The journey begins
We’re a little more than a week into art production of The First Lost Boy graphic novel. I can’t believe how excited I am about his project. Currently, all of the major characters have been sketched out and finalized. Full color should be knocked out by the end of the week (Ex. Below). It’s a small step, but one that has me extremely grateful to have found Chris (artist).
Speaking of small steps, It has been three plus years since I sat down for the first time to write TFLB. I started with nothing. At the same time, I felt like I had everting. I had an idea, and I took a step. I bought the book and started teaching myself how to write a screenplay! I was lucky. I knew what I wanted to write, I just didn’t know how to write it properly.
I wanted to make Peter Pan relatable, current, raw. I thought the character was limited by the fact that he’s so young. It is extremely limiting when it comes to taking the story from a children’s book, to a YA/adult audience. My goal was to take us back to the where everything started; before Captain Hook, before Wendy, Michael and John to the place where Peter and the Lost Boys started. At the same time, I wanted to layer in character flaws, relationship drama, power struggles and dig into what/why Neverland so special.
In TFLB, Peter (18 year old) is the charismatic but flawed leader of the Lost Boys. He’s arrogant, cocky, and damaged. He was the first of all the Lost Boys. His leadership has never been questioned. Not only because he’s the first and oldest, but he’s also different. He’s stronger, faster, better looking, and even if that wasn’t enough, he can fly. The other boys can fly with the help of Tink’s dust, but Peter is different. Before the other Lost Boys where brought to Neverland, when it was just Peter, Tink and the rest of The Never Aminals, The Never Birds taught Peter how to fly on his own so he could play with them.
Neverland is a strange and magical place. It’s as if a beautiful mind imagined all of the most wonderful things the world had to offer and put it all into one place.
As wonderful as things are, as the rest of Lost Boys continue to grow older, the more they start to questions Peter’s uncontested leadership. The more they want the things he has. The more their own desires for love, power and affection start to crack their foundation.
I can’t wait to share the entire journey of Peter with you all!
