Neil Gaiman documentary in the works from Sequart

By John Freeman on June 24, 2013

The Sequart Research & Literacy Organization, in conjunction with Respect! Films, has announced that author Neil Gaiman will be the next subject in its expanding line of comics-centric documentaries.

Amanda Palmer and Neil Gaiman during an interview for ORF radio before a concert at the Arena in Vienna, Austria. Photo: Manfred Werner

In the tradition of Sequart’s Grant Morrison: Talking with Gods and Warren Ellis: Captured Ghosts documentaries, the Gaiman film will be an all-access look at the writer's media-spanning career, from his first foray into published writing on 2000AD all the way up to the current signing tour for his new novel, The Ocean at the End of the Lane.

This unique profile will include footage from Neil’s performances with partner Amanda Palmer, lectures and readings from across the country, as well as extensive interviews with Neil and his fans, contemporaries, and closest collaborators.

The film will be directed by Patrick Meaney, produced by Jordan Rennert, and executive produced by Mike Phillips and Julian Darius. More details will be posted on Sequart.org throughout the summer, but for the time being, there's a teaser trailer here.

In addition to the Gaiman documentary, the organisation says completion is just a few months away on two other Sequart documentary projects. The Image Revolution, chronicling the founding and history of the world’s most successful independent comic book company, Image Comics, is extremely close to completion, and will be playing at festivals this autumn.

Comics in Focus: Chris Claremont’s X-Men is also nearly complete. The film reveals the behind-the-scenes story of Claremont’s landmark 17-year run on the title. It will be released this autumn.

Sequart's two previous films, Grant Morrison: Talking With Gods and Warren Ellis: Captured Ghosts, are both available on Special Edition DVD, each with over two hours of bonus material (or for download).

The Sequart Research & Literacy Organization is a non-profit devoted to the study and promotion of comic books as a legitimate art form. It publishes books and documentaries aimed at making comics scholarship accessible.

• For more information, visit: http://sequart.org

John Freeman

The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.

He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.