BMP (New Wave) NEWS ARCHIVE
BMP Directors and dual Australian Society of Authors (ASA) Comics/Graphic Novels Portfolio holders, Jozef Szekeres and Julie Ditrich, recently spoke about the portfolio at three events. In this case the word “portfolio” (not to be confused with an artist’s portfolio!) is a special interest and advocacy group that looks after the professional interests of comics creators. The three events in question were Supanova, the pop culture expo, held in Sydney, NSW; the Australian Cartoonists’ Association Stanley Awards Conference held in Wollongong, NSW; as well as the NSW Writers’ Centre 9th Australian Publishers and Authors Bookshow held in Leichhardt, NSW.
Supanova Saturday was spent walking up and down Artists’ Alley talking to exhibitors about their professional needs. This was followed by an official creators-only presentation where we summarised the aims of the portfolio, discussed future activities and answered questions from the floor. About 40 people attended. A big hearty thanks to Daniel Zachariou and Tim McEwen, Supanova organisers, for greenlighting and sponsoring the event.
The ACA event had a slightly different orientation, insofar as we spent a considerable amount of time covering issues such as graphic novel publishing trends in the US and Australia. About 50 people attended. One participant – a French cartoonist – proudly announced that he had a collection of 800 graphic novels at home and he could not understand why there was still some resistance to the comics medium in the English speaking world. Go the Europeans!
Julie was lucky enough to meet up with Paul Zanetti, whose work she has admired for the last 20+ years and who any red-blooded woman would have a major crush on (he’s married everyone and adores his wife so keep your panting to yourselves!). Paul Zanetti is an Australian editorial cartoonist who has published both nationally and internationally, and who was a regular guest on the Mike Walsh Show and the Midday Show through the late 80s early 90s. He looked like a surfer dude then and he still looks like a surfer dude now (although his hair has darkened). But don’t let the stereotype fool you. His work is still intelligent, remarkably astute and absolutely hilarious. Meeting Paul was one more item Julie crossed off her ‘101+ Things to Do Before You Die’ List.
We also had the opportunity to talk with the Chryssy Tintner, CEO of VISCOPY, who provided some useful information for artists on how they could protect their rights and cited several case studies where VISCOPY pursued legal action on behalf of its members. The VISCOPY website tells us that:
VISCOPY licences the copyright in artistic work and pays the artist or copyright owner a royalty for the reproduction.
VISCOPY represents its artist members for the full range of rights, reproduction, publication and communication, thereby providing copyright users with authorised access to thousands of artistic works for commercial, non-commercial and educational purposes.
A smaller group sat in on the NSW Writers’ Centre talk, but nevertheless we received some interesting questions from the floor. We will be presenting a weekend workshop in October 2008 on “How to Create Comics and Graphic Novels”. More information will be posted as it becomes available.
(21 November 2007)
To learn more about the portfolio activities and/or to participate in a discussion with other creators go to the PulpFaction ASA Comics/Graphic Novels Portfolio forum.
(21 November 2007)
The November 2007 issue of the NSW Writers’ Centre monthly magazine NewsWrite contains an article by BMP Director, Julie Ditrich, entitled The Emergence of Comics and Graphic Novels in Mainstream Publishing. The article discusses publishing trends and the newfound acceptance of comics by the literary publishing community. Here is an excerpt about the trials and tribulations that Colleen Doran and Neil Gaiman (amongst others) faced in a cultural landscape far removed from what it is today:
The transition into mainstream publishing was a gradual one and the road there was difficult for many comics stalwarts. Recent inductee into the Lulu Awards Women Cartoonist’s Hall of Fame, US artist and writer Colleen Doran (A Distant Soil, Orbiter, Book of Lost Souls) remembers her experience when she attended the US Book Expo during the late 80s as a particularly humiliating one. She and other comics professionals were given an “unenthusiastic reception” and were treated like “scum of the earth” by many of the attendees. In fact, the Marvel Comics stand was so deserted as to make it resemble a veritable “ghost town”. Doran notes that at that time in American comics history “to announce that you worked in comics was a sign of mental retardation”—an experience that was echoed in the UK by comics writer and novelist Neil Gaiman (Sandman, Coraline, Stardust) according to his confessions at his sell-out 2006 Sydney Writers’ Festival sessions.
We must never forget the pioneers who paved the way for us!
(21 November 2007)
As part of the ASA operational plan, dual portfolio holders and BMP Directors Jozef Szekeres and Julie Ditrich, met with ASA staff members Emma Dallas and Tim Sinclair on Tuesday 13 November to plan activities for the next twelve months. Here is a summary of what was discussed:
Contracts/Rates – The timeline for getting Minimum Approved Contracts and the Recommended Rates sheet is the end of June 2008.
The Society of Book Illustrators (SOBI)Style File – SOBI opens up its next submission process in early 2008. The administrators are looking forward to including comics artists’ work up on the web. The Style File is often used by Australian publishers as a one stop shop in the quest for artists.
Inaugural Portfolio Members' Meeting – We will wait until we have more members until we hold a formal meeting. We anticipate that this will be about a year down the track.
Survey of Portfolio Members' Needs – Our target is 50 members, at which time we will send out a survey to determine what Australian comics professionals’ needs are and how the portfolio can respond.
Mentorship Scheme – the ASA Mentorship Scheme will be looking to include comics artists and writers in the 2008 round. The application process begins in Jan/Feb 2008 and decisions are made by the end of April. Mentors are paid for their mentoring work.
Other matters on the agenda were deferred to the next meeting.
(21 November 2007)
Do not be alarmed oh astute and mighty readers! BMP will be experimenting on the website over the next couple of weeks and changing the design features (slightly in some cases and overtly in others). You may find inconsistencies in the overall style because we will be doing it piece meal and are too impatient to wait until we have completed the entire job and then upload the changes all at once. Instant gratification – that’s what we’re about. But all will come together in the end.
(21 November 2007)
The Australian Society of Authors (ASA) [incorporating the Society of Book Illustrators (SOBI)] invites Australian comics creators to attend a special comics industry meeting, sponsored by Supanova, to discuss the newly formed ASA Comics/Graphic Novels Portfolio.
What is the ASA Comics/Graphic Novels Portfolio?
