Artists: How do you prefer your scripts presented?

[Make Mine Mar-Vell]

Just curious...what format do you prefer?

[LewMoxinsghost]

I really like the Joe Kubert example found in his book kit (for kids) Comic Book Studio. (I've never actually seen a writer do this, but I know I would like it if ever one would.)
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii281/Randylbishop/Scriptexample.jpg

[Manon]

that's pretty close to the Dark Horse submissions standard format. there's a PDF downloadable from DH's website for it.

I prefer to get paragraph-type scripts where the panel breakdown is left up to me.

[IamBATFAN]

Well, i have a preferred method i use for myself, it's a hybrid of styles but it helps me separate everything in a clear manner; whatever script i get (or write) i edit it to my liking. example:

PAGE 1
Panel 1. Writer suggests a camera shot. Then he proceeds to describe the action that goes on in the panel, if he likes to give detailed descriptions im all for it. From there we go to the dialogue.

character 1:
blah blah blah, blah blah, blah.

CAPTION: Whatever im thinking, doesnt matter.

SFX: SNIKT!

Page and number in caps and bold. I always put a characters name in underlines and center the dialogue. I always put caps and bold caption and use italics for the dialogue on captions. Sound Effects i put in caps.

Depending on the narrative order the caption would be moved up before the character dialogue, this helps in assisting the letterer in placing caption boxes and word balloons accordingly.

It's an extra step but it just helps me to read and understand the script better.

[Make Mine Mar-Vell]

Thank you guys for all your suggestions.

Is there a specific "Marvel way", I know there's Marvel books, and I was dean's list in TV/Script writing as well as video...or does that come across as newbie, or is it just to whatever artist your working with. Like say for example, your working with one of the greats, say an Alex Ross or a Lee Weeks or whomever, is there a way they prefer it?

I tend to like to leave a description, in depth, of what the pic is supposed to show, suggesting the overall statement of what the scene is getting across. It can be digested by the artist then give hi his free reign to picture it, they tend to be very descriptive, is this too much?

Let's pretend you're working with a great, like an Alex Ross or a Frank Frazetta, for example, but you want a certain thing here and there but you want him to see your conceptual vision...without taking away his freedom because your just lucky to be working with the guy.

How do you approach that in a format?

Please, give me some more details...Is there a standard pro, not newb, format for Marvel?

I mean I've got the goods, it's the presentation, I don't want to make the mistake of curbing or alienating the artist, I want them to "feel" it, and "see" it in their own minds. I trust their talent.

This is all hypothetical, BTW.

[Joe Acro]

Is there a specific "Marvel way"...
The "Marvel Method" is where the the writer gives the artist a plot for the issue, the artist sketches it out as he sees fit, and then the writer goes back over it and scripts the drawn pages.

[sparta28090]

Everyone is right. To most there are some guidelines like what Lew pointed out (that seems to be the standard) and Joe is right for some of the writer/artist teams at Marvel but some Marvel follow the Joe Kubert way (waid/garney). Of course there are some tweaks and diffrences the artist might like, again as Bat-fan mentioned.

Just be frank with the artist of what they like and don't like. For instance Alex Ross hates drawing cars, a useful thing to know if you were to write something for him....you could be clever and get around the cars if it was a street scene

[Make Mine Mar-Vell]

Everyone is right. To most there are some guidelines like what Lew pointed out (that seems to be the standard) and Joe is right for some of the writer/artist teams at Marvel but some Marvel follow the Joe Kubert way (waid/garney). Of course there are some tweaks and diffrences the artist might like, again as Bat-fan mentioned.

Just be frank with the artist of what they like and don't like. For instance Alex Ross hates drawing cars, a useful thing to know if you were to write something for him....you could be clever and get around the cars if it was a street scene

Thanks....(Sal?)

[Make Mine Mar-Vell]

The "Marvel Method" is where the the writer gives the artist a plot for the issue, the artist sketches it out as he sees fit, and then the writer goes back over it and scripts the drawn pages.

Thanks for replying first off, but is it that ambgious? Like say fro example I have a sentence I want said or caption in an action sequence), and I want three action panels on page (3 for example) that split the sentence up, empahisizing the importance of the statement, that lead into a full page climax (simultaneously completig the sentence...that's out of the question?

Please explain...

[IamBATFAN]

Thanks for replying first off, but is it that ambgious? Like say fro example I have a sentence I want said or caption in an action sequence), and I want three action panels on page (3 for example) that split the sentence up, empahisizing the importance of the statement, that lead into a full page climax (simultaneously completig the sentence...that's out of the question?

Please explain...

you could add it in the description or as a note but then you'd be doing a bastardized version of the Marvel Method. The point of the MM is that it gives the artist full reign to do his thing.