Digital Graphic Narrative Planning

Use this booklet to help structure your planning and collate your planning documents.

Considerations:

There are lots of things to consider in this project. Fill out each section in detail to show you have thought about each one. You should imagine that this is a live project, so considerations like cost, quantity and codes of practice must be thought about in that context rather than just as a college project.

Costs:

To access the computers at college, I will be required to pay for transport so that I can get to college each day. Each ticket (these are used for the bus to college and the bus home) costs around £2.50. Therefore, the total amount of money that I will be required to pay for the following weeks of production will be around £40.00. Because I have always paid for bus tickets to get to and from college, this shouldn’t be considered a major issue in regard to financial considerations. During production, I will also be utilizing locations such as the countryside surrounding the college for my project. A camera will be required to capture images of my own which I can edit on Adobe Photoshop. Because I already have a camera that is in good condition, I will not need to pay for one to use.

Available resources:

I will be using the computers around college to work on my project. Adobe Photoshop CS6 is available on all college computers; the program is easily accessible and this can be considered advantageous because I will find that I can access Photoshop at any time I desire, even to go back and make alterations to my work if I am not satisfied with its visual quality. Although computers around college are accessible, problems can still arise in regard to the areas around college being full. This could make it difficult to access my own work outside of

lessons. Also, each computer around college allows only a limited amount of time for every user e.g. 90 minutes. This can be considered a disadvantage because I would be limited in regard to how much time I will have to make adjustments or further progress with my work. The college also offers DSLR cameras and tripods that can be used to take pictures of people that I can draw over on Photoshop. I also have a camera of my own that can be used to capture locations outside of college. The cameras supplied by college are easily accessible, just as long as I ask for permission to use them and am able to return them safely to the media office. This resource can be considered beneficial, not only due to accessibility, but also due to the fact that the cameras are free. Another available resource that can be considered highly useful for production is the internet; this is useful because I can obtain images to draw over (as long as they depict real-life individuals or locations rather than cartoon images). The internet at college is free and easy to access; it offers a wide range of options in regard to the type of image I can copy onto Adobe Photoshop and draw over. The advantage of this resource is that it reduces the amount of time I will spend taking photos using a camera, because I will be able to simply copy and paste images from Google into Photoshop (the images could consist of people, objects such as alarm clocks, locations etc.)

Also, although Adobe Photoshop is accessible within college, I am unable to access the program at home, therefore production will be limited to college only and I will not be able to make adjustments to my work after college or during the weekend.

Quantity:

My children’s book will be taking the form of a comic; the story will be represented primarily through many different images, each of which depict locations which contrast greatly to each other e.g. the countryside, streets and the all-encompassing bleak landscape surrounding the village where the story is set. My story will not feature an opening line such as ‘Once upon a time’. It will be told solely through the speech of the characters, necessitating the use of speech bubbles (as well as thought bubbles to represent the emotions of the main character). The passing of time will be implied through use of text that appears on the top of each page e.g. 7:00 AM in one frame and 8:30 AM in the next. This could be considered an effective technique to use in regard to suggesting how long the main character is away from home. Each scene will be represented in multiple panels i.e. individual frames that consist of single illustrations depicting a frozen moment. The panels will be positioned closely together so that the reader can easily identify the order of events that take place. To convey the speech of the characters, I will be adding spatial containers that are related to a

character using a tail element; text will appear within this container that is also referred to as a ‘balloon’. These are often utilized in comic books to represent speech. I will also be using techniques that appear in cartoons, most notably the ‘Ball of Violence’ which represents a character getting beaten up. These are conventions of comic books that I will be reflecting in my production. Using existing conventions such as these could enhance the quality of my product and ensure that it mirrors existing styles that are found in comic books.

It is very likely that a children’s book of this type will be featured in a Special or Limited Edition Print Run; in this case, my product would not become a mainstream i.e. well-known product like existing titles e.g. the Gruffalo which are hugely popular and sell many prints. My product might be restricted in the number of copies produced; therefore it wouldn’t be very popular and may also be considered a ‘niche’ product. The reason for this is because the budget is fairly low and the audience might be considered small due to the decreased popularity.