The portfolio is a special interest group that aims to provide industry support to Australian artists and writers currently working in the comics medium and, in particular, the graphic novel format. The major objectives of this new portfolio will be to:
(1) Protect and promote the professional interests of comics creators (both writers and artists);
(2) Form a professional community of active members who operate in this specialist discipline; and
(3) Liaise and cross-pollinate ideas with like-minded Australian and overseas organisations whose focus is on the promotion of the comics art form.
Who should attend this comics industry meeting?
Established and beginning writers, artists, pencillers, inkers, colourists and letterers working in the comics medium and its various formats (comics periodicals, graphic novels, zines, webcomics etc).
Why is it important to attend?
This is an opportunity to set the agenda for a new advocacy group looking after the professional interests and the rights of comics creators.
Who are the presenters?
The dual portfolio holders are Black Mermaid Productions' directors, Julie Ditrich (representing writers) and Jozef Szekeres (representing artists).
When is it being held?
Date: Saturday 13 October 2007
Time: 6.00-6.45pm
Venue: Adult Swim Seminars Room, The Dome, Sydney Olympic Park (ground floor near entrance)
Special Instructions; Please note that the Expo shuts at 6.00pm and special arrangements have been made to accommodate this meeting. Creators wishing to attend are requested to go directly to the Adult Swim Seminars Room and then to leave the venue promptly after the meeting has finished. No exhibitors will be allowed back into the Hall after 6.00pm.
(8 October 2007)
In his capacity as the ASA Comics/Graphic Novels Portfolio holder, Jozef Szekeres recently spent a day at the National Young Writers’ Festival in Newcastle, New South Wales, which was held on 27 September to 1 October 2007. Jozef attended several sessions on the art and craft of comics, and the impact of graphic novels and zines in the Australian publishing marketplace. He became the unofficial moderator of the “One thousand pictures paint a million words” session with Nicki Greenberg (writer and illustrator of The Great Gatsby graphic novel adaptation) and Shaun Tan (whose book The Arrival, recently won the 2007 New South Wales Premier’s Awards Book of the Year and which has also been short-listed for the 2007 Children’s Book Council Picture Book of the Year). As Jozef reports, “Shaun’s and Nicki’s contribution to Australian graphic novel publishing is significant. They come from entirely different backgrounds – indie comics and children’s picture books – yet have converged at a time in Australian publishing history where the literary community is embracing the graphic novel format”. Jozef also attended the, “Taking eye-candy from strangers: the NYWF comics exhibition” which he described as “encouraging to see time and space given to a vast array of comics styles accessible to all interests”. The Australian Society of Authors also had a stand at the Zine and Independent Press Fair on the Sunday where representatives provided information to exhibitors and public alike on membership benefits, as well as the newly formed Comics/Graphic Novels Portfolio.
(1 October 2007)
The Australian Society of Authors (ASA) [incorporating the Society of Book Illustrators (SOBI)] has recently formed a Comics/Graphic Novels Portfolio. Brainchild of BMP Directors and dual portfolio holders, Julie Ditrich (who will represent comics writers) and Jozef Szekeres (who will represent comics artists), this portfolio aims to provide industry support to Australian artists and writers currently working in the comics medium and, in particular, the graphic novel format. The major objective of this new portfolio will be to:
1. Protect and promote the professional interests of comics creators (both writers and artists);
2. Form a professional community of active members who operate in this specialist discipline;
3. Liaise and cross-pollinate ideas with like-minded Australian and overseas organisations whose focus is on the promotion of the comics art form.
Proposed activities for this portfolio include: developing minimum page rates for comics artists and writers; preparing a paper (for print and/or digital formats) on Writing and Illustrating for the Comics/Graphic Novels Market; preparing minimum terms agreements for both creator-owner properties and work-for-hire properties in both the comics press and in mainstream publishing; creating a section of the SOBI Style File that features comics artists; preparing a contact list of ASA/SOBI members who are specialised comics writers and artists professionals to be featured on the ASA website and in print/digital format to be made available to mainstream publishers searching for talent; establishing a forum on industry matters to be run by a specialist moderator through the ASA website; writing regular columns in the ASA newsletter which would feature any portfolio initiatives; establishing a printing cooperative for comics creators/self-publishers to secure economic printing deals; professional development opportunities such as a mentorship scheme, masterclasses and workshops on the craft and business of comics/graphic novels; and other activities as they arise in response to the needs of the members.
Direct benefits for comics creators wishing to be members will be: access to the ASA Contract Advisory Service for clause by clause contract assessments; intervention and/or mediation in legal disputes arising with publishers; professional development opportunities such as mentorships; and promotion of their talents to the publishing community.
If you would like further information or would like to join the ASA/SOBI, please contact Emma Dallas, Membership Officer, on dallas@asauthors.org.
(30 September 2007)
BMP Directors, Jozef Szekeres and Julie Ditrich, hosted a “Comics/Graphic Novels Showcase” on Sunday 28 August 2006 at a private home-farm in the Macarthur area of Sydney. The objective of the gathering was to introduce Australian mainstream publishers to Australian comics creators. Guests included literary agent and publishing consultant Brian Cook of the Manuscript Appraisal Agency, award-winning publisher and speaker Mark Macleod, artist Tim McEwen, writer/artist Queenie Chan, writer/artist Matt Godden, artist Matt Elder, artist/bookseller/comics publishing consultant W Chew Chan, and comics publishers Ben and Karen Howard. The brunch opened with a discourse on the creative process, the business of comics publishing, recent publishing and bookselling trends, and the long overdue recognition and acknowledgement of the versatility of the comics medium by mainstream publishing professionals. The guests shared information on their own publishing journeys in a frank and open way, although proceedings were occasionally punctuated by the insistent bleats of a hand-reared, two-month lamb wanting his bottle! The brunch menu (for the foodies amongst you) included berry bircher muesli, scrambled eggs, gourmet chicken sausages, potato and vegetable terrine with saffron vinaigrette, ricotta pancakes with bananas & honeycomb crunch butter (the outstanding hit of the morning!), dried peach & apricot tarts and marzipan and pear pastries. The event ran well into the late afternoon and was deemed successful by the participants, and BMP hopes to start an annual tradition of this nature—we-thinks a BMP Buffet or a BMP Barbeque (we do so love our alliteration!) are the next point of order for 2008 and beyond. Photos of the event will be posted in the next couple of weeks (we’re still wrangling photographers for their pics.)
