Inside the Erotic Cartoonist's Studio (7): The Censorship, Self-Censorship and Last-Minute Changes. Part two.

* Transcription*

Hello, watchers! Welcome back to the second part of our discussion on censorship. In the first video, we delved into how social media and economic platforms complicate the lives of us poor erotic artists. Now, in this installment, we'll explore the concept of self-censorship—when the enemy is right at home. And don't miss the anecdote about how Jezzabel saved a script from mediocrity at the last minute. Let's dive in!

Self-Censorship.  The Enemy at Home.

Self-censorship has been on my mind for a while now, especially as I'm currently recoloring the first issues of the 'Anne-Marie' series. I can't help but wonder if back in those days when I was drawing it, I was more... audacious. Maybe it's just my perception, clouded by a quest for perfection. Yet, upon rereading the latest issues, I can sense that some scenes are quite strong and fitting for the characters' temperaments. Lieutenant, for instance, feels he's always at a disadvantage against Jezzabel.  He doesn't see any self-censorship in his scenes. I must admit, some scenes could have been tougher for him. Thinking about ants…

Anyway, there are plenty of factors that could influence an artist's freedom of thought. Take family, for example. At least once a year, they suggest I illustrate children's books. Then, once again, I explain that I've dedicated my talent to bringing joy to adults because they need it more. Oh, sure, I could paint watercolor flowers, which would be lovely and I enjoy it, but what about all the characters inside my head? It's too much noise! My art isn't about making my family proud of me, no way! But still, sometimes I feel a tad concerned about what they'll think if they read a certain scene. But that thought quickly fades because, you know, there's too much noise inside my head. Characters are in charge, and they demand their lustful scenes. Poor Lieutenant, indeed.

So, here's my scale for determining if I'm self-censoring: I listen to what the characters demand. Characters need time to develop their own personalities, so at the start of the comic, I'm in control, which isn't ideal, but I try to be consistent with the character's personality. After a while, they come to life, and I just need to listen to them for an appropriate scene—well, a lustful appropriate scene, I mean. But yeah, sometimes, especially with sadistic characters, a little control is necessary. A touch of self-censorship, after all.

Another trick for shy artists to liberate their creativity is adopting a pen name. In the early days of the ‘Anne-Marie’ series, I cloaked myself under the alias Reina Canalla. That's not my real name; I'm Lara, nice to meet you. This tactic proved invaluable, especially when navigating a dual life—artist by night, secretary by day. Balancing these roles demanded caution to protect my employment and reputation.

However, anonymity poses challenges for copyright protection. To establish oneself as a professional artist, revealing your true identity becomes necessary, at least intermittently. Despite my efforts to remain incognito, there were instances where my cover was blown. Surprisingly, the reaction was not one of anger or criticism, but rather admiration and pride. Perhaps the real obstacle lies within the artist's self-doubt, rather than external scrutiny. These days, I don't hide behind aliases anymore. I've bid farewell to my secretarial role, and being known as myself is far more rewarding. Don't you think?

The Case of Jezzabel's Last-Minute Script Change

This is a tale of triumph over self-censorship, yet the credit doesn't belong to me; it's Jezzabel's victory. It marked the first instance where she seized complete control of the scene. Let's set the stage: The ‘Anne-Marie’ series, issue #2, the 'tattoo' scene.

My workflow begins with outlining the script. It's the foundational step where I sketch a brief overview of each scene in a few lines, along with estimating the number of pages needed for its development. Occasionally, I'll draft the dialogue if it's pivotal to the scene. At this stage, I remain open to adding, altering, or removing scenes. It serves as a roadmap, ensuring I stay on course and maintain a holistic view of the album and its issues.

The second stage, and arguably the most crucial for me, is the storyboard phase. Here, I create a visual script detailing page layouts, dialogues, character expressions, and camera angles. Once the storyboard is finalized, it's rare for me to make substantial changes. I might tweak the text or adjust a panel layout, but the overall structure remains intact.

Well, unless Jezzabel dramatically flips open the storyboard notebook, exclaims, "No way! I refuse to do this!" Or worse, she snatches the pencil and begins sketching her scene despite my protests. In the storyboard for 'Anne-Marie' #2, Jezzabel made numerous changes. I was in a panic because she seemed to be completely out of control. Just to give you some context, the scene was supposed to end with Lieutenant's confession. Anne-Marie was horny and eager to rendezvous with the handsome officer again. But Jezzy insisted, "I need more pages." I argued back, "No, I can't give you more pages; the album is already arranged."

Can you imagine Dr. Frankenstein arguing with his creation? Something akin to that happened that day. Jezzy wouldn't let me sleep or focus on anything else. I resisted giving her the pages she demanded, especially when she revealed the scene she wanted. It was incredibly intense. My self-censorship was on high alert. Could Anne handle it, or would she be shattered? In the end, I relented because I needed to reclaim my life, and I realized that Jezzabel was in love and needed to express herself in her own way, not mine. So, I gave her the pages she wanted on that occasion, and many more! In the end, the album expanded by ten pages, but Jezzy was happy, I could finally sleep, and I learned the most important lesson of my artistic career: always listen to your characters first.

And that's all for now, my friends! I'm currently preparing the next video for this month, featuring an inking session with commentary. So, stay tuned! Bye!