Audience and Target Market:

My product will most likely appeal to males aged 5-11 years. The content of my book isn’t too disturbing or violent; the scenes in which the main character is neglected and beaten up are represented in a comedic manner and the use of the ‘Ball of Violence’ would result in the violence only being implied. There is one scene in which the violence is shown fully; it represents the main character being hit over the head with a cane multiple times after unintentionally insulting an elderly man. Prior to this, the elderly man tripped over and is shown falling flat onto his face (no injuries are shown). This would most likely evoke humour. However, the concept of isolation could be quite upsetting for more sensitive readers. The reason why my book would appeal to the aforementioned age group is because the main character is also within the same age range and therefore the reader can easily relate to him. The book also represents the troublesome nature of the character and has a moral behind it; the moral is that there are always consequences for bad behaviour and this applies mainly to children who are still learning to mature. My book will appeal to males because, speaking from a stereotypical viewpoint, the themes of action and violence tend to attract males more than females who might prefer themes such as romance in a children’s book. The theme of romance is not present in my story whatsoever, however there is some focus on family bonding.

My story could appeal to the ‘Achiever’ Psychographic because it refers to individuality; the main character

has an attitude that clearly distinguishes him from everyone else in his home village; he is therefore ‘unique’ in some way. Individuality also refers to a separate existence; this strongly relates to the story’s setting. The village where the story takes place is situated in the middle of a barren landscape that has no apparent sign of life anywhere. The village is therefore isolated and also very different in comparison to the surrounding landscape. In essence, the village stands out from everything else. This reflects the characteristics of Achievers; they desire to be the best they can be and want people to notice them. My product would also appeal to those living within a specific geographical location e.g. the countryside/rural areas because the story is set in an isolated village with a small population. Therefore, the audience is more likely to be able to relate to the setting as well as the portrayal of everyday life within the story, primarily because they live in a similar area.

My book will also reflect some of the conventions of the action genre, including multiple shots e.g. close-ups, extreme long shots, medium shots which would provide more for the customer to interact with. Fans of the action genre (e.g. in films or books) could be attracted by my product due to the themes of action that are present e.g. violence, as well as styles and conventions of the genre of action.

Quality Factors:

I have had multiple opportunities to utilize Adobe Photoshop for specific topics that have been covered on both the Level 3 and Level 2 Media Courses. These topics include the creation of magazine covers, double-page spreads and contents pages, as well as DVD covers and pixelated video games. I have also had the opportunity to enhance the visual quality of photographs through use of specific tools e.g. Hue and Saturation and Levels. During these topics, I have gained a variety of different skills on the editing program which can be easily utilized to create visually intriguing and almost professional-looking cartoon images in this project. Therefore, I am quite confident whilst working on Photoshop and I will be able to employ a wide range of techniques e.g. rotoscope, Filters and alteration of Levels that will most likely enhance the way my book looks upon completion. Having skills like these can be considered beneficial for the course of production, because I am unlikely to struggle on the program and therefore production shouldn’t be too time-consuming. In addition to this, I am also a good time-keeper i.e. I manage my time really well. I always arrive at college before the expected time i.e. when lessons start. I always turn up to lessons on time and any problems in regard to transport are rare. This could benefit my production because it means that I can utilize entire sessions rather than arriving late. In the latter case, there would be less time to complete production and I would therefore be

less likely to meet the deadline without rushing anything.

Another skill that could benefit production is the ability to work for long hours. In the past, I have been able to work for long, unsociable hours after college (i.e. night shifts) and still be able to complete coursework to the best of my ability and hand it on time. The ability to work for long hours could benefit production even further, mainly due to the decreased chances of becoming stressed or tired. Things like stress could severely hinder the process of production, as well as the way the final product looks upon being completed.

Codes of Practice:

Sometimes, a publisher might require the author to make alterations to their work as ‘a condition of publication’.

Time: ‘If an author fails to deliver a completed manuscript according to the contract or within the contracted period, the publisher may be entitled to a refund of advances already paid on account’. In other words, the contract between the writer and the publishing company will be cancelled, and thus the work will never be published. This can happen if the author fails to submit their work to the company before a set deadline. Based on this, it is important that I am able to complete the production of my work to a good standard within the time frame I have been provided with. I understand that if my work appears to be rushed in any way (most likely due to the stress of not been able to get it finished on time), it could get rejected by a publishing company. Therefore, it is very important that I am able to meet the deadline of production; this will ensure that my work will not be rejected following its completion.

