Scott's comic class at MCAD

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Eric F Myers
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Scott's comic class at MCAD

Post by Eric F Myers »

Scott McCloud wrote:THE 5-DAY SEMINAR RETURNS! August 2-6 at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, for six hours each day, I'll do my best to teach you everything I know about the art of making comics (after 20 years in the business) through visual lectures and extended hands-on exercises. Class size is limited so sign up now.
If I can find enough money I would really like to go.
Is anyone here going? Has anyone here gone before? What should I expect?
Tim Mallos wrote:We discussed layout and pacing in Scott's class (now way back in 2002 for me, but he's back at MCAD in August)

Commercial interlude: I HIGHLY recommend the experience of Scott's Class. If you go, stay on campus, it was like $80 for a studio appt for a week. http://mcadart.com/mcart/index.cgi?task ... tt+McCloud
My brief account of my experience is behind the 'MCAD Journal" link at www.fifthdigit.com/comics
Tim, how do you go about getting one of those campus studio apartments? I checked MCAD'a site and all they have is a list of nearby hotels.
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Re: Scott's comic class at MCAD

Post by William G »

efm wrote: What should I expect?
From what I heard:

1- Calypso music

2- A drink known as a "Mud slide"

3- Limbo contests

4- Special musical guests, "Phish"
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Re: Scott's comic class at MCAD

Post by Kris Lachowski »

efm wrote: If I can find enough money I would really like to go.
Is anyone here going? Has anyone here gone before? What should I expect?

Tim, how do you go about getting one of those campus studio apartments? I checked MCAD'a site and all they have is a list of nearby hotels.
I've signed up for the class. The campus apartments cost $105 for the week and the number for MCAD's housing department is 612-874-3780.
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Re: Scott's comic class at MCAD

Post by Eric F Myers »

Kris Lachowski wrote:I've signed up for the class. The campus apartments cost $105 for the week and the number for MCAD's housing department is 612-874-3780.
Cool. Thanks!
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Post by Jason Alderman »

I'm going. (!!!) Apparently the class is just before registration for classes.

Who else is in besides efm and Kris?

jason

(p.s. - Thanks for the info, Kris!)
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Post by Kris Lachowski »

Jason Alderman wrote: (p.s. - Thanks for the info, Kris!)
You're welcome, btw I started to checkout your 24hr comic, but when I got to pages with text I quit because the text was too hard to comfortably read. It might not be a bad idea to make your images a bit cleare, I know I'd read it then.
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Post by Jason Alderman »

Kris Lachowski wrote:btw I started to checkout your 24hr comic, but when I got to pages with text I quit because the text was too hard to comfortably read. It might not be a bad idea to make your images a bit cleare...
Arg. I really need to update that comics page and bury the 24-hour comic as far down as possible*... Thanks for the criticism, though. One of these days, I'll dig up the originals and rescan at a clearer resolution.

So little time...

jason

* That thing is over three years old. Not to say that I could do much better now, but...yeeesh.
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MCAD and Staying on Campus

Post by Tim Mallos »

I wish I was going again.

I'm glad Kris posted the number, I was going to have to dig around.

Staying on campus was great.

Other things I can recommend:

MCAD is in a rougher part of town. Nothing alarming, but try to hook up with a group of out-of-towners and travel in packs if you go off campus in the evening.

Dinner can be an issue. Jimmy Johns delivered. There is a McDonalds nearby. Several of us out of towners were befriended by some students taking the summer session and we took a drive in one of their cars to the grocery store to stock up for the week. The apartments have a little kitchen, so I did the frozen pizza kind of thing.

I really enjoyed the class, but, just as much, I enjoyed meeting and hanging out with other people who were really interested in comics.

2 years later I'm still in contact with Joe, then an MCAD student, and 4 other-out of towners (http://www.livejournal.com/community/sharkblog/ Sara started a sketch blog recently that we are all tossing the occasional item in)

So, don't be shy to introduce yourselves and start hanging out in the evenings. It's more fun to draw with other people around.

Cab Drivers:

This is the same the world over, but I was 0 for 4 on cab drivers who knew where they were going, what city we were in, or what language I was speaking. Buddy up for cab rides too, to save money, but also to figure out where the hell you are after you demand to be let out of the damn cab (yes, we actually did that once).


Things to take:

- Sheets and a towel or two! The dorm aint a hotel baby! I had to scramble when I got there. The housing guy hooked me up, but it was a hassle. Sheets, pillow case, towel wash cloth, not included!

- A plastic cup or two, maybe a plate?. Again, you have a kitchen (cool!) but NOTHING in it.

- A radio, cdplayer, something for sound. I was really glad I had my laptop and a ton of MP3's with me.

- A camera! Scott is very cool about photos in the studio as long as it's not disruptive.

- Your favorite drawing tools, but also your favorite FAST drawing tools. We were doing 15 minute comics in class.

- Clothes. Clothing is required.


Communicating with the outside world:

Much of campus was closed, or closed early because it was summer session. There are computers with net access in the library, but hours were slim to none.

There was a pretty cool Mac Lab just up the stairs and straight back from the main entrance of the school's main building.

Destinations:

I enjoyed my visit to Big Brain Comics in town there too. Joe walked me there, but in retrospect I would have driven given the choice.

There is a middle eastern restaurant just a couple blocks from the school that has great food. Ate lunch there several days. Ask Scott where it is, he'll remember. And if you go, have the owner interpret your fortune off of the ceiling for you ;)

*Sigh*

Did I mention I wished I was going again?

Please keep some kind of journal and share it with all of us who will be there with you in spirit.

Tim
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Post by Eric F Myers »

Thanks, Tim. It's good to know these things before hand.
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Post by Nathan Alderman »

Hi, Jason's younger brother here (we worked together on RADIOPOLIS, and will hopefully do so again.) Jas talked me into going as well. (= (I mean, honestly, who can resist Minneapolis in the summer?)

Thanks for all the advance info. One question-- what's the parking situation like, for those of us who might want to rent a car for the week?

-- Nathan
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Post by Tim Mallos »

Not sure, to be honest. Probably a question for the housing folks on campus.

Honestly, though, as bad as I made the cab situation sound, that may be the way to go if you are staying on campus.

It was pretty affordable to get out for dinner etc. with people pooling for a cab. No parking hassle, no designated driver hassel...
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Post by Kris Lachowski »

Hey guys less than a month!
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*bump*

Post by Jason Alderman »

Anyone getting in early? My bro Nathan and I will get into town on Saturday morning (31 July) if anyone else wants to go explore the WILDS OF MINNEAPOLIS with us. Heh.

And there's <a href="http://narbonicon.melm.org/">some other shindig</a> at the tail-end of the McCloud course...

jason

p.s.--Tim, I never thanked you for the WEALTH of info that you posted here. THANK YOU.
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Re: *bump*

Post by Kris Lachowski »

Jason Alderman wrote:Anyone getting in early? My bro Nathan and I will get into town on Saturday morning (31 July) if anyone else wants to go explore the WILDS OF MINNEAPOLIS with us?
I live about an hour away, but I'm working until 9pm on Sunday or else I probably would.
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