So what – if today’s Filipino comic book practitioners want to dominate the world?
World domination.
This item had triggered much emotion lately in this blog. A group of people are totally against it, others are taunting the komiks practitioners whom they claimed to be stupid dreamers who are trying to fool themselves. Pretty heavy accusation, I must say. These critics are against any comic books printed on glossy stock, written in awkward “Filipino English”, whose themes, they claim, are nothing but mere imitations of Hollywood stuff that dreams are made of. These critics’ mantra is: the komiks should be written in Tagalog, printed on newsprint, in black and white, and must be sold cheap (I guess as cheap as products made in China?).
After 25 years of not drawing anything, I've decided to draw a book jacket using nothing but Adobe Illustrator pen tool and the software's effects. It's very quick, very good for PANG-DILIS and not PANG-LECHON work which Kapre described during his local komiks adventures. HHHHHHH. This type of graphic novel is thumbs down according to the critics because this is not Tagalog and not cheap paper.
Meanwhile, the Filipino superhero comic books are done in Tagalog, printed on newsprint, also in black and white, and cheap (maybe a little more expensive than those made in China products), and yet, these critics also reject the latter genre, because they claimed that the themes of superheroes are nothing but an (again) imitation of Hollywood stuff that dreams are made of.
So, what, according to these critics, are the acceptable local komiks?
Well, if you’ve taken any Yoga lessons, be prepared to say in unison:
OOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM.
And that means:
• Tagalog
• Newsprint
• Cheap
• No Superheroes
• No English
• Filipinos: in terms of theme, story, characters, sentiment, outlook
• No abusive slang such as: fuck you, what the fuck, you mother fucker, you sonofabitch, you fucking shit hole, you fucking ass hole, you piece of shit, you turd fucker, ass sucker, ass-peddler, bishop beater, monkey spanker, packet catcher, dicky-licker, dingle-dangle sucker...
...Oh, well. You get the drift.
This graphic novel will receive thumbs down because the characters are not speaking Tagalog, and the life it is depicting is not Filipino at all. Give me a little time to practice drawing again and you can add me to your list of world dominators. HHHHHHHH
Therefore, if your book does not conform to these requisites and/or guidelines – well, you’re out of luck, bud. They will fight tooth and nail, even to the death – to campaign against your masterpieces.
It would be healthy to confront this issue head on once and for all. Let’s brainstorm on what can be done to make these two groups meet in the middle? Let’s express our opinions as honest as we can (without naming names, please, and without thrashing my unsteady drawings from the lack of practice), so that we might find some sort of concession to settle this burning issue.
Don't worry about my drawings. This is just added to put some visuals here. What's important is your reaction to the topic that we all want to settle once and for all.
Remember now. You can express your feelings freely, but if you mention any names in a negative context, your message will be dropped like a hot potato... er... kamote pala. So, you can only mention someone's name when it is presented in a positive light.
And I ask, again: So what – if today’s Filipino comic book practitioners want to dominate the world? Do you have any suggestion/advice?
Speak up, my children, speak up.
-Your Father Confessor
posted by TheCoolCanadian at
10:45 PM
64 Comments:
I have no problem with World Domination. If Pacman is dominating pro-boxing today, why can't Pinoy Illustrators/Artists? what's the big deal? if you want to dream, dream big.
Totoy Boogie
Mr. Boogie:
That's a good idea. I think we can't stop anyone from dreaming anything.
Thank you.
JM:
Horror ba iyang gawa mo?
First page pa lang ginanahan nakong magbasa. How come he's so bloody? Murder?
je-je. Babylicious naman ang bida natin. :)
Sino naman ang mga ayaw sa world domination? Kami nga dito sa call center, world domination din e.
Annabelle:
Oo, horror nga.
Yung mga ayaw ng world domination ay yung mga gusto na "pinoy-centric" lang daw dapat ang komiks sa Pilipinas.
Baka pati accent, bawal rin yata. Ewan ko lang.
Lol.
Totoy Boogie: Other than intangible "national pride" HOW are OTHER Filipino boxers benefited by Pacman's world notoriety right now?
Why can't Filipino comics people FIRST dominate the local Philippine komiks market? What's wrong with the Philippines? How can you dominate the whole world when here in your own country you can't even have real and prosperous local komiks industry the same as Japan?
Hello Cool Canadian :)
Maganda, informative, at recently naging nakakatawa itong blog nyo. Minsan nakakainis, pero popular pa rin sa amin dito sa office. I was introduced into this world of komiks movies and tv through your blog.
Very interesting po ngayon itong topic ninyo. At dahil dito, me 2 tanong po ako: "Meron na bang comics ang nagdo-dominate o nag-dominate sa mundo?" If yes, anong klaseng komiks ito at saang bansa galing?
Yun lang.
--Princess Mononoke
JM,
bakit AYAW nila na mag-ambisyon ang mga KOMIKEROS para ma-DOMINATE ang mundo ng komiks?
Paano kasi gusto nila palagi na ang mga KOMIKEROS ay kagaya at palaging mga ATSAY at ATSOY sa buong mundo.
Itong mga AYAW na ito ay meron SLAVE MENTALITY na nadikdik sa mga utak nila ng mga COLONIAL na mga amo nila nuon.
- Kapre
JM,
This book looks awesome. The two pages have given me a lot of adrenalin already. Please post more pages. Very intriguing story, the character is quite unusual, something I've never encountered before. Yes, that blood washing from the young man's nude body gave me the creeps.
Why don't the current Filipino komiks talents write something along this line? The characters are non-Filipinos, and the setting is not the Philippines. The critics may be right after all because the current graphic novels we see printed here in the country are obviously set in the country, yet swearing like Americans and all thinking and speaking like Americans. Maybe if they begin to create something like the one you posted with international flavor, maybe the critics will finally be happy.
What do you think people of the Philippines? :)
Mike Aragon
bakit AYAW nila na mag-ambisyon ang mga KOMIKEROS para ma-DOMINATE ang mundo ng komiks?
Paano kasi gusto nila palagi na ang mga KOMIKEROS ay kagaya at palaging mga ATSAY at ATSOY sa buong mundo.
-E di, sige na nga. Please define. ANO ang ibig sabihin ng "world domination" in the komiks world?
PAANO nyo mado-dominate ang buong mundo? Alam nyo ba kung ilang bansa meron ang buong mundo? Kahit ATSAY at ATSOY ng Tikbalang di kaya 'yan Hhhhh
Isa pa, magbigay ka nga ng isang halimbawa ng Pinoy Komiks na nakapag-dominate na ng mundo para maging example.
Bakit di nyo MUNA ibuhos ang lahat ng pera, talent, network at resources nyo sa pag-gawa ng sariling komiks industry DITO sa PILIPINAS?
Kung nakalimutan nyo nang mag-Tagalog dahil sa tagal nyo dyan sa US magkaroon naman kayo ng tiwala sa mga kabataang me promising talent dito. Mag-invest kayo sa kanila. Ang laki-laki ng kinikita nyo sa abroad, iwawaldas nyo lang sa "self" publication ng inyong mga sariling "world class" komiks na kokonti ang dami pero ang mamahal. At ang nagbabasa at pumupuri e panay nasa First World. Hindi ba "colonial mentality" ito? Hindi ba't slave ka pa ng First World dahil siniserbisyuhan mo ang kanilang panlasa at style?
Hindi ba't mas "independent" at "challenging" kung gumawa ka ng komiks PARA LANG DITO sa PILIPINAS, i-nurture ang pagtatag ng sariling industriyang komiks na lumalago at nagbibigay ng trabaho sa marami pagkatapos ay hayaan na lang ang mundong lumingon at pumansin sa mga gawa dito?
Tapos kung me maganda, ang "mundo" ang bahalang mag-translate ng Tagalog komiks natin sa Ingles tapos sila ang gumastos para ma-distribute at mabenta abroad. Hindi naman ito colonial mentality di ba?