(30 September 2007)
The premier Supanova pop culture expo will be held on 12 to 14 October 2007 at the Dome, Sydney Olympic Park, Sydney. Amongst the special guests will be comics luminary Stan Lee (co-creator of Spider-Man, the X-Men, the Fantastic Four, Daredevil and other amazing comics characters) live from LA on Saturday 12 October at 9am. The Supanova organisers have also kindly scheduled a special after-hours seminar for comics creators at which BMP Directors, Jozef Szekeres and Julie Ditrich, will speaking about the new ASA Comics/Graphic Novels Portfolio. Details TBA.
(30 September 2007)
The world’s oldest cartoonist organisation (founded in 1924), the Australian Cartoonists’ Association, formally known as the Australian Black and White Artists’ Club, is holding its 23rd Annual Stanley Awards Conference on 2 to 4 November 2007 at Wollongong, Australia. Yours truly, BMP Directors, Jozef Szekeres and Julie Ditrich, will be discussing the new ASA Comics/Graphic Novels Portfolio initiative on Saturday 3 November. Click here for program details.
(30 September 2007)
BMP Directors, Jozef Szekeres and Julie Ditrich, recently returned from a whirlwind trip to the USA where they attended the New York ComicCon and the ICv2 Graphic Novel Conference.
The ICv2 Conference provided information about the astounding growth of graphic novels in the book trade ($330 million in 2006!), the new Tokyo Pop rating system, the growth of writer brands in comics such as Frank Miller and Neil Gaiman, as well as the enthusiastic cross-over of novelists such as Stephen King and Dean Koontz to the comics medium and the graphic novel format. We also met and talked to “finger on the comics pulse” Publisher’s Weekly Contributing Editor Heidi MacDonald; the distinguished and knowledgeable Milton Griepp, President of ICv2; and artist George O’Connor who recently released Journey into Mohawk Country, a graphic novel adaptation of the 1634 diary of H M van den Bogart, a Dutch trader who set out to explore the Iroquois country where the Mohawk tribe controlled the most important trade routes in the region.
The ComicCon attracted 75,000 visitors in this its second year. Our aim was to visit every stand in every aisle and we succeeded mostly on the trade day (Friday) and the last few hours of the Sunday. Over the course of convention Jozef connected with his sculpture soul mate Clayburn Moore of CS Moore Studios and the perpetually smiling Erik Larsen on the Image stand. Jozef was also hailed with great delight by a previous Disney compatriot Amy Mebberson who has just released her first manga novel Divalicious through Tokyo Pop. We talked at length to Mark Smylie who is doing wonderful things at his publishing company Archaia Studios Press and who shared the common experience with Jozef of having been published through Sirius Comics in the late 1990s.
We LOVED the graphic novels being released through First Second, the new graphic novel publisher on the block – great formats, witty stories (check out The Professor’s Daughter by Joann Sfar & Emmanuel Guibert), great art! Julie bought six books. Met with the friendly and open Bill Schanes, Vice President of Purchasing at Diamond Comic Distributors; the rushed-off-his-feet-by-fans Kevin B Eastman of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles fame who also happens to be the President of Heavy Metal magazine; the exuberant Jim Salicrup from Papercutz and his publishing colleague Terry Nantier from NBM Publishing; the warm and kind Sheila Keena, Executive Editor of Scholastic, as well as David Saylor, Vice President and Creative Director of Scholastic who talked graphic novels directions with us.
Jozef connected with Dave Cortes who had sculpted the Spiderman reticulated action figure that takes pride of place in both Julie’s and Jozef’s studios and has served as a three dimensional art reference to countless Australian illustrators. Met up with J Michael Straczynski (JMS), an Eisner, Hugo and Saturn award-winning American writer/producer of television (Babylon 5), novels, short stories, and comics at his and Colleen Doran’s signing booth (check out their latest Marvel comic series and graphic novel Lost Souls). JMS kindly gave us tickets to front row seats at Lewis Black’s Red, White and Screwed: NY Edition comedy show for which we were exceedingly grateful. (A great night of sophisticated, polished, aggressive, masculine humour and political and social commentary that commanded and demanded a standing ovation. A rare experience for two Sydneysiders!).
Julie spent an entire afternoon on Colleen Doran’s stand selling Colleen’s graphic novels and artwork while Colleen sat on three back-to-back panel sessions. Met some wonderful people including Maggie Thompson, Senior Editor of the Comic Buyer’s Guide to whom we owe a debt going back many years when she was prepared to help us out on a particularly difficult legal case involving comics. Also met Robert Greenberger, previous editor at DC Comics. A special “hi” goes out to Michael and his lovely daughters Olivia & Sophie (who were lucky to get a great photo opportunity with Hayden Panettiere of Heroes “save the cheerleader save the world” fame).
JMS in the meantime was signing at the table while his legion of fans patiently assembled down the aisle and around the corner. At one stage a fan wheeled up a trolley with a thigh high pile of comics to be signed, which he started to plonk in front of JMS. Julie has never seen so many mouths drop at the audacity of the act – the fans just looked at JMS in disbelief bordering on anger at the thought that they would have to wait at least an hour or more for these comics to be signed. JMS calmly responded that he would sign six and that the fellow would need to return to the back of the line to get the next six signed and so on and so on. There was an audible sigh of relief from the people in the queue. The young man got his initial books signed and then disappeared.
On the last day we talked to mainstream publishers from Penguin, Random House, Bantam Dell, Rosen Publishing who are either bridging to original comics/graphic novels and adaptations of existing literary works, or who already carry an extensive and established line of educational graphic novels. We liked the new range of books at Penny Farthing Press. Last call of the day was connecting with Mike Richardson of Dark Horse Comics who remembered his first OzCon in Sydney with great affection.