Standard and Quality: The work must be produced ‘in accordance with the publishing proposal and brief, and the terms of the contract.’ This implies that the overall appearance of my book upon its completion will determine the likelihood of it being published successfully. To ensure that my work is visually pleasing to the eye of the customer, it must be produced with ‘proper care and good faith’; to accomplish this I will employ specific conventions that are found in comic books and ensure that I take my time with production. Utilizing my own skills on Adobe Photoshop, I should find it fairly straightforward to draw over real-life images (either taken from Google or captured myself) with shapes, and warp these shapes so as to create an accurate impression of limbs, facial expressions etc. within my characters. With this option, I could also be able to imply movement and even emotion; the latter could be accomplished by drawing white circles on the eyeball of each character;

this technique would do well to imply that the character is a living person. All of this could increase the chances of my work reflecting almost professional standards; the work could therefore be suitable for publication.

Defamation and Illegality: Another aspect to consider is the suitability of the work, as well as whether or not its content could harm the reputation of others i.e. decrease one’s confidence or deter others from associating with a specific ethnic group. I should ensure that my work does not communicate anything that could be considered slanderous i.e. abusive, disparaging or untrue in regard to a religion, age group or race. I am aware that things like this could have a negative impact on my work; for example, sales of it could be banned or it could not get published at all due to being hugely damaging to certain individuals. Although the content of my book is supposed to evoke humour, there is always a chance that it could insult someone who belongs to a specific group e.g. race, religion or age group. To ensure no one is offended in this way, I should be careful of the content I include in my book.

I am also aware that if the content of my book is highly disturbing or focuses strongly on things like violence and neglect; representing them in a positive light and thus encouraging young individuals that these are okay, it could fall foul of the Obscene Publications Act. My book does contain violence, however this is only implied through the ‘Ball of Violence’ and there are no gory images whatsoever. If I represent the violence in a sadistic way i.e. with adult characters taking pleasure out of beating up a young boy, then my work could fall foul of the OBA. To ensure this doesn’t happen, I should be careful of how I represent the violence as well as the justification of it (the young boy unintentionally insults everyone he comes across during his travels, sometimes infuriating people to the point where they attack him).

Regulation:

It is important to bear in mind that my work will be submitted to a regulatory body to ensure that it will not harm or offend young children in any way e.g. due to disturbing content. I understand that if my work discriminates anyone who falls into any of the 9 protected characteristics (age, gender, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, pregnancy etc.), it could get rejected because the work would greatly insult people, even if this is unintentional. To ensure that my book does not fall foul of the Obscene Publications Act or violates the Equality Act (which was established in 2010), I should comply with the requirements of the Equality Act which

clearly states that one must not victimize, reference or negatively compare a group that is protected by the 9 Characteristics. To ensure that I comply with the Act, I will be careful with how I represent specific groups of people in my book; even if my story evokes humour, it can still be quite offensive to others and this can draw attention from regulatory bodies. I should also take extreme care when depicting things like violence in a comedic way because it could be seen as sadistic; this could not only make it unsuitable for young children, but also unsuitable for publication. To ensure that the depiction is not disturbing in any way, I will be sure not to provide things like graphic injury (through the shape and Hue/Saturation tools) or a strong focus on pain (through facial expressions of characters).

Copyright:

Copyright is defined as a legal means of protecting the work of authors who have the right to publish content they have created themselves; unless granted permission by the author, the work cannot be used or published by anyone else. Publishing or distributing a product that bears many similarities to an existing one, especially products which have an extended copyright i.e. they will expire after many years, risks prosecution. For example, the cartoon character ‘Mickey Mouse’ which was created by the Walt Disney Company, has been protected by copyright for almost nine decades (having been created in 1928) and will not expire until the year 2024. This means that the character will have been protected by copyright law for 96 years (almost a century). There are many well-known characters as well as this one that could even by protected by copyright law for longer. However, my book will not be using an existing character at all. It is based off the tale ‘Stupid’s Cries’ which was found on Worldoftales.com. The original author is unknown and the copyright has expired for this tale, therefore anyone can use, publish or distribute it however they please. The main reason for this is because the tale is in the public domain i.e. anyone can use it. Therefore, copyright should not be too much of a concern in regard to the production of my book.

