1. FMP Pre-Production
Graphic Novel: Cassie Coyne: The Hollow Queen
Dark Horse publishers have commissioned me to write and illustrate a graphic novel based on an original
concept of my choice. The genre will be fiction and story will be set in the 1900’s with a surreal, fantastical
twist. I will include real jazz singers in the story that either make an appearance or are more involved in the
plot. I have decided the main character will be a young Ella Fitzgerald ‘Queen of Jazz’, before her rise to fame,
when she is struggling to be a part of the music industry. The target audience would be comic and graphic
novel fans, and jazz and blues music fans. This means that the majority of people who would be interested in
my work would probably be wide and varied in age. Once complete the project will be a readable graphic
novel of good quality. It will be hand drawn and then scanned in so the finished pages can be uploaded online
as well.
The main materials I would require to complete this project I fortunately have easy access to. These resources
include a good quality pencil, and hardback sketchbook, and accompanying drawing tools such as rulers,
erasers, sharpeners etc. Once the novel is sketched out, I will decide whether or not to ink it with fine liners
and Indian ink to make it stand out, or leave the original work and scan it in to add black tone as well as hints
of colour. If I decided to add colour to the novel I would use Photoshop or another computer program to add
hints of light colour in a mainly black and white world.
I will be working freelance as aforementioned, for Dark Horse Publishers. I have included a risk assessment
focusing on Copyright issues, public domain and protected laws, and whether or not I should contact the
owner of the estate of Ella Fitzgerald before continuing. I have looked over my proposal and storyline
thoroughly, checking over for decency, how race, gender, religion and sexuality will be portrayed and am
satisfied the project will reach the standard. It will not include any beliefs, opinions or values of my own, with
no intent to offend and is overall a work of fiction as the supernatural twist implies. However since it is set in
the early 1900’s, and based on the story of Ella Fitzgerald, who was black, there will be a sense of realism that
was that time, including old fashioned, ignorant behaviour and general pessimism towards black people, mixed
race people, foreign people, and perhaps very mild scenes of sexism, or homophobia.
I have not worked out the exact budget completely, for this project. However I would expect to be paid quite
well considering the amount of work the book will entail. So I have settled on around £18.00 an hour. Saying I
work four days a week, six hours a day, one week would pay me £432.00. A month therefore would pay
£1728.00, annually that would be around £19,900.00 – £20,400.00.

2. Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
w/b 04.02.13 Task 1 - FMP
Launch Meeting
w/b 11.02.13 Half-Term
w/b 18.02.13 Book meeting slot Have updated Have carried out Review Schedule
with project production Log. research on jazz and Production
manager. MET and blues and Ella Log
Fitzgerald.
w/b 25.02.13 Have sketched Have researched Have updated Have decided on Review Schedule
some initial ideas different types of Production Log. the rough storyline and Production
and drawings for comic art styles for the novel. Log
characters and the and concepts
style and layout. styles.
w/b 04.03.13 Task 4: Pitch must Have checked the Have delivered Have decided on Review Schedule
take place by this copyright issues initial pitch to the final and Production
week. that may arise project manager storyboard idea. Log
during creation of
my project
w/b 11.03.13 Task 5: Pre- Have assessed Review Schedule
production must how much time I and Production
take place by this have to complete Log
week. the project and
break it down into
achievable goals.
w/b 18.03.13 Review Schedule
and Production
Log
25.03.13 Easter Review Schedule
and Production
Log
01.04.13 Easter Try to carry out Review Schedule
some more and Production
background Log
research on jazz
and blues and visit
stores comic book
stores and art
stores, music
stores and book
stores
w/b 08.04.13 Have started the Review Schedule
project work, and Production
rough sketching in Log
pencil the
storyboard
w/b 15.04.13 Review Schedule
and Production
Log
w/b 22.04.13 Review Schedule
and Production
Log
w/b 29.04.13 Review Schedule
and Production
Log
w/b 06.05.13 Have started Review Schedule
inking the drawn and Production
storyboard with Log
fine liner and or
Indian ink
w/b 13.05.13 Review Schedule
and Production
Log
w/b 20.05.13 Task 8: Evaluation DEADLINE
should take place
no later than the
beginning of this
week.
: Means that the set task for this date has been complete
: Means that the set task for this date has been delayed for some reason
: Means that the set task for this date has yet to be completed