‘The Cartoonist’ documentary to be screened at Comic-Con

Those attending this year’s San Diego Comic Con will get to see a screening of the feature-length documentary called “The Cartoonist” about the life and work of Bone creator Jeff Smith. The special screening is on Friday, July 24.

From the press release:

“The Cartoonist: Jeff Smith, BONE and the Changing Face of Comics” tells the inspiring story of Jeff Smith’s creation of the epic comic book, BONE, hailed by critics as one of the greatest graphic novels of all time.

The film follows Jeff Smith from his beginnings as a budding five-year-old artist drawing on his living room floor through his difficult start-up as a self-published cartoonist and the 13-year journey to complete the book that he describes as “Bugs Bunny meets the Lord of the Rings.”

In addition to discussing Jeff’s early years, influences and philosophies, the film provides a rare inside look at both the art and the business of comics, a field that has gained new respect as a “gateway to literacy” for youngsters and adults who are “reluctant readers.”

Fellow cartoonists Scott McCloud, Colleen Doran, Paul Pope, Terry Moore and Harvey Pekar, as well as friends, associates, experts and Jeff himself, share their stories of the worldwide BONE phenomenon that began in small comics shops and is now found in bookstores, schools, libraries and the homes of millions of adults and children in 25 countries.

The Comic-Con screening of “The Cartoonist” will be 7:30 p.m., Friday, July 24 in Room 5AB of the San Diego Convention Center. Writer/director Ken Mills, president of Mills James Productions, and co-producer and editor Mike Meyer will be present to introduce the film and answer questions.

Trailer available at TheCartoonistMovie.com