Ethical Issues:

I should consider the fact that my book will have a great deal of focus on things like cultural sensitivity, decency and attitude in regard to a group of people who have a that is culture seemingly different from that of society in real-life. The characters that appear in my story live in an isolated village that lies in the middle of a barren wasteland, with no apparent sign of life anywhere else. The villagers are somewhat represented as unsophisticated and hostile people, thus there is a lack of morality within the story. I understand that this could

create a negative impression of people, especially those who live in rural areas which are considered isolated places (in the countryside). Also, there is a reference to religion in my story (one of the scenes shows the main character entering a church and causing a disruption), however there is no negative impression created in this scene. To ensure that I don’t create themes that could mislead or offend others based on their own lifestyle or attitudes, I should be mindful of how my book implies a lack of responsibility, as well as a lack of morality, in regard to its location and characters, because some people could assume that the village (which acts as the sole setting of the story) is similar to where they live and that the story creates a false representation regarding the attitudes of those living within rural areas.

Resources:A successful project relies on good planning. Considering all the resources you will need for a project and then assessing which you already have and which you need will help ensure you are ready to start your project.

If there is a resource you don’t currently have, then consider how you are going to get it before you go in to production.

Resource:Do you have it? What do you need to do to get it?

Adobe Photoshop CS6  Yes

To access Adobe Photoshop, I will need to ensure that a computer at college is available for use (if I am working outside of sessions) because I am unable to access the editing program at home due to the fact that I do not have Photoshop. If no computers are available, the best plan of action to take is to work on Photoshop at a later time when a computer is available.

The Internet (Google Images) Yes

To ensure that I can easily obtain real-life images from Google, I should make sure that I can access the internet at college. All that is required to access the internet freely is a log-in. I understand that the internet might not be available due to problems regarding connection, therefore I should bear in mind that I might not be able to obtain images from the internet if it isn’t working properly. I will also be searching for images which could provide inspiration as to how a comic book looks.

Stupid’s Cries (tale for inspiration) YesThis tale can be found on the Internet; all that I will be required to do to access the tale is access the website ‘WorldofTales’.

DSLR Camera (to take photos) No

To obtain a DSLR camera, I should head to the Media Office and ask to borrow one to use. I will be sure to handle the equipment I am given with care and bring it back to the Office when I am finished with it. I understand that the equipment is expensive and that I will be responsible for anything that happens to it.

Paper (to sketch ideas) Yes

I already have paper which I can use to sketch images (these sketches could help me with my production), however the paper that I have is lined paper, therefore drawing ideas might be slightly complicated compared to drawing on plain paper.

Production Schedule:

Delivering your project on time is vital. In order to do this, you need a solid plan of action. This will help you divide up your work in to manageable chunks to be tackled one at a time. It will also allow you to plan which tasks need to be done in which order. It will also allow you to track your progress each day. If you are falling behind, you will need to modify the way you work. If you work faster than expected, you can clearly see what the next steps you need to take are.

Each session is a half day of college.

Session 1: (Tuesday)

I will spend the first few sessions creating locations that will appear in my book. The first location that I will create is the bedroom for the main character; I will be providing focus on windows, ornaments etc. to make the image look visually pleasing.

In this session, I will also spend time creating an alarm clock that is present in the character’s bedroom. I will be adding specific details to the alarm clock e.g. outlines, colour and screen.

Using a real-life image from Google, I will be creating the kitchen in the main character’s house. There will be focus on specific aspects e.g. worktops, cupboards, cutlery and the table the character sits at.

If there is enough time, I will obtain an image from Google depicting the bottom of a well. Using Photoshop, I will draw over its aspects e.g. the brickwork and the bottom of the well using shapes such as squares, circles etc. which I will then warp so that they establish a similar pattern as shown within the original image.Session 2: (Wednesday Morning)After capturing images of my own within the previous afternoon (in which there are no lessons), I will begin creating shots of the protagonist e.g. close-ups and full-body shots, as well as arm and leg movements and facial expressions.

