FAQ

The following is a transcript of an interview by Aaron Guerra

How did you go about creating "Matt and Michael?"

I found that I was spending more time in my courses drawing then listening. After a semester or two I had a lot of strips done, and I thought it would be fun to put them together and make them available to the masses.

What was your inspiration for this?

More then anything, "Matt & Michael" is just a good outlet for me. I enjoy having something that's my own in which I can do and say what I want and keep my own perspective on things.

Are these characters based off on people in your life?

Yes and no. Often I take stories or circumstances from my life or the lives of others. I find that I do my best writing when I write from my life's experience and observations.

How many characters are there? Can you give a short summary of each character?

There's a few. Michael is really the main character. He's a little nuts I think. He doesn't take very many things seriously and lives in the moment without thinking too far ahead. I think Michael is a lot of what many of us would like to be if we weren't so scared and responsible. Matt is the more adult of the two. He's less excitable than Michael and has to be persuaded into things. Wendy is essentially Michael's love interest. I haven't developed her character as much as I'd like to, but she's basically Michael's equal and makes a great adversary for him. There are other characters from time to time that I introduce to tell a story, or make a point, but they aren't as reoccurring as those main three. Depending on where I take things with the site, I may or may not expand the cast.

How long does it take to draw and come up with the characters' dialogue?
- Usually the idea comes first. After that I'll plot out the panels and get a rough idea of how I want to do it. Then I'll pencil it, ink it, scan it, photoshop it, add the text and size it. The whole process varies in time. If I do a colored strip it will take two-three hours. A black and white strip takes about two. At some point in time I decided it was better to put up something really quick and sketchy than to go months without putting up anything due to time constraints. Those quick ones only take an hour or less.
Will there be a spin-off from one of the characters to have their own story?
- I'd like to do more character development and give each character their own story. The problem is I don't get to do strips as often as I'd like, and it's hard to tell good stories without a lot of continuous strips. Hopefully in the future time will permit, or the site will become lucrative enough that it will demand it.
Would you like to see "M&M" grow into a movie, novels, etc? if so, why?
- Yes and no. Yes because it would be so much fun, and a wonderful opportunity. No because the characters are very much a part of me and I would have to retain creative control over their lives. I suppose if the opportunity arose and I was able to maintain control over the project then the answer would be yes.
Have you ever met a cartoonist? Do you have a favorite cartoonist?
- I'm not sure I have a single favorite cartoonist. I've always enjoyed "Peanuts" like everyone else, and I follow "Luann," "Foxtrot," "Pickles," and a few other syndicated strips. I have several online comic strips that I am a frequent reader of. As far as meeting cartoonists go, I've exchanged emails with several. Ted Dawson of "Spooner" was especially friendly. He took the time to look over my site, and write a thoughtful and encouraging email. It was a really meaningful experience for me.
I've seen your pictures in your gallery and you are very talented! What kind of camera and lenses do you use to capture specific details, angles, focus, etc?
- Thanks! Most of my photography was done with my old canon rebel 2000 on 35mm film. I've experimented with both color and black and white and did a lot of my own developing. The lens is a pretty standard 28-80mm. I found that I especially like photographing at night.
You're in a music band. Is that something you want to pursue later in life?
- More for fun than anything else. I like to write music, I enjoy playing with other musicians. I don't think it's really practical for me to pursue as far as any kind of career goes, but I always enjoy writing and playing with talented people and I intend on continuing with that hobby throughout my life.
What advice would you give to an aspiring cartoonist?
- Art is pretty subjective. Some people will love your stuff and some people will criticize it indefinitely. In the end I think it's what you think that is important. And if sharing your work with others makes you happy, then that's all that really matters.
What's going to happen to "M&M" in the future? Do you plan stories ahead?
- I honestly don't know. I have a notebook full of stories that I wanted to tell at one point, but getting to them seems at times insurmountable. I'd like to make more animated FLASH cartoons, the only obstacle is the time demands for doing so. I may at some point enlist some extra help to attempt something like that, at which point the entire structure of the site could change. There are some ideas in the works, but when and how they come about remains to be seen.