Five Questions with Nicholas Da Silva

Nicholas Da Silva is the founder and creative director of ZOOLOOK, a San Francisco-based new media agency established in 1996 that develops entertainment properties for the web, video, television, film and wireless entertainment. Nicholas is also an award-winning graphic designer, music producer and published author. He has developed projects for TechTV, the Beastie Boys, Charles Schwab, Wyclef Jean, Front 242, to name a few.

www.zoolook.com

WD: Do you have any favourite online comics or graphic novels?

NDS: I’ve recently purchased the Watchmen: Motion Comic [www.watchmenmotioncomic.com] from iTunes and I have to say … BRAVO! This is not only very cool but also very well done! I like the fact that the animation is subtle and not overpowering. I also like how the voiceover and the text dialogue compliment each other. It doesn’t feel like I’m watching an animated movie and it shouldn’t. This is a key factor that will help draw the line between a digital comic and an animated movie.

WD: Comics in general seem to have rapidly evolved over the last few years. Do you think these changes will continue?

NDS: I think the future looks extremely bright for this new media. As I peruse the web, I continue to see more comic book artists pushing the limits of digital comics and it’s amazing. Some examples include adding interactive buttons that allow users to decide how the story should play out. Other examples use After Effects to add just the right amount of motion to reinforce the dialogue for each panel. As for printed comics, I honestly believe that as long as we humans continue to collect things, there will be printed comics to collect. And that’s coming from a collector who still possesses the first print of Frank Miller’s SIN CITY and the Watchmen!

WD: Many people that want to create their own comics online but don’t know where to start. What’s your basic advice?

NDS: For starters, I recommend re-storyboarding your comic. Unlike traditional comics where each page features a series of panels that are arranged to not only tell the story, but help the flow of the story, digital comic books utilize one viewing frame so its very important to setup each frame properly to allow for continuity within your story. Skipping this step is a no-no. I would also encourage artists to not be afraid to experiment with their production technique. There is no wrong or right way to make digital comics. And sometimes the best solutions come from mistakes.

WD: Do you have any favourite tools when you are creating your online comics?

NDS: I would start with Adobe Flash or Toon Boom. Both are great for creating digital artwork. For animating the panels and artwork, I highly recommend After Effects for the job. You’ll also want to add sound and/or dialogue to your online comic so Adobe Soundbooth is a great option. When it comes to hardware, I recommend using a pen tablet over a mouse. With a pen tablet, you can be more precise with your work. The pen also provides less strain on your wrist.

WD: Many artists are looking closely at developing their webcomics for the mobile phone market. Do you think mobile devices will become the natural home for webcomics?

NDS: I do. I have an iPhone and I am amazed at the quality of digital comics when viewed onscreen. Reading a digital comic book on this device is pure eye candy. Plus, with mobile devices, you can carry your whole library of comics with you to watch whenever you want, wherever your want. Try taking a stack of comic books on the bus or train to read. It’s just not the same. From an artists perspective, going digital with your comics also make sense in a number of areas including financially. An artist can eliminate the expense accumulated in printing comic books. It also provides for the best distribution model to get your work out to the masses: the Internet. And just think of the trees we would be saving!

Catch our full Web Comics 2.0 feature in Web Designer 162, on sale 24/10/09