Ideas
Ideas are wonderful. They can be the initial burst of a concept that will go on to great things.
But they're just ideas.
I've been getting a surprising number of messages about ideas lately. Many are UDON fans pitching us a concept or telling us they have a great idea they want to see created as a comic, toy line, video game, movie - you name it.
Their idea is pure, golden and perfect because that's all it is. In their mind it's already a huge hit and untouchable. That dream-infused version of it can do no wrong. If only they could tell someone in the industry, that industry person could do all the incredibly hard work to make that idea become something tangible while they sat back and generated more great ideas. Man, wouldn't that be the life?
I wonder if these people think deeply about their ideas or think about the people they're throwing them out to.
Do they believe that we don't have ideas of our own? That we've been in this industry all this time and don't have concepts we'd like to create? Do they think we sit around dumbfounded all day long wracking our brains, hoping some random person we've never met will offer up their golden idea so we can make their dreams a reality? Really?
I've got ideas coming out of my wazoo - stories, movies, video games - my own empire of creative crapola I'll probably never see made real. If I had the chance and influence, no offence to anyone else, I'd probably like to see some of my ideas germinate instead of your random thing, stranger who I've never met.
Otherwise, I'd help close friends and other people whose work I enjoy and respect see their ideas come to fruition if I could. After that, other people my close friends respect... slowly rippling outwards from there.
I know that sounds selfish and harsh. I know that isn't what people want to hear. I also understand their confusion.
When I was really young I didn't understand why there was no channel 1 on TV. I pretended that channel 1 was the channel where I had all of my cool stories and characters broadcast all day long to the delight of millions of people. Jim's own network of amazing stuff, just the way I wanted. Man, that TV station in my mind kicked ass!
Many years later when I started attending conventions with UDON, I had a comic pitch for the editors at Marvel in my hot little hands. A good friend of mine and I brainstormed up a ripper of a yarn and I was positive the Marvel guys would love it. What I didn't realize is that they had absolutely no reason to go to bat for me or see that story become a reality. Seriously. I was a nobody with no substantial credits and, even though I was working at UDON, no one at Marvel knew who I was or could care less. What was the advantage to seeing my story go forward in the process compared to their friends, their colleagues or people with a body of work and a reputation? Absolutely zero. So, it went nowhere and I was hurt, not understanding how the whole thing worked.
I thought I was professional, but I was still making 'channel 1' in my mind.
The quality of the story wasn't an issue (though, if it would have sucked that would have made it less than zero). The pitch was professional but I, as a brand, wasn't.
Now, I get it. I've been doing this comic/video game thing for a while, slowly but surely building up contacts and enjoying the many different directions it's evolved, almost all of it unexpected. I'm playing at a level that makes sense based on where I'm at, pushing upwards bit by bit and trying new things without making a fool of myself by trying to fight above my weight class. I don't know where it will lead, but the process feels organic and it makes sense to me now. Hopefully more of my ideas will bubble their way up to the surface.
In short, everybody's got ideas. Maybe if you pay close attention and work really hard they'll become something more.
If not, don't be surprised when no one recognizes your genius. They're too busy being geniuses in their own mind too. ;)
But they're just ideas.
I've been getting a surprising number of messages about ideas lately. Many are UDON fans pitching us a concept or telling us they have a great idea they want to see created as a comic, toy line, video game, movie - you name it.
Their idea is pure, golden and perfect because that's all it is. In their mind it's already a huge hit and untouchable. That dream-infused version of it can do no wrong. If only they could tell someone in the industry, that industry person could do all the incredibly hard work to make that idea become something tangible while they sat back and generated more great ideas. Man, wouldn't that be the life?
I wonder if these people think deeply about their ideas or think about the people they're throwing them out to.
Do they believe that we don't have ideas of our own? That we've been in this industry all this time and don't have concepts we'd like to create? Do they think we sit around dumbfounded all day long wracking our brains, hoping some random person we've never met will offer up their golden idea so we can make their dreams a reality? Really?
I've got ideas coming out of my wazoo - stories, movies, video games - my own empire of creative crapola I'll probably never see made real. If I had the chance and influence, no offence to anyone else, I'd probably like to see some of my ideas germinate instead of your random thing, stranger who I've never met.
Otherwise, I'd help close friends and other people whose work I enjoy and respect see their ideas come to fruition if I could. After that, other people my close friends respect... slowly rippling outwards from there.
I know that sounds selfish and harsh. I know that isn't what people want to hear. I also understand their confusion.
When I was really young I didn't understand why there was no channel 1 on TV. I pretended that channel 1 was the channel where I had all of my cool stories and characters broadcast all day long to the delight of millions of people. Jim's own network of amazing stuff, just the way I wanted. Man, that TV station in my mind kicked ass!
Many years later when I started attending conventions with UDON, I had a comic pitch for the editors at Marvel in my hot little hands. A good friend of mine and I brainstormed up a ripper of a yarn and I was positive the Marvel guys would love it. What I didn't realize is that they had absolutely no reason to go to bat for me or see that story become a reality. Seriously. I was a nobody with no substantial credits and, even though I was working at UDON, no one at Marvel knew who I was or could care less. What was the advantage to seeing my story go forward in the process compared to their friends, their colleagues or people with a body of work and a reputation? Absolutely zero. So, it went nowhere and I was hurt, not understanding how the whole thing worked.
I thought I was professional, but I was still making 'channel 1' in my mind.
The quality of the story wasn't an issue (though, if it would have sucked that would have made it less than zero). The pitch was professional but I, as a brand, wasn't.
Now, I get it. I've been doing this comic/video game thing for a while, slowly but surely building up contacts and enjoying the many different directions it's evolved, almost all of it unexpected. I'm playing at a level that makes sense based on where I'm at, pushing upwards bit by bit and trying new things without making a fool of myself by trying to fight above my weight class. I don't know where it will lead, but the process feels organic and it makes sense to me now. Hopefully more of my ideas will bubble their way up to the surface.
In short, everybody's got ideas. Maybe if you pay close attention and work really hard they'll become something more.
If not, don't be surprised when no one recognizes your genius. They're too busy being geniuses in their own mind too. ;)