It would be more worth our while if you discussed your graphic novel rather than the world domination ek,ek.
It is a joke to be writing graphic novels set in the Philippines with characters speaking English and whose sentiment is so un-Filipino. Para bang kinopya lang sa western writings na kunyari ginawang galing sa Pilipinas. Malaking kalokohan ang ganyan.
Sana, ganitong klaseng graphic novel na napost mo dito ang gawin nila. Nangyari sa ibang bansa, walang kaululan. May katwiran din ang mga critics na magbunganga tungkol dito. Sabi nga ni Kapre, puro lang purihan ng purihan, kapag pinuna, nagagalit. Itong graphic novel mo, pinuri ko dahil talagang may sinasabi. At saka walang dayaan at hindi gaya-gaya puto maya. Tama ho ba ito, Manong Kapre?
- David Garcia
Princess Mononoke:
Saan ka nainis? Sana sinabi mo para hindi ko na ulitin.
Ano ba iyong nakakainis na ginawa ko rito?
Mike Aragon:
I don't think that all the English Filipino graphic novels were written the same way. Not all of them are westernized, are they? They don't distribute these books here so I have no idea exactly what you guys are complaining about.
I can't post more pages of this graphic novel because this is the first time I have drawn again after 25 years of not drawing. If I find more time to do it, I will continue. If not... well... only BATHALA knows when, HHHHHHH.
Minsan nuong nag-aaral pa ako sa college ay meron akong nakabangga na pilosopong tonto, ginamitan niya ako ng technique na akala niya ay mabubuko ako, ibinaliktad ko para siya ang mabuko. Sabi niya sa akin, halimbawa, ay i-define mo ang WORLD DOMINATION.
Ang sagot ko sa kanya, halimbawa, ay ito:
i-define mo muna ang DEFINE.
i-define mo rin ang WORLD.
i-define mo ang DOMINATION,
i-define mo ang WORLD DOMINATION,
i-define mo ang DEFINITION,
i-define no ang DEFINITION NG DEFINITION,etc.
i-define mo ang DEFINITION NG WORLD DOMINATION
i-define mo ang DEFINATION NG DEFINITION NG WORLD DOMINATION, etc. Gawin mo muna ito, anonymous, buong habang buhay ka ay gawin mo ito na resulta ng walang katuturan tanong mo, at pagkatapos ay tanungin mo si Auggie kung may panahon ka pa. Lumang technique iyong tanong mo na ginagamit ng mga pilosopong tonto na nag-aaral ng philosophy.
- Kapre
David Garcia:
Are you the guy from Torrance, or is it Garden Grove?
Anyway, one of those burbs in Cali, right?
Hindi naman lahat na lang ng graphic novels ay pare-pareho. Kanya-kanyang diskarte iyan, ika nga. Ang masasabi ko lang, kung hindi ninyo tipo yung graphic novel, huwag nyong bilhin. I think this is simple enough to do. Hindi naman tayo pinipilit ng mga may-ari ng mga graphic novels na bumili tayo kung ayaw natin. Maganda rin sa demokrasya na magkaroon ng iba't-ibang flavors, di ba? To each his own, ika nga.
By the way, aren't you writing your own book as well? Or did I confuse you with someone else?
Ang mga komentaristang mga kontra sa komikeros dito at ang mga komikeros dito na mga anonymous ay punta muna kayo sa blog ko tungkol sa COMICS ILLUSTRATIONS at pag-aralan ninyo duon kung paano magdibuho sa komiks at pag-aralan rin ninyo duon ang DIRECTIONAL CONTINUITY SA VISUAL STORYTELLING, pagkatapos hasain ninyo ang mga sarili ninyo sa pagguhit sa loob ng SAMPUNG TAON, at pagkatapos ay puwede na ninyong isabak ang mga sarili ninyo sa GLOBAL NA KOMIKS.
Ang blog ko tungkol sa COMICS ILLUSTRATIONS ay mas malaki ang magagawa at inpluwensiya nito kaysa gumawa ako ng komiks sa Pilipinas dahil duon sa blog ko ay ang mga SEKRETO kung paano gumawa ng komiks na makikinabang ang lahat ng mga kabataan mahilig sa komiks, wala pang ganitong pilosopiya sa komiks na sinulat ng sinumang dibuhista na pilipino.
HALA, kayong lahat, punta kayo sa blog ko at pag-aralan ninyo ang mga turo ko duon, may silbi pa ang mga oras ninyo, at huwag ninyong sayangin sa mga KABUANGAN, KATARANTADUHAN at WALANG MGA KATUTURAN ginagawa ninyo dito sa blog ni JM.
Mas matatalino pa ang mga puti na mga komikeros sa inyo, lalo na ang mga dibuhistang taga Espanya dahil sila ang masusugid na matuto sa mga pinagsasabi ko sa blog ko. Walang mga pilipinong dibuhista na interesado, pero sa mga kabuangan at walang mga katuturan bagay ay mga interesado sila, lalo na ang mga anonymous dito. NAKAKAHIYA KAYO!
Mas mauuna pang mga GLOBAL DOMINATORS ang mga puti at taga Espanya sa komiks kaysa sa mga pilipinos. At ang ugaling INGGIT ng mga komentaristang kontra sa mga komikeros ay ang numero unong dahilan para maging mga ATSOY at ATSAY palagi ang mga pilipino.
- Kapre
Actually, this World Domination thingy is nothing new. It has been discussed thoroughly by the famous WORLD DOMINATRIX, JESSICA ZAFRA, in her regular column in TODAY, a defunct broadsheet owned by Teddy Boy Locsin during the 90s. I wonder why this militant/nationalists missed it.Is it because of TODAYS' poor circulation? maybe, the broadsheet had a Burgis dating Briefly, her thesis is: Since the Pinoy Diaspora,unleashed its millions of armies of Atsoys, Atsays, Nannies,Caregivers,Bartenders,Bellhops and other assorted blue-collar workers, it could be turned into an advantage for the Philippines. Example: Since it's the Pinay Atsays/Nannies who are taking care of the kids, it's quite plausible for them to etch in the tabula rasa of these kids all the good things about the Philippines, including our local myths and legends into the psyche of these young minds. If you extrapolate that, that would include showbiz magazines, tabloids, and yessss,Komiks! I'm impressed by Zafra's brilliant thinking...
As For PacMan doing philanthropy works for other boxers, I have no idea. But definitely, he has made life for Jinkee,his kids, Aling Dionisia, a whole lot better. But he has dominated WORLD BOXING today.
As for publishing local komiks for local consumption, CARLO CAPARAZ, recently did that for Sterling. It died prematurely. Why? your guess is as good as mine.
Totoy Boogie
Ito ang magandang kasabihan na hindi yata naiintendihan ng mga polpol na mga ANONYMOUS dito:
"GIVE A MAN A FISH AND HE WILL EAT FOR A DAY; TEACH A MAN HOW TO FISH AND HE WILL EAT FOR A LIFETIME."
Ang mag-invest sa mga kabataang meron promising talents kuno sa pagguhit sa Pilipinas na walang mga edukasyon sila sa sining ay parang BINIBIGYAN LANG SILA NG ISDA PARA KUMAIN SA ISANG ARAW, parang nagtatapon lang ng pera ang sinumang mga investors sa kanila.
Mas makabubuti sa mga kabataan ito na pag-aralan muna ang mga itinuturo ko sa blog ko dahil ito ay parang TINUTURUAN SILANG MANGISDA PARA MAKAKAIN SILA HANGGAN BUHAY SILA. Edukasyon sa sining sa pagguhit ang malalaman ng mga kabataan ito sa blog ko na salat sila sa kaalaman dito.
