Building a world

You know, a lot of people love stories. Whether it be listening to them or telling them, people have loved them since the dawn of time (I wonder if dinosaurs told stories and if they did, what were they? Hopefully, they consisted of more than what they just ate.) and will continue to love them until the universe destabilizes and dies out (makes you wonder what the LAST story ever told would be). But I am reminded time and time again that so many people that love stories really don't know what goes into making a story. Hell, I used to be one of them!

One of the properties that will be featured in our upcoming books (Imaginos Declassified and Imaginos Plus), Requiem, is one that I created with Mark and HOLY CRAP has it gone through changes. When I first started working on it, it was a VERY different book and the thing that most people don't tell you is that when you create a story, you have to create certain rules for the world that story takes place in. If it takes place in a world exactly like ours, then you have to adhere to the rules that govern the world we live in. If it takes place in a world completely different from ours, then you have to create a complete set of rules for it and STICK TO THEM!! It took me a while to learn that one, but it was a necessary and worthwhile lesson that we all have to learn and stick to.

I mean, seriously, think about it. Even the craziest off-the-wall story you've seen/read has rules to its world and, if it's a good one, then they stuck to them. Don't get me wrong, it's still fun as hell, creating new worlds and characters to populate it, but what's the point unless it makes sense, right? It's a long process but ultimately, it'll improve your story immensely.

This message was brought to you by the ramblings of a storyteller seeking to assist his brood. Thank you and enjoy your day.

-Joe

Just Another Day at the Workshop

Hey Everyone,

When you have four creative minds working together it is natural to have a difference of opinions.  What really makes Imaginos Workshop unique is the way we resolve these differences.  To give our visitors and fans an idea of how we go about this process I have posted a couple of video links that most accurately represent what it’s like, for example:

This video clip in the link provided below is from the amazingly hilarious series called ‘Boondocks’ created by Aaron McGruder.  What you’re going to see is how I generally apply my diplomatic skills towards resolving any creative differences.  I would like to thank the creators of ‘Boondocks’ and the good people at YouTube for helping me express this.

This next video clip in the link below is from the classic and ever funny 'Looney Tunes' courtesy of Warner Bros.  I would also like to thank Mel Blanc for his amazing voice, much respect.  What you’re going to see is how Mark usually responds whenever Joe, Jon or I approach him with an idea that was lazy or not well thought out.  I must warn you…the images are both disturbing as they are emotionally crippling to those on the receiving end.

Yep it’s never a dull moment at Imaginos Workshop where the laughter is as plenty as the spiritual and mental trauma...Frankly we wouldn’t have it any other way.  I would once again like to thank ‘Boondocks’ and ‘Looney Tunes’ for providing the comedic genius that has inspired many generations along with the good people of Cartoon Network and Warner Bros. 

This could also explain why we dropped the ‘mental well being’ coverage from the Imaginos Workshop health plan. 

Nik

Creating a Super Hero

Hey Everyone,

Creating a Super Hero was one of the best parts about working on Candy Coated outside of working with Mark, Joe and Jon (contractually obligated to say that last part).  Creating ‘Siege’ was a lot of fun because Mark placed no limits on the actual design of him and was adamant about including my input on the actual look of the character.  That was an incredible process because all that I had to do was get within a certain range and Mark could pick up on what I wanted for the character.  One particular part that I have to give full props to Mark for is the design of Siege’s mask because originally I had some trouble picking the exact look for it. 

He comes up to me one day and proposes this skull look for the mask, literally drawing the sketch in front of me.  I took one look at it and instantly liked it.  One of the other fun parts was talking to Joe and Jon about the character.  Since Siege was the last to join Candy Coated I wanted to create a character type that didn’t exist in the group yet.  The team had plenty of crazy and funny characters but they did not have the ‘straight man’ as Joe and Jon put it.  While Siege can be funny it was in a very dry and sardonic way which I felt complemented the rest of the characters well.

I have to admit that it was very gratifying to create the back story, powers and skills for Siege.  Inventing childhood memories, personal experiences really helped me understand the character and then Mark completed the puzzle by sketching the character which you can see on earlier entries.  Once Siege was created it was fun to actually use the character in gaming sessions because to me it gave him life. Interacting with the amazing characters that Jon (Kid Voltage), Joe (Magna Red) and those created by our friends helped add a very necessary human element to the experience because now these weren’t the actions of static characters, but the insanity of real people.  It also helps that I got to play Siege as a badass while still dishing out and taking the comic hijinks of the group.  With Mark creating the skeleton of a story he let us all fill in the details with our actions which made working on Candy Coated one of the most rewarding and unique experiences of my life. 

All that I can say is that once the Sourcebook and Sampler are released you’ll get a chance to see what I’m talking about.   Stay tuned for further updates as the crazy train keeps rolling. 

Nik

Color Mockups

It seems like everything looks so much better in color lol. So I have been doing color compositions for the characters that are going to be in the source book. Here is an idea I had for the colors of one of the characters.

Let me know what you think.

 

I think I just may be satisfied now!!

