Journal

Thursday, November 14, 2002
I have a desk. And a phone line.

Today I met my production designer and my DP, and got to talk about what I want shot on video and what I want shot on film and why. And I got to meet my casting director and decide who I'm auditioning tomorrow.

The audition process is cheerfully brutal, and I don't know how actors cope. When we did Neverwhere, all those years ago, I wanted to phone each person we didn't wind up casting, and apologise to them. I'm sure it'll feel like that tomorrow as well. At least I didn't feel the urge to apologise to all the people whose photos didn't work for me, so never even got called in ("No, he just looks honest and likeable. The interviewer has to be a bit on the smug side...").

I love being in a country where people bring you cups of tea all the time.

Now need to do a second draft of the script as a director rather than as a writer. And Chris Ewen (Future Bible Heroes) sent me a perfect piece of music to go with the film.


....

Important! Read this!

ITEM! COMICON.COM AUCTION TO BENEFIT CBLDF

Comicon.com founders Rick Veitch and Steve Conley have assembled an
auction of over 36 striking pieces of original art and rare
merchandise from members of the Comicon.com community to benefit the
Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. The auction will run throughout
November and assists the Fund financially as it petitions the Supreme
Court to hear the case of Texas v. Castillo.

The auction starts today on eBay where Fund supporters can bid on a
great selection of original art, including a Frank Miller page from
The Dark Knight Strikes Again; a fully painted Swamp Thing cover by
Rick Veitch; an original single page Howard Cruse strip; a page from
The Tale of One Bad Rat by Bryan Talbot; a Tug & Buster page by Marc
Hempel; a James Sturm illustration; and an artists proof Doonesbury
print by G.B. Trudeau.

In the weeks to come, a fully-painted V for Vendetta cover by David
Lloyd, an original Zippy strip by Bill Griffith, Powers and Hammer of
the Gods pages by Mike Oeming, and much more will be auctioned to
help the Fund pay off its current legal fees.

Veitch says, "Steve and I built Comicon.com to be the focal point
of the web's comics community. That community depends on the Fund
to come to our aid when a legal crisis strikes. We're doing this
auction as a community to help the Fund do that work right now, as it
appeals the high court for justice in Texas."

In addition to the auction, Comicon.com exhibitor Top Shelf
Productions will be donating 20% of web sales generated between
November 14 and December 10 to the Fund. "The fact that a comic
store clerk is facing criminal charges is an inexcusable miscarriage
of justice," says Top Shelf publisher and Fund Board Member Chris
Staros. "We're happy to contribute to Comicon's efforts
to raise money so the Fund can take this case to the next level."

Every week that the auction runs, Comicon will showcase the items
with banner ads and on the Comicon message boards. "Right now
the Fund is in a crucial period," explains Director Charles
Brownstein. "The battle in Texas is among the most important
cases in our 16 year history. The initiative that Rick and Steve
have taken in putting this auction together will make a significant
difference in properly waging that fight."

Veitch adds, "We hope the community is generous when bidding
during this auction. Many very talented creators have donated some
great art to support the Fund's much needed work. Without the Fund
there to back this field up, dozens of retailers, cartoonists, and
publishers may have lost their livelihood. Now it's our turn to
back up the Fund."

The CBLDF/Comicon auction begins today on eBay.

Check out the auction items at http://www.comicon.com/cbldf
To bid on the available items click here:
http://cgi6.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?
ViewSellersOtherItems&userid=cbldf&
include=0&since=-1&sort=3&rows=25

ITEM! Support the CBLDF at Boston's Great American Comic Book Expo

This weekend the Fund will be in Boston meeting its members and
offering great items that will support the Fund's legal battles.
Stop by and meet CBLDF Director Charles Brownstein to find out about
the Fund's current work and pick up great work signed by Frank
Miller, Jeff Smith, Will Eisner, and more!

While at the show, be sure to meet the show's top guests including
John Cassaday, Paul Jenkins, Adam Kubert, Christopher Golden,
Humberto Ramos, and more!

The convention will be held at:
Bayside Expo and Executive Conference Center
200 Mount Vernon Street
Boston, MA
02125

For more information visit:
http://www.hobbystar.com/boston/index.html

ITEM: CBLDF DEFENDER OF LIBERTY FRANK MILLER ON FRESH AIR

Defender of Liberty and staunch CBLDF supporter Frank Miller will be
appearing on Fresh Air today. Check your local NPR listings or visit
http://freshair.npr.org

Also be sure to bid on a stunning page of original Batman art from
DK2 in the Comicon auction at

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=735939008

____________

The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund was founded in 1986 as a 501 (c) 3
non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of First
Amendment rights for members of the comics community. Donations and
inquiries should be directed to the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund at
P.O. Box 693, Northampton, MA 01061.

For additional information, call 800-99-CBLDF or visit
http://www.cbldf.org

To support the CBLDF, make a donation at:
http://cbldf.safeshopper.com/12/cat12.htm?479