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BMP NEWS | |
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BMP (New Wave) keeps you up-to-date with our activities and projects in the upcoming months. Our work also takes us outside the comic domain to other interesting creative disciplines. Old news items can be found in the BMP (New Wave) News Archive or the BMP (Classic) News Archive. |
To meet the needs of its Comics/Graphic Novels Portfolio members and comics creators around Australia, the Australian Society of Authors (ASA) has just launched its new ASA Minimum Comics Freelance Page Rates.
To view, go to the Rates and Conditions page on the ASA website or download the PDF.
(16 April 2010)
In their capacities as Australian Society of Authors Comics/Graphic Novels Portfolio Holders, BMP Directors Jozef Szekeres and Julie Ditrich have organised the following professional development seminar for comics creators at this Years Supanova in four Australian capital cities.
You lock your house up when you leave it. You lock you car up when you park it. You lock your email account with a password, but do you lock up your brand name, logo or commercially valuable intangible assets? More and more authors are looking to fully commercially exploit their intellectual property by using the registered trade marks system. A trade mark can be a word, phrase, letter, number, sound, smell, shape, logo, picture or a combination of these. In this session you'll learn how trade marks can help you make the most of your creativity.
Australia's economic well-being depends on capturing the benefits of increased innovation and creativity. IP Australia's role is to provide a strong intellectual property (IP) system, which promotes innovation, investment and trade. IP Australia does this by administering the patents, trade marks, designs and plant breeder's rights systems, as well as producing industry specific tools, which help business to fully exploit their creativity and innovation.
The Australian Society of Authors (which incorporates the Society of Book Illustrators [SOBI]) is the peak professional association for Australian literary creators and has over 3000 members. The Comics/Graphic Novels Portfolio was formed in mid 2007, to provide industry support to Australian artists and writers currently working in the comics medium and, in particular, the graphic novel format.
About the Speaker – Paul Loeffler-White
Paul Loeffler-White is the Queensland State Outreach Manager for IP Australia. He worked in the areas of legal metrology, fair trading and product safety before moving to IP Australia 15 years ago. Paul has an extensive knowledge and understanding of IP issues and their processes as well as an in depth understanding of a range of strategic issues facing the public and private sectors particularly their effect on small to medium enterprises.
Date: Saturday 10 April 2010
Time: 6.00pm to 7.00pm
Venue: Supanova Seminar Room (downstairs), Exhibition Building, RNA Showgrounds, Gregory Terrace, Brisbane
Entry fee: There is no charge to attend the seminar. However, attendees must be exhibitors or hold a One Day Pass ($23.80 through Ticketek or $25.00 at the door) or a Supafan Three Day Weekend Pass ($49. 50 through Ticketek or $60.00 at the door). Ticketek Bookings – 132 849 or http://premier.ticketek.com.au.
Further Information: Check the event guide on the Supanova website or the ASA website.
About the Speaker – John Jenkins
John Jenkins is the State Outreach Manager of Victoria/Tasmania for IP Australia. John has been developing alliances with a range of government and private service providers for over 14 years to inform them and their small business clients about the critical role of IP in building sustainable businesses. During this time John has delivered presentations on intellectual property to various private, educational and business groups.
Date: Saturday 17 April 2010
Time: 6.00pm to 7.00pm
Venue: Supanova Seminar Room, opposite Exhibition Hall (via Main Entrance off Epsom Rd), Melbourne Showgrounds
Entry fee: There is no charge to attend the seminar. However, attendees must be exhibitors or hold a One Day Pass ($23.85 through Ticketek or $25.00 at the door) or a Supafan Weekend Pass ($39. 50 through Ticketek or $50.00 at the door). Ticketek Bookings – 132 849 or http://premier.ticketek.com.au.
Further Information: Check the event guide on the Supanova website or the ASA website.
About the Speaker – Eunika Janus
Eunika Janus is the NSW Outreach Manager at IP Australia. As part of her role, Eunika is responsible for raising awareness of intellectual property issues amongst the business and general community in NSW, with a particular focus on creative industries. Before joining IP Australia, Eunika worked as a solicitor in the trade marks practice of one of Australia’s largest corporate law firms.
