#14: Deception
A few days ago I got this email from the CAC. I expected this at the very beginning (not three months later) but to be honest, I’m not too surprised.
I almost regret telling anyone I’m making a magazine. I’m so far from making a physical publication. Why was my “end goal” even to make a magazine in the first place? 🤷🏽♂️
It took a few months and many drawings, but we finally published The J Guide. We created an Instagram comic that contributes to the wealth of knowledge on the internet for learning how to roll a joint. Why?
I guess we made something “new” and learnt a few things. I picked up some knowledge about storytelling in comics, Vanny learnt how to draw hands better, Tomiwa got better at Figma and in a sense this feels like a gift for JB.
The next step is to use the guide to teach some friends. After this we’ll run some Instagram ads to get the follower count up and see how other people interact with it. In a future essay, we’ll do a proper retrospective of what we learnt and how we could have done better.
All things considered, I’m glad it’s published: @thejguide
I’m almost halfway through the loan I took to start the “magazine”. The bulk of the money so far has been spent on intern salaries and downpayment for Hanky Panky (the animated film).
Sometimes I think I was just plain stupid for taking on (not one, but two) interns, but then I remind myself why and relax. It’s great that Tomiwa and Eseosa get to be decently paid to make fun stuff and learn. Create the world you want to see and all that.
In these first 3 months, I didn’t do as much to help direct and encourage them, but I’m glad they’re learning nonetheless. In the next 9 months I’ll be more intentional about helping out.
At 57 likes, this is yet the most famous tweet from the Twitter account, all thanks to name-dropping. The Album Cover Art project is in a good place because, asides the database, we finally know what to do with it.
It’s to be a series of retrospectives with people who make album cover art. We’ll start with three artists (Niyi Okeowo, Funto Coker, Duks) and one print shop (Ibukunola Printers).
For each person-place, I want to document their story and creative process carefully and beautifully. When you search for them on the internet, I want our feature to be one of the early results. I want them to be proud of the published stories and eager to share it with people.
Not only have we resolved what we want to do, but we’ve also studied the visual artists and written short profiles. We’ve tried to find Ibukunola twice with no luck, but surely in the new year.
We’ll start publishing these essays in January.
Honestly, the most exciting thing about Hanky Panky is that Yanmo, Jessica, Daniel, Chukwudi and I are making a film together. I feel good saying that. I’m doing something new with friends.
I sent this message to the group a few days ago:
Hi everyone! The holidays are here and we all deserve rest so let’s put a pause to the project and pick it up on January 11.
So far, we’ve had preliminary conversations, completed the character profiles and written the script. Only two things are left before we start storyboarding: to get the voice acting done and to have a kick off conversation.
We have someone to voice act and this will be the first thing we do in the new year.
We’ll follow this up with a kick off conversation with Chukwudi and team where we go over all the material, throw our ideas together and agree on style, running time and compromises for money and time.
It’s been a long year so I hope you enjoy the holidays. Cheers ✨
I’ll share more about this when we resume in a few weeks. If you have any animation book or video recommendations, do share with me.
I won’t say these first three months have been ideal. I’ve been plenty unsure, mildly supportive, irregularly invested and in some sense, wasteful.
But writing this, I remind myself why it’s called Wuruwuru: because I don’t know what I’m doing. It’s an expensive hobby, sure. But with each story, I’m meeting new people and we’re learning to make new things together.
It doesn’t have to be anything more.