In this session, I will also draw the teacher who appears within the story, providing detail on things like facial expression, arm movements and stance.

If there is enough time, I will be drawing over the image of the church I obtained the previous afternoon, using shapes such as triangles and squares (to create an almost accurate depiction of the structure of the façade of a church).

Another thing that I will try to do this session is create an impression of a door being kicked off its hinges by one of the characters. This will require a great deal of patience.

Session 3: (Wednesday Afternoon)

On Wednesday afternoon, I will draw the main character’s house, the path leading away from it, and some trees. The main character will be shown walking down this path leading away from his house.

To draw the interior of the church, I will obtain an image from Google and use the Shape Tool to draw over specific aspects e.g. windows, benches and walls. I should bear in mind that this could require great care and patience if I hope to create a professional-looking image.

I will also attempt to draw people (about 12 maximum) who will be shown standing up whilst singing hymns within the church. To save time, I will use the ‘Duplicate Layer’ option and alter the specific features of each person in the church to make them all look different to each other.

If there is enough time, I will finish drawing the bottom of the well (for a later scene) and complete the scene involving the bedroom door getting kicked off its hinges.

Session 4: (Thursday Afternoon)In this session, I will attempt to draw over two different images obtained from Google; each depicting a referee and a police officer. This will enable me to create two different characters who will appear in different scenes.Using one of my own photos (captured on Tuesday afternoon), I will draw a field using the shape tool and create the impression of a relay race track by drawing white lines. I will then add the following characters: the referee and the individual racers to ensure that this scene is close to completion.

Two different shots are required for the aforementioned scene; I will therefore be required to draw two different images of a field with the race track. I will also attempt to draw an angry facial expression for the referee.

If I have time, I will try to create different arm movements for the racers and the referee respectively to create the impression that they have stopped the race before it has even started.

Session 5: (Friday Morning)

In this session, I will be capturing photos of my own using a DSLR camera. Through this, I hope to draw over multiple images of myself so as to create the main character. Specific shots will include the main character yawning, running or falling etc.

This morning, I will attempt to create the scene in the alleyway using images from Google, as well as images I have captured myself. I will be required to draw the main character, as well as the person sitting against the wall. I hope to sketch a detailed image depicting brickwork to imply the presence of the wall that the latter character is leaning against, as well as different arm movements and facial expressions for the main character.

If I have time in this session, I will try to draw the ‘Ball of Violence’ which takes the form of a cloud of dust. This will require a great deal of practice.In this session, I will also draw the main character’s father and add the main character to the images of the bedroom, the kitchen and the path leading away from his house; this will allow me to create an impression of the character sitting up in bed, eating at the table and leaving his house in the first scene for the book.

Session 6: (Tuesday Morning – Week 2)At the start of the second week, I will draw the wasteland that surrounds the village, using the Shape

Tool, Filter Gallery and multiple adjustment tools e.g. Hue/Saturation and Vibrance to create a strong impression of a dark and foreboding landscape under a stormy sky. I could also draw the main character walking across the landscape, as well as cowering in fear (in a later scene).

In this session, I will be drawing over multiple shots of the main character, including yawning, walking, falling over etc. I will then add these images to those depicting the character’s house, the relay race and the church scene. This should help to establish the fact that the character is actually present in these locations.

To create the impression of the character’s father kicking his bedroom door open due to his son sleeping in, I will add the images of the character’s father and the door to the image of the bedroom. Prior to this, it would be a good idea to add more detail to the image of the bedroom, including the character’s blanket and the rest of the wall where the bedroom door would be.

Using another image I captured at college, I will try to draw the wall of the school building that the character leans against. If there is enough time, I will also draw the scene in which the character backs away in fright across the grass, thus completing the scene.

Session 7: (Wednesday Morning – Week 2)

This morning, I will complete the scene involving the alleyway and the character’s second confrontation, using additional shots of the main character.

I will also spend time creating close-up shots of the main character to show his emotional reactions e.g. shock.

I will also be completing the scene in which the character causes a disruption within the church. To show the anger of the pastor at the church, I will create a close-up image of the character.