Date: Saturday 19 June 2009
Time: 6.00pm to 7.00pm
Venue: Supanova Seminar Room, The Dome, Sydney Olympic Park
Entry fee: There is no charge to attend the seminar. However, attendees must be exhibitors or hold a One Day Pass ($23.80 through Ticketek or $25.00 at the door) or a Supafan Weekend Pass ($39. 50 through Ticketek or $50.00 at the door). Ticketek Bookings – 132 849 or http://premier.ticketek.com.au.
Further Information: Check the event guide on the Supanova website or the ASA website.
About the Speaker – Nigel Stewart
Nigel Stewart is WA Outreach Manager for IP Australia and has been providing support and assistance to clients for the past 10 years. Nigel has more recently been focused on participation in education forums for business support networks, which he finds both stimulating and rewarding.
Date: Saturday 26 June 2010
Time: 6.00 to 7.00pm
Venue: Supanova Seminar Room, Robinson Pavillion, Claremont Showgrounds, Perth
Entry fee: There is no charge to attend the seminar. However, attendees must be exhibitors or hold a One Day Pass ($23.80 through Ticketek or $25.00 at the door) or a Supafan Weekend Pass ($39. 50 through Ticketek or $50.00 at the door). Ticketek Bookings – 132 849 or http://premier.ticketek.com.au.
Further Information: Check the event guide on Supanova website or the ASA website.
(7 April 2010)
Black Mermaid Productions™ director, Jozef Szekeres, has designed the new Valentine image for the Celebration Black Mermaid™ range in our Black Mermaid™ Boutique. Note that we have also changed our shop name to reflect the products on sale. "Dusky Rose" will only be available for another four days in 2010 until 14 February 11.59pm – US Pacific Time) so grab her while you can. Check out the full range of products with the new design at: http://www.cafepress.com/black_mermaid/7035457
(10 February 2010)
Black Mermaid Productions™ director, Jozef Szekeres, has designed a new Undersea Black Mermaid™ (Turtle) design for its Black Mermaid™ CafePress shop. The old design has been deleted from range. Occasionally we will replace existing designs so it's important for collectors to grab them while they are current. Check out the full range of products with the new design at: http://www.cafepress.com/black_mermaid/6337722l.
(10 November 2009)
Check out the latest Elf~Fin art snapshots on the Eternal Spheres: Elf~Fin page of the Black Mermaid website: http://www.blackmermaid.com/spheres1.html.
(10 November 2009)
Black Mermaid Productions™ (BMP) has just released "Golden Starfish " at its CaFePress Black Mermaid Shop – the fourth limited time release design in the Celebration Black Mermaid™ (Xmas) range of gifts and collectibles. The Celebration range is timed to holidays and festive occasions, and the first Xmas design in the series will only be available this year until 25 October 2009 – 11.59 US Pacific Time). You can visit the CafePress Black Mermaid Shop at: http://www.cafepress.com/black_mermaid.
(10 November 2009)
Black Mermaid Productions™ (BMP) has just released "Halloween Moon" at its CaFePress Black Mermaid Shop – the third limited time release design in the Celebration Black Mermaid™ range of gifts and collectibles. The Celebration range is timed to holidays and festive occasions, and the first Halloween design in the series will only be available this year until 31 October 2009 – 11.59 US Pacific Time). You can visit the CafePress Black Mermaid Shop at: http://www.cafepress.com/black_mermaid.
(23 September 2009)
Black Mermaid Productions™ (BMP) has just launched its third range of Black Mermaid™ brand goods, gifts and collectibles – Baby Black Mermaid™ – on its CafePress Black Mermaid Shop. The Black Mermaid™ range of images is based on the popular BMP corporate logo – a reclining mermaid silhouette that has become an identifiable part of the BMP business brand for over 15 years. BMP is, in fact, an Australian creative team made up of Jozef Szekeres (artist) and Julie Ditrich (writer) that specialises in fantasy and mermaid-related comics and graphic novels. There are six designs in the Baby Black Mermaid™ range featuring a infant version of the enduring BMP corporate logo – “Sleeping”, “Drifting”, “Cutie”, “Tummy Roll”, “Tail Flip” [pictured] and “Floating”. There are 24 products for each design, and the items range from organic infant and toddler wear to teddy bears, throw cushions, environmentally friendly water bottles, greeting cards, and framed prints that are perfect for nurseries. During the next week, BMP will be adding two more designs to its Celebration Black Mermaid™ series, which are timed to holidays and festive occasions – Halloween (which will be available until 31 October 2009 – 11.59 US Pacific Time) and Christmas (which will be available until 25 December 2009 – 11.59 US Pacific Time). You can visit the CafePress Black Mermaid Shop at: http://www.cafepress.com/black_mermaid.