Coming from a land of surf and sun we were a little apprehensive about a NY winter, especially since we abhor the cold. The conditions turned out to be pleasant – the cityscape was punctuated with clumps of snow, steam from the grates, honking taxis, lost scarves and forlorn fallen single gloves, grey misty figures in the streets, and on one night, a gentle snowfall which was beautiful to behold. We turned our face up like children. We made snowballs from fresh snow on car windscreens. But … there was one night where we were assaulted by an icy wind that froze the skin on our faces and set our teeth chattering. It was bitter. We hid in our overcoats and walked about three blocks before taking shelter for about 45 minutes in a warm McDonalds. We managed to waylay a cab driver to take us back to the hotel.
Couldn’t help but also relate to NYC through a Seinfeld filter: we had soup from a neighbourhood deli (though not from the “soup nazi”); ate pretzels (“these pretzels are making me thirsty!”) and Julie got sick breaking her five year no illness record (Colloidal Minerals are the key!) although it didn’t rival the Seinfeld 14 year old no vomit record!
Post Con Julie took off to Montclair, New Jersey for a few days to visit friends (please note that the Montclair Art Museum is currently mounting a major exhibition of superhero comic art) and then to Vegas for fun. Jozef in the meantime visited Philadelphia on doll business and then returned to New York for a personal tour of McFarlane Toys and McFarlane Design Group, which turned out to be one of Jozef’s highlights of his NYC trip. Thank you to Steven J Hamady making it all happen.
(19 July 2007)
A special thanks goes out from BMP to the DC super editors who gave us their time at the DC Comics offices and extended great kindness towards us: Mark Chiarello (Editorial Art Director), Jim Fletcher (Senior Art Director – DC Direct), Joan Hilty (Editor), and Jonathan Vankin (Editor). An extra huge thanks goes to Scott Nybakken (Editor – Collected Editions) who was our patient tour guide we stopped to ooh and aah each poster, action figure and standee we came across, especially the floor with all the Mad people. (Just to clue you in, Julie last visited NYC in 1976 and bought 10 Mad books for the boys in her class at school as gifts. Needless to say, she loved the books so much that the boys got nothing on her return. She still has those books.) We feel very privileged and are exceedingly grateful (a major listing for the gratitude journal!) Hooray!
(19 July 2007)
It’s all happening! BMP Director, Julie Ditrich has just completed the first draft of the first issue script of the Tilaweed & Hyfus story and Jozef Szekeres has just completed the thumbnails for the same. Jozef is about to start pencilling and painting, while Julie will continue with the second issue script. BMP is not skimping on story or visuals! We repeat – BMP is not skimping on story or visuals! The first issue runs to 40 pages, and we anticipate that each of the following issues will be equally as substantial.
This project is important to us and we hope you will love it as much as we do. What distinguishes it from our previous work is that it is completely set underwater and all of the Elf~Fin characters are endowed with tails. It is effectively an underwater love story – and we declare that it has been a love affair for us also to reconnect with some of our characters again and to discover new one. They are passionate! They are playful! They are hurting! They are now well and truly alive and getting ready to meet their readers!
It is too early to make announcements as to who will be publishing this property as no contracts have been signed yet, but it is our mission to get it out to you ASAP. We need to have two completed issues (painted and lettered) before the work can be solicited through Diamond Distributors. We hope to have those finished by the end of the year and have a first issue release at the end of this year or early in 2008.
Just remember – this is a new world with new cultures, new traditions and new rules!
(19 July 2007)
We know we have been notoriously slow at updating our website pages in the past, but things are about to change. We have just received the first training session in a series that will enable us to independently upload news, graphics and other information. Our previous model was to meet with our webmasters quarterly or tri-annually and do our uploads over the course of a day. Now, both of us will be doing that from our home computers (Macs if anyone wants to know. We LOVE our Macs!). Jozef will focus on graphics and Julie will focus on text. We’re actively working on reviving and refreshing the Black Mermaid website. To prepare for the imminent release of Elf~Fin: Tilaweed & Hyfus we will soon be adding new pages to the site, which include the BMP Photo Gallery, BMP Appearances and Events, BMP Webcams and Podcasts, and a number of special features including a mailing list and a search facility.
(19 July 2007)
A hearty welcome to our new webmaster, Quentin Hordern, who is training us and helping us upgrade our website and who lives just 10 minutes down the road from our studio! Hooray!
(19 July 2007)
We want to acknowledge and express our profound gratitude to previous webmasters, Graham Dombkins and Mark Wann, for their help in running our website since its inception in 1998/99. We’ve always had a lot of fun getting together, but now it’s time for them to focus on their grand passion – gaming – and who are we to prevent these all-conquering heroes from fulfilling their destiny. We’ll miss the lunches Mark and Graham, but we’ll see you soon.
(19 July 2007)
We thought you might like this one from [emagazine] Marketing Xplained.
A Professor at one of the IIMs was explaining marketing concepts to the students:
1. You see a gorgeous girl at a party. You go up to her and say: “I am very rich. Marry me!”
– That’s Direct Marketing.
2. You're at a party with a bunch of friends and see a gorgeous girl. One of your friends goes up to her and pointing at you says: “He’s very rich. Marry him.”
– That’s Advertising.
3. You see a gorgeous girl at a party. You go up to her and get her telephone number. The next day, you call and say: “Hi, I’m very rich. Marry me.”
– That's Telemarketing.
4. You're at a party and see gorgeous girl. You get up and straighten your tie, you walk up to her and pour her a drink, you open the door (of the car) for her, pick up her bag after she drops it, offer her ride and then say: “By the way, I'm rich. Will you marry me?”
– That’s Public Relations.
5. You're at a party and see gorgeous girl. She walks up to you and says: “You are very rich! Can you marry me?”
– That’s Brand Recognition.
6. You see a gorgeous girl at a party. You go up to her and say: “I am very rich. Marry me!”
She gives you a nice hard slap on your face.
– That’s Customer Feedback.
7. You see a gorgeous girl at a party. You go up to her and say: “I am very rich. Marry me!”
And she introduces you to her husband.
– That’s demand and supply gap.
8. You see a gorgeous girl at a party. You go up to her and before you say anything, another person comes up and tell her: “I’m rich. Will you marry me?” and she goes with him.
– That’s competition eating into your market share.
9. You see a gorgeous girl at a party. You go up to her and before you say: “I'm rich, marry me!” your wife arrives.
– That’s restriction for entering new markets.
