The Xcentrikz - Interactive Comic

November 23, 2009

Interview with Emy Bitner of the amazing comic, Trying Human!!

(Click on the images to visit the site!)

Here's your chance to learn more about that great comic, Trying Human! It's a fun and amazing storyline featuring science fiction, aliens, romance... Well just try it out if you haven't already! Thanks for reading the interview!

--- Anna

Anna from The Xcentrikz Team: Hello and thank you for talking with me about Trying Human! Could you please share a little insight on your wonderful work, for the new readers?

Thanks for hitting me up with this Q and A! Trying Human is a graphic novel about a New York City secretary, Rose, who learns she’s being abducted by aliens. At the beginning of every chapter is a ‘flashback’ to a second storyline that takes place fifty years before the current one. The reality in which the comic takes place is heavily based in mainstream Ufology (the study of UFO’s and alien phenomena) with most of the focus being the interpersonal relationships between the aliens and humans. Along with a large cast and detail oriented plot, it’s not for the casual reader. If I had to place a genre on it, it would be a romance drama first and science fiction second.

THE XCENTRIKZ: So how did Trying Human originally come about? What inspired you?

I started Trying Human when I was fourteen, though the story was almost entirely different. I’ve always had a big fear of the Greys (or at least pictures of them, haha) so I thought that if I created one that was loveable, it might help me get over it. Safe to say that that Grey became Hue and the fear is still there to a certain degree but it’s waning by the day.

THE XCENTRIKZ: What was your career and educational background, before Trying Human? How do you think this influences the comic?

I have a bachelor’s degree in visual media with a concentration in animation along with a minor in drawing and illustration. My strengths in college were definitely storyboarding and anatomy and I’d like to think it’s reflected in my work. I started Trying Human the summer after I left college and have been working on comics independently since.

THE XCENTRIKZ: What was it like telling people about Trying Human, when you were just starting out? How did the public react to your promotions? How did your friends react? And most importantly, tell us how YOU felt about their reactions!

Friends and family were really supportive since they had guessed that I would be starting a comic shortly after college. When I was first submitting the comic to forums, the reactions were generally mixed with more positive than negative. A few people thought I should quit while I was ahead but I decided to take the plunge and stick with it. It has worked out nicely to say the least!

THE XCENTRIKZ: What is your brainstorming process usually like? Does it take a lot of planning and inspiration to do each page, does it vary, or are you more spur-of-the-moment?

I made up an acronym to help me along with my comics that I have hanging on my wall. It says ‘What is my PATHE in comics? Purpose (Why am I writing this?) Admitting (Am I putting something of myself in the story?) Teaching (Is the audience learning a little more about the world and characters?) Helping (Will something in the story help someone in the real world?) Entertaining (Is it worth reading?)’ I know it seems hokey but it’s really helped me to strengthen my writing. I try to make sure that all those elements are present in every chapter and every comic I work on. It helps me to avoid info-dumps and keep the pace up.

The plot is outlined from start to finish and I’m still writing dialogue for some later scenes but I’m at least five chapters ahead of where I’m updating. About a week before I start a chapter, I begin to lay all the panels out in a sketchbook I have designated for just that. When it comes time to actually illustrate the pages in Photoshop, all I have to do is flip to that page in my layout book and start working! Each page takes about three hours from start to finish.

THE XCENTRIKZ: What’s your favorite part about updating Trying Human?

It’s exciting to get emails and messages about the story. To me the story seems old because I’ve worked on it for so long but for everyone else it’s brand new. It reminds me to keep pushing forward.

THE XCENTRIKZ: How did you come up with the main Trying Human cast? Are any of the characters inspired by real people?

Rose, Hue, Shade, Tone, and General Merraine were the first characters I created about nine years ago. When I picked the story up again in college and learned more about the UFO phenomenon, I added the Reptoids and MAJESTIC12 members. The characters were created to fill the needs and wants of the others so in general they are all inclusive. Rose’s hypnotherapist, Dr. Freemont, was heavily inspired by Budd Hopkins, a renowned UFO and alien abduction researcher.

More recently the Alien Abductees Anonymous group has been featured and a lot of fans have asked if real abductee support groups are as hesitant and argumentative as I’ve portrayed them to be. I can safely say that I have no idea but that I needed Rose to be even further isolated from a potentially supportive source. The aliens are also inspired by their ‘real’ counterparts but I have taken some creative liberties in their designs to make the more easily distinguishable to readers. Hopefully I won’t catch too much flack for that!

