Tuesday, July 04, 2006
Tales of the Terminal Diner script (7/04)
(This is my fourth and last retro-posting, a short comic book script from July of 2004, which is slowly being drawn by artist and publisher Ron Fontes for his publication TAKES OF THE TERMINAL DINER)
NOTE: All words in CAPS are BOLD
PAGE ONE
Panel 1: Mid-distance shot of the Diner. Very early morning.
TITLE: TALES OF THE TERMINAL DINER
CAPTION: Dawn’s early light…
Panel 2: CU of SAM at diner counter, totally glum & disheveled; he’s been up all night, propping his head up in his hand.
SAM: What’s it take to be a comics pro?
SPLASH PANEL: Pull back to MIKE, middle-aged guy, skinny, thinning grey hair tied back in a ponytail, glasses, carrying an art portfolio. MIKE is standing next to SAM, gesturing like a tv used car salesman. SAM doesn’t know what to do, MIKE’S appearance is more than he can comprehend.
MIKE: Actually, young man, there’s ONE WAY you might consider!
MIKE-2: Try joining…
TITLE [MIKE-3]: THE RUSTY CLUNKER GANG!
CREDITS: Story:
Art: RON FONTES
PAGE TWO:
Panel 1: Two shot of SAM and MIKE. SAM has caught up, he’s now very surprised.
SAM: Huh!?
MIKE: Once I was just like you…
Panel 2: Start FLASHBACK. 20-yr old MIKE trudging through city sidewalk slush, carrying a beat-up art portfolio, chilled to the bone. He’s got a full head of long hair. No glasses.
CAPTION: I’d come from California to break into the business…
CAPTION: It was tough…
Panel 3: MIKE walking past a wall full of award plaques [“Best Artist”, “Lucca Prize”, etc].
CAPTION: Somehow I got into see NEAL FRANKLIN at his famous studio…
Panel 4: Young [mid-20’s] energetic NEAL ADAMS clone, confidently smacking MIKE’S comic book art pages with the back of his hand. MIKE looks on expectantly. We don’t see much behind NEAL, except maybe an art table. It’s important to reveal the studio setting slowly.
CAPTION: How had someone so YOUNG won so many AWARDS?
NEAL: You got a shot, kid. C’mon, I’ll take you over to see JULIE…
Panel 5: Office of JULIUS SCHWARTZ. 50 years old. White shirt and tie, no coat. He’s seated behind desk, scowling at the artwork in his hand. Confident NEAL is standing in front of him, hands clasped behind his back. Nervous MIKE cringes behind NEAL.
NEAL: Some STUFF, huh?
JULIE: Not bad – but he has no EXPERIENCE!
PAGE THREE:
Panel 1: NEAL keeps one hand behind his back, gestures at artwork with other hand, palm up. MIKE is surprised. JULIE still scowling.
NEAL: Tell ya what – give this kid a job –
NEAL-2: -- AND I’LL INK IT!
JULIE: Well, that’ll make your FANS happy--!
Panel 2: CU of JULIE sternly handing over a script.
JULIE: All right, HERE – but it has to be drawn ON TIME!
Panel 3: MIKE and NEAL leaving JULIE’S office. SAM is very puzzled; NEAL leans over conspiratorially, continued confident.
MIKE [whisper]: How can you DO this? You’re drawing both BATMAN and X-MEN this month!
NEAL [whisper]: Shhh!
Panel 4: Outside building. MIKE looks like he’s just been handed a golden egg, but he isn’t sure yet what it is. NEAL adopts professorial attitude.
NEAL: Mike, you just bring me those pages two days before the deadline!
NEAL-2: This is your chance – don’t let me down!
Panel 5: Small silhouette of city, with sun rising behind buildings.
CAPTION: I busted my butt for a WEEK on those pages, but it took LONGER than I wanted…
Panel 6: Very tired MIKE entering NEAL’S studio. We see a little more than we did the first time. NEAL’S art station faces a window; there are two vacant art stations on either side of him. NEAL beckons with his hand, neutral expression.
MIKE: Here they ARE – I’m sorry – I know they’re due TOMORROW!
NEAL: Don’t worry about THAT – c’mon, SHOW me!
PAGE FOUR:
Panel 1: NEAL seated, pointing at art.
NEAL: The STORYTELLING here is WEAK – you’ll need to RE-DO this scene –
Panel 2: NEAL fiercely sketching on a vellum overlay.
NEAL: You should pull in CLOSER here –
NEAL-2: Drop this unnecessary BACKGROUND –
NEAL-3: And get this face more like – THIS!
Panel 3: NEAL with arm around MIKE, pointing him into a small supply closet that’s been converted into an art station.
NEAL: Here, you can work on those changes NOW, while I get the INKING started.
MIKE: Okay – but --!
Panel 4: MIKE coming out of the converted closet, holding an art page, totally shocked.