Ngayon, kung alam na nila ang mga sekreto sa pagguhit sa komiks na sinasabi ko duon ay sundin nila ang payo ni Gerry Alanguilan, gumawa sila ng sariling mumurahin photocopy na mga komiks na kagaya ng ginagawa nitong si Gerry at ibenta nila sa mga komiks conventions sa Manila. Pagtiyagaan nilang gawin ito hanggan sa makilala sila. Pagkaraan ng lima hanggan sampung mga taon kung hasa na sila ay baka puwede na nilang isabak ang mga sarili nila sa global na komiks.
Sa isang parte, kung ang gagawin ng mga walang edukasyon sa sining na mga bagito ay puro lang tingin sa mga gawa ng mga sikat na artists sa komiks na kagaya ng gawa ng mga matatandang dibuhista nuon at ginagawa rin ng mga kabataan dibuhista ngayon ay bukas makalawa mga buhay pa sila ay mga laos na ang mga stelo ng mga dibuho nila.
- Kapre
Akala ko tapos na itong topic sa world domination VS yung mga maka-kaliwang komikeros na ayaw nito. Hindi pa pala. At pinipilosopo pa nila si Ginoong Kapre.
Sa pagkakaalam ko itong si Ginoong Kapre, eh dalawa ang degree sa Graduate School, Ph.D sa Physics, at Ph.D sa Applied Math. Hindi ko alam kung mi graduate degree din yung mga bumabatikos sa kanya. Sa pagkakaalam ko, onli in da Pilipins lang ang merong Komikero na mi Ph.D nag basa ako ng mga komikeros sa ibang bansa, wala akong makita eh, baka na miss ko.
Kung mi makita kayo, pakipost lang po dito for verification.
Tama po ba ang inpormasyon ko Mr.Kapre? I stand corrected kung mali...
Ikabod
Cecille Raspa and anonymous:
Huwag na lang nating i-publish ang comments ninyo dahil malaking awayan na naman ang kalalabasan nito. Kung puwede lang, huwag nang ganito ang tema. Sana, kung tatapatan ninyo ng sagot na deretso na lang sa sinabi ng kabilang party, okay. Pero huwag napaka-personal na yta at very obvious pa kung sino ang taong tinutukoy. Pasensiya na kayo, hindi ko puwedeng i-post itong dalawang messages.
Sa pagkakaalam ko itong si Ginoong Kapre, eh dalawa ang degree sa Graduate School, Ph.D sa Physics, at Ph.D sa Applied Math.
-Ikabod naman. Ano ang kinalaman ng Physics at Math sa talakayan dito? E kung binabasa mo 'yung comments sa taas dyan ni Kap, e tumataliwas pa sa topic e.
Syanga pala. Comment lang kay David Garcia. Me issue ang marami diyan sa pag-westernize ng Filipino setting. Nang pumunta ako sa Komikon ng U.P. may nakita akong xerox komiks at ang title ay: "Dorothy's Dreams".Nang binuksan ko ang first page ang setting nasa bukid. Ang magsasaka binubuno ng matitipunong goons. At ang kanyang bunsong anak na babae ay nakadapa sa lupa at inaangat ang sarili. Ang pangalan ng babae ay "Dorothy".
Goon: "Farmer Sam, its useless to resist! Give me the Palay now!"
Magsasaka: "Dorothy, don't get up! Run! Run!"
Dorothy: "Shit. Now what? This isn't what I expec..."
Next panel: May ipu-ipu na biglang sumipot kung saan papunta sa grupo.
Doon ko na-realize na parang modified version ito ng Wizard of Oz kaya "Dorothy's Dreams".
Wha?! Say wha?! Ano yun? So bizarre. So surreal. SO ALIEN. SINO BA AUDIENCE NITO? MARAMI BA?
ITO BA ANG IBIG SABIHIN NG MGA GAWANG "WORLD CLASS" O PANG "WORLD DOMINATION"? Ang mahal pa ng presyo: Php 75 para lang sa maliit na xerox na nasa 20 pahina lang.
-Si Kapre ang thinking niya sa "world domination" ay limited at narrow-minded. Sa kanya, pag marami ang magagaling na PINOY komiks artist at ang mga gawa nila ay pinupuri ng marami sa "international community" ito na ang "world domination". Exclusively pang-artist lang. Initsa-pwera ang kabuuang komiks product. Hanggang "art" lang. "Art" lang daw ang sasalba at lulupig sa mundo.
Tama ba ito?
Ano bang tangible at real benefit ang naipapasa sa pagbuo ng panibago, maunlad at malayang Pilipino komiks industry, kung ang definition pala ng world domination ay: international acclaim for Filipino comics illustrators' drawings?
Wala di ba? Pansarili lang na ego ng iba't-ibang Pilipino "artist" lang ang napapakain nito. Napo-promote pa ang "colonial mentality" taliwas sa baluktot na bintang ni Tikbalang.
Sabi mo Anonymous,
"-Si Kapre ang thinking niya sa "world domination" ay limited at narrow-minded. Sa kanya, pag marami ang magagaling na PINOY komiks artist at ang mga gawa nila ay pinupuri ng marami sa "international community" ito na ang "world domination". Exclusively pang-artist lang. Initsa-pwera ang kabuuang komiks product. Hanggang "art" lang. "Art" lang daw ang sasalba at lulupig sa mundo.
Tama ba ito?"
Sinabi mo Anonymous ito at hindi ko ito sinabi. Anonymous, huwag mong baluktotin ang sinabi ko para tamain mo lang ang baluktot mong katuwiran.
Sabi mo uli Anonymous,
"...kung ang definition pala ng world domination ay: international acclaim for Filipino comics illustrators' drawings?"
Anonymous, definition mo ito ng world domination, wala akong ibinigay na definition dito. Imbento at baluktot mo itong definition para tamain mo na naman uli ang baluktot mong katuwiran.
Sabi mo uli Anonymous,
"Napo-promote pa ang "colonial mentality" taliwas sa baluktot na bintang ni Tikbalang."
Anonymous, paano maging taliwas sa sinabi ko, eh, hindi ko naman sinabi ang pinagsasabi mo? Nag-imbento ka ng salita, kinontra mo ang imbento mo. Natural na tinaliwas mo ang sarili mo. Ang gulo ng katuwiran mo.
Anonymous, ito ang dapat ilagay mo sa iyong kukote, hindi ako promotor ng PINOY KOMIKS WORLD DOMINATION, pangarap ito ni Auggie. Pero walang masama sa malayo at malawakan pangarap na ito ni Auggie. Ang masama ay kung mangarap si Auggie ng PINOY/PINAY ATSOY/ATSAY GLOBAL DOMINATION.
Ang masamang nakikita ko sa'yo, Anonymous, ay napakakitid ng pananaw mo kaya ayaw mo sa malayo at malawakan pananaw na PINOY KOMIKS GLOBAL DOMINITION. Ang pinaiiral at pinipilit na ideya mo ay COLONIAL at SLAVE MENTALITY.
Ito ang tandaan mo, ang gusto ko ay EDUKASYON SA SINING sa pagguhit sa mga gustong maging mga komikeros, itong edukasyon na ito ay salat sa mga matatandang artists nuon at mga kabataan ngayon. Kung gamitin nila ang edukasyon na ito sa Pilipinas o sa global komiks domination ay nasa kanila na iyon.
Ngayon, Anonymous, bakit may mga tao na hinhi hinihikayat ang edukasyon sa sining o anumang bagay kagaya nuong panahon ng mga kastela? Paano kasi gusto nila na ang mga PINOY/PINAY ay palaging mga MANGMANG at mga ALIPIN lang. Anonymous, sa ayaw mo at gusto mo, hindi mo siguro alam ito pero napakalalim ng pagkadikdik ng COLONIAL AT SLAVE MENTALITY sa utak mo kaya ayaw mo na magkaruon ng EDUKASYON SA SINING ang gustong maging mga komikeros at ayaw mo rin sa pangarap ni Auggie na PINOY KOMIKS GLOBAL DOMINATION. At ginagawa mong problema ang hindi naman problema.
