Oni Press is pleased to announce: Oni Press Talent Search 2009!
In past years the Oni Press Talent Search has been a terrific success, and this year we’re excited to continue our search for up and coming artists at Comic-Con International in San Diego, California July 22nd – 27th, and through the mail until August 15th.
THE GUIDELINES
In order to have your portfolio reviewed, you must illustrate at least one of the below stories. Realizing that different artists are geared towards different subject matter, three professional writers have each developed a five-page script, using a different genre and showcasing a different personal scripting style.
Supernatural comedy titled Our Hero by Philip Gelatt, writer of Labor Days, and Indiana Jones Adventures.
Espionage thriller titled Cold City by Antony Johnston, writer of Wasteland and the Dead Space video game series.
Western drama titled Medicine Show by Frank Beaton, writer of various short stories appearing in This is a Souvenir, Outlaw Territory, 24/Seven and others.
At San Diego Comic-Con we will be conducting the Oni Press Talent Search in lieu of portfolio reviews. In order to guarantee a portfolio review appointment with an Oni editor during regular convention hours you will need to illustrate one or more of the three scripts provided. In addition to presenting the original art at the review session, interested parties must also bring with them 8 ½”x11″ photocopies of both penciled art and inked art for Oni Press to keep as reference. Each photocopied page should include the artist’s name, phone number, and e-mail address. The samples are preferred in a manila envelope that also includes the artist’s name and contact information in the address line.
Not attending Comic-Con? While Oni Press DOES NOT accept unsolicited submissions, we will accept Oni Press Talent Search submissions postmarked before August 15th, 2009 and mailed to:
ONI PRESS TALENT SEARCH 2009
1305 SE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Suite A
Portland, OR 97214
Mailed submissions should be submitted in a manila envelope and include 8 ½”x11″ photocopies of both penciled art and inked art for Oni Press to keep as reference. Each photocopied page should include the artist’s name, phone number, and e-mail address. Submitters will get an e-mail response from Oni Press in three to six months.
If you have any questions concerning Oni Press Talent Search 2009, please email them to talentsearch@onipress.com and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
Thank you for your interest and good luck!
Jill Beaton
Assistant Editor and Talent Search Coordinator
Oni Press
Oni Press will not be reviewing portfolios of individuals who have not followed the above guidelines in person or via mail.
Please do not mail us your original ideas or project proposals! Oni Press does not accept unsolicited submissions, except at conventions and only as leave-behind materials. Leave-behind materials should be no larger than 8 ½”x11″ and should include all pertinent contact information, overview, sample script, and sample sequential art in a manila envelope with clearly printed contact information in the address line. Writers may submit without art. Leave-behind materials will not be reviewed on site, but all leave-behind materials will be reviewed upon returning to the Oni offices. Within 3-6 months an editor from Oni Press will contact you regarding your work.
Hi, the talentsearch@ address bounced, so I’ll just post my question here.
Is the search open to international artists? I and I think a few of my friends would be very interested, but we’re in the UK.
Thanks.
Comment by Willie hewes — June 20, 2009 @ 9:28 am
[...] Oni Press Talent Search 2009: http://www.onipress.com/blog/?p=847 [...]
Pingback by maiki's status on Sunday, 21-Jun-09 22:45:02 UTC - Identi.ca — June 21, 2009 @ 3:45 pm
About the mailed submissions: Should the original art be sent with the photocopies, and if so, would it be returned?
Comment by Samma — June 22, 2009 @ 6:09 pm
Hm, I can’t seem to be able to email my question for some reason, but is this talentsearch open for people outside of the United States as well?
Comment by Jaap! — June 23, 2009 @ 11:55 am
Absolutely! The talentsearch@onipress.com email has been checked and is now functioning as intended.
Comment by Cory Casoni — June 26, 2009 @ 1:07 pm
Please don’t send us your original art! If you do you wont get it back!
Comment by Cory Casoni — June 26, 2009 @ 1:08 pm
Always welcome to submit! The email should be working correctly now.
Comment by Cory Casoni — June 26, 2009 @ 1:09 pm
[...] are running a talent search for artists. The way you play is that you turn one of their three scripts into a comic, and hope [...]
Pingback by Oni Press Talent Search — ITCH — June 27, 2009 @ 10:58 pm
Very interested in this, it looks like a fun way to go about this sort of thing! The stories look interesting as well, particularly the middle one!
I might still enter, even if I dont necessarily agree with the script layouts…if alot of pro comic scripts are like this, maybe I should get used to it if I get the chance for something like that.
I hope I dont come across as arrogant or something, but I do have one critisism with all these scripts :S I find it bizzare that the scripts are so specific in paneling and layout- shouldnt that be left more with the judgment of a good artist? Are alot of comic scripts done like this? I think if you’re ‘talent spotting’ then surely how an artist paces and lays out the pages is just as important as the artwork when it comes to comiking- a good comic artist will be able to take a story and make it flow easily- alot of the time panels shouldnt even come into it, and yet all of these scripts involve panels. I dont want to sound disrespectful- sometimes writers might not have such a good judgement on page layouts as the artist, I know this through experience! …Maybe they have already drawn comics and know exactly what theyre talking about though? Boy, I dont want to sound like a twat XD But I really think, especially if youre looking for talent, page layouts and pacing are just as important as art and characters. Maybe next year add that to judging too, what if you got an amazing artist who pitches their own story, but then doesnt do something that flows or read properly.
haha my chances of being well judged for this competition have faded now!
Comment by Rebecca Burgess — June 28, 2009 @ 2:32 am
ok, Ive just been told by a few people that professional comic scripts are written to describe panel layouts!
With that in mind, I will still disagree with it to an extent, but accept thats the way its done too! In which case I’ll totally enter, just so I can practice for any future jobs!
Comment by Rebecca Burgess — June 28, 2009 @ 6:59 am
Hey! Got a short question; When I draw I use ink and pencil simultaneously, so when the page is finished ink covers most of the pencils. Therefor I don’t have the possibilty to photocopy my pencil pages as they are never completed in just pencil, if you know what I mean. Can I therefor just send photocopies of finished inked pages (since I always ink my own work and want to keep working that way)?
Cheers!
Comment by Daniel — June 30, 2009 @ 10:17 am
Echoing Daniel’s question, I work digitally so there are no pencils for me to submit. Would my submission be eligible?
Many Thanks,
Jason
Comment by Jay — July 5, 2009 @ 3:03 pm
I am not quite clear on the guidelines of the contest. Do you have to do both pencils and inks to qualify, or can you choose one or the other?
Also if you go to the San Diego Comiccon, are there certain times and days editors are looking at the submissions?
Thanks,
Keith
Comment by keith — July 13, 2009 @ 12:48 pm
[...] For more details & how to apply, check the Oni Press website: http://www.onipress.com/blog/?p=847 [...]
Pingback by THE BEAT » Blog Archive » SD09: Oni Press — July 19, 2009 @ 9:42 am