Expo A GoGo

May 23, 2012

Well, looks like I’m all set for London’s MCM Expo this weekend!

Not that I didn’t get a few scares preparing. I received my 30 issues from the printer today seemingly without incident and checking the top batch found them to be satisfactory; I very nearly packed them on the assumption they would all be the same but fortunately my characteristic paranoia kicked in and I decided to do a thorough examination for peace of mind.

Ever seen one of those movies where someone gets a briefcase full of money and checks the top layer only to later discover the bottom notes are newspaper? Turns out the last 13 copies – of course it would be 13 – had been assembled in the wrong order with a repeated page to boot. Naturally I wasn’t too pleased discovering this and while I didn’t exactly launch into a gangster rampage I was dialling the printer within seconds.

I won’t stoop to naming and shaming them here however as they were more than reasonable about the problem; besides having reprints/rearrangements ready within a couple of hours they also threw in a couple of extra copies as an apology, not really a matter worth holding a grudge over, though an important lesson in being thorough – with print jobs and briefcases of money…

Anyway, this first issue may be a rather modest little booklet but it’s still thrilling to see Branch printed professionally for the first time and most of it has made the transfer from monitor to page rather nicely.

For anyone who happens to be at the Expo and wants to find me (and my work) I’ll be in Artists’ Alley at table F3, for all the rest of you who can’t make it: wish me luck ;)

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Posted by Ozy

Expo Confirmed (and other trivial stuff)

January 29, 2012

Following on from the other related post I’ve now gotten my badges/pass for a table at London’s MCM Expo in May so barring the most unfortunate of events I’m confirmed for it no matter what :) There’s still plenty to work on, sort out and decide upon in the coming months, however this sets me an unshakable deadline to gather my work up into a coherent printed volume of some kind.

On the subject of deadlines, I have another college one for next Wednesday requiring me to present a new statement of intent for the final MA project. This provides a good way for me to refocus my goals while taking into account the many developments and changes which have taken place over the masters. However, on the downside it also means I won’t have time to prepare a page for tomorrow; if this is a race to the finish line I need to get more organised and stop taking stumbles like this…

Regardless, I’ll make sure that when the page does arrive it’s worth the wait and since the blog has been research light as of late I’ll see to it I write-up on something a bit more substantial soon!

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Posted by Ozy

London Expo?

January 18, 2012

Today we had our briefing for the final module of the MA, specifically covering the finalised piece we’ll deliver and the build up to it. There weren’t many surprises – mainly just a few dates to add to the calendar –  however I will be required to redefine my project proposal in light of the numerous developments and alterations made. More than anything though, this firmly signifies the final stretch of the course and the need to really push myself as I approach the end.

Yesterday, coincidentally but somewhat providently I applied to book a table at London’s forthcoming MCM Expo in May (thanks for the headsup  Ushio!). I’ve been recommended by several people and sources to get my work out there in a physical form and become more involved with the community, so this is my chance. I’d actually intended to go have a look around back in 2010 though ultimately couldn’t –  thankyou extortionate rail fares – this time I’m planning ahead not just to be prepared but also to set myself an enticing goal to work towards.

As I’ve previously explained, I doubt I’ll be able to complete the entire planned graphic within the MA but I still want to have at least a first chapter/issue as a prototype, professionally printed and presented. This extends to my planned table at the Expo; the first chapter/third of the plot hopefully has enough standalone merit to engage readers and make it worth picking up, so I absolutely MUST have that much done by the start of May.

Nothing’s definite just yet but it could be a genuinely exciting prospect and one which would encourage me to put my back into the next few months of work :)

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Posted by Ozy