MIKE: All right, Neal, I’ve finished –
MIKE: HOLY COW!
Panel 5: Large panel. The studio space we saw on the previous page is now totally packed with artists. All three art stations have an artist inking pages on them and there are more on the floor, inking on portable art boards. NEAL gestures expansively.
NEAL: That’s right – this is your FIRST TIME!
NEAL-2: Meet the RUSTY CLUNKERS! We’re all inking your story TOGETHER!
NEAL-3: I handle the FACES – DICK and LARRY do the MAIN FIGURES – AL and RALPH do the BACKGROUNDS!
PAGE FIVE:
Panel 1: CU of NEAL, winking.
NEAL: Now you get some SLEEP – we have to see Julie in the MORNING!
Panel 2: Excited SCHWARTZ handing pleasantly surprised MIKE a script, art pages on desk in front of him. NEAL stands back, beaming with pride.
JULIE: Looks good, young man.
JULIE-2: HERE – draw this script by the FIFTEENTH! You’ve earned it!
Panel 3: Outside building, NEAL clapping MIKE on the back.
MIKE: How can I ever REPAY you?
NEAL: Don’t forget it was YOUR art, I just helped it!
NEAL: As for PAYMENT, don’t worry, someday I’ll CALL you!
Panel 4: Large panel. MIKE and two artist friends, holding portfolios, on deck of STATEN ISLAND FERRY, middle of night, moon rising behind the city.
CAPTION: And that’s how I got my FIRST BREAK!
CAPTION-2: Sure enough, TEN MONTHS LATER, I got a CALL…
CAPTION-3: So at TWO A.M. I’m on the FERRY coming into town with my buddies…
PAGE SIX:
Panel 1: Large panel. Replica of Page 4, panel 5, with different artists, including MIKE. End FLASHBACK.
CAPTION: And I join the “RUSTY CLUNKERS” for the first time!
Panel 2: Back to present day in the diner. SAM has perked up and is fascinated by MIKE’S story.
MIKE: In fact, I’ve JUST COME from the LATEST overnight “rusty clunkers” gig –
Panel 3: MIKE grandly gesturing to himself, echoing an earlier pose of NEAL.
MIKE: -- only now I lead them!
MIKE: And that’s one secret of becoming a pro –
Panel 3: MIKE starting to leave, half turning away from SAM.
MIKE: We all help EACH OTHER!
TITLE: THE END
FOOTNOTE BELOW ART: Check out the GRAPHIC ARTISTS GUILD and its PRICING AND ETHICAL GUIDELINES book: WWW.GAG.ORG
NOTE: All words in CAPS are BOLD
PAGE ONE
Panel 1: Mid-distance shot of the Diner. Very early morning.
TITLE: TALES OF THE TERMINAL DINER
CAPTION: Dawn’s early light…
Panel 2: CU of SAM at diner counter, totally glum & disheveled; he’s been up all night, propping his head up in his hand.
SAM: What’s it take to be a comics pro?
SPLASH PANEL: Pull back to MIKE, middle-aged guy, skinny, thinning grey hair tied back in a ponytail, glasses, carrying an art portfolio. MIKE is standing next to SAM, gesturing like a tv used car salesman. SAM doesn’t know what to do, MIKE’S appearance is more than he can comprehend.
MIKE: Actually, young man, there’s ONE WAY you might consider!
MIKE-2: Try joining…
TITLE [MIKE-3]: THE RUSTY CLUNKER GANG!
CREDITS: Story:
Art: RON FONTES
PAGE TWO:
Panel 1: Two shot of SAM and MIKE. SAM has caught up, he’s now very surprised.
SAM: Huh!?
MIKE: Once I was just like you…
Panel 2: Start FLASHBACK. 20-yr old MIKE trudging through city sidewalk slush, carrying a beat-up art portfolio, chilled to the bone. He’s got a full head of long hair. No glasses.
CAPTION: I’d come from California to break into the business…
CAPTION: It was tough…
Panel 3: MIKE walking past a wall full of award plaques [“Best Artist”, “Lucca Prize”, etc].
CAPTION: Somehow I got into see NEAL FRANKLIN at his famous studio…
Panel 4: Young [mid-20’s] energetic NEAL ADAMS clone, confidently smacking MIKE’S comic book art pages with the back of his hand. MIKE looks on expectantly. We don’t see much behind NEAL, except maybe an art table. It’s important to reveal the studio setting slowly.
CAPTION: How had someone so YOUNG won so many AWARDS?
NEAL: You got a shot, kid. C’mon, I’ll take you over to see JULIE…
Panel 5: Office of JULIUS SCHWARTZ. 50 years old. White shirt and tie, no coat. He’s seated behind desk, scowling at the artwork in his hand. Confident NEAL is standing in front of him, hands clasped behind his back. Nervous MIKE cringes behind NEAL.
NEAL: Some STUFF, huh?
