By Guest Bloggers: Dan Almoney & Edward Fox
Seems like a simple question, but for some it’s a tough one to answer. It’s even harder to explain it to a kid looking to make their mark on the world. Now, try to answer that question in the middle of a school day that’s jam packed with lesson requirements, standardized tests and a home life filled with Playstation and the internet.
Enter “Pure Imagination: The Secrets Of Comics Creation,” documentary that not only helps to answer that ever important question about ideas, but also takes kids through the entire creative process; helping them through writer’s block, helping them search for inspiration, and, helping them go from doodlers to doers!
Now, I know what you’re thinking: “Comics?”, and I say, “Of course comics!” I don’t know if you’ve heard or not, but it’s the coolest, hippest thing in education right now. Not just reading comics, but TEACHING with comics and graphic novels. Think about all the multi-media kids consume, and the question is more like, “What took so long?”
But you see, it’s not really about comics at all. Yeah, we talk to people who write and draw in the comics medium, but that’s just their chosen method of expression and the setting we chose for the film. The lessons found in “Pure Imagination” are bigger than comics and bigger than the film itself.
And if you don’t believe me, here’s what Jim Davis, the creator of “Garfield,” had to say about what goes into creating a comic.
“Creating a comic strip requires perseverance, determination, and imagination. It would have been nice to have seen a video like ‘Pure Imagination, The Secrets of Comics Creation’ when I was young.”
Sure, it’s easy to be somebody who reads a book – somebody who listens to a song – somebody who looks at pictures. But wouldn’t it be much more rewarding to write a book, compose a song, or paint a picture? It’s not always easy, but you never know where it will lead. In fact, it could lead to places far outside of the arts. Perhaps the next great scientific discovery or that cure of cancer is sitting in the brain of some 11 year-old just waiting for a day of great brainstorming!
So: calling all you teachers, parents, librarians, counselors. EVERYONE! Help inspire a child today! Start them on the path to creative thinking. Start them on the path to ideas. Start them on that path with “Pure Imagination!”
Co-Founders and Producers, Dan Almoney and Edward Fox, of Media Boomtown, LLC tell stories and promote projects they are passionate about. “Pure Imagination: The Secrets of Comics Creation”, is their first documentary. View a clip here.