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September 02, 2003
McGruder. Baker. Hudlin.
Not that I'm not interested in the main piece of info in the article, Boondocks creator Aaron McGruder signs with Sony for TV, feature projects:
(Variety) - "The Boondocks" creator Aaron McGruder and partner Reggie Hudlin have signed with Sony to take the edgy comicstrip beyond the funny pages.Sony will simultaneously develop TV and feature projects based on the strip, now seen in 350 newspapers nationwide. McGruder and Hudlin have been charged with writing a pilot script and hammering out an animated feature treatment.
Be nice if it's on broadcast tv, so I don't have to either rent or buy the show on DVD long after the things air, but just because it's in development doesn't mean it'll ever actually get made. I'm going to keep from getting my hopes up too much.
Besides, the really interesting bit is way at the end:
McGruder and Hudlin, who are both repped by Writers & Artists, met four years ago. Hudlin, who wrote and exec produced the animated feature "Bebe's Kids," as well as directed features such as "House Party," "Boomerang" and "Serving Sara," quickly became a mentor and partner to the young cartoonist. Since then, the duo have collaborated on projects such as "The Broke Diaries" at Fox. McGruder and Hudlin are also working on the graphic novel "Birth of a Nation," which Crown will release in 2004.
Not just The Broke Diaries, which I still haven't managed to pick up because I suck, but also that "Birth of a Nation" graphic novel. Kyle Baker is also involved with that somehow; he very casually mentioned it in an interview with Rich Johnston a few weeks back:
Since I am in demand and have the luxury of choosing, I tend to take high-paying, high-profile jobs like TRUTH, PLASTIC MAN, or BIRTH OF A NATION, my upcoming collaboration with Aaron McGruder and Reginald Hudlin from Crown Books. I had to mention this project somewhere in this interview. I'm not doing this interview for fun, I'm doing it to sell product! And you're doing it for money, so now we're both happy, Rich. This simple understanding is why you and I have maintained a successful professional relationship for many years now. I work only with people who will help my career and make me some money. I think that's a healthy attitude, don't you?
You have to appreciate such an honest, forthright manner.
Tossed in a link to the Rotten Tomatoes page for Bebe's Kids up there, for anyone who has no idea what that was. Does the name Robin Harris mean nothing to you?
Anyway, I'm going to work under the possibly-dangerous assumption that even though the tv and movie projects may never come to see the light of day, that the graphic novel is a dead certainty.
Mind you, I am a bit concerned about that title. . .
Posted by Aaron at September 2, 2003 02:21 PM
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Comments
Hmmm...Broke Diaries. I wonder where it is in development.
maybe i should look that up.
Posted by: Jason at September 2, 2003 02:32 PM
Change that to "the graphic novel is certainly dead." I doubt all three of those strong personalities will work well with the suits at Crown.
Posted by: ronn at September 2, 2003 10:06 PM
Jason, I was wondering if "The Broke Diaries" was still a going concern myself. Lemme know if you find out anything.
Ronn, can't I have any illusions? Maybe they can publish the book with someone else if Crown gets cold feet at the last minute. . .
Posted by: Aaron at September 3, 2003 09:03 AM
Birth of a Nation is a scary title, but if ever there was one that was ripe for being turned on its head... I actually kind of like the idea of it being reclaimed. But who knows what they're gonna do! Here I am assuming...
Robin Harris is missed.
Posted by: liz at September 3, 2003 06:39 PM
ah, robin harris.
i saw 'do the right thing' a few days ago and there was robin and i felt an ache in my heart.
that man was funny and it's a shame he left us as his star was just starting to rise.
Posted by: gwen aka tll grrl at September 3, 2003 09:57 PM
I'm with liz. I'd like to see that title turned on its head by the aforementioned. Possibly dropped a few times for good measure.
I find a sort of weird tastiness in things like that being flipped over and turned around. It's somehow eminently satisfying.
Posted by: VASpider at September 4, 2003 10:37 AM
oh, yes. Robin. i've watched his stand-up numerous times, and Bebe's Kids literally three times.
and i too am waiting to hear more about the Broke Diaries....
looks like i'd better do some readin'. haven't done that in a while...picking up Broke Diaries now. if you haven't picked it up by now, Aaron, lemme know.
Posted by: ej at September 5, 2003 09:22 AM
I'm listening to the "Bé-Bé's Kids" cd right now, and laughing at the wrongness.
It's been one of those weeks. I need all the laughs I can get.
ej, I still don't have a copy of Broke Diaries, thanks. Let me know how it is.
Posted by: Aaron at September 6, 2003 07:51 PM
Speaking of (Re)Birth of a Nation...did you see this?
http://www.wpas.org/evlist.asp?p=316
Posted by: liz at September 8, 2003 06:58 PM
Liz, hadn't seen that one, no. Yay DJ Spooky goodness.
Reminds me that I haven't checked out the Afrofuturism Yahoo! Group lately, either. I really should switch to email for that. . .
Posted by: Aaron at September 9, 2003 08:08 AM
Aaron, I think your work is excellent! Once your strips are turned into a running cartoon I'll say we haven't had a black oriented cartoon that great since The Fat Albert Gang. I'm waiting for the day I can collect Boondocks'action figures...I still have my Princess L. action figure. May The Creator continue to bless you. :-) -Chicago-
P.S. Compliment: "I think you're absolutely gorgeous"!
Posted by: "Nalana" at September 25, 2003 10:21 AM
Nalana, that's very sweet, but I think you have me confused with someone else. . .
Posted by: Aaron at September 25, 2003 11:50 AM
The hell?
That's worse than Viagra spam.
Posted by: Hanna at August 4, 2004 12:20 PM
*click*
Sorry, Hanna, what's worse than what, now?
Blog comments do exist to provide free advertising, right? Particularly comments for darn near year old entries?
Posted by: Aaron at August 4, 2004 02:45 PM
Hehehe. >^_^
Posted by: Hanna at August 8, 2004 11:37 AM
That's so funny!
Posted by: tickling at September 5, 2004 02:21 PM
Tickles too much!
Posted by: tickling at September 5, 2004 02:22 PM
Be sure to see Aaron McGruder's Boondocks comic today, Sunday, September 5, 2004, at:
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/uclickcomics/20040905/cx_bo_uc/bo20040905
Posted by: Val at September 5, 2004 07:28 PM