JULIE: Not bad – but he has no EXPERIENCE!
PAGE THREE:
Panel 1: NEAL keeps one hand behind his back, gestures at artwork with other hand, palm up. MIKE is surprised. JULIE still scowling.
NEAL: Tell ya what – give this kid a job –
NEAL-2: -- AND I’LL INK IT!
JULIE: Well, that’ll make your FANS happy--!
Panel 2: CU of JULIE sternly handing over a script.
JULIE: All right, HERE – but it has to be drawn ON TIME!
Panel 3: MIKE and NEAL leaving JULIE’S office. SAM is very puzzled; NEAL leans over conspiratorially, continued confident.
MIKE [whisper]: How can you DO this? You’re drawing both BATMAN and X-MEN this month!
NEAL [whisper]: Shhh!
Panel 4: Outside building. MIKE looks like he’s just been handed a golden egg, but he isn’t sure yet what it is. NEAL adopts professorial attitude.
NEAL: Mike, you just bring me those pages two days before the deadline!
NEAL-2: This is your chance – don’t let me down!
Panel 5: Small silhouette of city, with sun rising behind buildings.
CAPTION: I busted my butt for a WEEK on those pages, but it took LONGER than I wanted…
Panel 6: Very tired MIKE entering NEAL’S studio. We see a little more than we did the first time. NEAL’S art station faces a window; there are two vacant art stations on either side of him. NEAL beckons with his hand, neutral expression.
MIKE: Here they ARE – I’m sorry – I know they’re due TOMORROW!
NEAL: Don’t worry about THAT – c’mon, SHOW me!
PAGE FOUR:
Panel 1: NEAL seated, pointing at art.
NEAL: The STORYTELLING here is WEAK – you’ll need to RE-DO this scene –
Panel 2: NEAL fiercely sketching on a vellum overlay.
NEAL: You should pull in CLOSER here –
NEAL-2: Drop this unnecessary BACKGROUND –
NEAL-3: And get this face more like – THIS!
Panel 3: NEAL with arm around MIKE, pointing him into a small supply closet that’s been converted into an art station.
NEAL: Here, you can work on those changes NOW, while I get the INKING started.
MIKE: Okay – but --!
Panel 4: MIKE coming out of the converted closet, holding an art page, totally shocked.
MIKE: All right, Neal, I’ve finished –
MIKE: HOLY COW!
Panel 5: Large panel. The studio space we saw on the previous page is now totally packed with artists. All three art stations have an artist inking pages on them and there are more on the floor, inking on portable art boards. NEAL gestures expansively.
NEAL: That’s right – this is your FIRST TIME!
NEAL-2: Meet the RUSTY CLUNKERS! We’re all inking your story TOGETHER!
NEAL-3: I handle the FACES – DICK and LARRY do the MAIN FIGURES – AL and RALPH do the BACKGROUNDS!
PAGE FIVE:
Panel 1: CU of NEAL, winking.
NEAL: Now you get some SLEEP – we have to see Julie in the MORNING!
Panel 2: Excited SCHWARTZ handing pleasantly surprised MIKE a script, art pages on desk in front of him. NEAL stands back, beaming with pride.
JULIE: Looks good, young man.
JULIE-2: HERE – draw this script by the FIFTEENTH! You’ve earned it!
Panel 3: Outside building, NEAL clapping MIKE on the back.
MIKE: How can I ever REPAY you?
NEAL: Don’t forget it was YOUR art, I just helped it!
NEAL: As for PAYMENT, don’t worry, someday I’ll CALL you!
Panel 4: Large panel. MIKE and two artist friends, holding portfolios, on deck of STATEN ISLAND FERRY, middle of night, moon rising behind the city.
CAPTION: And that’s how I got my FIRST BREAK!
CAPTION-2: Sure enough, TEN MONTHS LATER, I got a CALL…
CAPTION-3: So at TWO A.M. I’m on the FERRY coming into town with my buddies…
PAGE SIX:
Panel 1: Large panel. Replica of Page 4, panel 5, with different artists, including MIKE. End FLASHBACK.
CAPTION: And I join the “RUSTY CLUNKERS” for the first time!
Panel 2: Back to present day in the diner. SAM has perked up and is fascinated by MIKE’S story.
MIKE: In fact, I’ve JUST COME from the LATEST overnight “rusty clunkers” gig –
Panel 3: MIKE grandly gesturing to himself, echoing an earlier pose of NEAL.
MIKE: -- only now I lead them!
MIKE: And that’s one secret of becoming a pro –
Panel 3: MIKE starting to leave, half turning away from SAM.
MIKE: We all help EACH OTHER!
TITLE: THE END
FOOTNOTE BELOW ART: Check out the GRAPHIC ARTISTS GUILD and its PRICING AND ETHICAL GUIDELINES book: WWW.GAG.ORG
# posted by Mike Friedrich @ 5:40 PM 