Another Entry almost done for the Source Book

Hey How goes it. I am almost done with yet another entry. I think I will be fiddling with this one for a while longer. Still not satisfied. Hell I may redraw it all together.

This is how we do it.

Hey guys whats up. Nik shot the video while we working yesterday. I like it a lot because it sheds some light on our process, at least as it relates to how we are attacking the source book art.

Wrapping up the workday.

The last few days have been very productive. We are slowly pulling together the logistics for the sourcebook and the comic. Also we are adding somethings to one of our film ideas. Also I am taking a video and audio editing class that is already off too the races. lol. So in honor of all this work, we are going to show you the faces of two of the crew at the end of the workday at our favorite spot. Bloomfield Township Public Library.

Hey look, it's Joe and Nik!!!

Ok Here is the first pencilled entry for the Sourcebook. It's everyones favorite gun-toting super commando SIEGE. The funny thing I think I forgot to mention is the selling point Candy Coated, the superhero comedy that Siege is a character in, is that it all comes from actual RPG gameplay. I do a lot of work for Palladium Books and I get a lot of games from them. One of those games is Heroes Unlimited. We have a big gaming group with a huge sense of humor so we actually played tested these characters to laugh after laugh. I cannot wait for you guys to see the 8 page sample comic we are doing for this. You will laugh or you are not human lol.

Imaginos Declassified Sneak Peak and Progress Report

Hey guys, I just wanted to give you guys a sneak peak of what we are going for with the Imaginos Sourcebook entitled Imaginos Declassified!! This is an entry for the SIEGE, one of the characters from our comic " dramedy" Candy Coated. This isn't the final but its pretty close to how the mockup is going to look. We have almost all of the character entries done but we still have a gang of work to do on the comic stuff and on some movie related work. We will keep you posted as to whats going on and what more needs to be done.

A step among many

So... here we are. With the momentum that we here at Imaginos have been experiencing lately, we decided that we wanted to let our fans/supporters take the ride along with us. 

I remember when we first started working together; at first, it was just me and Mark for a long time and then we were joined by Nik and Jon as our projects started shifting around in terms of priority. It was a bit of going from there because, like any group, we needed to get used to working together and that's always one of the hardest parts to any endeavors, especially one like Imaginos. But we stuck it out, we kept working and now we have you fine people following our exploits, so that tells me we must be doing something right.

Anybody that knows me knows how much of a comic book guy I am, so it's easy for me t think of this in those terms. It was the first team-up, which had it's bumps and it's hilarious moments, but then came the moment when the team-up became the team and that first mission. The mission in truth is ongoing and the hilarious moments are never going to stop (heaven help us when we get our studio), but we're all glad to have y'all along for the ride. Trust me, it's gonna be an interesting one at the very least.

Joe

Adult Swim's - Black Dynamite Anime

I am sorry for the NC-17 stuff but as an animator I have to say that
this piece deserves recognition. This is the type of balls to the wall content
that is going to get folks noticed. Very funny,very creative and a testament to
what can be done when you aren't counting on the system. There should be more
creative work like this. Salude Cartoon Network, Salude.

Persistance and Focus

I have noticed over the last year and a half that Imaginos has been more in a holding pattern than actually moving as it should be. However, I feel that that phase has now past. It seems that our momentum is through the roof right now. Through persistence and clear and realistic planning we are on the cusp of getting our comic book sampler out by early November, our Sourcebook guide to the characters of the Imaginos Megaverse is moving along nicely and will be on sale for Detroit Fanfare in September.

We have been working on a film script with a Hollywood guy we know and it seems that the review has gotten a thumbs up, so now we can proceed to write the 1st draft of the script. I have to admit that I had my doubts concerning if we would ever buckle down and make the screenplay thing happen. However, I have been pleasantly surprise by the enthusiasm that the entire crew has been showing the work lately.

Here's to keeping on keeping on.

D

Hello

Hey,

                I echo Mark’s sentiments regarding the creative bankruptcy that’s pervasive in Hollywood.  One of the company mottos at Imaginos Workshop is that “We want to make cool shit.”  As for me I’m a professional cynic, my hobby is sarcasm and I’m a Taurus.  Just kidding about the Taurus thing, I don’t really follow that gypsy talk.   Now that we’re acquainted I want to thank you for visiting our site and please stay tuned for updates on our upcoming projects.

                That’s about all I have to say right now…If you’re still reading this then we’re already into the awkward phase of our relationship and I gotta be honest I figured it’d take at least two more visits to the site before that happened.  Congratulations on upping the curve for everyone J

Nick

The First Pitch

Hey Whats up.
I am glad to be the first to post on this blog. I have been working as a professional illustrator for a number of years as well as doing I.T.. Like a ton of other people I bet you are tired as I am of being taken for granted by the suits and beancounters who preside over the entertainment industry. Thus myself, Nik, Joe and John decided to form Imaginos Workshop to remedy this situation.

Currently, we have a script in the works with a possible look by a major player. We are also working on some comic pitches that we think will be hot. This blog is our home on the internet and there is going to be a lot of information coming here.

So buckle up and prepare for the ride.