(16 September 2009)
BMP Director Jozef Szekeres has just completed painting the second cover in the Elf~Fin: Hyfus & Tilaweed series–a companion piece of Tilaweed to the first issue cover of Hyfus. You can see it on the Eternal Spheres: Elf~Fin page of our website or a miniature version on our blog.
(15 July 2009)
BMP Directors, Jozef Szekeres and Julie Ditrich, will be attending Supanova Sydney on the weekend of Saturday 27 to Sunday 28 June 2009 in their dual capacities of Australian Society of Authors (ASA) Comics/Graphic Novels Portfolio Holders where they will be circulating through Artists' Alley to talk to Australian comics creators, as well as providing support to ASA Executive Director Jeremy Fisher who will be presenting the "Legal Self-Defence for Comics Creators" seminar. Jozef will also be attending the Supanova Perth event on Saturday 4 to Sunday 5 July 2009 where he will be presenting the Perth version of the "Legal Self-Defence" seminar and talking with comics artists and writers. A special membership offer will be made to creatives who join the ASA on those Supanova weekends.
(16 June 2009)
It’s natural to be overjoyed when you’re offered a publishing contract for your comics project. It’s also natural to be devastated when you realise the contract you’ve signed has left you with little or no claim over the creative property you’ve laboured on for years. Knowledge is your first line of self-defence against those publishers who weigh contracts heavily in their favour and attempt to deny you basic and intrinsic creator rights. This seminar works towards preventing you from becoming a victim of exploitative deals by introducing you to legal publishing terms and helping you understand the implications of the major clauses in contracts. These include: intellectual property and copyright; licence and territory; advances and royalties, and subsidiary (ancillary) rights. This session will also provide you with negotiating tactics and strategies, and information on where to go for help if a dispute arises. Remember… the responsibility for getting a fair deal starts with you!
Who Should Attend
Professional (published or self-published) and emerging (hobbyist) creators are welcome to stay after official Supanova closing time to attend.
About the Speakers
Dr Jeremy Fisher (Sydney session)
Executive Director of the ASA since 2004, Jeremy Fisher has extensive experience in the Australian publishing industry. He worked as an editor and publishing manager for nearly 30 years before moving into rights management and advocacy roles. First published in 1974, he has written many works in a wide range of genres.
Jozef Szekeres (Perth session)
BMP Director, illustrator, animator and comics artist Jozef Szekeres is the co-ASA Comics/Graphic Novels Portfolio Holder. He has been published in Australia, the USA and in Europe and is a staunch defender of creator rights.
About the ASA
The Australian Society of Authors (which incorporates the Society of Book Illustrators [SOBI]) is the peak professional association for Australian literary creators and has over 3000 members. The Comics/Graphic Novels Portfolio was formed in mid 2007, to provide industry support to Australian artists and writers currently working in the comics medium and, in particular, the graphic novel format.
Seminar Information
Sydney
Date: Saturday 27 June 2009
Time: 6.00pm to 7.00pm
Venue: Supanova Seminar Room,The Dome, Sydney Olympic Park
Perth
Date: Saturday 4 July 2009
Time: 6.00 to 7.00pm
Venue: Supanova Seminar Room, Robinson Pavillion, Claremont Showgrounds, Perth
Entry fee: There is no charge to attend the seminar. However, attendees must be exhibitors or hold a One Day Pass ($23.75 through Ticketek or $25.00 at the door) or a Supafan Weekend Pass ($39. 40 through Ticketek or $50.00 at the door). Ticketek Bookings – 132 849 or the website.
Further Information
Check the event guide on Supanova and the Comics/Graphic Novels Portfolio page on Australian Society of Authors.
(16 June 2009)
BMP Director Jozef Szekeres has just completed painting the first cover in the Elf~Fin: Hyfus & Tilaweed series. You can see it on the Eternal Spheres: Elf~Fin page of our website or a miniature version on our blog.
