Jamal - the graphic novel

- Jamal Project -

The Class:

Conceptual storytelling is a tough class. In this class you develop the skill to create a story  for any kind of visual entertainment project. And pitch it. 

time to work on it : 4 weeks 

Any student can pick any type of production: 

-Comic book

-Movie 

-TV series 

-Video game 

The rules for the story were the following: 

- Any date before the 1950's

-Any country or place

-No fantasy characters 

-Has at least 4 characters 

-At least one 4 legged Animal. 

-No history alterations 

-Show at least 6 chapters/episodes/sequences/or levels.

The rules for the pitch were: 

-Show Character Development sketches

-Show research data

-Show character and location designs.

-Let the viewer understand the story and conflict

-Monochrome (1 color and it's shades) 

-Show illustrations from key moments in the story.

-Show props

-Show key Backgrounds

- How My Idea Developed -

I was always interested in restudying the history of Saudi Arabia. I heard a lot about the movie Lawrence of Arabia. A 1962 film that won 7 Academy awards. It was about the British officer that was sent to the Arabian peninsula. I first started researching throughout the web about this character. And how he ignited the Arab revolt, and was sent to break apart the Ottoman empire during World War 1. 

Lawrence of Arabia 1962

Prince Faisal with Lawrence on the Right 

T.E Lawrence was sent to al-Hejaz in 1916, where he arrived in Jeddah. He was treated by the Arab tribesman like one of them. Successfully captured Aqaba and destroyed the Ottoman train line, along with other stuff.

T.E Lawrence, aka " El-Lawrence"

Yet T.E Lawrence was not alone. Their were two other British officers that were sent to the Arabs to give them an "Arab Country" independent from the Turks. Lawrence was sent to the west coast. Two others William Shakespeare (the explorer) and St. John Philby, were sent to the East. 

St. John Philby in Riyadh 

BAM GOT IT ...!

After researching intensively about the history of Saudi and Hejaz. And with the help of one of my closest friends Amin. I thought of making the story about the Camel that Lawrence used for transportation in his journey. 


Development of Characters

Jamal had to have the camel features, and the right anatomy of a camel. Yet looked cartoony and funny. Every character in a cartoon is never created out of nothing. A lot of research must be done, along with long studies of the figure. 

Reference 

 

A bunch of Rough sketches

How to create the Atmosphere 

In order to create the same atmosphere in the time between 1916-1925, I had to research pictures from that time period in both Hejaz and the harsh Arabian desert. Check out the old traditions, and architecture as well. 

Old Jeddah

A scene from Lawrence of Arabia

Saudi Desert

Since we were asked to create the whole story in Monochrome. I picked the color Brown and it's shades. Because the color of the sand and the old Hejazi houses was in that range of colors. Which suits the mood very nicely, and will compliment the stories mood. 

WWI gun 

While illustrating the props.  as you can see they share the same color theme.



 - The Pitch -

After all the research, and working on developing an interesting conflict within that era. After writing the story down, developing the characters personality and complexity. I was ready to put it all in one pitch, to present it to the future investors "the class" lol. 

Here is the result of only four weeks of intense work:

or Actually - to be continued -


- It's a REAL Personal Project -

After finishing the pitch. I highlighted that this is not a mere school midterm.

 The Jamal story is a prequel for a future story currently in the making. The Jamal graphic novel will be completely done in the near future. 



 For all you investors "classmates" here is the project, and I promise you a sequel. So0oo0o.... it's up to you 

thank you







More Development:

                                   

     

            

Beatboard

nights of working

BIG THANKS TO :
-My father Raafat Zaini
-Amin Mudarres
-Kirk Douglas

note: I got an A <3