“After the Party” If you mess with drugs you are messing with your mind. A comic book scripting process with Decontextualisation in mind.
The comic was called “After the Party” If you mess with drugs you are messing with your mind. Initiated by Child and Youth Mental Health Qld the comic book scripting process serves as an illuminating example of Decontextualisation. (See Image)
The aim of the process was to engage three young people in a process where they
- told their story
- reflected upon their story
- shared insights gained from the reflection upon their story
- scripted a representational story board
- scripted possibilities and scenarios
- analyzed ways young people could reach out for help
- speculated with parents (audience) about what would be useful behaviour when addressing the topic of drug and alcohol problems
- gave insight into what they mental health system may be like
I was commissioned to illustrate this script.
- I facilitated the process by companioning the young people in the style of MIECAT and or using the MIECAT Process.
- I companioned myself by attending to every aspect of Programme Achieve and by companioning myself. This is called The Self As Therapist, Self Parenting or Self Soothing.
- By going through this process, I became more aware of the frustrations and setbacks others experience when attempting very long marathon projects.
- I feel I can talk to the children on an equal level when we enter aspects of Programme Achieve.
- I depthed my own issues as I reflected the sentiments of the young people, their mentors and the women who worked with me. Linda Leatherbarrow and Kristy Mammon.
I journaled the process
- It was a difficult script because it was the synthesis of three stories
- They were told separately but left with tension and anticipation at the end.
- At the end of each two-page script there was a note that read “turn to page eight to find out what happens”.
- This made it difficult to keep the continuity of time and place
- we had to pay particular attention to devices such as clocks and headings intended to give visual clues.
- The comic took eighteen months to prepare
- by the end of the eighteen-month project the illustrating style had changed immensely
- and there needed to be a final blending to rework the depiction so that it was synthesized.
If you are starting out creating comics for the first time,
- I suggest you begin very simply.
- keep the plot straight forward
- and the illustration style an easy one.
There is no doubt that the more complex the story line and the techniques the more quality will be created – however – learning about scripting and layout and presentation in incremental stages would be advised.
To read about other Authentic Scripting Authentic Authorship
(For copies or information Sophie Morson. Institute of Child and Youth Mental Health. P.O.Box 1507. Fortitude Valley.4006. Ph: 38351444