(17 May 2009)
BMP Director Julie Ditrich has contributed an article called "Unlocking and Accessing the Darkness Within: 7 Keys for Comics Creators" to Colleen Doran's blog. Here's an exerpt:
The reality is that outside of creating a fiction work for pure entertainment value, many of us choose to step into the darkness in our stories in order to challenge a society in denial and to expose controversial themes that in the past were commonly excised from our attention. The objective here is to introduce these issues not for titillation sake but to shine a spotlight on humanity’s evil-mongers and hopefully provide solutions and hope to the lost and forlorn spirits out there who relate to the characters and situations. Audiences and readers have also reached new levels of sophistication, and black-and-white portraits of good and evil just don’t cut it any more. Characters actually need to be multi-faceted. Some of the best examples of deep and complex characters I’ve come across in the last few years are on the television series Lost and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. In comics and graphic novels, JtHM [Johnny the Homicidal Maniac), as well as Neil Gaiman’s Sandman (the serial killer convention was quite extraordinary!)
(17 May 2009)
BMP Director Jozef Szekeres has been doing some homework for readers who have been unable to obtain a complete set of the out-of-print and exceptionally rare original WaveDancers. He has just discovered a cache of each issue for sale at an excellent 'Buy It Now' price on eBay. We don't know how long they'll remain up there but for all the readers who've been sending us emails on where and how they can obtain copies, here's an opportunity to purchase the entire set. Here are the links: "Search for the True Crown" Issue 1, Issue 2, Issue 3, Issue 4, Issue 5 and Issue 6.
(29 April 2009)
BMP Directors Jozef Szekeres and Julie Ditrich are interested in readers' opinions on the issue of story titles. Do you prefer character name-based titles or story/plot line based titles? To understand the rationale of our question and to vote on our online poll, just visit our blog. The closing date for voting is Sunday 17 May 2009 at 11:59 pm.
(29 April 2009)
BMP has responded to readers' requests seeking banner ads for their websites. Jozef has designed five BMP ads and they are grouped in a repository on the Links page of this website. Please feel free to use them where appropriate and thank you for your interest in promoting our website and our upcoming Elf~Fin project.
(26 March 2009)
BMP Directors, Jozef Szekeres and Julie Ditrich, will be attending Supanova Brisbane on the weekend of Saturday 3 to Sunday 4 April 2009 in their dual capacities of Australian Society of Authors (ASA) Comics/Graphic Novels Portfolio Holders where they will be circulating through Artists' Alley to talk to Australian comics creators, as well as providing support to ASA Executive Director Jeremy Fisher who will be presenting the "Legal Self-Defence for Comics Creators" seminar. Jozef will also be attending the Supanova Melbourne event on Saturday 28 to Sunday 29 March 2009 and talking with comics artists and writers. A special membership offer will be made to creatives who join the ASA on the Supanova weekends.
(26 March 2009)
It’s natural to be overjoyed when you’re offered a publishing contract for your comics project. It’s also natural to be devastated when you realise the contract you’ve signed has left you with little or no claim over the creative property you’ve laboured on for years.
Knowledge is your first line of self-defence against those publishers who weigh contracts heavily in their favour and attempt to deny you basic and intrinsic creator rights. This seminar works towards preventing you from becoming a victim of exploitative deals by introducing you to legal publishing terms and helping you understand the implications of the major clauses in contracts. These include: intellectual property and copyright; licence and territory; advances and royalties, and subsidiary (ancilliary) rights. This session will also provide you with negotiating tactics and strategies, and information on where to go for help if a dispute arises. Remember… the responsibility on getting a fair deal starts with you!
About the Speaker – Dr Jeremy Fisher
Executive Director of the ASA since 2004, Jeremy Fisher has extensive experience in the Australian publishing industry. He worked as an editor and publishing manager for nearly 30 years before moving into rights management and advocacy roles. First published in 1974, he has written many works in a wide range of genres.
About the ASA
The Australian Society of Authors (which incorporates the Society of Book Illustrators [SOBI]) is the peak professional association for Australian literary creators and has over 3000 members. The Comics/Graphic Novels Portfolio was formed in mid 2007, to provide industry support to Australian artists and writers currently working in the comics medium and, in particular, the graphic novel format.