(19 July 2007)
BMP directors, Jozef Szekeres and Julie Ditrich, will be attending the NY ComicCon, which is being held at the Jacob Javits Center in NYC from 23-25 February 2007. They will be hanging out with friend and comics artist and writer extraordinaire Colleen Doran of A Distant Soil fame who is a guest at the convention. They will also be attending a number of workshops, and speaking to publishers about work-for-hire opportunities, as well as their new project Elf~Fin: Tilaweed & Hyfus, which is ready to be placed and published after a lot of hard work. Any readers who want a sneak peak at the material are welcome to talk to us (we'll be popping in to see Colleen at her signing table several times a day which will be our central meeting point). While in New York, Julie will be knocking three things off her "101 List of Things To Do Before I Die" list:
Jozef will also be busy. As requested by several of his doll collecting
fans, Jozef will be bringing a number of Elizabet and Kotalin editions
for private sale during his time in New York. Anybody who is interested
in purchasing one can track Jozef down at Colleen Doran's signing table.
(4 February 2007)
While in New York, BMP directors Julie Ditrich and Jozef Szekeres, will be also be attending the ICv2 Graphic Novel Conference on 22 February 2007. The event focuses on "The New Trends Shaping Pop Culture", and the program includes panel sessions on: "Graphic Novels: Growth and Change", "Non-Fiction: The Real World of Graphic Storytelling", "Manga Ratings, Redactions, and Freedom of Speech", and "Graphic Novels, the next Three Years".
(4 February 2007)
Over the next few months, BMP will be making several changes to its website. These include: a new homepage, a search facility, a privacy policy, introduction of PayPal facilities to the merchandise page, a new mailing list sign-up section on the fan page, a recommended reading list of graphic novels and books that are beloved by BMP directors on the links page, Forum links on the link page, and more snippets about our upcoming projects on the properties page, which are lined up ready to be published one at a time over the next few years. We are grateful to the fans who email us with queries and feedback, and can assure you that our activities are now accelerating in a way that will hopefully translate into excitement for both BMP and readers alike!
(4 February 2007)
BMP director, Jozef Szekeres, is a free agent once more after leaving his role as illustrator at Aristocrat Technologies. Jozef is focussing on comics, graphic novels and commercial illustration on both work-for-hire projects and creator-owned properties. Jozef's latest commercial freelance work appears in Blue magazine (#66, December 2006) and an upcoming issue of DNA magazine.
(4 February 2007)
BMP director, Jozef Szekeres, was recently commissioned to paint the poster for the 2007 Sydney Mardi Gras poster, which features a group of exuberant and iconic lifesavers on a beach. The poster has been received with great enthusiasm by the gay and lesbian community, both in Australia and overseas. Check it out for yourself in the BMP Art Gallery Commercial Art page.
(4 February 2007)
What a fabulous fabulous event! During July 2006, BMP director, Julie Ditrich, flew from Sydney, Australia to Orlando, Florida to attend the three-day Mega Book Marketing University, which was pre-empted by the one-day "Write an Absolutely Irresistible Book in 90 Days or Less" workshop. The Mega event was attended by close to 1000 delegates from the US and overseas. The days were long and concentrated, but highly rewarding. They were filled with high energy high emotional impact education sessions, intense networking and friend-making (if there is such a word!), music and dancing, which quite simply left Julie's mind reeling at the potential marketing applications. The outstanding speakers that had most personal meaning to Julie were Jean Houston who explored the notion of personas and parallel universes in her "Tapping Your Creative Unconsciousness to Write a Book in a Remarkably Short Period of Time" session; Chicken Soup for the Soul author, conference organiser and impresario Mark Victor Hansen's "Your Future as a Publishing Entrepreneur"; Alex Mandossian's "The Virtual Book Tour" and Rick Frishman's "Guerrilla Publicity Secrets of the World's Richest Authors". This event is held annually in the USA, and I would advocate that anybody with serious publishing intentions, attend the 2007 Mega Book Marketing University in Los Angeles from 2 to 4 March 2007.
(1 September 2006)
BMP Director, Julie Ditrich, will be making a flying visit to Orlando, Florida from 14 to 16th July 2006 to attend the Mark Victor Hansen's Mega Book Marketing University. The event is "designed for any writer, author, publicist or publisher who wants to write, publish and sell more books". The speakers represent all facets of the publishing industry and include authors, agents, editors, publicists and marketing experts. One of the personal draw-cards for Julie is the appearance of Jean Houston, one of the world's most renowned experts in the development of human potential, whose book The Passion of Isis and Osiris: A Union of Two Souls (a transformative journey through the most soul-stirring love story in world mythology) was a definitive research source for Julie's first young adult novel Shadow of the Ba Ka. Julie is currently working as a fulltime freelance writer, editor and book project management consultant focusing on Mind Body Spirit content in fiction and non-fiction books and comics/graphic novels. She is attending the conference to update her book marketing skills, to learn from international market leaders and to create publishing and marketing opportunities for BMP's upcoming graphic novels, as well as her own personal and freelance writing projects.
(11 July 2006)
BMP has reached an out of court settlement with an Australian t-Shirt manufacturer that illegally reproduced the image of our black mermaid logo on some clothing. We were alerted to this breach of copyright by a colleague and his friend (a mutual mermaid lover and frequent visitor to the BMP website whom we had never met) who spotted the image on a t-shirt for sale at a local market. Both people instantly recognised the image as being that of our black mermaid logo, which we matched to the BMP Properties page hostess artwork on our website.
The BMP logo has been an identifiable part of our business brand for the last 15 years and has been affectionately embraced by many of our readers. In fact, in our professional publishing circles and networking groups we are known as "the black mermaids" or the "mermaid people". In accordance to this brand recognition we have never licensed or given permission to any person or organisation to reproduce our BMP business logo (in all her website hostess incarnations) for commercial or non-commercial use.
The Australian Copyright Council (ACC) Information Sheet (G28) Logos: legal protection states:
"Unauthorised use of a logo may not only infringe copyright but may also raise issues under other areas of law such as trademark rights, passing off laws and consumer protection laws."