Anonymous, sa susunod pala ay huwag ka na naman mag-imbento ng mga salita na hindi ko sinabi para tamain mo lang ang mga baluktot mong mga katuwiran.
Anonymous, HINDI NA AKO INTERESADO NA PATULAN KA. Mas makakabuti pa sa'yo na pag-aralan mo na lang ang mga turo ko sa blog ko na COMICS ILLUSTRATIONS. At gayahin mo rin si Auggie, kahit papano ay may pangarap siya na KOMIKS GLOBAL DOMINATION NG MGA PINOY. Ikaw, ano ang pangarap mo? WALA! ZERO! NADA! NOTHING! Hindi katakataka kung bakit ang handle mo ay ANONYMOUS.
- Kapre
Dalawa ang degree sa Graduate School, Ph.D sa Physics, at Ph.D sa Applied Math.
Hmmm. Pero bakit nauwi sa pagdo-drawing ng cartoons at animation? Isa pa, meron na ba nyan sa Samson Technical Institute at Ricky Reyes School of Beauty?
"Si Kapre ang thinking niya sa "world domination" ay limited at narrow-minded. Sa kanya, pag marami ang magagaling na PINOY komiks artist at ang mga gawa nila ay pinupuri ng marami sa "international community" ito na ang "world domination". Exclusively pang-artist lang. Initsa-pwera ang kabuuang komiks product. Hanggang "art" lang. "Art" lang daw ang sasalba at lulupig sa mundo."
Ha ha ha. Natumbok mo, kapatid! Ayos! Nakalimutan mo lang idagdag na, para makuha nila ang world renown na iyan, kailangan na magtrabaho sila para lang sa mga puti at sa mga comics o animation industries nila abroad. Para sa ganoon, lalo silang maco-condition sa westernized style of "advanced drawing/visual storytelling" kuno. Tulad ni Kapre na nag-iisa, nalulungkot at walang kasamang Pilipino dyan sa Tikbalang Amusement Park. Ha ha ha. Gusto daw ma-dominate ang mundo pero pag-iisip nila na-dominate na.
Hindi nyo ba kayang gumawa ng sariling mga concepts na orihinal, indigenuos at kakaiba sa Western o Japanese style ng visual storytelling? Mga concepts na katanggap-tanggap ng PILIPINO muna bago ang mundo? Sa pamamagitan ng komiks na abot kayang bilhin at basahin ng nakararaming Pilipino na di naman mayaman o nag-aaral sa mga eksklusibong mga university sa Manila?
Ang laki-laki ng kita nyong mga artist abroad, pero ni katiting di nyo ginagastos para magtatag dito ng sari-saring Pilipino comics publishing companies. Mga sarili at pamilya nyo lang ang inaatupag 'nyo. Wala kayong foresight. Di kayo marunong tumanaw sa pinanggalingan. Wala kayong tunay na simpatiya sa kawalan ng industriya ng komiks sa Pilipinas. Tapos sasabihin nyong wala kayong colonial mentality? Mga BUANG! Paghambalusin ko kayo ng dos por dos makita nyo. Hhhhh.
JM: Marami at nagkalat ang mga comics na hindi "cheap" pero ang pangit naman ng loob. Alam mo 'yan. Wag mong husgahan ang mukhang panlabas ng isang bagay.
Ang inyong "First World solutions for Third World problems" ay di umuubra hanggang ngayon.
Mas challenging ang problema dito sa Pilipinas. Kailangan ngayon dito ng marami, popular, MURA at mainam na babasahing komiks. Hindi lang drawing o "art".
Kung di nyo maunawaan 'yan, dyan na lang kayo sa "world domination" nyo. Di kayo kailangan ng Pilipinas.
P.S. Sabi nitong post mo, meron nang "cheap" at "newsprint" na superhero comics ang Pinoy? Baka nagkakamali ka. Anong mga title 'to? Magkano presyo?
Dapat siguro i-report na sa mga alipuris ni Heneral Palparan ang mga nagkalat namaka-kaliwang agitprop dito dito sa blogsite mo Mr. JM, at ng ma -monitor na ang mga nagpo-post dito. Ano sa palagay mo? human rights violation ba ito?
Okay, Perpetua Rubirosa:
Hindi nga newsprint ang ilan, pero tagalog naman. Puwede na nating masabing pinoy centric ito, hindi ba? Yung superhero nina Reno, Gio, at Monsanto. Hindi ba iyon puwedeng tawaging pinoy centric?
Hindi naman ako against kung ang gagawing graphic novel ay may Filipino sentiment. Mas gusto ko nga iyon, e. Pero kung dahil sa hindi ito newsprint ay hindi acceptable, napaka-higpit naman yata ng criteria kung ano ba ang acceptable sa inyo?
General Palparan! HHHHHH!
Okay lang ang mga anonymous at leftist, huwag lang yung masyado nang pang-iinsulto at hindi natin puwedeng palagpasin.
Anonymous:
Re: negosyong komiks sa Pinas.
I tried to do that years ago, but I got hit with too much red tape, I finally gave up. Believe me, running a company there is a pain in the you know where. Sorry, I haven't got the time to deal with all the government nonsense.
I guess, the government should change their policies first.
If you had the chance to print or publish your own brand of monthly komiks in the Philippines at a volume of 10,000 copies, 32 pages, all pages including cover is newsprint white, front and back cover are colored but interior pages are in black and white, and the printing cost is P3.86 a copy or Php 38,600, which when converted to Canadian Dollars is CAD$866, would you jump at the chance?
Stated differently, is CAD$866 a month, to pay for printing cost, expensive for you?
You can write and edit most of the content. As for the artist, its either you draw or let someone else do it for you for free initially; say some of your internet komikero friends dying to be published who is willing to get paid after the returns start coming in. As for distribution, ah, you have the same komikero gang to help you out here.
So how about it? Is CAD$ 866 a month for this one month experiment, expensive on your part?
Oh, and you don't have to worry about the govt. red tape. Maybe that was Marcos' time. Its different now. WIth only 10k copies, there are ways of distributing in the informal economy without using official BIR receipts. Besides, its just experimental to see if there's the type of komiks content you're espousing will work.
Is CAD$ 866 a month expensive for you?
Comics observer:
No, it was not Marcos time. It was Ramos' time. Then during Erap's time was the second attempt. I wasn't running it, I have my own business to attend to here. I had several people from there who were business minded enough to convince me to do it. My sister was the one who contacted them. After spending US$80,000 the project went nowhere, because the guys in there were slapped with too many unrealistic regulations regarding corporation stuff, foreign company stuff and other gobbledegook nonsense. Then they told me that komiks is no longer popular, so they said a tabloid with news and movie gossips would be better. But, that, too, fizzled.
And no, the amount you're quoting is not expensive at all, even if some months, Canadian dollar is higher than the US dollar.
:)
And no, if ever I would try again to start a publishing company there, all the talents will be paid accordingly, i.e., PANG-LECHON fees (the credit goes to Supremong Kapre) and not PANG-DILIS. No one should start a publishing company with the intention of treating artists and writers like shit. Because, comics observer, if you're one of the talents, would you like to be taken advantage of by the people running the business?
Some of your ideas are good, but the part where you want the talents to work pro bono is not acceptable to me and to the talents there.
Right now, the guys are busy with real estate building and selling. Even this is not doing very well in RP. One of the houses we built at Filinvest Homes II worth 7 million pesos. Here comes this Congressman who said he wanted to buy it. He stayed there first as a renter. After a year, he abandoned the house. Another Congressman also proposed to buy it, then without the knowledge of the guys, started building his own house in the same subdivision. Now, the house is vacant and being renovated for selling, but no takers. Here, even if there is a slowing down, you can still move the property, and even if it is discounted, you still make a profit. There, it's quite difficult to find a buyer. My latest project in Cebu was an office building near a school, but after it was completed a year ago, no takers. I don't go home there so the guys attending to the business are the ones deciding because they know the situation better.
