Consortium Comics10/16/2009 05:54:27 AM
So what is this about?
Way back in 2005, I had this idea: Listeners would send in theirr own radio drama scripts about superheroes in a new Comic book world. Our acting troop would produce a monthly Audio comic and put it on the show regularly. We got a lot of interest and more than a couple of characters created, but no scripts. Since airing Blue Defender on the Sonic Society, there's been renewed interest. Maybe that was the ticket. I should have gotten my own scripts out there for people to help inspire? So here are the rules I developed way back when about the universe. I've included the character form here so folks can create their own if they are still interested. But have a glance at the rules first!
Consortium Comics Rules!
0. Submission Briefs
Consortium Comics Rules and Recommendations
So you want to write your own audio cinema script?
You've come to the right place!
We break down the basics here so, let's look at the parts of the submission process.
1. Come up with a great Concept
- Make your hero an original creation.
- Street level heroes are best.
- Shy away from Super Team stories
- Keep your hero's concept and dialog rated "PG"
- Keep crossover stories between Consortium Heroes limited
- Stay away from real people, organizations, and religions. We won't accept anything opening us to libel or slander.
Before Scripts can be submitted. You must complete the Character form so we can approve your hero!
3. Format your Script
- Follow standard "Indented Format" for Radio Drama
- Episodes must either be either one part or two parts.
- One part episodes are between 10-15 minutes (approximately 10-15 pages)
- Two part episodes must be submitted as one script with 10-15 minutes per part.
- No Prologue or Epilogue (We'll add ours. We have a narrator for that purpose.)
- Straight action. You may have some comedy, romance, mystery, horror and the like, but the genre is standard comic book hero fair.
- We take care of the music.
- Contemporary Earth setting.
- No Future or Past hero stories.
- No dimension hopping. No Outer Space. No Inner Space. No Quark Space.
- All heroes have only become active in the Aughts. (2000-2005)
- Don't Interfere with History.
- Sound effects NOT described through dialogue.
- Make each scene no longer than 2-3 minutes in length.
- Ground your hero in drama, even melodrama.
- Drive your scenes.
Submit your script!
1. Heroic ConceptsGetting Your Hero to Make his Mark
There are some fundamentals to keep in mind when creating your Hero.
A. Make Your Hero an Original Creation.
Don't create a Wolverine hero and call him "Weapon W", try to reach for something different, something unique.
There's a difference between creating a character that reflects an archetype, even in some ways parallels heroes created in the past- its entirely another thing to rip off a superhero.
Frank Miller said there are only two gods in the comics universe (maybe three) "Superman" and "Batman". Certainly there will be characters that will take on characteristics of other heroes in other comics, but we're not looking to be derivative of any other comic. Our hope is to make something special of Consortium Comics.
Take the time to think out your hero's past, present, and future.
B. Street-level is Preferable.
What's a street-level hero? street-level heroes are characters that are not endowed with super powers that separate them from mere mortals on such a scale that they appear to be a different species.
street-level heroes often have a single power, or unique ability that sets them apart. Why is this important?
Keeping your characters close to humanity helps suspend disbelief and gives your heroes realistic villains to fight. As much as we may love the Fantastic Four, there's not a lot of Galactus' (or is that Galacti?) running around to keep challenging them.
street-level heroes foil muggings, bank robberies, purse snatchings, swarmings, and evil corporations. They also can take on villains of the same level, and they are vulnerable.
This is not to say we WON'T accept any hero that's NOT street-level- heck Over Man is certainly not street-level, however we'd like to keep the power levels down in Consortium Comics and make the drama compelling and not just the special effects. :)
Some examples of street-level heroes in other comics:
Batman, Green Arrow, Black Canary, Wildcat, Huntress, Captain America, Daredevil, Creeper, Silver Sable, Jon Sable, Speedball, Union Jack, Moon Knight etc...
Some baddies that are street-level from other comics:
Gladiator, Leap Frog, Hobgoblin, Green Goblin, HYDRA, Red Skull, Kraven the Hunter, Toad, Vermin, Punisher, Joker, Two-Face, Black Manta, Deadshot....
You get the idea. There's plenty of room for growth and development without going to high powered heroes.
C. Shy Away From Super Teams
Again, we will not dismiss super team scripts out of hand, but for the same reasons we'd like to see more street-level characters, we'd like to try to limit super groups. The suspension of disbelief in a story takes a beating when there's a half dozen super dudes and dudettes saving the world together.
We've already got one super hero group we're planning to unleash in the last few issues of the season- The Guardian Guild. Look for their adventures next Spring!
D. Keep Concept and Dialog Rated "PG"
We want to create audio comics that the Comics Code would be pleased to stamp as approved. While adult themes and situations are possible, and when you're dealing with the tragedies and drama in a super hero's life, its often unavoidable (look at poor Peter Parker), please keep in mind that we want Consortium Comics to be enjoyed by young and old.
There's no excuse for foul language, nor graphic sex or violence. Make your points to draw your story forward, not to shock your audience for the sake of shock value, and you'll have a good chance of having your script made. The bottom line is, as always, tell a good story!
E. Keep Crossover Stories Between Consortium Heroes Limited
You'll notice that there are some founding heroes in Consortium Comics. Their stories have fairly large arcs and will occur regularly in the monthly audio comic book. Your script can even refer to their actions in some of the fictitious cities we've created- Riverine and Radial City.
But please don't create stories meeting these heroes or any other heroes written by other people without their expressed permission, and hopefully collaboration. We will be verifying that any crossover stories occur with the permission of the writer's involved. Don't let this deter you, we love collaboration or else we wouldn't be here doing this, but just make sure you work together out there!
F. Let's Stay Far Away from the "S" Word
Stay away from real people, organizations and religions. We can't accept anything that will open us to libel or slander.
When it doubt make it up. Nothing is stopping you from creating great stories that express your feelings with fiction. Sci Fi greats and satirists have been doing it for years!
2. Character Form3. Script Formatting4. Consortium World5. Compelling Scripts6. Submit Script