Two Storiesis an autobiographical graphic novel that deals with themes of “…life, love, loss, and depression.” As far as I can tell, the novel will consist of a series of short stories that are all autobiographical, but will be presented in various styles, tones, and genres (“serious to silly”).
Not only are Josh’s illustrations absolutely stunning, full of texture and movement, but his storytelling is powerful and compelling. For this first chapter, it is not just a story of attempted suicide, but more astonishingly a step-by-step examination of the protagonist/author’s thought process — a complex mind that makes connections (from Shakespeare to It’s A Wonderful Life and back to reality) and plays tricks on itself (“The Suicide Game” on page 4).
Josh is a Xeric Award-winning cartoonist who works as a freelance illustrator as well as an adjunct professor at Laguna College of Art and Design. With such an impressive background and body of work, I’m expecting Two Stories to be quickly snatched up by publishers.
The following images belong to Joshua Kemble.
For more Quarterly Stories and Joshua Kemble, please check out the following websites…
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the following images or video!!
One of my favorite operas is Jacques Offenbach‘s The Tales of Hoffmann(Les contes d’Hoffmann). This opera is a fantastical retelling of the life of the German Romantic author E. T. A. Hoffmann, casting Hoffmann as the protagonist of his own stories.
Placido Domingo performing the “Chanson de Kleinzach” aria.
Désirée Rancatore performing ”Les oiseaux dans la charmille.”
Through The Tales of Hoffmann, I developed an interest in Hoffmann and his stories, quickly leading me to Sigmund Freud’s The Uncanny. In Freud’s essay, he uses many of the same Hoffmann stories as Offenbach, but in this case to prove a psychological point (not that Offenbach’s opera isn’t deeply psychological). If I remember correctly, Freud even mentions Offenbach’s opera.
Portrait of E. T. A. Hoffmann
I’m sure you are all wondering, “What does all this have to do with The Nutcracker?” Well, little do most people know, E. T. A. Hoffmann wrote in 1816 one of the earliest versions of The Nutcracker story, entitled The Nutcracker and the Mouse King (Nussknacker und Mausekönig).
Alexandre Dumas was also a fan of Hoffmann, employing allusions to Hoffmann’s stories in The Count of Monte Cristo. Dumas even went as far as creating a revision to Hoffmann’s Nutcracker in 1844 called History of The Nutcracker (Histoire d’un casse-noisette), or The Tale of the Nutcracker.
Towards the end of the 19th Century, Hoffmann’s Nutcracker was adapted to ballet by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, perhaps the most famous incarnation of the tale. I write this post because my dad purchased tickets to the San Francisco Ballet to see The Nutcracker at the end of the month. Perhaps later I’ll add my thoughts on the production to this post.
Tchaikovsky’s music is always wonderful, if not a little too overplayed for the holidays. A lot of people tend to associate The March from The Nutcracker or The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy not with Tchaikovsky, but with the thousands of Christmas commercials that use these pieces. This also happens with The Chinese Tea Dance from The Nutcracker with Disney’s Fantasia and The Sleeping Beauty Waltz with Disney’s Sleeping Beauty.
I believe the most creative and exciting production of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker is Mark Morris’s The Hard Nut. The Hard Nut is set in 1950s America with a very retro feel inspired by the comic artist Charles Burns — a strange but brilliant compliment to the classical music. I hope to one day be able to attend a live performance.
Advertisement for The Hard Nut.
***
For more updates, don’t forget to follow me on tumblr and/or twitter.
For many years, I have been fascinated by modern Japan — everything from the Meiji period (1868 – 1912) to current day. One of my favorite periods is a rather short one known as Taishō (1912 – 1926). What strikes me most about Taishō is the amazing blend of Japanese and Western aesthetics.
I think my interest in Taishō really began when I read Yukio Mishima’s novel Spring Snow (Haru no Yuki). This novel is actually a period piece — published in 1969, but set around 1912 – 1914. Mishima gives a detailed look at the Japanese class system of the period through a romantic tragedy (although I’m not sure Mishima saw this story as such).