It further states that:
"Making changes to a logo does not overcome infringement ... there is no rule in copyright law that permits reproduction of a logo if a percentage of it is changed, or if a certain number of alterations are made. If you can put the two logos side by side and identify important parts from the original that have been copied, it is likely that an important part of the original has been reproduced." To download a pdf of this information sheet and other relevant topics on your copyright rights or to purchase ACC publications go to: http://www.copyright.org.au/publications/infosheets.htm. For advice on copyright issues phone the ACC on: (02) 9318 1788 or visit the website on http://www.copyright.org.au.
If you believe your copyright has been infringed and you need to take legal action then contact Frankel Lawyers who handled the BMP case on (02) 9318 2900 or www.frankellawwyers.com.au.
We would also be very grateful if our BMP readers can keep us posted of any suspected unauthorised use of not only the BMP logo but any other artwork from our website. Please email us on: blackmermaid@blackmermaid.com.
(11 July 2006)
BMP Directors, Julie Ditrich and Jozef Szekeres, have nearly locked down the Tilaweed and Hyfus comics story. This fantasy romance serves as a prequel to a series of other Elf~Fin works. Readers will be introduced to the world of Elf~Threaal and its many lores, characters and locations in the next few years in this lush book. In the meantime, if you want to preview some of the new characters, please check out Eternal Spheres: Elf~Fin.
(30 April 2006)
BMP Director, Julie Ditrich, has had the first three of five ghostwritten biographies released through Sydney publisher This is My Story. The titles are: A Man of Quick Decision (2005), Against the Current (2005) and A Raspberry Nose and A Dimple in her Cheek (2004). These will be followed up in 2006 by Juleen and A Man Unto Himself. Julie has also been editing and acting as a publishing consultant for a new independent Mind Body Spirit publisher in Queensland, as well as completing a 10 page horror comic script The House of the Smiling Dead which is currently being illustrated by Sydney artist, Jennifer Ogilvie.
(30 April 2006)
US Comics extraordinaire Colleen Doran will be presenting a series of lectures at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C. in May 2006.
Topic: Capricious Comics
Dates: 7, 9, 10, 11, 13 & 14 May 2006
Times: 1.00pm & 2.30pm
Cost: Free
Location: Arthur M Sackler Gallery and Freer Gallery of Art, Sackler Ð Level 1, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. USA.
Content: In 1814 Hokusai coined the term manga in reference to whimsical pictures. Today, manga is a type of Japanese comics that blends Western and Japanese elements. Join artist-in-residence Colleen Doran, a writer and illustrator who has worked on Captain America, Wonder Woman, Book of Lost Souls and her own epic graphic novel story A Distant Soil as she discusses Hokusai's whimsical pictures and how they relate to contemporary manga.
For further information: www.smithsonian.org.
(30 April 2006)
Comics and fiction writer extraordinaire, Neil Gaiman of Sandman, Books of Magick, Coraline, MirrorMask fame will be speaking at the Sydney Writers Festival in May 2006. His sessions are as follows:
"In Conversation"
Date: Monday 22 May
Time, 6.30-8pm
Location: Sydney Town Hall, Main Auditorium, 483 George St, Sydney, Australia
Cost: $15
Bookings: 9250 1988
"Genre Writing"
Date: Tuesday 23 May
Time: 7-8.30pm
Location: Macquarie University, Department of English, Balaclava Road, North Ryde, Sydney Australia
Cost: Free
Bookings: 9850 8739
"Graphic Books"
Date: Thursday 25 May
Time: 5-6pm
Location: Sydney Theatre Company, Main Theatre, 22 Hickson Rd, Walsh Bay, Sydney, Australia
Cost: $10
Bookings: 9250 1988
(30 April 2006)
The Sydney based Comics Mentoring Group continues to flourish. Up to a dozen artists and writers in the core working group meet to fine-tune their works-in-progress and share ideas and techniques in this supportive environment. From May 2006, each meetings will include a 20-minute presentation on various aspects of comics craft. The meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month from 6.30pm. Venue: The Royal Exhibition Hotel, 86 Chalmers Street (cnr. Devonshire Street), Surry Hills (opposite Central Station). For further information email: jozef@blackmermaid.com or phone (02) 9606 4728 or log onto the Pulpfaction website Forums (Mentor/Mentee Get together in CBD Sydney)
(30 April 2006)
Black Mermaid Productions (BMP) is seeking artists for several original comics projects with a fantasy-adventure and a folklore/mythology orientation. Several publishing opportunities have been created in the USA after Julie Ditrich's recent visit to the San Diego ComicCon, and we are looking to match compatible artists to these projects. The creative works in question have been initiated by both BMP (under work-for-hire agreements with pre-existing character model sheets and pre-production artwork) and by Julie Ditrich (in which case the artist has the opportunity to create and design original artwork and to co-own the intellectual property). All kinds of art styles are encouraged, although artists will be selected on the basis of how their artwork complements and enhances the story.
Applicants can be new or established artists but must be able to demonstrate the following:
Animation background and/or a firm understanding of animation is preferred. Knowledge and experience in Adobe Photo Shop & Illustrator is also an advantage.
If you are interested, please send:
Please provide examples of established comics characters NOT original character designs. Do NOT send original artwork, as we will be keeping the work on file and the submissions will not be returned. Please include your address, phone, fax and email. We will initiate contact with any applicants we believe would be artistically compatible with these projects. Please send your submission to: Black Mermaid Productions, PO Box A172, Sydney South NSW 1235 Australia. For further information, email: blackmermaid@blackmermaid.com or phone on (02) 9606 4728.
(23 January 2005)
BMP director, Jozef Szekeres, will be attending the IDEX (International Doll Expo) at the Orlando Centroplex in Orlando, Florida, USA from Thursday 20 January to Monday 24 January 2005. He will be presenting his dolls Elizabet and Kotalin Bizelle to US and international retailers for the first time. The doll will be exhibited for dealer purchase and will be available to consumers through shops later in the year. An IDEX exhibition special-edition of twenty black-skinned Elizabet dolls (dressed in a white variant of 'Dangerous Discovery') will be on sale to the general public attending the trade show.
