Jane’s 15 minutes of fame. In this version of the future, video recording does not yet exist. So, all broadcasts are live and graphics are help up to the telephote.
Some webcomic cameos on this page include The Schlub photo bombing the 2nd panel, and Andy from Daddy’s Girl looking over the wreckage in the 3rd panel. Go read ’em!
Original Script
NOTE: Newscasts are done live. There are no video recording devices beyond still cameras. NEWSPERSON Voiceover The 3rd Armada departs with a bang! Show a “TV” projected image of someone (off screen) holding a large photograph of military vehicles up to the camera. Caption on the photo reads “3rd Armada journeys east” and “CCL News”. NEWSPERSON An unknown craft entering restricted airspace above Wizard Island… Photo is pulled off screen to show the castle on the island across the water. NEWSPERSON …was swiftly neutralized by the valiant crew of the HMS Benjiman. Zoom in on the smoking wreck floating in the water as police boats hover nearby. NEWSPERSON Cut to the newswoman holding a speaking tube and standing on the bridge where Jane landed. The view is still seen through a grainy TV projection. In the ensuing chaos one Jane Webb, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Webb, was thrown from the family’s airship. And survived! Cut to a live view of Jane standing next to the newswoman on a platform. The Palace towers majestically behind them. The news crew’s camera is made up huge bellows and some electrical apparatus with lots of wires. There is a gawking crowd gathered held back by a few men with clubs, and a woman holding the oversized photos shown earlier. NEWSPERSON Breathlessly Tell us. What happened? JANE Looking very nervous Well, um. This vessel clipped us. And I fell overboard.
I really like the “microphone”. You have a marvelously quirky sense of humor. 🙂
Thanks, DV! What about the term “aurophone” (Ear + Talk) for his mic? A quick Google search reveals several hearing aid products with that label, but I think it describes this device nicely.
I can’t come up with a better name, try though I might.
I’m wondering if viewers with High Definition receiving sets would be treated to Stereoscope images instead of flat. 🙂
Oddly, this type of setup would be higher def than a modern 4k TV. Our local photo club has a tent sized camera obscura they set up at festivals. The projected image of the scene outside the dark tent is like looking out a window, but not. It’s really neat.
I love the still pictures being taken away for the next shot; the fire boat spraying water on an airship already in the water, and the red striped boat in panels 3 & 4 showing the two different views from almost the same spot. Either a cut from camera to camera, or, judging by their size, they just rolled it over.
And good for Jane! I was afraid she’d get arrested. Though I have a feeling she’s not done answering questions.
A rolling camera shot, indeed. And, a royal politician’s kid can get away with murder. Sometimes.
I’m sharing this everywhere!
Please do! 😀
I can’t help but “hear” the broadcaster with voice actor Jeff Bennet’s way overdone newsreel narration for Legend of Korra 🙂
Same here! Marius’ radio play of October 20th, has me longing to make an audio version of this story. It would be SO MUCH work, though.
This is such a small detail, but I like that one guy waving at the camera in the second picture and what looks like a pair of hands coming from offscreen. A camera-holder trying to shoo him away, perhaps?
Yep, he ruin their live panorama camera sweep of the crash scene. In the future the TV executives will be sure to hire a pair of thugs with clubs to keep the riffraff back. 😛
I agree, the photobomb panel is really great!
I’m starting to miss her bandages though…
Your guys’ positive response to Illya’s silly cameo has inspired me to find ways to insert more non-sequitur daily life in the scenes. 😀
those are some arthurian muttonchops. (chester a., that is.)
A very dandy ginger
According to my barbering book from the 1960s, the technical term for those is “Friendly Muttonchops.”
Which would make a great title for a Steampunk comic.
That is now this reporter’s name: Mr. Friendly McMuttonchops. His parents were steampunk hippies.
Holy crap, dude. How do you do it?! That interview set-up is killer! The news guy’s “dictaphone” alone is great! I love the gadget stuff you come up with.
🙂 Thanks, Mike.
I am enjoying seeing the high tech of the I Mummy world. The camera and mike are just great!
Some newscast crews only have to worry about people getting in their way… here they also have to worry about people from OTHER comics getting in their line of shooting 😀
A veritable crossroads of crossovers. 🙂
Thanks for reading.