THE XCENTRIKZ: Fun to know!! What are some of your favorite fictional characters? Did they affect the creation of your characters?

I can’t say that any fictional character has affected the cast heavily but some stories have affected my writing style. I love when large casts are threaded together and all meet at the end to fight for or against a common goal. Fargo, A Series of Unfortunate Events, The Venture Brothers, Paranoia Agent, Anne of Green Gables and many others have been big inspirations.

THE XCENTRIKZ: How do you feel about the dialogue you write? What are some of the best moments between the characters?

Dialogue is the best part and I’m a total exposition junky though I have to be careful that I don’t drag my feet too much. I really enjoy scenes between Quazky and Hue because they come from such different backgrounds and have completely polar personalities. The whole exchange between Rose, Hue and Quazky at her apartment was one I was really looking forward to. I’m excited to get more into the romance of the story since right now it’s mostly being carried by characters in the flashback.

THE XCENTRIKZ: And how do you feel about the art style of your comic? Anything you’d improve?

My biggest gripe about my own work is that I don’t think the characters are expressive enough so I’m working on making them more visually flexible. I’m also taking time to practice my backgrounds so that they’re not so stark (which is hard considering the Greys live in giant empty ships).

THE XCENTRIKZ: To me, your illustrations are really unique and beautiful. I like the lighting and sharp angles on the characters, it’s captivating. What artists and cartoonists have inspired you most over the years?

Thanks! R. Crumb was a huge inspiration to me in my teen years and still is today. Frank Frazetta, the folk arist, Henry Darger, Frank and Ollie, as well as illustrator Brett Helquist are all huge influences on my work.

THE XCENTRIKZ: Lovely inspirations, yea... Did you take classes or workshops on cartooning before doing Trying Human? If so, how did it go? If not, did you feel better off being self-taught?

I was self-taught up until a point but I knew college would be the best option for me. It not only gave me the tools to be a better artist but also the ability of artistic observation to keep honing my skills on my own. A professor once said to me, ‘You see first, then do second’.

THE XCENTRIKZ: Has Trying Human ever been regularly seen in a newspaper, magazine, or popular web-comic collective? If not, do you prefer staying an independent, web-only comic?

Trying Human was helped tremendously in the beginning by Webcomic Planet (http://webcomicplanet.com/) and was then graciously picked up by The Rampage Network (http://www.rampagenetwork.com/). I’m working on getting the first volume published but I do prefer to stay independent since it allows me to have the final say.

THE XCENTRIKZ: Doing comics can be really fulfilling. Although especially since many web-comics are for free or non-profit, it can be challenging for some creators to reach all their goals. Like paying the bills? What are the pros and cons for you in this regard?

I have been blessed with the opportunity to work on my comics fulltime and begin building my collection of published works. Soon I hope to have a modest income from comics that I can use to finance more of my projects.

THE XCENTRIKZ: How about opinions on the “web-comic industry!” Do you think its future is promising?

I can’t really say since I’m so new to it myself! I’m hoping it keeps moving forward and that more authors and illustrators take this unique avenue and turn it into something amazing.

THE XCENTRIKZ: Can you name a time when the viewer reactions significantly affected Trying Human? If so, why did you listen to their ideas?

As far as the plot is concerned, nothing has really been said to me about changing the story since most people don’t know what’s happening! Not to mention, the story is essentially complete on my end. I have taken feedback on more technically aspects of the comic as far as layouts and site design but I want to stay very true to my original vision for Trying Human.

THE XCENTRIKZ: Any other fun topics, to share today?

If you live in the SoCal area, I’m a regular at UFO and MUFON meetups so don’t hesitate to say ‘hi’!

THE XCENTRIKZ: How about any developments in your comic? What might be happening next?

In Chapter 9, Phillis will be talking to Walter about the paperwork she’s received, Shade will be confronting Hue about a mark on his hand, and Roger is caught trying to phone someone off the base. Oh and Rose will probably cry.

THE XCENTRIKZ: Ah-ha, okay. Well it’s wonderful hearing your answers, Emy, and I bet your fans will enjoy it. Thank you and keep up the lovely work. Please visit this very intriguing comic, gang! Trying Human!

Thanks for having me!

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