Jozef will then fly over to New Orleans, Louisiana for three days of sightseeing and to (maybe) commune with Ann Rice's vampires. From there he will travel to New York, New York where he will be guest of honour at a cocktail party hosted by FDQ (Fashion Doll Quarterly). Over a six-day period he will be meeting other doll and comics industry professionals before flying to Los Angeles, California. The final stopover on his US journey will be Anaheim to visit his American Mecca - Disneyland.
(23 January 2005)
BMP Director, Julie Ditrich, has had the first of three ghostwritten books released through Sydney publisher This is My Story. Entitled A Raspberry Nose and A Dimple in her Cheek, it will be followed up by Against the Current (February 2005) and A Reason, A Season or a Lifetime (March 2005). Julie is freelancing fulltime as a writer and editor across several mediums, and currently has another four books in various stages of completion, which will be published later this year.
(23 January 2005)
BMP director, Jozef Szekeres, has initiated a new Comics Mentoring Group for comics creators to workshop original comics scripts and artwork. Held in Sydney on the second Tuesday of each month, the objectives of the meetings are to provide creative problem solving in a friendly and supportive peer environment and to create publishing opportunities for participants. The first meeting was held on 14 December 2004 and the second meeting was held on 11 January 2005. There are currently six people in the core working group, and other Australian comics creators are invited to attend. The next meeting will be held on: Tuesday 8 February 2005 from 6.30pm. Venue: The Royal Exhibition Hotel, 86 Chalmers Street (cnr. Devonshire Street), Surry Hills (opposite Central Station). For further information email; jozef@blackmermaid.com or phone (02) 9606 4728.
(23 January 2005)
BMP Director, Julie Ditrich, travelled to the San Diego ComicCon for the first time in July 2004. She met up with her friend Kathy Benoit from Green Bay, Wisconsin for the duration of her ten-day stay in the US. They rented a red convertible in Los Angeles, California and made their way to San Diego from there. After the convention they headed off to Las Vegas, Nevada and then returned to Los Angeles for a series of adventures. Here is a diary excerpt from ComicCon.
Wednesday 21st July 2004
Drove from the Point Loma Youth Hostel where we were staying to the Old Town interchange. Travelled by trolley to the US/Mexican border for a quick scout around Tijuana. Street vendors plied us with jewellery, crafts, glassware and sombreros. Tripped down alleyways filled with artisans watching Mexican soap operas - some were sleazy and desperate, others were charming and delightful. In Tijuana 'Happy Hour' is every hour and you could stop for cocktails or beer any time of the day or night. Police officers no older than sixteen or seventeen, patrolled the streets. They were dressed in grey with gold teeth and guns. The overall feeling of Tijuana was one of business as usual in the midst of revelry and smiles.
A strolling minstrel serenaded us during a burrito, enchilada and margarita lunch before we returned to San Diego. Walked into the sumptuous Louis XVI French inspired Westgate Hotel where we hastily washed all the dust off ourselves in the ladies room. Met the perfectly colour coordinated and shiny clean Colleen Doran and her delightful mum Anita whose perfect clothes and makeup contrasted sharply to our rumpled attire. That was all forgotten when we saw the High Tea: mini sandwiches (shrimp and cucumber on white bread; sweet chestnut on brown; watercress and horseradish, smoked salmon and cream cheese); cranberry scones served with honey butter; a mixed berry and whipped cream parfait; marzipan and caramel petit fors; dark chocolate cups filled with strawberry cream; and rum truffles and fruit tarts.
Colleen and Anita invited us up to their rooms, which were large and lavish with fabulous views of the city, in complete contrast with our skinny, bright orange painted room in the hostel. Then we all departed in separate directions to the ComicCon Preview Night. Kathy and I stood for about 90 minutes in the pre-registered ticket holders' line, which was at least a mile long. The queue moved quickly and the administration was efficient. Had a preliminary peep at the convention - the scale was enormous. It may be second nature to the tried-and-true participants, but for the uninitiated like myself, it was awe-inspiring. The convention centre has somewhere in the vicinity of fifty aisles, fourteen workshop spaces and screening rooms, all being used at the same time. I'm determined to walk down every aisle and look at every single booth during the next few days! I'm greedy. I don't want to miss out on anything if I can help it.
Thursday 22nd July 2004
First official ComicCon day! Found Colleen and Anita Doran on the Aria Press stand and presented Colleen with Jozef's new red-headed Elizabet Bizelle doll, which she tenderly unwrapped from its box. Quickly proceeded upstairs to attend the first workshop in the 'Comic Book Law School 101' series with attorney Michael Lovitz. Also checked out the 'Vertigo: The Next X' presentation; 'From W.I.T.C.H. to Kylion: The New Wave of Disney Comics' and then 'Kicking Serious Butt: Action and Adventure in SF and Fantasy' with a group of famous authors who were absolutely hilarious - the audience was in stitches. Are all American writers so urbane, articulate and witty?
In between I met the Aussie publishing and creative team from Phosphorescent Comics who were promoting The Watch: Casus Belli their fabulous new comics series. Was also delighted to bump into Carissa Avenhouse (moderator on the OzComic Forum and Managing Director of The HUB Productions, who organises pop culture conventions in Australia) and partner Matt. Pretty full-on day, and I've only just started!
Friday 23rd July 2004
Colleen Doran is a hoot! She is passionate, articulate, opinionated, generous, knowledgeable, and intelligent and has enormous stamina and fortitude. And she makes me laugh! Once again I popped out to the Aria Press stand to have a chat. She was surrounded by loyal fans - many of whom have been following her work for years. There was a lovely warm quality about the exchanges that I witnessed and overhead. I continued with the ³Law School 102' workshop, and also attended a seminar on 'Beyond ³Once Upon a Time²: Building on the Tropes of Fantastic Fiction' (BTW, 'tropes' means 'the use of figures of speech'!). It was a very spirited and lively discussion with another group of famous authors. Bought some great books for myself from the Chronicle Books stand, including How to Be a Villain: Evil Laughs, Secret Lairs, Master Plans, and More!!! by Neil Zawacki with Illustrations by James Dignan, which I'm sure will be used as a bible for future feature films. Met Virginia Hey from Farscape - it was nice to hear a cultured Aussie accent, so unlike my lazy one. That night I discovered the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Store and indulged in HUGE quantities of delicious handmade dark chocolate to the eternal delight of my stomach, but the lament of my waistline.