I will talk to them about trying publishing again. I know we can hire many good people there now. I'll ask them to look into it.
Btw, what's so complicated about starting a business there as a foreigner is that – you are taxed three times. The RP government and Canadian government will both tax you. Unfortunately, here in Canada, we are taxed two times: Federally and provincially. I bet you're not aware of this, are you?
That's why the guys told me to just make them a "dummy" to ease out many, many silly rules. On the other hand, my accountant here says that is not a wise decision. She told me I can do several things:
• close the business
• make them the dummy and forget about the business (and thank you if they don't abscond you)
• deal with the headaches of outrageous taxes, red tape and silly government rules like what's happening now.
The idea you presented is attractive, but I'd have to talk to my accountant here and the guys there about it and we'll see what they say.
After reading that, I think you started out big immediately without first making a market study. You appear to have put too much trust on the say-so of "friends" and "relatives" without an honest to goodness, professional market study to back up your decisions. The market study should not be too elaborate or expensive either. It could be done in the simplest cost-effective way.
Your market study is your guide and not the mere verbal, vague and general say-so of non-marketeers that the traditional komiks line is tanking. Know the reasons why this is so first. Then, avoid what traditional komiks did wrong. Your ideas are certainly far different from the traditional line am certain so there's no real comparison.
Test and know the market first for one (1) year or six months with your product in a simple, cost effective way. If there's no demand, fine. If there is, that's the time to SLOWLY bring it up. You formally incorporate after being fully certain of your market. If there's a demand, that's the time you reprint the stories in better quality paper and charge extra.
I think the trusted dummy route as sincle proprietor is best for this purpose. He or she will be your overseer in the Philippines in this preliminary market study, and preferably with marketing background. However, ALWAYS, have a contract with your dummy setting out the parameters of his authority and liability to you for damages in case something goes wrong in the future. Even if the dummy is your sister, half-sister, unemancipated brother, aunt, dog or cat, GET THAT CONTRACT. Most frauds are caused by people who look nice and you trust immediately like friends and family members. Have contracts drafted especially for the talents.
You want to avoid the BIR? Local taxes? Get a good accountant who can make a low declaration of income on the ITR so the tax payment is small. There are so many other "legal" ways.
Since its ok with you to spend more money on the talent, THANK GOD please do. But keeping in mind that the other aspects and operation of the business should be kept at a bare minimum: marketing, office, electricity, telephone, etc. After all, your objective here is preliminary: checking out who your audience is, how big it is, how you can nurture it, how to price your komiks in different areas in the country and stages of the circulation, how much of a projected profit you could rake in and what pitfalls should be avoided or managed to a minimum. Get Business and Fidelity Insurance too, just in case.
If CAD$ 866 is not expensive for you, how about considering putting out your komiks publication TWICE a month? Your printing cost would now be CAD$ 1,732. Is this new figure prohibitive? Hope not.
Summary: Start small. Start simple. Stay smart.
Mr. JM, mabuti naman at binibigyan mo kami ng world-view tungkol sa pag conduct ng global business, kasama na ang komiks publishing, para maliwanagan naman kami kasama na din yung mga kumukontra sa world domination komikeros. Wala kaming kamuwang-muwang dahil andito lang kami. Mas alam mo ang realities dahil mi capital ka at resources, at marami kang kuneksyion, hindi kaparis ng mga nagbubunganga rito na wala namang experience, capital, kuneksyion at talent sa negosyo. Puro hangin lang ang nasa tuktok. Kahit anong batikos nila ki Ginoong Kapre, hindi nila maabot ang economic success na inabot nito. Sa pagkakaalam ko ARRIVE na ARRIVE na ito si Ginoong Kapre diyan sa LA. Yung ginagawa niyang PRO BONO, lessons sa blog niya ay tulong niya sa mga batang artists na mi ambisyon at pangarap sa buhay na umangat.
Ikabod
Ikabod:
Mahirap talaga kung minsan lalo na't hindi ka sanay sa pasikut-sikot sa isang bansa. Diyan sa atin, napakaraming bagay na ang hindi ko kabisado kaya kung sino ang mga nariyan na, sila ang mas makaka-gauge sa situation. Pero medyo mga astig ang mga iyan. Nag-aalburuto kapag nag-suggest ako ng kung ano. Gumawa daw kasi sila ng benchmark case (yung Sterling nga), at negative ang feedback sa akin. Ang number 1 problem daw diyan sa RP ay DISTRIBUTION. Hindi raw streamline at halos 50% daw ay dayaan. I don't know how true. Bakit nagsu-survive naman ang ibang publications? Sabi ko nga sa kanila, alamin kung bakit gano'n kahirap, at ano ba ang magagawa para isaayos ito kung papasukan ang publishing. Kaso nga, mga non-artists ito. Puro number crunchers kasi kaya parang walang interest na pag-aralan ng market na ito.
Si Supremong Kapre, ayaw niyan ng sakit ng ulo kaya hindi papasok sa business iyan. HHHHH. Baka mahambalos lang niya ng dos por dos ang mga accountant niya. HHHHHH.
Here's an idea. How about advertising your underperforming properties in the komiks subject of your market study? Assuming you are going to price your komiks affordably, it is sure to gain exposure even to those who won't buy a copy and who will just read it for me.
The properties are actually advertised in Realty Weekly. Turned out that a property goes quickly if it is below 2M.
The new economic reality have changed the whole scenario. Now they're hoping to sell it to interested Pinoys here in north America.
The komiks is a very interesting business. I will definitely talk to the guys about it. Thanks for all the information. I'm sure there will be a good solution to the problem of Distribution.
JM: Hindi nga newsprint ang ilan, pero tagalog naman. Puwede na nating masabing pinoy centric ito, hindi ba? Yung superhero nina Reno, Gio, at Monsanto. Hindi ba iyon puwedeng tawaging pinoy centric?
-Ser, hindi porke't itinagalog mo na e ibig sabihin e "pinoy centric" na. Alam 'nyo noong 1990s me lumabas ditong mga itinagalog na mga Marvel at DC superhero comics ng Batman, Man of Steel, X-Men, Spiderman etc. Mura lang ang halaga. Patok. Mabenta. Tagalog nga pero obvious na ang mga character, setting, etc. ay sa ibang bansa. Ganyan ang mga komiks ng mga binanggit nyo. Kahit na itinagalog, ang look at feel ng mga characters at istorya ay hindi orihinal at hango sa U.S. superhero storytelling. Parang...di kapani-paniwalang mga Pilipino ang mga karakter at ang mundong ginagalawan nila ay hindi sa Pilipinas. Hindi pa marunong gumawa ang mga iyan ng background na makukumbinse ka na sa Pilipinas nga nangyayari ang storya nila.
JM: Hindi naman ako against kung ang gagawing graphic novel ay may Filipino sentiment. Mas gusto ko nga iyon, e. Pero kung dahil sa hindi ito newsprint ay hindi acceptable, napaka-higpit naman yata ng criteria kung ano ba ang acceptable sa inyo?
-Siguro kaya bina-bandera nila ang newsprint ay dahil sa hindi ito magastos at mas malaki ang volume na magagawa ninyo, maraming readers ang makakabasa niyan. Kesa sa opposite na gumamit ka nga ng pagka-garang book paper o glossy, pero ang presyo naman e P75-P100, maliit ang volume, AT WALA NAMANG BUMIBILI PANGIT PA AT ALIEN ANG STORYA, E WAG NA LANG. Kung ito ay maka-kaliwa at leftist, e ako na si Mao Tse Tung. Hhhhhh.
Kung kaya ba ninyong ibaba ang presyo ng komiks na book paper at glossy paper sa mga Php 25 o Php 30, bakit hindi? E ang problema, HINDI E.
