Before the WGA strike and before AI took the world by storm, I had been preparing Four Stories to pitch. Those preparations took too long and I missed the chance to pitch them before the events of Spring 2023 shook the foundations of creativity. Not only did the film and TV industry shut down but the power was turned on at the AI Art factory and changed everything.
My views on the Four Stories have evolved as I have wandered into this AI Carnival of Delights. Some of it has been a distraction but AI shall allow me to diversify as an artist.
Illustrated Novels are not Graphic Novels, but it is a subtle segue for me and for those who might read my future work. The technology is there for me to make as many Graphic Novels as I like at my own speed. However, presenting House Fly as an Illustrated Novel should, because I am an AI Art novice, look better with fewer images. Full stop.
Don't get me wrong, I have every intention of creating at least one Graphic Novel. House Fly is part of that universe so the Illustrated Novel will be the ideal segue. But that story is also one of the Four Stories that I had been hoping to pitch as a mini-series. But a Graphic Novel for one of my old favorites is perfect. That is the first bit of change brought on by the Strike and AI's arrival. It is not the only bit, though.
As of August 2023, I am open to doing an AI Art test run with House Fly and One of the Four Stories. I expect I will learn a lot and have a different view of the way forward once I am done. That's just how it is when you open yourself up to change. Having been a screenwriting grinder where I cranked out dozens of original spec scripts over twenty years, I am poised to embrace the change and use new technology to my advantage. Not only does it take a broom to the cobwebs but AI has the potential to realistically help me deliver my creative vision to everyone.
This is intoxicating. Is it illusory of me to believe that I might be able to learn enough about AI to do all of this myself? Probably. But why not dream BIG? I used to dream even bigger. As we all know, life tends to have its say in how things will actually go no matter how realistic or fanciful our dreams may be.
What all do I imagine that I can do? House Fly as an Illustrated Novel is on the realistic side of things. I will learn about maintaining style and see how it might be possible to extrapolate what I learn into creating a Graphic Novel. Both of these are in the realistic scope and both should be achievable.
However, when I think beyond that the rest of the Four Stories I have been preparing to pitch may also be affected. Another One of those Four Stories has already been written as a novel series as well as a mini-series. I can see it also becoming another Illustrated Novel, but maybe not a Graphic Novel. I don't know. Once I finish my first Graphic Novel, I will have to see how I want to proceed. I may have other AI-assisted interests at that time.
Speaking of which, moving images (be they animated or lifelike) are looking better and better by the week. I have to seriously consider the fact that I may be able to create animated and lifelike movies within months. That would be the biggest game-changer. I may well be satisfied with Graphic Novels, but I have made short films before and have dreamt of having numerous movies and TV shows available to everyone for a very long time. So, the temptation to learn how to work with AI to create movies and TV shows is very strong.
But, first things first. An Illustrated version of House Fly will take a lot of work and I don't want to get too far ahead of myself. I mean I can imagine doing all Four Stories as both Graphic Novels as well as either Animated or Lifelike Series. But these are all BIG projects and would take a huge amount of time to do this with one let alone all four.
My views on the Four Stories have evolved as I have wandered into this AI Carnival of Delights. Some of it has been a distraction but AI shall allow me to diversify as an artist.
Illustrated Novels are not Graphic Novels, but it is a subtle segue for me and for those who might read my future work. The technology is there for me to make as many Graphic Novels as I like at my own speed. However, presenting House Fly as an Illustrated Novel should, because I am an AI Art novice, look better with fewer images. Full stop.
Don't get me wrong, I have every intention of creating at least one Graphic Novel. House Fly is part of that universe so the Illustrated Novel will be the ideal segue. But that story is also one of the Four Stories that I had been hoping to pitch as a mini-series. But a Graphic Novel for one of my old favorites is perfect. That is the first bit of change brought on by the Strike and AI's arrival. It is not the only bit, though.
As of August 2023, I am open to doing an AI Art test run with House Fly and One of the Four Stories. I expect I will learn a lot and have a different view of the way forward once I am done. That's just how it is when you open yourself up to change. Having been a screenwriting grinder where I cranked out dozens of original spec scripts over twenty years, I am poised to embrace the change and use new technology to my advantage. Not only does it take a broom to the cobwebs but AI has the potential to realistically help me deliver my creative vision to everyone.
This is intoxicating. Is it illusory of me to believe that I might be able to learn enough about AI to do all of this myself? Probably. But why not dream BIG? I used to dream even bigger. As we all know, life tends to have its say in how things will actually go no matter how realistic or fanciful our dreams may be.
What all do I imagine that I can do? House Fly as an Illustrated Novel is on the realistic side of things. I will learn about maintaining style and see how it might be possible to extrapolate what I learn into creating a Graphic Novel. Both of these are in the realistic scope and both should be achievable.
However, when I think beyond that the rest of the Four Stories I have been preparing to pitch may also be affected. Another One of those Four Stories has already been written as a novel series as well as a mini-series. I can see it also becoming another Illustrated Novel, but maybe not a Graphic Novel. I don't know. Once I finish my first Graphic Novel, I will have to see how I want to proceed. I may have other AI-assisted interests at that time.
Speaking of which, moving images (be they animated or lifelike) are looking better and better by the week. I have to seriously consider the fact that I may be able to create animated and lifelike movies within months. That would be the biggest game-changer. I may well be satisfied with Graphic Novels, but I have made short films before and have dreamt of having numerous movies and TV shows available to everyone for a very long time. So, the temptation to learn how to work with AI to create movies and TV shows is very strong.
But, first things first. An Illustrated version of House Fly will take a lot of work and I don't want to get too far ahead of myself. I mean I can imagine doing all Four Stories as both Graphic Novels as well as either Animated or Lifelike Series. But these are all BIG projects and would take a huge amount of time to do this with one let alone all four.
If I am to venture into animation &/or lifelike AI video generation it will be with a short scene from a pilot episode. Much like with prioritizing an Illustrated Novel over a Graphic Novel, I will need to start small before even thinking I can do a full pilot episode or movie.
The key is to keep learning. If I reach a point where I am satisfied with a certain medium, say creating graphic novels, then I may settle into cranking those out. We'll see. Exciting times!
