Q&A: Elsa Charretier Discusses Illustrating the Storyboards and Creating a Poster for the New Horror Short Film ROOM SERVICE, Now on Kickstarter!

2022/10/20 22:41:05 +00:00 | Derek Anderson

Elsa Charretier (November), James Tynion IV (The Nice House on the Lake), and PK Colinet (The Infinite Loop) are combining their acclaimed comic book talents as a dream team to bring a timely nightmare scenario to life on screen in the live-action horror short film Room Service, which is now on Kickstarter!

Following our Q&A with Colinet, who is directing the short film from a screenplay by Tynion IV, we caught up with Charretier to discuss creating the storyboards for Room Service, collaborating with Colinet and Tynion IV, and how her Kickstarter-exclusive poster for Room Service was influenced by German Expressionism.

Below, you can read our full Q&A with Elsa Charretier, and we also have the official press release with additional details.

To help support Room Service, visit the short film's official Kickstarter page!

Thanks for taking the time to answer questions for us, Elsa Charretier! How did the idea for Room Service come about, and how did you initially get involved?

Elsa Charretier: PK roped me in! We’re so used to launching new projects together that not participating would have felt somehow wrong, for us both. Storyboards, like animation, are one of those things I’ve been dying to try but never had the opportunity before. Then James pitched us this story that opens the door into a hidden world that caters exclusively to the ultra-rich and reveals the grisliest, most horrific transactions and I thought, "Hey, I would definitely storyboard that!"

Room Service is written by James Tynion IV, one of the most exciting comic book writers working today. What were your thoughts when you first read the screenplay for Room Service?

Elsa Charretier: My parents forbade me to watch horror movies when I was growing up. I sort of internalized that fear and even after I’d left home, I refused to watch them until well into my 30s. So when James came back to us with his horror pitch and I was sort of like, in a super high-pitched voice, Hm…Horror? Are we married to that idea?… But then I actually read the script and it completely debunked all of the preconceived ideas I had about horror. Yes it is brutal, yes it’s scary, yes it is gory, but it’s also incredibly human and deep and I freaking love it.

I understand that you created the storyboards for Room Service. How much creative freedom did you have in creating the visual style for Room Service, and how did it compare to working on a comic book?

Elsa Charretier: If I had to make a comparison, comic book artists are the directors of the script they get from a writer. A good portion of the tone, rhythm, and composition is up to us. I went into Room Service knowing that this job was PK’s and my role was to put into pictures the shots he had in mind and translate his rough sketches into balanced compositions. Also, as a former actor myself, knowing that this would end up being live-action was a huge kick!

Room Service is being funded on Kickstarter, and one of the rewards is a poster that you created. What can you tell us about your Kickstarter-exclusive poster, and how involved can supporters get in the making of this short film?

Elsa Charretier: I couldn’t quite put into words the sense of distorted, nightmarish reality that I got from the script until it hit me: German Expressionism! It’s not every day I get to bend perspective and proportions this far, so I jumped on the chance (and it’s a nice nod to these 1920s movie that later greatly inspired American horror). If viewers get a sense of the horrors the movie has in store for this poor guy, then my job is done. And like you mentioned, this will not be available outside of the film’s campaign. Colorist Matt Hollingsworth did an amazing job.

What advice would you give to artists who are just getting started?

Elsa Charretier: Drawing is a very technical skill (or set of skills, if you’re interested in comics) that requires an inordinate amount of time to master. So don’t be discouraged if it takes a while, but you must draw every single day.

In addition to Room Service, what other projects do you have coming up, and where can our readers go online to keep up to date on your work?

Elsa Charretier: My book Love Everlasting (Image Comics) that I co-created with Tom King (Batman) is a play on psychological horror and romance comics tropes that I think your readers could really enjoy. Issue 3 has just come out and is available in comic book stores.

Both PK and I are on Twitter under our respective names.