My interest in Taishō developed further through a series of college courses on modern Japanese literature. I even did a project involving costume designs for a Taishō-set short story, involving research on fashion of the period from Kimonos and beyond.
I also find advertisements from this period interesting. Actually, the Shiseido ads from the 1900s through the 1930s are really remarkable! You can find out more about these ads on MIT’s Visualizing Cultures website.
Anyway, I just wanted to share a number of my favorite images:
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the following images!!
***
For more updates, don’t forget to follow me on tumblr and/or twitter.
Check out the new post “Note from Shannon Brady, Author” on The First Reich. Learn more about Shannon and my upcoming graphic novel collaboration about the psychoanalyst Wilhelm Reich!
Don’t forget to vote for The Poet and the Flea on the UnHate Unemployee of the Year contest. If I get enough votes, I could win €5000 from the UNHATE Foundation to fund my graphic novel! The contest end October 14th, and I could really use everyone’s support. So take a second to go vote!
Please consider contributing to my Indiegogo campaign: “The Poet and the Flea: Send G.E. to the U.K.” Thanks again to all my funders so far — your donations mean so much to me! But I still need more help. There are 28 days left until the end of my campaign. Please support my dream of becoming a professional screenwriter!
***
For more updates, don’t forget to follow me on tumblr and/or twitter.
Yesterday, received e-mail from Shannon. She has finished the entire first draft of our graphic novel collaboration entitled The First Reich!!! After she does some editing, she’ll be sending me a copy to read — I can’t wait… ヽ(；▽；)ノ
Saturday, August 25th
Taking a little break…
Sunday, August 26th
Continuing work on The Flea and The Man…
Received e-mail from a writer interested in collaborating on a children’s book. In the process of scheduling a meeting.
Two more Pixel-Flick Alliance meetings have been scheduled — one on September 15th and the other on the 22nd.
Monday, August 27th
Continuing work on The Flea and The Man…
After some correspondence, have scheduled a meeting with J.R. (jrbiche.wordpress.com) to further discuss his potential web series. Meeting on Monday, September 10th.
Tuesday, August 28th
Continuing work on The Flea and The Man…
Wednesday, August 29th
Continuing work on The Flea and The Man…
For Robert Louis Stevenson research, began reading The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
Planning to contact Graphic Ladies!? on Tumblr about The Poet and the Flea.
Thursday, August 30th
Continued research for The Poet and the Flea.
Completed short screenplay The Man Who Never Smiled.
E-mail correspondence with potential production company about The Man Who Never Smiled.
E-mail correspondence with potential director/producer for Robots Are a Girl’s Best Friend.
E-mail correspondence with Brian (Pixel Flick Entertainment). Brian became the new organizer for the meetup.com group “San Francisco Movie Makers,” hoping to get more people interested in the Alliance. Would love to see the Alliance grow!
Did not make it to the next round of The Austin Film Festival Screenplay Contest. As I said before, I just have to keep doing what I’m doing. There are still about 5 more I’m waiting to hear back from. Anything could happen!
Friday, August 31st
Working on the script for The Poet and the Flea!
E-mail correspondence with potential production company about The Man Who Never Smiled.
Saturday, September 1st - Sunday, September 2nd
Taking a little break…
Continuing to read Jekyll and Hyde — it’s incredibly different from any adaptation I have come across. Fascinating!
Bought a JPLT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test) N1 textbook from Kinokuniya. Started reviewing the material, and believe it was money well spent. Not sure if I’ll actually take the test, but would be a nice addition to my résumé. If I decide to apply to The JET Programme as a CIR (Coordinator for International Relations), would be very helpful!
JLPT N1 Textbook!!
Monday, September 3rd
Continuing work on The Flea…
Shannon sent me the entire draft of our graphic novel collaboration, The First Reich. In the process of reading and taking lots of notes. Project will require much period fashion/settings research, but is a welcome challenge!