Seminar Information
Date: Saturday 4 April 2009
Time: 10.30am to 11.15am
Venue: Supanova Seminar Room (downstairs), Exhibition Building, RNA Showgrounds, Gregory Terrace, Brisbane
Entry fee: There is no charge to attend the meeting. However, attendees must be exhibitors or hold a Saturday Day Pass ($20.00) or a Supafan Weekend Pass ($40). Tickets can be purchased at the door or through Ticketek (132 849 or http://premier.ticketek.com.au).
Further Information: Supanova and the Australian Society of Authors.
(26 March 2009)
BMP has just released the second design in the 2009 Celebration Black Mermaid™ Range, which is out just in time for Easter. The design which features the Black Mermaid™ draped over a large blue easter egg pearl is named "Easter Pearl". To check out the extended range of clothing, homewares and papergoods go to the CafePress Black Mermaid Shop, The Easter line of gifts and collectibles is only available for a LIMITED TIME until Sunday12 April 2009 (11.59 US Pacific Time).
(27 February 2009)
Follow us collectively on the BlackMermaid Twitter page, or individually at JozefSzekeres or JulieDitrich.
(15 February 2009)
BMP Director, Jozef Szekeres features as the guest artist in the Winter 2009 of Heavy Metal magazine – the adult illustrated fantasy art magazine – which has been in publication since 1977 and is now published and edited by Kevin Eastman of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles fame. Go to the Heavy Metal website to order a copy.
(15 February 2009)
55 voters registered their preference in the blog poll for the favourite Elf~Fin comic book cover. Of those, 92% (51) voters chose Hyfus with the dolphins and sharks as their preferred option. To see the winning cover check out our Eternal Spheres – Elf~Fin website page.
(2 February 2009)
BMP Director Jozef Szekeres has just designed several covers for the first issue of Elf~Fin: Hyfus & Tilaweed, which we have culled to a shortlist of two. We are undecided as to which one we prefer so we are asking for your feedback. You can check out the designs on our Elf~Fin page of our website, as well as our blog where you can vote for your favourite on our online poll. The closing date for voting is Saturday 31 January 2009 at 12:00 pm.
(19 January 2009)
The BMP FaceBook trilogy of groups is now complete with the new Elf~Fin™ page. If you are looking forward to this upcoming comic book/graphic novel series then pop in, join the fun, and keep checking out new artwork and story information as we post it online.
(19 January 2009)
BMP Directors Jozef Szekeres and Julie Ditrich have their own respective FaceBook pages, but as of today Black Mermaid Productions™ and the Black Mermaid™ herself have their own groups. The former is for friends and fans of BMP, and the latter is for people who love the Black Mermaid™ logo in all her manifestations. Seven designs are featured on there right now and we will soon be posting the website collection as well. Come and join in the fun, let's stay connected, and make each group rock!
(8 January 2009)
BMP is proud and happy to announce the launch of its online CafePress Black Mermaid Shop, featuring several lines of Black Mermaid™ brand gifts and collectibles. The Black Mermaid™ range of images is based on the BMP corporate logo – the reclining mermaid silhouette – which has become an identifiable part of the BMP business brand for over 15 years. The logo has been extraordinarily popular since her first global public appearance on our website in 1998 where she features in many design variations in her role as hostess. We regularly have to turn down requests from people all over the world who want to use the Black Mermaid™ artwork, and have even covered a section on her usage on the FAQ page of this website. Designed by BMP Director and artist, Jozef Szekeres, the BMP logo will now feature in many different design ranges on the CafePress Black Mermaid Shop over the upcoming years. The first range on offer is traditional in its association and feel, as it features the Black Mermaid™ in her natural underwater environment interacting with various ocean creatures. Accordingly, BMP has named this range the "Undersea Black Mermaid™". There are 15 products in the basic range and an additional 12 in the special lines. These include clothing, homewares and papergoods. BMP will also be releasing various limited edition ranges, as well as those limited by time such as the Celebration Black Mermaid™ range which will be tied to holidays and festive occasions such as Christmas and Halloween. The first image launched in 2008 in the Celebration Black Mermaid™ range is the Valentine's Day "Heart of my Hearts" design, which will only be on sale for this year until 14 February 2009 (11.59 US Pacific Time). You can visit the CafePress Black Mermaid Shop at: http://www.cafepress.com/black_mermaid.
(8 January 2009)
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