MJX | Comixplosion: Come and Pitch Your Comic Book Story!

At this year’s Movie Jabber Expo, we invite you to pitch your story of adventure, wonder and exploits, for a chance to win funding to publish and distribute your comic book.  The Movie Jabber Expo details:  

EVENT: THE MOVIE JABBER EXPO (MJX)
DATE: SATURDAY JULY 8TH, 2017
VENUE: TO BE ANNOUNCED
#ComeAndBecome #MJX2017

We all have stories to tell, whether or not we have ever dabbled in comic book writing.  As Movie Jabber, we want to play a role in building that industry and helping you get a return on your investment.   

In advance, we must tell you that if you are to submit your pitch, you must first register before the deadline Friday, June 9th.  So first register (Friday June 9th deadline), then submit the necessary items as required.  Those two steps have two seperate deadlines that you shall soon see as below.  To take part, please read the below details VERY CAREFULLY…

 Step #1: Registration
Registration Deadline, Friday June 9th

Why Register? Registration helps us properly plan for certain activities on event day that will ultimetaly benefit you and all other participants.  It also helps us evaluate the response rate and strength of this genre of entertainment and story telling.  Lastly and obviously, it helps us weed out the non-committed individuals!  So please register as per the details at the bottom of the page.  No submissions will be accepted without prior registration!

 Step #2: Submission
Submission Deadline, Wednesday June 28th

IMPORTANT: Please submit files and content exactly as highlighted below to enable fair representation on your behalf, and fair evaluation and assessment by our judges.  We will be very strict with the below and will give options where possible.  Failure to follow the details below will result in your submission not being accepted and your efforts going to waste, as we retain the right to accept/refuse submissions based on this.  

NOTE: As you submit, keep in mind the content (JPEG and MP4 files) shall be played on a really large LED event screen that you would normally find at concerts or outdoor entertainment events, so non-pixelated high res content is key tso that your presentation looks super sharp and crystal clear.

Lastly, where possible, we have linked each requirement to a visual example to better help you understand.  Your submission must have the following clearly indicated:

1. Team Summary/Credit (Landscape, JPEG) – A summary of your Team’s name or Project’s Name.  Plus its members’ names and their roles, background info, and profile pictures.  All of this must be in one JPEG file, landscape orientation.  IF you are doing this solo, no problem!  The profile can consist of your details, profile, picture etc as above . (Click Here for a Visual Example) 

2. Story Summary (Landscape, JPEG) – Synopsis of the overall/entire story arc as brief as possible yet exciting, and should highlight major plot points (yes, spoilers allowed!). Clearly show what makes your story different from other comics and be clear as to who the target audience is (age, class etc). Your story has to be full color and either a miniseries or graphic novel.  No plaigarism or resemblance to any existing work please.

3. Logo (Landscape, JPEG) – Logo’s creation process in two steps: pencil and full colour stage.  (Click Here for a Visual Example)

4. Cover Mock Up (Landscape, JPEG) – Cover’s creation process in two steps: pencil and full colour stage.  Cover should have the logo on it. (Click Here for Visual Example)
   

5. Character Bios (Landscape, JPEG) – The main characters, each on their own page, with character bios detailing how they fit into the story.  Full colour. (Click Here for Visual Example) 

6. Storyboard (Landscape, JPEG) – Storyboard of one or two action sequences (inked, penciled or coloured).  This will add more “oomph” to your submission.  (Click Here for Visual Example)

7. Video Teaser (MP4 Format) – A teaser of sorts of the story.  Nothing too fancy or fully animated.  Length: 1 Minute – 2 Minutes  max. (Click Here for Visual Example)

8. Name of Representative(s) – If you are pitching as a team, you will either all be on stage OR choose two members to act as your representatives.  These should be persons who are able to handle any questions from either the audience or judges in regards to the pitch or comic books in general.

HOW TO SUBMIT: Once ready, all the above files should be placed within ONE well labeled Zipped Folder and via www.WeTransfer.com to mjx@moviejabber.co.ke.  No other large file sharing platform shall be accepted, use only www.WeTransfer.com.  Please don’t upload the files individually onto WeTransfer, place them into one main Zipped Folder and send.  The same WeTransfer website has instructions that will help you with the process.  The folder should be the name of your team or project.  

 *** Submission Deadline, Wednesday June 28th ***

 What Happens After You Submit?

We will go through all submitted entries, and contact the shortlisted teams/individuals the week of the event.  The shortlisted teams/individuals will then get the opportunity to showcase their submitted content and pitch before an audience in attendance and a panel of judges at the Movie Jabber Expo.  

At the Expo, during the Comixplosion segment, you will take us through the items submitted in addition to the creation process.  You or your team must also be ready to handle an interactive Question & Answer segment in regards to your pitch from both the audience and judges.  The judges will then narrow down to just that one ultimate winning pitch.

Criteria for Short-Listing and Judging

1. Compliance: have you helped us help you?  Following the instructions in this form carefully and every step of the way, that’s the very first criteria.

2. First Impression effect: what’s the reaction when we first read/hear your story summary and pitch?  See your art and characters? Does something trigger or do we move on?

3. Creativity: how creative and unique is your story?  Have you copied certain existing elements from other stories?  Does your story stand out from the rest?

4. Quality: quality of your art and finish.  Comic books stand out because of their art and colours, so how well does yours match up with the rest?

Free Exhibition Booths

Whether you get shortlisted or not, but you have comic books or comic book related content, merch or art that you would like to display or sell at our event, you will be given a FREE booth.  Priority shall be given to the shortlisted contestants first, then remaining to the rest.  We shall share more information on this in the coming weeks, please be patient. 

The Prize

The 200,000/= bounty to the winner shall mainly cover production, marketing and distribution costs.  Movie Jabber will not in any way charge a fee nor receive commission on any comic book sales.  We understand certain cost specifics may vary based on the winner, so as much as we appreciate questions in regards to this please keep in mind that because of legal and confidential issues, further indepth and precise Terms and Conditions shall be discussed with the ultimate winning team/individual.

Registration Details