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Press Release: (October 19, 2022) Three acclaimed comic book creators — writer James Tynion IV, director PK Colinet, and artist Elsa Charretier — are collaborating to make something truly unexpected: a dark, strange, and provocative live-action short horror film titled “Room Service,” which they are funding on Kickstarter . Tynion IV, the Eisner award-winning writer of unforgettable and unflinching horror comics like The Nice House on the Lake and Something is Killing the Children, has written the film’s screenplay. Charretier, who has co-created acclaimed comics with the likes of Tom King (Love Everlasting) and Matt Fraction (November), has illustrated the film’s storyboards. Colinet, who has critically acclaimed comics, including Superfreaks and Star Wars: Adventures, and the award-winning comic The Infinite Loop, will direct. Skulldigger artist Tonči Zonjić, who worked as a concept artist on Star Wars, has designed the mask for the mask’s mysterious character known only as the Caretaker.

The ambitious “Room Service” crowdfunding project includes a beautiful artbook that will document the film’s creation, a poster by artist Martin Simmonds (Tynion’s collaborator on The Department of Truth), a Kickstarter exclusive poster by Charretier, a stand-alone prose short story by Tynion, set in the world of the film, featuring Charretier’s spot illustrations, and prints by five all-star comic book creators: Rafael Albuquerque (American Vampire), Cliff Chiang (Paper Girls), Francesco Francavilla (Night of The Ghoul), and Jim Mahfood (Grrl Scouts), and Charretier.

“Room Service” asks: what’s the cost of one perfect evening? The wealthy know that there’s no desire outside the reach of their wallet,” said director PK Colinet. “The film’s protagonist is down on his luck and his family is on the verge of ruin. With the help of the mysterious Caretaker, he might have found a way out of his trouble. But at what cost?”

“From ‘Get Out’ to ‘The Invisible Man’ and ‘Parasite,’ this is a tremendously exciting time for people who love horror films with biting social commentary,” said screenwriter James Tynion IV. “When PK and Elsa approached me about collaborating on a short film, I wanted to create a story that would confront the horror and inequity of the world around us.”

“The great thing about comic books is that you don’t need anyone’s permission or money to create one. Take a wad of paper, a pen, and a bunch of hours later, there’s your comic!” said storyboard artist Elsa Charretier. “So why the heck are three successful comic creators pivoting to this cash-eating monster of a medium: movies?! PK was excited to get behind the camera for his directorial debut, James wanted to stretch himself creatively, and for me it was a true honor to capture James' chilling words and PK’s haunting vision in my storyboards. "Room Service” is poetic and gory and it just might break your heart.”

The “Room Service” screenplay is already written and filming will commence if the project is funded. For more information follow James Tynion IV’s Tiny Onion Studios on Twitter and Substack, Follow Elsa Charretier on Twitter, follow Pierrick Colinet on Twitter and subscribe to the Case Studio YouTube Channel.The project can be supported here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/elsacharretier/1133524435?ref=aphypg

About the Creative Team

Elsa Charretier is a comic book artist and writer. Early in her career she has illustrated numerous books for DC Comics, Marvel Comics, IDW Publishing, Random House, Disney and Lucasfilm and has now shifted her focus to her independent work, most notably NOVEMBER with Matt Fraction and LOVE EVERLASTING with Tom King (both published by Image Comics). She has also encountered great success on Kickstarter and her Comics Case Study YouTube channel has become a fan-favorite.

Pierrick Colinet is a director and writer of comic books including the award winning THE INFINITE LOOP (IDW), critically acclaimed STAR WARS ADVENTURES, SUPERFREAKS and BATMAN BLACK & WHITE. A curious and versatile creator, he also provided world-building and worked as a narrative consultant for video games companies, like Ubisoft, Lightbulb and Quantic Dream, as well as produce, direct and launch his and Charretier's fan-favorite Comics Case Studies Youtube Channel. When not busy working, he spends time with his two cats and partner in the south of France.

James Tynion IV is an Eisner Award winning, New York Times bestselling author and publisher of comic books. He is best known for writing horror stories, like SOMETHING IS KILLING THE CHILDREN at Boom! Studios, THE DEPARTMENT OF TRUTH at Image Comics, and THE NICE HOUSE ON THE LAKE at DC Black Label, manga-inspired young adult stories like the 2021 GLAAD Media Award nominee WYND and the 2017 GLAAD Media Award winner THE WOODS at Boom! Studios, and stories featuring BATMAN and his supporting cast for DC COMICS. He lives and works in Brooklyn, New York.