Why I Love... Jason Burns!
Welcome to another edition of the Why I Love column, where I, Eric Ratcliffe, pick something I've read, played, listened to or watched to discuss with you fair readers. This week we catch up with good friend Jason Burns who has joined up with a new company who have one of the hottest all ages licenses that you could ask for. We talk about his current plans, what is going on with the Shrek books and just what he's doing at Ape. So without further ado, the interview!
Eric Ratcliffe: So Jay, to start off with, last time we talked you were the EIC of Outlaw Entertainment, had like 20,000 books coming out all at once and life seemed good. Are you just a writer for Outlaw now or have you stepped away from them completely?
Jason Burns: Basically an opportunity presented itself that I couldn't turn down. I have known of Ape Entertainment as a company long before I started working in the industry, and having a chance to be a part of their DreamWorks line, which includes Shrek and Penguins of Madagascar, was something I really got excited about. I have spent most of my career working on creator-owned material, so to be able to get my hands dirty on such high profile licensed properties, both as a writer and as an editor, was a direction I have wanted to head in for some time. As for Outlaw, I did have a number of books in the works with them, and I am still overseeing their completion. As far as when they'll be released? I'm not quite sure; though I'm confident a chunk of them will find shelf time this year.
Eric: Something I'm curious about is the status of the Dummy's Guide to Danger novel...is it still in the works?
Jay: Well, I guess I will break it here first. I'm returning to the world of Dummy's Guide of Danger, but not quite as a novel yet. I plan on releasing a number of shorts through my Web site, www.jasonmburns.com, that will lead into something bigger for the series down the road. Joe Eisma, who worked on A Dummy's Guide to Danger: Lost at Sea, will be handling art chores on the first short. Not quite sure on a posting date yet, but I'd say expect to see them in the spring. I want to get a few of them in the pipeline before they start hitting cyberspace.
Eric: That is a pretty big announcement, going back to another of your old properties is there any news on the expendable one movie or has it completely stopped?
Jay: Dummy's Guide is one of those books that I could work on full time and be happy. The characters are just so much fun to write. Expendable One is still in the works. The producers are very passionate about it and have put a lot of time and energy into getting it right, so I'm excited to see how it turns out.
Eric: So joining up with Ape, what do you hope to accomplish?
Jay: When I go and work with a company behind the scenes, my goal is to always contribute wherever I can, but I try to learn and absorb as much as I can at the same time. Every company is run differently, and every company has its own niche. Having an open mind in this business is a valuable tool because it enables you to cross over where otherwise; you may not be able to. And on top of that, you always want to move two steps forward with each move you make. As soon as I start stepping backwards, that's when it's time to revaluate things.
Eric: It seems to me that DreamWorks really has become a force to be reckoned with next to Pixar.
Jay: Modern animation in general has become a box office bonanza, and I think it's because they realize how important it is to make them appealing to both kids and adults, which is what DreamWorks does so well. I can sit down with my nieces and nephews and enjoy Shrek Forever After just as much as they do, and that's a hard thing to do. They have mastered the art of mingling tastes and genres, and they do it in such a fun way that it's hard not to come out of the theater feeling like it was money well spent. That's the same vibe we're going for with the comics, and based off of the material we've produced so far, I think the creative teams have been nailing it!
Eric: So will you be writing less as you work with Ape Entertainment?
Jay: Aside from Ape books and a few projects I was previously committed to, I will be taking some time off from the creator-owned comic space to focus on other creative endeavors. I'll still have some comic stuff coming out because I had so much in the pipeline, but I don't plan on writing any new creator-owned comic properties for awhile.
Eric: What does the contract with DreamWorks entail?
Jay: Well, for starters we'll be kicking off with a series of Shrek books and then a series of Penguins of Madagascar books, all of which have been exceeding my expectations as a fan first, and someone who works for the publisher putting them out second. I think people are really going to enjoy them, and that's not just me blowing smoke. We have a great crew of creators and artists working on them, and it's just been an amazing collaborative effort by everyone involved. I'm really proud of the work everyone has done. Aside from Shrek and Penguins, there's more on the horizon, but the crystal ball I'm allowed to share doesn't look that far into the future.
Eric: So with you as the new boss and the company having a deal with DreamWorks, is it safe to say that Ape intends to be more directed towards a more all ages readership? Or will we also be seeing more mature reads from the company?
Jay: Well, I wouldn't say I'm the boss. Co-publishers David Hedgecock and Brent Erwin are the life's blood of Ape Entertainment. My role was to come in and just help out where I can, from production to promotion to writing. That being said, the company is looking to expand their all ages readership, and they're doing it with a new line called KiZoic. Not only will the DreamWorks material be fed through that line, but some great originals are planned too, including the upcoming Mecha-Nation and Scratch9.
Eric: With the average comic seemingly going up price wise, will we be seeing three or four dollar reads?
Jay: Unfortunately, that's the nature of the beast, and it's not because anyone wants it to be. With printing costs continuing to rise, independent companies have to increase their cover prices in order to make the numbers work. But, with digital comics finally getting a fighting chance thanks to companies like iVerse and readers like the iPhone/iPad, I think we'll see prices come down across the board in the industry, at least in the digital space.
Eric: So what exactly does the licensing with DreamWorks allow Ape to do? Are you guys working on stuff connected to all their properties?
Jay: Well, one thing to know is that we're specifically working on the DreamWorks Animation material, which includes Shrek and Penguins of Madagascar to start. We have some other stuff in the pipeline with DreamWorks Animation, which is SO cool, but I'm a tease, and so... Tease, tease, tease. So, basically we're working on specific properties, and damn is it fun!
Eric: So do your creative teams have access to the writers/actors and screenplays to help with projects?
Jay: Yes. We were able to get a peek at the upcoming Shrek Forever After film, because they are introducing new characters that will play a part in our books, so we had a chance to read the script beforehand. And while we're not working with the writers/actors we are working directly with DreamWorks Animation, which allows us to plug into that world and make sure we're getting everything right.
Eric: So what kind of projects can people look forward to here?
Jay: Well, we're releasing the Shrek Forever After prequel on May 11th, and that features three short stories that delve into a little bit of back story for some of the film's newer characters. And then shortly after that, we'll begin releasing four issues of a Shrek mini-series, with each issue being a standalone story. Great talent, great art, and great stories make this a must have for anyone into Shrek, and that's not just my sales side talking. And then from there, a Penguins of Madagascar four issue mini-series, which is actually one ongoing story, which is pretty ridiculously hilarious. Love those penguins!
The first Shrek stories were available last weekend for Free Comic Day. I'll keep you updated on the future of the properties handled as Jay has me very excited to see what they are cooking up!
Eric Ratcliffe is a young writer/pop culture journalist/interviewer currently working on pitching a project named the Hunter chronicles. When not reading his weekly stack Eric can be found watching DVDs, playing on his 360 (gamertag: Zack Hunter) or just surfing online trying to find a scoop or two. Brand new to the Comic Related family, Eric is a fun new voice. Eric shops at TJ's Collectibles. Visit them on the web at www.tjcollect.com!
blog comments powered by Disqus