Is your dream to write and/or draw comics for a big publisher? Today’s your lucky day! DC Comics announced that they are launching a Talent Development Workshop this year for aspiring comics writers and artists!
The goal of the DC Talent Development Workshop is to “give access and a voice to new and prospective talent, providing an opportunity to showcase their work following intensive DC workshop sessions,” according to a press release. What’s cool is that there are separate programs for writers and artists! The writing program will be taught by Batman‘s Scott Snyder and the artist program will be taught by DC Co-Publisher Jim Lee, so you know you’re getting a legit comics education.
Says Lee, “Our goal is to identify and foster fresh, new voices. The new DC Talent Development Workshops will play a vital role in discovering and developing the next generation of comic talent.”
Snyder seems really excited to be working with up-and-coming writers, saying, “I’m so proud and honored to be heading up DC’s Writers Workshop. Teaching has always been a passion of mine, and getting to help welcome and coach new voices at a company that’s given me so many creative opportunities is a tremendous thrill.”
“I’ve brought in a lot of new writers to DC, both from within and outside of comics, for Rebirth,” says DC Entertainment Chief Creative Officer Geoff Johns. “Working with them closely as we rebuild our universe. The creative growth of DC comes from new voices joining the mix, both writers and artists, and it’s been an absolute highlight to work with them.”
It’s not clear how many slots are available in each program, but they do give a little info about how the programs will work:
The 2016 Artists Workshop was developed by DC with world-renowned artists Jim Lee, Klaus Janson and Andy Kubert and follows a successful pilot program that took place in fall 2015. Visit DCComicsTalentWorkshop.com to view artwork completed by pilot program students.
Competitive candidates will have an established portfolio of sequential art and illustrations. For the artists selected via the online submission process, the Workshop will provide the knowledge and exposure required to cross the threshold into the competitive world of comic book publishing. Chosen artists will be asked to complete art assignments that will be critiqued by several top DC Artists. If the artists achieve the level of work required for the course they will then be invited to a two-week, intensive workshop at DCE’s Burbank offices.
The 2016 Writers Workshop was developed by DC with bestselling writer Scott Snyder and follows a successful three-month pilot program. For selected candidates, the first part of the 2016–2017 DC Comics Writers Workshop will run October 2016–January 2017 as an online real-time, weekly interactive seminar, for thirteen consecutive weeks. Each seminar will teach a new skill essential for surviving and excelling in this highly competitive field. Following the initial Workshop, a smaller hand-selected group of those participants will be invited to DCE offices in Burbank for an intensive writing experience, featuring guest speakers currently working in comic books, including a mix of editors, writers, artists and the Talent Development staff.
Upon completion of the Master Class program, DCE’s Talent Development group will ensure successful participants are considered for positions on current DC titles.
Online applications for DC’s Artists Workshop will be accepted April 1-30, 2016 while applications for the Writers Workshop will be accepted May 1-31, 2016. And a note for writers – if you go to the program information on the website, you’ll see that writers get this stipulation that artists don’t: DC will only consider writers with current or past professional credits. We don’t consider DC to be a first career stop, but rather an ultimate goal. Interpret that how you will.
Good luck, Future DC Pros! I’m looking forward to all the future comics you’ll create!
(via DC Comics)
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