Tapos mananaginip pa na ang mga Php 75-100 na book paper/glossy "Pinoy Centric" superhero komiks ang magsisimula ng "world domination"? (eyes roll)
Well thank you. Glad to be of help. Include the distribution and COLLECTION problem in the market study you are going to commission to actual marketing professionals, statisticians and researchers.
If you have an authentic market study conducted by a reputable and competent marketeer and you follow it to the letter, I guarantee you will NOT have a problem getting future advertisers because this professional market study, this written document, will be your Bible and will be used as basis in convincing advertisers to place an ad in your komiks title since you have already by then defined and proven several things: who your active target readers are; where they buy, under what circumstances they buy, where to sell, how much volume of copies in certain areas, etc. Did Sterling/Caparas have a preliminary market study when they started? Am sure they didn't.
Its time to approach this scientifically. If you will expend a bit for the market study please don't hesitate to do so.
Accountants, friends, and fellow komikeros are NOT marketing professionals, researchers or experienced CIRCULATION MANAGERS. Its not their field of expertise. So address this problem to people who are known experts in the field and who are sure to give you an objective and unbiased report on the matter.
Looking forward to your title.
Perpetua:
Ang mga nabasa kong gawa nila ay Philippine setting naman, at hindi naman kalayuan sa Filipino way of life.
Gaano ba kamura kung newsprint ang printing? Baka naman kakaunti lang ang dipeensiya kaya ginawa na lang nilang glossy? I regreeted mentioning the names of these three komikeros – na ngayon ay napasabak tuloy na hindi naman nila kagustuhan.
I sincerely apologize to you, Reno, Gio and Gilbert. I mentioned your books because I really believed that they were more pinoy centric. Sorry, guys.
And to you, Perpetua: Did you really READ the books I mentioned? Siguro, nag-browse ka lang, tapos nag-conclude na hindi pinoy ang laman ng mga ito. Please be fair, go back and read them and then tell us a more accurate picture. And please refrain from adding uncalled for phrases in your comments, kung puwede lang.
Thanks, Comics Observer.
The things you mentioned are quite sensible. We'll see what we can do.
Mukhang nag-aaral na rin itong mga maka-kaliwang komikeros ng Economics of Publishing, ano ho? Mr.JM? Nagtataka lang ako kung ilan sa kanila ang may actual experience na sa Production ng mga print materials o base lang talaga sa mga haka-haka ang mga presumptions nila. Eto naman si Mr.Observer eh mukhang Pro talaga ang mga observations...Tungkol sa mga successful publications dito na world-class ang dating at mga glossy paper ang ginagamit ay ang SUMMIT PUBLISHING, pag-aari ng anak na babae ni GOKONGWEI. Iyan siguro ang pwedeng gamiting template kung sakali. Pero iba ang market segment nila kesa sa Komiks market.
Ikabod
Ikabod:
Maraming salamat sa iyong information. Marami talaga pala ang may interest pa na buhayin uli ang komiks. Mukhang napakalaki nitong task para tularan ang success ng old komiks industry, pero parang may kaunting liwanag tayong nasisilip na baka puwede pa ngang mag-simula kahi't paunti-unti muna. Maraming salamat sa mga opinyon ninyong lahat.
Ikabod: Ba't mo ba nasabi na maka-kaliwa o "leftist" ang ibang anonymous na nagpo-post dito?
Ano ba ang naiintindihan mo sa salitang "leftist"? Curious lang. Wala naman akong nakikita kasing maka-kaliwa. Siguro "nationalist" pwede pa. Maka-Pilipino pwede pa. Pero "leftist"? Kung nationalist ka, leftist ka na agad? Ows?
Bakit mo ba nasabing "leftist"? Baka ako mali. Curious lang talaga.
I am a casual reader of comics. That means, I don't care if the paper is in newsprint or book paper. All I care about is, if the price is not a problem, reproduction is good and the content entertains or engages my time, then I will definitely pay for it.
I am sure that there are more casual or general readers like me. That is why it is most cost-effective for you, as the publisher, to go for the white newsprint paper stock route. Wait and see if there is a demand.
If sales of the newsprint mass version sells, and there is still an ongoing demand, then put out a special edition of the product on book paper or glossy, IN COLOR (if you want) using the earnings you got from the mass sales of the newsprint version...and charge extra. That way, you win again.
So long as the final product is decent and presentable and most importantly--the value of the intellectual content inside (writing and art) is worth MORE THAN what the reader pays for in the cover price, then you're assured of an immediate sale. Guaranteed. Why? Because the general reader, as opposed to the few and finicky komiks enthusiast fanatics, looks for, and focuses on, BARGAIN PRICES especially in hard economic times like these.
Sales, plus advertising and other incidental income generating schemes from your komiks publishing enterprise will soon follow.
Hoping for the best if ever you decide to finally execute your plan.
Perpetua:
Maku, babae ka! Gusto mo bang mapa-away ako dito sa blog?
May katwriran ka nga, pero hayaan na nating school of life ang humatol at magtuwid sa mga hindi naniniwala sa Holy Trinity, sa ngalan ng ama, anak at ng espirito santo.
Malubha ang pangungumpisal na ginawa mo, nguni't dahil sa SECRECY OF CONFESSION, hindi ko maaaring IPAALAM ang iyong mga isiniwalat na mga kasalanan, na ang may gawa ay ibang nilalang. Ang kaparusahan ko sa iyo ay manalangin ng paulit-ulit na babanggitin ang mga comics characters ng Marvel at DC. Hala, mag-aral ka ng kung paano kumilos na tunay na babae. Basahin mo ang blog ni KLITORIKA. Iyan ang magtuturo sa iyo kung paaano maging isang tunay na anak ni Venus. Kung mangungumpisal kang muli, inaasahan kong positive na lahat ang iyong isisiwalat.
Siya nawa,
Your Father Confessor.
Comics Observer:
You really inspired me.
Let me grapple with the guys there in RP, since our agreement is: they will decide the best for the business. It is unfortunate that the benchmark they used was Sterling and it failed miserably. I will try again and talk to them. You never know.
Thanks for all the inspiration and information.
Ikabod: "Tungkol sa mga successful publications dito na world-class ang dating at mga glossy paper ang ginagamit ay ang SUMMIT PUBLISHING, pag-aari ng anak na babae ni GOKONGWEI."
- Pareng Ikabod, 'yang mga tinutukoy mong successful "publications" ng Summit ay hindi local comics. Me licensing permit ang Summit na i-reprint at gamitin ang U.S. magazine titles ng "Cosmopolitan", "Good Housekeeping", "FHM" etc. At successful lang iyan sa mga kokonting mid to upper income, at highly westernized, English-speaking Filipino audience na naka-concentrate halos sa urban Metro Manila. Minimum na Php 100 ang halaga ng mga mag na yan sa bargain bin ngayon at kayang-kaya ng urban westernized Filipino audience nila.
Bet lang. Kung me proposal ka sa Summit na makukuha mo ang "license" sa DC, Marvel, Image, Dark Horse, Archie, etc., mga successful U.S. comics companies, mas bibigyan ka ng pansin kasi kilala na, at may ready market na ito para sa mid to upper income, westernized English magazine-reading audience nila.
Kaso nga lang, nasa PSICOM ang license sa DC at Marvel. Yung Archie, na-offer yan sa Sterling at gustong isabay sana sa Caparas pero di natuloy.
Eto pa, nabanggit mo na din si Gokongwei. "Westernized" Chinese din 'yan. Chinese pero pa-Amerikano at "global-kuno" ang thingking ng mga negosyanteng Chinese na yan. Wala silang kamuwang-muwang at tunay na simpatiya para talagang buhayin ang local comics industry. Iba ang orientation at exposure sa kultura mula pagkabata. Karamihan sa kanila, gusto ang biglang kita agad kasi nasanay at na-spoil sila ng mayaman pero kokonting readership nila.
