Dear Backers, Believers, and the Curious (Soon to be Recruited to the Cause):

Let me begin by again thanking the Kickstarter funders for your support and belief in our documentary film, Diagram for Delinquents. This film is not possible without your generosity. It is now our film.

It was overwhelming to witness the outpour of pledges and words that you have given us, and I look forward to hearing from you and sharing with you as the picture develops.

Now that the funds are in place it is my goal to make a compelling, fair, and thorough piece which examines comics of the ’50s, the Senate Subcommittee on Juvenile Delinquency, Dr. Fredric Wertham, Seduction of the Innocent, the Comics Code, media and its effects on society, and the current state of comic books.

Production will begin with interviews this July. As those are proceeding, animation and post-production teams will also begin the initial stages of the animated sequences for the film. Also, archival footage and images will be gathered and analyzed.

This is an exciting time, and I will use this space to post updates on the production process through the post-production stage.

So from here on out, look for updates every weekend. It may be a small kernel of information, a piece of art, music, or animation, or it may be a clip from the film, a status update, or an extensive write-up of an important discovery or some progress in the film. The important thing is to keep your eyes on the updates! I always look forward to your thoughts, suggestions, or insights.

Two exciting interviews have been solidified for July.

From July 22 to the 24, a small production crew and I will be visiting the SUNY Geneseo campus to interview Dr. Steven Kirsh, author of Media And Youth: A Developmental Perspective and Children, Adolescents, and Media Violence: A Critical Look at the Research. Dr. Kirsh is important to the film for two reasons. One, he has examined and commented on Dr. Wertham’s research and practices in his own books, and two, he has conducted important research and surveys on violence, media and youth, which will play a significant role in the latter half of the documentary.

This traveling shoot will be followed by another important interview.

The producers will be bringing Dr. Bart Beaty to Philadelphia from Calgary to interview him on July 30. If you recall from earlier updates, Dr. Beaty has written the very important book Fredric Wertham and the Critique of Mass Culture which is a re-examination of Dr. Wertham and his book Seduction of the Innocent. As you can assume, Dr. Beaty’s research is essential to the film and my goal of capturing the many and diverse views of Dr. Wertham and his ideas.

Finally, I have made a couple of new promos for the film. One (above) was made a couple of weeks back. The other (below) was made just this morning. Thoughts?

Sincerely,

The Filmmakers (of which you are now included!)