PLAYDIGM Entertainment Licensing & Branding

Okay – been very busy redesigning the new Galactic Gladiators website and adding a Facebook page.  You can check out FB by searching Galactic Gladiators once you are logged into Facebook, but be sure to go to the Official page (Tessa is on the cover of GG issue 2) = the profile photo.

Setting up contracts for Finders Fee agreements for those interested in raising money for the graphic novel and film project.  Get a piece of this excellent entertainment project and brand.

Send email to admin@Playdigm.com and put ‘Finder’ in the subject line.  I will send you more info.  Scott Lee is ready to start the artwork!

Cheers!

The on going saga of building a brand:

Stage 11

After the first draft of the Galactic Gladiators screenplay was completed, I filed copyright and had my Trademark Agent – Brian Long register the title with the Canadian Intellectual Property Office.  Estimated cost of $1,000 when hard costs, agent fees and miscellaneous were incurred.  This process took almost a year waiting for government approval.  Once we received the Trademark certificate, we were ready for the next stage.

Stage 12

The process to obtain international distribution with Diamond Comics (distributor for Marvel, Image, Darkhorse, Top Cow, DC comics and pretty much every other important comic/graphic novel and related merchandise), was more complicated than expected.  They required that before approving any book from a new independent comic company they would need to see a completed first issue and enough story for four issues.

The period of brainstorming to design each character’s look and wardrobe for all the humans and aliens took just under a year. This included the look and feel of the environments, planets, spaceships, technologies and other items people don’t realize have to be created from our imagination.  I would write a description of say – the protagonist Tessa or the extraterrestrial species known as the Psions and Scott would draw his version of those characters until they were perfect. This pre-production phase was a most enjoyable process for me.

Stage 13

We raised the initial funds to retain Scott Lee (artist), Ben Prenevost (colorist) and Rachel Moffat (graphics) to start the first book. Page by page, the first issue of Galactic Gladiators came together.  I was surprised that the pre-production cost for issue one was around $30,000.  This was more than we budgeted for, but this had to be done before confirmation of distribution by our potential major  distributor.

After incurring all these costs to draw the line art, ink pages, color and letter the first issue and make prototype mock-ups that were sent to Diamond for approval, I was totally shocked when they declined the comic book series for distribution because they did not like the title.

People who know me, know that ‘NO’, to me means ‘Not Right Now.’

Diamond explained that the Galactic Gladiators title was too – Battlestar Galactica or 1980ish and declined to market my comic.  I was devastated because of all the money and time that we had invested into this project and how important having Diamond involved was.  This of course, was prior to Battlestar Galactica being remade for Space Channel and it becoming a huge hit on television. However, it took a movie called GLADIATOR, starring Russell Crowe to change Diamond’s mind.   Gladiator was a huge hit!

Also, a bit of quick talking on my part helped as I explained that my title was perfect, catchy and a brand name worthy of a comic series they should market.  I reconfirmed that I already had the Trademark secured in Canada and an application filed in the United States of America.  They reconsidered their previous decision and now ‘got it’ and decided to handle my brand.

The rest is history.

Next Report will be #8.

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FROM THE MIND TO THE MARKE – Pre-Order this ebook by sending an email to info@Playdigm.com (put title of book in the subject line).  This ebook is expected to be available in late 2009.  Reserve an issue with no money down. Payment to be required later.

(c) Sandford Tuey All Rights Reserved.

The ongoing development of a brand.

Stage 9

Learning how to write a comic was the hard part compared to finding artists, colorists and lettering people. I took a three act sceenplay and broke it down into three comic issues of 22 pages each (this is the standard amount of story pages per comic these days).  Everything seemed fine.

I then searched the net and asked everyone I knew to recommend people to develop the screenplay into my comic book/story boards.

After compiling a list of potential candidates and reviewing their portfolios and previous work, it came down to three excellent artists.  There was a female who drew manga style (good for international markets but not what I really wanted), there was an unknown guy who drew very well but normal super hero style (which I knew would not translate well into the Asian markets)  and Scott Lee, who’s artwork was excellent and unique (might even go global if given the chance).

Scott’s characters are long, sexy and lanky. Very different style then what is out there.  His artwork is interesting and good enough that he has worked with Marvel, Top Cow/Image, DC comics and presently works with Radical Entertainment (one of Canada’s premiere video game publishers owned by Universal – Vivendi).  Picking Scott was the best decision I have ever made for designing new characters for a new brand.

The same process kind of happened with choosing the colorist but once Scott introduced me to the work of Ben Prenevost, it was an instant and wise choice.  His coloring technique was perfect for my theme and story. Plus he had worked with Scott before and together their style just works.

Next I checked out graphic designers who could provide lettering and page layout for printers.  I knew from the beginning that this person should be local (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada) as I would need to work closely with them prior to it being submitted to the print company.

Rachel Moffat of was introduced to me and her graphic art experience is incredible.  Not only did she pick up the comic craft instantly, but we also designed our own dialog balloons (needed a special way to transmit thoughts from one Psion character to another character).  It was a pleasure working with her as the patience she needed to put the whole project together was amazing.  Remember, both of us had never produced a comic before.

The next installment will be titled Galactic Gladiators Part #6.

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Order – FROM THE MIND TO THE MARKET – now.  It will be available later in 2009. Pre-order by contacting Info@Playdigm.com.

(c) Sandford Tuey All Rights Reserved.