Isang halimbawa ang nangyari sa Sterling/Caparas. Sino may-ari ng Sterling? Di ba Chinese? Chinese na walang kabackground-background sa local komiks publishing na bigla na lang naglabas ng 5 titulo na tig-100,000 ang sipi ng di muna napag-aralan kung may demand nga para sa mga ito. Nang mawala ang Caparas komiks, ano pumalit? Di ba kumuha ng license ang Sterling sa Walt Disney na gawin na lang ang "Winnie the Pooh" at iba pang U.S. characters sa kanilang mga "activity book" na pambata?
Kaya kaibigan,'wag masyado masilaw. Kung mayamang Chinese 'yan at wala naman itong totoong simpatiya o kaalaman tungkol sa local komiks publishing, mag-ingat. Papaikutin ka lang 'nyan ng papaikutin. Kunsabagay, ganyan ang "world" di ba? Paikot-ikot? Hhhhhhhh.
What is a LEFTIST? mi kasabihan sa wikang banyaga: IF IT WALKS LIKE A DUCK, QUACKS LIKE A DUCK, AND LOOKS LIKE A DUCK, ano ang sagot? Elepante?
Mr.Comics Observer, what really happened to the Sterling fiasco? could you you give us the inside dope on why it folded? So despite its masa appeal, cheap newsprint, affordability, and a National Artist, who has connections with GMA, Manoling Morato, and Ms Alvares, at its helm, it 's still a no guarantee for success?
Totoy Boogie
JM:
At last may sarili na akong email para hindi magaya niyang anonymous na magnanakaw ng identity ng iba.
Sapak naman ang opening scene niyang graphic novel mo. I've always been your fan maski noong may gatas ka pa sa iyong kissable lips.
Sino ba ang model mo sa character na iyan? Ang cute cute naman, parang si Taylor Lautner yata iyan? O baka picture mo mismo ang idrinowing mo? Tapusin mo iyan at very exciting. Kung ipadrowing mo iyan kay Kapre at gawing cute ni Kapre na tulad diyan sa ginawa mo, siguradong matutupad na ni Mr. Surtida yung pangarap niyang global domination.
Sa ganyang kasarap pagmasdang character, tiyak na smash hit iyan sa mga muher at mga bading. Post mo bawa't page na matapos, ha?
Love you, muwaaah!
What is a LEFTIST? mi kasabihan sa wikang banyaga: IF IT WALKS LIKE A DUCK, QUACKS LIKE A DUCK, AND LOOKS LIKE A DUCK, ano ang sagot? Elepante?
--He he. Label kayo ng label di nyo pala alam mga pinagsasasabi nyo. Quack-quack.
Tunynapinoy:
Pati spelling ng tunay binago talaga, ha? Medyo paranoid ka na yata diyan kay anonymous. He-he. Maganda rin talaga kung minsan kapag tayo'y nabibigyan ng leksiyon sa buhay.
Buweno, sa mga tanong mo.
Hindi ko kinopya ang katawan ni Taylor Lautner. Hindi ba't iyon yung kungfu master na teenager na gumanap sa Twilight series? Napanood ko siya sa Saturday Night Live at hanip ang ang bilis niyan sa kanyang martial art routine. Very impressive. Wala talaga akong masabi. No, hindi ko iginuhit ang sarili kong larawan. Pero medyo hawig nga yata ang mukha ng kaunti kay Lautner, pero peks man, di ko sinasadya. Nakatuwaan ko lang na mag-practice mag-drawing uli, that's all.
Ano? Diyata't pang BADING lang pala ang graphic novel ko? Huwag naman. Para sa lahat ito. Nagkataon lang na medyo spiritual ang tema kaya magpapakita ako ng maraming katawan at kaluluwa, ang dalawang sangkap ng kabuuan ng isang nilalang dito sa balat ng lupa.
Maraming salamat sa encouragement. By the way, si Supremong Kapre ay hindi na nagdo-drawing ng komiks dahil mas mataas na ang kanyang ranggo sa larangan ng sining na ito. Siya'y isa nang matatawag nating Artist Philosopher, dahil nag-transcend na siya sa level na kinalalagyan niya ngayon. Kaya dapat pakinggan ng mga kabataang artists ang mga payo niya sa kanyang blog. Matatawa na sila sa mga jokes na nakalagay doon, matututo pa sila ng tamang pag-drawing. Kung seseryusohin ko uli ng drawing, doon na ako mag-aaral sa blog ni Supremong Kapre at tiyak na hindi ako malulugi dahil libre ito.
Salamat na rin sa halik, basta't sa pisngi lang. HHHHHHHH.
"could you you give us the inside dope on why it folded? So despite its masa appeal, cheap newsprint, affordability, and a National Artist, who has connections with GMA, Manoling Morato, and Ms Alvares, at its helm, it's still a no guarantee for success?" - Totoy Boogie
Well Totoy, it started out too big (100,000 copies per 5 titles without first testing the market) internal personality conflicts/politics between Sterling and Caparas' camp, between personalities within Caparas' camp, and most importantly, between officers within Sterling itself. This, plus the fact that there was no professionalism whatsoever.
Formal contracts were avoided. No real transparency. INFORMAL dealings between Sterling and the creative people were the norm rather than the exception. Most probable reason is that Sterling and Caparas had no prior corporate experience and machinery in handling a "creative" enterprise such as komiks publishing. Both Sterling and the Caparas artist/writer camps are to be blamed for resuscitating these "informal" and handshake negotiations.
No, the elements you mentioned are not by themselves sufficient to "guarantee" you success. That's wishful thinking. If those favorable elements are present but the players themselves are unprofessional and operate like they're still in the informal economy trying to hoodwink the other; paying artists and writers measly sums with no commensurate incentive package or royalty arrangements, no clear, specific editorial guidance on how to improve the content, and also engaging in useless, inane personality politics, the enterprise will surely tank; the favorable elements you mentioned would be of no effect and a waste.
For a while though, it sold. Especially in areas outside Metro Manila. After its last issue came out, most newspaper and magazine dealers around the country were looking for it, believe it or not. Surprisingly, the distribution and collection were initially good too. There were some dealers who even paid their volume orders BEFORE the first to third issues were out. Unheard of. There is no glossy or high end magazine or commercial print publication today who could match that. Only in mass-based komiks.
It could have maintained the momentum though, if everybody acted like professionals and had their duties, obligations and responsiblities spelled out in written contracts. Sadly, this was not the case.
Comics Observer:
The more we discuss the failure of Sterling, the more it's dawning on me the insurmountable complications of komiks publishing there in RP. Maybe this is the reason why the APAT NA AGIMAT I trust there in RP are so damn oppose about the idea. Though the first thing they really didn't like is the distribution because the process has too many holes and they can't guarantee it will work in favor of the publisher.
Well are any of these four people of yours in the Philippines experienced circulation managers, to begin with? Is their info current? If not, better hire a good and trustworthy circulation manager, or get a new team.
Let's not generalize the whole thing. There are some dealers who are not so good and others who do well. THe purpose of your market study is to determine exactly who and where these good and trustworthy news and magazine dealers are. Once determined, make them part of the operation. Nurture them. Maintain their enthusiasm with your product during the six or one year run. Experienced circulation managers do exactly just that. If your guys are averse to this kind of field work, then you may be talking to the wrong people. If their orientation is tabloid, glossy magazines, songhits or ghost story books and not KOMIKS, then you may be talking to the wrong people.
However, if you're really that beholden to your 4 friends' mere say-so, then best that you forget the whole thing. Why? Because your vision and enthusiasm is not shared by your team.
Your main objective here is to KNOW FIRST THE TERRAIN via MARKET STUDY. You're NOT going into full operation yet. At 10,000 copies and a lean office staff that's not too much of a burden. You need to get a market study first. If your team does not understand this, then forget it. Get a new team or forget it.