In this session, I will also be drawing a second shot of the well (a high-angle shot focusing on the characters peering down the structure).

Session 8: (Wednesday Afternoon – Week 2)To create an impression of a village, I will spend some time drawing over an image of a house from the internet; I will then duplicate this newly-created cartoon image multiple times and alter each image slightly to create the impression of different houses.

Using an image taken the previous week, I will employ a similar technique involving the creation of one cartoon image and the duplication of it so that I can create a shot of the main character stood in the middle of the road.

In order to establish a sense of safety within my story, I will be drawing the road leading out of the village, with focus on the wasteland beyond it. I will also add the images of the main character, his father and his mother.If there is enough time, I will try to complete the scene involving the character venturing out into the wasteland and being returned back to the village.

Session 9: (Thursday Afternoon)

In this session, I will draw two more characters (two villagers) and complete the scene involving the main character getting beaten by the elderly man.

I will also finish the scene in which the main character disrupts the relay race, after which the main character is thrown off the field by the racers. I will also draw multiple images depicting the family ganging up on the main character and beating him up (shown through the Ball of Violence) until being stopped by the police officer).

This session, I will try to complete two additional scenes in which the main character insults a villager.

Both scenes will require different arm and leg movements, as well as facial expressions. I will also attempt to draw a basket of fruits that is carried by one of the villagers.

With all the scenes completed, I will begin working on incorporating different shots (by ‘cropping’ images I have created in Photoshop previously) into multiple pages for the comic book. There will be eight panels on each page, each containing a different image as well as speech bubbles, text and effects.

Session 10: (Friday Morning)

Throughout this session, I will be providing text to each scene within my comic book (based on the script I created). I understand that this will require a great deal of patience and proper care.

If I have time, I will try to enhance the visual quality of the scenes by providing different shapes (such as stars to imply the main character being dazed after getting beaten up).

Health and safety:Your health and safety and that of those around you is very important. Just like in industry, an accident could prevent you from working. Whilst we don’t work in a highly dangerous environment, there are still risks. Some are short term, such as trips and spillages whilst others, such as long term damage to eyesight or back problems, may affect you much later in life.

Consider the risks based on the activities you will be undertaking during the project. Explain how you could prevent them from happening.

Ensure you reference appropriate pieces of legislation, design to protect people at work.

Health and Safety Issue How can you prevent it?

Vehicles or transport on roads

I desire to capture images of specific structures e.g. a church and rows of houses just outside of York; I am aware of the dangers when it comes to crossing the road as well as walking close to the road. There is a chance that I could get hit by a car and sustain an injury whilst taking pictures. To ensure that I am safe whilst going out to take pictures of my own, I will pay attention to any oncoming traffic and be careful of where I am walking.

Spillage (on computers)

If I end up spilling water onto the keyboard for the Mac, I could not only severely damage the computer, but also put myself at risk due to a chance of getting electrocuted. To ensure this doesn’t happen, I should avoid placing a drink on the table close to the Mac and keep drinks in my bag. If I need a drink of water, I will sit far back from the computer to reduce the chances of spilling it over the keyboard.

Trip Hazards

Although the working environment is fairly safe, there is always a chance that I could trip over a wire, chair leg etc. and injure myself. I will prevent this by paying attention to objects on the floor that could pose a hazard and be careful of where I walk whilst entering or leaving the classroom.

Fatigue  Whilst continuously working on Adobe Photoshop, I can easily become tired, thus losing concentration. The main things that can cause fatigue are working for long hours without taking any breaks, staring at an unstable image

within Photoshop etc. To prevent fatigue, it would be ideal to take regular breaks, ensure that plenty of leg room is available and adjust the chair I am sitting in to reduce discomfort.

Long-term Effects on Eyesight

 Staring at a computer screen for extended periods of time can have adverse effects on eyesight, especially in later life. My visual performance could be reduced, thus causing me to lose focus. To ensure that I can reduce the effects on my eyesight e.g. migraines, I should make sure that the lighting within the room is sufficient enough and check that the computer screen is working properly i.e. not flickering at all. It would also be a good idea to take breaks or stop working for a short time if my eyes become strained.