On printing our first published volume, and finding the perfect tone and cast for our first vignette

It feels good to be back in the flow of a regular comic, after two weeks of other charming content. This “Jezebel” vignette is the result of a fast-track production schedule, having been conceptualized, drafted, coordinated, and shot in a mere sixteen days. It’s taking the place of another story that cannot be shot in the current Seattle weather, so look for the original vignette after Episode Two finishes its online run.

Production of Episode Three has been put on the back burner while all our resources are focused on the  last round of proofing the book. Night Zero: Volume One heads off to the printers in its final form this Monday, and shortly thereafter we will begin accepting preorders for this fantastic piece of art. Ninety-six heavyweight pages of full-color Night Zero will be coming your way at the end of the month, so keep your eye out for that preorder form.

The distinction between bright HDR and comic noir that I discussed last week is already evident in the Jezebel vignette, and more striking examples are yet to come. With such a small shooting space and a more powerful light kit, we were for the first time able to shoot the entire sequence at ISO 100 for richer, cleaner blacks and less grain. Forest and I played to the strengths of the shadows, building tension and contrasting emotions through the use of darkness, and I think the results speak for themselves.

For the vignette we had an all-new cast, featuring the fabulous Graham Downing, Sidney Hunt, and Meagan Karimi-Naser. It was our longest and most ambitious shoot schedule, and still freezing despite being under shelter, but those three kept their energies high and their faces smiling as they worked through their first (and hopefully not last) Night Zero experience. It’s always a joy to work with new people, as every person involved has new ideas and a unique energy that makes this project what it is.

I’m keeping it short this week, because my brain is overloading on the book. Instead of behind-the-scenes photos, I invite you to check out the latest episode of the Webcomic Beacon, a weekly netcast about the world of webcomics. Forest Gibson and yours truly sat down with the Beacon to discuss the concept of Night Zero, the challenges of production, and photographic novels in general.

Happy holidays and best wishes for the new year, from all of us at Night Zero. See you next week!