Don't rely on mere verbal assurances. Its not wise to prejudge the whole thing. If any of your four friends are competent and know how to make an unbiased market study for you, let them do that first.
The situation then may not be the same today. You don't step into the same river twice, as they say.
Also, why is the Sterling story a problem? Was it mentioned that it had distribution and collection problems? There wasn't. Only INTERNAL office problems that did them in.
If your team has no prior experience or at least, great enthusiasm, for initiating a preliminary market study, forget it. Maybe your team is experienced and have successfully put out mass-based komiks publications in the past, that is why you trust them too much. If that is the case, forget it.
I guess a comprehensive feasibility study be done first (including government rules on komiks publishing). I was just overwhelmed by what Sterling went through, but I think you're right, they missed some things during the pre-production of their books. I mean, even some technical aspects were not done properly and they were obviously visible (and I may sound persnicky here), but some of the images were even STRETCHED (a no-no in graphics) so the pages looked like a film in Cinemascope where the theater used the wrong lens, thus showing the images thin and tall and ridiculous. Some pages were too dark, and so on.
Yes, a very comprehensive study will tell us the whole thruthful scenario and this is the best way to start.
Thanks again, Comics Observer.
Thanks for your professional view Mr.Comics Observer. In other words, a venture on local komiks will not fly no matter how much is the enthusiasm of these anonymous posters here who insists on publishing first for the MASA first, if you don' have a pro infrastructure first. What do you think if they are the ones running the operations, can they make it fly? they seem too knowledgeable of he economic/business realities here....
Totoy Boogie
Totoy Boogie:
Well, I don't personally know who these persons ar...HEY! I'm anonymous too! :) Ha ha.
But seriously, I don't think its wrong to initially focus your market study on the mass market. The Philippines is basically a mass market anyway. There's no more middle class market, and to go high-end immediately is inviting suicide if you don't have the necessary capital, talent and resources.
If most people in the Philippines now were mid to upper class, I would be the first to suggest that you focus on this market. Its safer. Unfortunately, that is not the case. A lot of Filipinos right now are mid-low to lower income. And a lot of products right now are focused on this market. From condominiums, food, motor vehicles, personal care products, etc. its all focused on this huge low income mass market and their buying ability.
You may be turned off by the pittance they turn in individually, but collectively, putting it all together, the income is huge. The small income earners surprisingly pay without a thought if you offer them a bargain; which in this case means good story and art that is worth MORE than the cover price which is easily within their reach.
Actually, reading those anonymous comments is what impelled me to post here. Hope that didn't ruin your day, mate.
Can these unknown guys or gals make it fly if they are running the operation? Honestly, I have no idea. We'd be idly speculating at this point. But based on some of their comments I've read, they seem to be knowledgeable about the situation. A bit rude, but candid to be sure. Ha ha.
By the way, has there ever been a local and contemporary "non-masa" comic that came out regularly, has a circulation of at least 50,000 per issue, and is consistently getting income from sales, advertising, licensing/merchandising, etc.? Are the characters there even well-known publicly? If yes, then start your market study on the mid to upper income group. This income group is not that big but they are terribly finicky and have the income to spend for expensive stuff. By all means, if you want to make your market study on this high-end group, do it. Just be apprised of the consequences.
If you complain that there's a problem with distribution and collection with mass market comics don't complain if in the high end market, your local comics sales could not grow or worse, gradually diminish. And don't ever think that there's a collection problem here either.
Si Peter Pabo at Bobby Bibe (one person) ay nag-iwan ng mensahe:
Very bitter ito sa talakayang nangyayari tungkol sa komiks publishing.
Bakit may mga taong ganito? Umiiyak dahil ang iba raw sa atin ay hindi pa nakapagpaligo sa maruming tubig ng Pasig River. What has this got to do with the topic being discussed?
Bakit galit siya sa ating pinag-uusapan? May nag-volunteeer na magbigay ng kuro-kuro tungkol sa masalimuot na publishing diyan sa Pilipinas, at biglang masama ang loob niya dahil sa pinag-uusapan ng mga taong bumibisita dito, and I quote:
"ITULOY ANG MARTSA NG TUNAY NA DEMOKRASYA SA KOMIKS AT ‘WAG KALILIMUTANG IBOTO SA DARATING NA HALALAN ANG TUNAY NA MAHIRAP KUNG DI ‘NYO PA NASUBUKANG MALIGO SA ILOG PASIG NG WALANG TUBIG! Qwak Qwak Qwak-QWA-KAAAAAAK!!!"
Aba'y hindi lang pala ang business side ang magiging problema natin diyan sa bansang iyan. May mga tao palang ganito ang takbo ng pag-iisip. Mas lalong nakaka-discourage mag-publish diyan kung ganyan ang mentalidad ng mga makakasagupa nating mga characters.
Since Mr. Quack-Quack is offended, we have to end this exchange of ideas. At kung sino man ang gustong tumalon sa ilod Pasig, ay sumige na kayo pero huwag ninyo akong asahang tatalon din na kasama ninyo na nag-quack-quack pa habang nagtatampisaw sa burak ng Ilog Pasig. Iboto mo akong Presidente sa halalan at iyang ILOG PASIG ang unang proyektong gagawin ko. LILINISIN ko iyan upang muling ibalik ang kalinisan ng ilog na iyan at nang may malinis na tubig na ring mapapaliguan si Mr. Quack-Quack. Alam ko, noong kabataan ng aking nasirang ina diyan sa Colegio de la Concordia, ay diyan sila nag-pi-picnic madalas. Dala ng mga madre ang buong klase para magliwaliw sa Ilog Pasig (Circa 1921 when my mother was 8 years old and an intern at La Concordia). Sino ang sumira sa ilog iyan? Hindi ako ha, hindi ang mga nag-papalitan dito ng kuro-kuro. Ngayon, bakit kami yata ang naba-bumrap dito?
Kaya pala maraming mga taong gustong magnegosyo diyan, umaayaw na lang dahil sa mentalidad ng iba.
Kung ikaw man, Quack-quack ay naghihirap sa iyong kalagayan ngayon, hindi mo maaaring ibangon ang sarili mong kinalalagyan sa pamamagitan ng walang patumanggang kapaitan. Kung hindi ka interesado sa sinasabi ng mga nagbibisita dito, don't read them. It's nobody's fault that the old komiks industry is now gone. It is not justifiable to vent your anger towards other people. I sympathize with you if you're taking a bath in Pasig River. But, let's be objective for once and use our head and not just our emotion. Please don't bark up the wrong tree. I did not open the discussion about komiks publishing in the first place. It was suggested by someone who visited this blog and I joined in the discussion. What's so bad about this?
Pause, take a deep breath, and think. You know you were on the wrong and I think you owe all the visitors here an apology.
JM,
maganda pa rin ang hagod mo at layout, though mas pino ang mga linya mo ngayon kumpara noon because of the absence of the brush strokes. pero ang aabangan ko talaga ay ang kuwento dahil you're a very, very good writer.
It's time to get rid of the TROLLS, Mr.JM. Don't feed the Trolls by pandering to them. Posting them in your blogsite constitute their nourishment. They have nothing positive to offer. DELETE ALL THEIR POSTS.
What I don't understand is this: many of these people complained that they are not given the opportunity to join in any discussions. But, try letting them in and they abuse the forum by hurling nonsensical, insulting comments full of bitterness and venom. I didn't publish the full QUACK-QUACK of this guy because he is calling himself part of an alliance (like the National People Army), and I have no time for that nonsense. The NPA has killed too many civilians already. What cause are you guys talking about? HOOLIGANISM is what you're doing. I've witnessed all your evil crusades in the Bicol Region, don't fool me. I have no time for a hooligan like you.
Don't you post any message again because I will not allow it, anyway. Just keep wallowing in the mire of Pasig River and may you have a hard time trying to extricate yourself – and that would serve you right, you stupid fool.
This topic is now closed.
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home