Tuesday, September 4th
Today, I found out some exciting news. I hadn’t realized that anything was announced since I received no e-mail. But I checked the Kaos Films website, and lo and behold. My screenplay Death Is No Bad Friend is one of 292 qualifiers (semi-finalists) in the Kaos Films British Short Screenplay Competition 2012. (This means my script will most likely be read by judge Sir Kenneth Branagh!!) The finalists should be announced sometime around January. Awesome!
Continuing work on The Flea and The First Reich.
E-mail correspondence with potential director/producer for Robots Are a Girl’s Best Friend.
Finished reading The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. I think it was a good experience. Next, thinking of reading The Island of Doctor Moreau by H. G. Wells.
By the way, I’ve just developed a new, little obsession with bats. Just look at their faces below!! (゜▽゜;) Perhaps I’ll eventually develop a comic or children’s book with a protagonist named “Fluffernutter the Bat”™?
Disclaimer: I do not own any of these bat photographs!!
Etcetera
The Poet and the Flea: 45 pages of written script (1 page of script = 4-6 illustrated pages), and about 36 pages (1-18, 21-23, 27-30 completed, and 19-20, 24-26, 31-36 in progress) of illustrated work.
To Do:
Meeting with writer for children’s book on Monday, September 10th (noon).
Meeting with J.R. on Monday, September 10th (2 p.m.).
Schedule one-on-one meeting with Brian (Pixel Flick Entertainment).
Pixel-Flick Alliance Meetup on Saturday, September 15th.
Pixel-Flick Networking Event on Saturday, September 22nd.
Work on research, character sketches, etc. for Shannon.
Schedule second meeting with Shannon.
Sign up with IMDbPro.
Apply to the Bluecat Screenplay Competition (before October 15th).
Here is a brief update on my current creative projects and endeavors…!
★ Important Note: “The Poet and the Flea100 Day Countdown to the Premiere” begins August 20th!
Busy, busy, busy, busy, busy…
But it feels like things are coming together! (ﾉﾟ▽ﾟ)ﾉ
Wednesday, July 25th
In between working on The Flea, began some character sketches for graphic novel collaboration with Shannon.
Detail of rough character sketch for collaboration.
Friday, July 27th
In between working on The Flea, conducted some image research (46 images and counting) for collaboration with Shannon.
Received e-mail from Brian (Pixel Flick Entertainment). Trying to schedule a one-on-one meeting with him. Next Alliance meeting on Saturday, August 18th.
Sunday, July 29th
Continuing to help fellow screenwriter/filmmaker Jay Dial. Had a great (hopefully productive) phone conversation with him.
Received inquiry about my screenplay-in-progress The Man Who Never Smiled from an interested (and enthusiastic) production company. Although I originally intended this screenplay to be full-length, they’re interested in a short. Will bang out a draft (about 15-25 pages) and send them a copy by the end of August.
Monday, July 30th
Received e-mail from a potential director/producer interested in making “one or two” of my short films. He suggested chatting on the phone. Very busy this week, so will call him either Wednesday (August 8th) or Thursday (August 9th).
The Man Who Never Smiled:about 6 pages into research/outlining/writing.
Some lat minute “spring” cleaning…
Tuesday, July 31st
In between working on The Flea, worked on some text/font samples for Shannon.
Heard from The Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting Competition. Did not make it to the quarterfinals — knew it was a long shot. But I can always try again next year. Or perhaps I’ll have more success with a different route?
Wednesday, August 1st - Thursday, August 2nd
Continuing work on The Flea and The Man…
Friday, August 3rd – Sunday, August 5th
A family vacation of sorts…!
Monday, August 6th
Received e-mail from Film Independent Screenwriting Lab 2012. Although my screenplay Who is Laurence Harvey? was not selected for this year’s lab, I was given some encouraging feedback: “…the script is a definite contender for the lab. It’s a unique idea with a capable writer at the helm… a noteworthy project…”
Etcetera
The Poet and the Flea: 37 pages of written script (1 page of script = 4-6 illustrated pages), and about 36 pages (1-18, 21 completed, and 19-20, 22-36 in progress) of illustrated work.
