Sandy asks…
can american aliens draw komiks in philippines?
the more info i research, the more frustrated i get. im moving to the philippines with my fiance and im planning on staying a while. i would like to know if theres any possiblity i can draw independant komiks, and or join a local studio near or in manila or cavite. i understand the process of comics *komiks and gettinng signed. i understand some of the history of the philippines and their culture. i also wish to know of anything info i need to know. for example: the customs by which their komiks’ stories are drawn and told?(a site would help) any suggestions of work that aliens can do will help also, but i mostly want to apply my artistic skills for income. i dont want to be a burden to my wife to be after the wedding bc i hav no job while im there
Joy answers:
Hello Paul. My name is Gerry Alanguilan, and I write and draw comics in the Philippines. The problem you have here is that there are no longer any publishers of komiks in the country. As in there’s really no place you can apply to be a comic book writer or artist and get paid for it.
There are the newspapers where you can apply to be a cartoonist, so that’s an option.
For comic book stories, you have a further option: You can approach a local magazine and convince them to #1: Carry a comics series in their magazine and #2: Convince them to hire you for it. But you would have to know the nature of their magazine so you can make an appropriate proposal.
The final option is the one most comic book creators in the country are doing now: They self publish. That is pretty much what runs the local komiks industry now. A large group of dedicated creators who self publish their own work. Even the veterans of the old industry have gotten into it and published their own title. There are many venues to support self publishing. The local comic book stores are very open to carrying independent comic books, but you would have to deal with them on a store by store basis. There are also numerous comic book conventions, specially Manila, where you can get a table to promote and sell your stuff. In 2010 alone, there are EIGHT major comic book conventions. The first two are already past. The next big one is on April 17, 2010 (Summer Komikon), the one after that is Metro Comic-Con (August 21-22) then there’s PICCA and 6th Annual Komikon in October, Mangaholix in November and the San Pablo City Comics Festival in December 5, 2010.
I don’t think being an alien is an issue, specially if you self publish. But if you are going to apply to a magazine or newspaper, that would make you a freelancer, which, I believe shouldn’t be a problem. I assume that because I do take work from comic book companies abroad without legal problems.
For more info, monitor my website for news on all local comic book events: http://komikero.com
I have to be honest that it’s difficult making a living creating comics here. My self published comics do make a profit, but it’s not enough since the market is so small. I supplement my income by working for American comics, and that gets me by. If it’s easy for you to get a job with American publishers, or if you already have one, there’s no reason you can move to the Philippines and still do the job. You can just email your work to the US, like many of us do. Broadband is pretty good here.
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