job without knowing if I've still got it,'" Craig laughed.
Ultimately, that didn't pan out, it did rekindle his lifelong desire to become a comic book artist.
So, he took off for the next big Chicago comic convention with little more than the clothes on his back and enough gas money to make it there. "I had no room booked. I had nothing, just gas money to get there."
Craig found an acquaintance at the convention who invited him to spend the night.
The next day, DC Comics, whose most famous titles include Superman and Batman, hosted a talent search. Out of thousands of prospective comic book artists at the convention, Craig was their first pic, even though his portfolio didn't meet the stated requirements.
One thing led to another, and Craig was signed to do a number of movie-related comic books, mostly in the horror or action genre.
Doing movie comics has led Craig to rub elbows with the stars. The list of silver screen stars that he's met is lengthy - like Bruce Willis, Billy Bob Thornton, and others - but he spoke most about those he got to know. Craig spoke of Rosario Dawson, who he said "could sit and go toe-to-toe with you on any geeky conversation. We sat and talked about Batman for an hour and a half," Craig said.
Dawson has starred in movies such as Sin City, Clerks 2, Men in Black 2, and many others.
Craig didn't envy the star's life, however. Not being able to go to the store without a crowd of "paparazzi" photographers following him.
As a comic book artist, "You can go and have this celebrity status at these shows, but you can go home and go (anywhere in public) and no one care," Craig said.
Craig said he won't pass up a golden opportunity, but doesn't have any plans on moving to the west coast while his son, Jared, 10, is still in school. "I'll tell you, he's better at that age than I was," Craig said. "He's bound and determined that he's going to do it too."
By David E. Dooley
staff writer
ST. FRANCISVILLE - Making it in either the comic book or the movie business isn't easy.
Making it in both businesses while living in St. Francisville is almost unbelievable.
Comic book artist Jason Craig is currently a rising star in both industries, and he's loving every minute of it.
"I always wanted to do something in movies, and something in comic books," Craig said.
When Craig's talent was discovered at a comic book convention about a year ago, he began landing comic book movie adaptations, a lifelong dream come true.
One of Craig's latest works is an adaptation of the movie Seven, a horror film starring Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman, and Gwyneth Paltrow.
Proving that comics are no longer just for kids, Craig's adaptation is an unseen chapter of the movie focusing on a murderer's grisly form of twisted justice. The ending is not for the faint of heart and only for mature audiences.
After so many years of trying to break into the industry, Craig said it was exciting to see his name on the cover of a comic book. What's even more of a thrill is seeing his name on a pre-publication poster hanging over a convention in California that would make even the largest events in places like Evansville, Ind. look small by comparison.
Over the weekend, Craig's current project was revealed, a comic book adaptation of a not-yet-produced horror flick's screenplay featuring three of the genre's biggest names: "Freddy" from the Nightmare on Elm Street series; "Jason" of Friday the 13th fame; and "Ash," anti-hero first appearing in the "Evil Dead" cult classic.
Now, Craig is touring the states - from Orlando Fla., to Dallas, Texas - with his premier New Line Cinema and Sam Raimi characters crossover.
It was a long, hard road to break into the industry. While hard work and perseverance paid off, there was a lot of luck involved as well, Craig said.
In 1991, Craig did the convention scene like thousands of other comic book artists, taking his amateur work to the front line of professional talent scouts.
"I had a couple different editors give me a couple different opinions, and the consistent view was, 'you suck,'" Craig reminisced with a smile. "One of them went so far to tell me, 'Find a day job, because you'll never make it.'"
Craig didn't let that stop him.
"We kept going back year after year," Craig said. "That's how to get into industries of any kind."
However, the rejections were just as constant. After years of discouragement, and the death of his grandfather, Vic Buchanan, Craig all but gave up. "I don't want to say I gave up on comics, but I looked at my life and said, 'I'm in my late 20's, it hasn't happened.'"
In despair, Craig turned to alcohol, a path that lead to a couple high-speed vehicle accidents. With the help of family and friends, he managed to turn his life around.
About a year ago, Craig was contacted through his MySpace.com Web site and asked to do a few commissions. He hadn't drawn a comic page in years.
"I thought, 'I just took a job without knowing if I've still got it,'" Craig laughed.
Ultimately, that didn't pan out, it did rekindle his lifelong desire to become a comic book artist.
So, he took off for the next big Chicago comic convention with little more than the clothes on his back and enough gas money to make it there. "I had no room booked. I had nothing, just gas money to get there."
Craig found an acquaintance at the convention who invited him to spend the night.
The next day, DC Comics, whose most famous titles include Superman and Batman, hosted a talent search. Out of thousands of prospective comic book artists at the convention, Craig was their first pic, even though his portfolio didn't meet the stated requirements.
One thing led to another, and Craig was signed to do a number of movie-related comic books, mostly in the horror or action genre.
Doing movie comics has led Craig to rub elbows with the stars. The list of silver screen stars that he's met is lengthy - like Bruce Willis, Billy Bob Thornton, and others - but he spoke most about those he got to know. Craig spoke of Rosario Dawson, who he said "could sit and go toe-to-toe with you on any geeky conversation. We sat and talked about Batman for an hour and a half," Craig said.
Dawson has starred in movies such as Sin City, Clerks 2, Men in Black 2, and many others.
Craig didn't envy the star's life, however. Not being able to go to the store without a crowd of "paparazzi" photographers following him.
As a comic book artist, "You can go and have this celebrity status at these shows, but you can go home and go (anywhere in public) and no one care," Craig said.
Craig said he won't pass up a golden opportunity, but doesn't have any plans on moving to the west coast while his son, Jared, 10, is still in school. "I'll tell you, he's better at that age than I was," Craig said. "He's bound and determined that he's going to do it too."