Saturday 24th July 2004
A very full day and night! Workshops galore - 'Writing Animated Feature Films'; 'Comic Book Law School 103'; and 'Comics: The New Mainstream'. I finally met Erik Larsen at the Image stand (being the last BMP director to do so!) who was gracious and charming and extraordinarily busy in his new role as Image publisher as well as his ongoing role as Savage Dragon creator. Fans lined up around the corner to get their comics signed. I also met and chatted with Kinuko Y Craft, one of Jozef's and my favourite illustrators who is famous for whimsical fairytale picture books such as Sleeping Beauty and The Twelve Dancing Princesses. Bought two limited edition prints.
Was invited to the Masquerade as a special guest of judges Colleen Doran and Dennis Schamp. Went behind the scenes to the Green Room where the company judges greeted each other like family. The company judges donate prizes and cash to the winners of each category, whereas the celebrity judges look at technical merit. Everything was up for discussion from food to Ann Rice erotica to the great divide between the celebrity judges and the company judges. I was sore from laughing!
There were 52 contestants in all, and the audience was extremely vocal - cat calling, cheering and whistling. I sat in the VIP section, two rows from the stages - I felt very privileged. We saw Shirley Temples and Spidermen and R2D2's and silver fembots from Metropolis and Van Helsings, and more hobbits than ever lived in The Shire. The crowd favourite and winner of about four categories was a five-year-old Beastie boy with a green face and great attitude, and the Best in Show was an entourage of beautiful and very nubile faeries.
Didn't get back to the Youth Hostel till about 1.30am. It was still hot and humid even at that time of the night!
Sunday 25th July 2004
I was buggered this morning after just a couple of hours sleep. Met with various publishers for sit-down meetings to discuss comics writing opportunities. Checked in with Colleen Doran to thank her for last night, but she was suffering from a very painful migraine. I helped out on the stand where I could, selling books and artwork to customers until Anita Doran relieved me. Colleen recovered after a lie-down and resumed her activities while I spent my remaining hours traipsing down the aisles (yes, I made it down every single one!), talking to retailers, publishers, friends and colleagues and buying some out of print comics for Jozef's collection as well as some knick-knacks for myself. My objectives during the convention were to listen, to observe, to learn and to create opportunities for BMP. I accomplished all of them, and hope to come back in 2005 or 2006 with Jozef. All in all, I loved the experience of ComicCon and talking to such a warm happy bunch of conventioneers!
(11 August 2004)
BMP director and writer, Julie Ditrich is excited to be attending her first ComicCon from 22-25 July 2004. She will be in San Diego, USA for the duration and will be meeting up with industry professionals and friends, attending talks, shopping for merchandise, sipping strawberry margharitas (which she has been told on good authority are the best in the world), and soaking up the warm California summer. Unfortunately, Jozef cannot attend this year because he has just returned from a trip to China and because of pressing work deadlines. However, both BMP (New Wave) directors are hoping to attend together in 2005.
(15 May 2004)
BMP is currently receiving about 150 spam emails a day. We do not read them and delete them in bulk straight away. If you, the legitimate BMP reader and friend, intend to email us with feedback or a query, please make sure your subject line is specific to a BMP issue so that we can separate the treasure from the trash and respond quickly. Also make sure that your email does not contains (amongst others) the following words: "Paris Hilton", "sex", "carbs", "Viagra" (or any number of drugs or medications), "dating", "university diplomas" or any other words of a similar nature.
(15 May 2004)
Readers may notice subtle and overt changes to the website over the next few months. The most significant May updates are the addition of a "Links" page and the split off of the "Partners' Personal Projects" page from Properties, both of which have two new hostesses. Furthermore, Jozef has many new art pieces added to the BMP Art Gallery page, specifically in the Even More Mermaids and the Commercial Art new sections. Enjoy!
(15 May 2004)
After 11 years, BMP has restructured after bidding a heartfelt and sad goodbye to original partner/director and writer Bruce Love who left the team at the end of 2003. Bruce was an integral part of the original BMP. His greatest artistic strengths were his amazing storytelling ability, his gift for dialogue and his great visual eye. He was also diligent, honourable, hilarious, and always true to the thrust and needs of the project BMP was working on, as well as the needs of the team. For Julie and Jozef, Bruce is what Stephen King classifies in his book On Writing as the "Ideal Reader". He has an uncanny ability to hone in on editorial inadequacies in a piece of writing and to also identify the key elements that really work and engage the reader. Bruce has chosen to leave BMP in order to focus on his acting and directing. BMP won't be the same without Bruce and we will miss him terribly, but we will keep you updated with bulletins of his triumphs in the Australian entertainment industry.
(21 March 2004)
2004 heralds the beginning of a new cycle in BMP's life with the restructure of the business and the creative team. The Black Mermaid team will still be known as Black Mermaid Productions. However, for ease of communications and historical accuracy we have delineated the term "BMP (Classic)" to extend to the original team, comprising of Bruce, Jozef and Julie (1992-2003), and "BMP (New Wave)" to represent the current directors of Jozef and Julie (2004-).
(21 March 2004)
BMP's new phone/fax number is: +61 2 9606 4728. For full contact details go to About BMP.
(21 March 2004)
To commemorate BMP's 2004 restructure we are updating the look of our website. Over the upcoming three months you will see a new homepage and photos and more bulletins. The popular black mermaid hostess will remain, and will make several more appearances on new web pages.
(21 March 2004)
Jozef Szekeres will be visiting the Shenzhen province in China in April 2004 for a final quality control inspection of his new release 16" fashion doll Elizabet Bizelle. Interest in the doll has been phenomenal and practically the entire limited edition of 500 has been subscribed. The doll has been covered in such American magazines as Haute Doll #1 and Fashion Doll Quarterly #2.
(21 March 2004)
BMP Director, Jozef Szekeres, is releasing his first collectible 16" fashion doll called Elizabet Bizelle™. Elizabet is an Australian born international spy (Code-named LizBiz) working against international terrorism. This is a limited edition of 300 - 100 each in blond, black and redhead. The doll will be available to order for Christmas so keep an eye out on this new page for further information on release dates. The prototype can be viewed on the Jozef Szekeres personal project page.
(24 July 2003)
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