Johnny Saturn

Hi, Folks!

Sorry I’ve been away from blogging this week—I’m working really hard to get ahead on Johnny Saturn and build up at least a minimal buffer.  Plus, I’m drawing a fight scene, and those sure are fun!

Has everyone noticed the rise of television shows on the net?  Shows that never air on TV proper, but get distributed on the internet in smaller chunks?  I’m sure you have.  In fact, I’m reasonably sure you’ve watched a fair number of such things.  I first noticed this trend when documentary makers, unable to get picked up by television, began putting out their shows on Youtube.  I guess what hadn’t really dawned on me yet was fan films on the internet, professional or nearly professional grade shows made by fans for fans.  “The Hunt for Golum” is one such, as is “Star Trek: Phase II.”  These not-for-profit copy write infringers sometimes get major pushes, with original stars making appearances, original writers penning episodes, etc.  I had no idea so much of this material was out there, and just how serious fans are.

I have always had an ambivalent attitude about this trend.  My first reaction has always been one of ownership: Why develop additional material for a franchise or character that doesn’t belong to you?  If you dig Star Trek, make up your own space opera and incorporate the things about the TV show you loved into your own creation.

Yet, I am sure that the fine and very creative folk involved in making these fan-based shows have other ways to look at it.  For them, their love for a show might be very specific–they love a character or setting.  They’ve loved it for years, and they want to be involved, make it their own.  Legally, they cannot do that.  Emotionally, they certainly can.

About eight years ago I determined that I would never do any fan art.  My sketchbooks have no pictures of Superman, Batman, Dr. Doom, etc., included in them.  I decided this in reaction to all the artists I saw at conventions who were willingly and repeatedly ripping off the big publishers and selling goods with those characters’ images.  It further bothered me, because these unlicensed character shots were occasionally pornographic, and the characters engaged in acts that their owners would never publish.  So, I determined I would make my own characters up.  You’ll find plenty of those in my sketchbooks.

Will I watch “The Hunt for Golum” or “Star Trek: Phase II?”  Since no money is changing hands, I suppose there’s no harm in that.  Would I contribute to such ventures?  No.

Scott.