Working on Inside the Display Case (title may eventually change?) bit by bit. About 17 pages of script (+notes).
To Do:
Call potential director/producer next Wednesday or Thursday.
Work on research, character sketches, etc. for Shannon.
Schedule second meeting with Shannon for mid-August.
One-on-one meeting with Brian (Pixel Flick Entertainment).
Attend The Pixel-Flick TV Actor/Filmmaker Alliance Second Meeting (August 18th).
Finish The Man Who Never Smiled by end of August.
Sign up with IMDbPro.
Apply to the Bluecat Screenplay Competition (before October 15th).
***
For more updates, don’t forget to follow me on tumblr and/or twitter.
Portrait of E. T. A. Hoffmann
Comics I Admire: “Quarterly Stories”
Today, I am pleased to present Joshua Kemble and his new online graphic novel Two Stories.
I stumbled across the website Quarterly Stories whilst on my search for autobiographical/non-fiction webcomics. I’m not sure how I came across this amazing work, but I sure am glad I did.
Two Stories is an autobiographical graphic novel that deals with themes of “…life, love, loss, and depression.” As far as I can tell, the novel will consist of a series of short stories that are all autobiographical, but will be presented in various styles, tones, and genres (“serious to silly”).
Not only are Josh’s illustrations absolutely stunning, full of texture and movement, but his storytelling is powerful and compelling. For this first chapter, it is not just a story of attempted suicide, but more astonishingly a step-by-step examination of the protagonist/author’s thought process — a complex mind that makes connections (from Shakespeare to It’s A Wonderful Life and back to reality) and plays tricks on itself (“The Suicide Game” on page 4).
Josh is a Xeric Award-winning cartoonist who works as a freelance illustrator as well as an adjunct professor at Laguna College of Art and Design. With such an impressive background and body of work, I’m expecting Two Stories to be quickly snatched up by publishers.
The following images belong to Joshua Kemble.
For more Quarterly Stories and Joshua Kemble, please check out the following websites…
quarterlystories.com
joshuakemble.com
www.facebook.com/pages/Joshua-Kemble-Illustrations/130292550362837
Store: joshuakemble.com/?page_id=241
Numb: www.amazon.com/Numb-Lost-Love-Broken-Memories/dp/B002O746WA
***
For more updates, don’t forget to follow me on tumblr and/or twitter.
***
Copyright 2013 by G. E. Gallas
12 comments | tags: Absolutely, Aesthetic, Amazing, Art, Artist, Artwork, Astonishing, Attempted, Author, Autobiographical, Autobiography, Award, Background, biography, Black, Black and White, Blizzard, Blog, Body, Book, Brainstorming, Cartoon, Cartoonist, Chapter, Character, Character Design, Coat, Cold, College, Comic book, Comics, Comment, Compelling, Consist, Creative, Creativity, Dark, Deals, Depression, Design, Doodle, Doodles, Drawing, Drawings, Endeavor, Examination, Examine, Expectations, Expecting, First, Freelance, Freezing, Genres, Gorgeous, Grant, Graphic Design, Graphic Novel, Handmade, Hero, Idea, Ideas, Illustration, Illustrator, Impressive, Ink, Inked, Josh, Joshua Kemble, Laguna College of Art and Design, LCAD, Life, Loss, Love, Movement, New, Non-Fiction, Notable, Note, Noteworthy, Novel, Pen, Pen and Ink, Pencil, Powerful, Present, Process, Professor, Project, Protagonist, Publish, Publisher, Publishers, Quickly, Search, Self-Publish, Sequential Art, Series, Serious, Short Stories, Short Story, Silly, Sketch, Sketchbook, Sketches, Snatched Up, Snow, Snowing, Step-by-Step, Storm, Story, Storyteller, Storytelling, Stunning, Style, Styles, Suicidal, Suicide, Texture, Theme, Themes, Thought, Tone, Tones, Trick, Tricks, Two Stories, University, Various, Vary, Web Comic, Webcomic, Winner, Winning, Work, Writer, Xeric | posted in Graphic Novel, Illustration/Design, Links