San Diego, CA (July 23, 2010) - Legendary comic book master Will Eisner's groundbreaking graphic novel "A Contract with God" is being adapted into a live action feature film, it was announced this evening at Comic- Con International 2010 by the film's producers. In what is considered by many to be one of the most influential graphic novels ever written, in "A Contract with God" Eisner utilizes the comic book format in an innovative and pioneering way to explore stories and memories from his childhood growing up in a New York City tenement. Each tale captures the brutality, fragility, and tenderness that exists among people living in close quarters in challenging economic times.

A quartet of acclaimed independent directors are attached to direct each of the graphic novel's four adjoining chapters: Alex Rivera ("Sleep Dealer"); Tze Chun ("Children of Invention"); Barry Jenkins ("Medicine for Melancholy"); and Sean Baker ("Prince of Broadway," MTV's "Warren the Ape"). The film will be produced and adapted for the screen by Darren Dean, whose first feature "Prince of Broadway," about an illegal immigrant in contemporary New York City, is being released this fall and whose second feature, Rwanda-shot "Kinyarwanda" (directed by Alrick Brown) is in post-production, due for a festival bow in 2011.

The film adaptation of "A Contract with God" will be produced under the auspices of the Eisner estate in the spirit of the original work. Bob Schreck, a 30-year veteran of the comic book industry and Michael Ruggiero, former head of original programming at STARZ, will serve as Co-Executive Producers. Black Squirrel Films Co-Founder Tommy Oliver will serve as Co-Producer and Mark Rabinowitz, Co-Founder of indieWIRE.com, will serve as Associate Producer.

Focusing on the immigrant struggle, "A Contract With God" takes a look at a salient theme across four separate but related stories, set primarily in a New York City tenement in the 1930s. The four segments are: "A Contract With God" (Rivera), "The Street Singer" (Chun), "The Super" (Jenkins) and "Cookalien," (Baker). Each of the filmmakers comes to the project with a distinct aesthetic approach which will capture the diversity, style and essence of Eisner's story. Nat Sanders ("Medicine for Melancholy," "Humpday") will serve as editor on the entire film.

The announcement regarding the film adaptation of "A Contract with God" was made this evening at the 22nd annual Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, which honors creative achievement in American comic books including induction ceremonies into the comics industry Hall of Fame, the first time such an announcement has been made at the Eisners. Will Eisner was a regular participant in the award ceremony until his death in 2005.

Darren Dean said, "I look forward to finding the fine balance of offering Eisner fans a very faithful interpretation of his work and allowing the voices of these strong and competent filmmakers to be heard. We are all approaching the inaugural stage of this project with respect, honor and anticipation and hope that the fans will welcome us with both faith and scrutiny. This is for them, as much as any of us."

Bob Schreck said, "Getting to know Will Eisner was one of the great honors of both my personal and professional journeys. We are all well aware that the work ahead has a very high bar of excellence to aspire to set by Mr. Eisner's pioneering achievements in storytelling."

Tze Chun said, "Before I became a filmmaker, I wanted to be a comic book artist, and I spent many nights poring over Eisner's Comics & Sequential Art. The book should be mandatory reading for every person who wants to be a storyteller regardless of their intended medium. Eisner's magnum opus, "A Contract With God," is a master class in visual storytelling -- groundbreaking, humanistic, moving, and rich in detail. Within these four short stories, Eisner creates an entire world. I'm very excited to be a part of the team that will bring this film to life."

Key roles will be cast in the coming months with principle photography set to begin in 2011.

A Very good profile of Will Eisner at NYC Graphic.

Graphic NYC was formed in early 2009 by photographer Seth Kushner and writer Christopher Irving to document the evolution of the comic book and graphic novel through the experiences of New York City's creators.

When Will Eisner spoke on the comics page, it was in a language that was distinctly no one else's but his own. What Jack Kirby did with visual power, Will did for the art form and language of comics, bringing them on par with film and pushing (sometimes gently, others with force) for the medium to go beyond it's juvenile beginnings and grow into an actual - ART FORM.

Continue reading at Graphic NYC

Will Eisner's art is now available at the POD Gallery. POD Publishing, a New York City based publisher of fine art prints, offers thousands of images for sale using their own web-based Print On Demand system.

Find artwork such as this young lady, Will Eisner's Skinny Bones, at the POD Gallery.

(Updated 1 March 2010)

Minneapolis, MN at the Minneapolis College of Art & Design (MCAD)
The Comic Art students and faculty at MCAD will share their exploration of this year's Will Eisner Week theme: The Reading Revolution: Will Eisner and the American Graphic Novel. Throughout the week, faculty and students will post new lectures and studio assignments from the classroom to this website. On March 25th, the public is invited for the MCAD Mini-Comic Expo.

Savannah, GA at the Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD)
The Sequential Art Department at SCAD invites students, faculty, and friends to express themselves at an exhibit of self-portraits using expressive anatomy. The exhibit will be from March 1st to the 14th in Norris Hall with with a lecture and workshops starting at 1:00 PM on March 5th in Room 101, Norris Hall. For more information click on the poster below.

Lincoln, NE at the University of Nebraska
Don't miss the theatrical reading of a Jennifer Olson adaptation of Will Eisner's "A Contract with God" along with the award-winning feature-length documentary, "Will Eisner: Portrait of a Sequential Artist." These are bring held at the Mary Riepma Ross Media Arts Center at 1:00 PM on Saturday, March 6th. For more information visit the Ross Website.

Athens, Greece via the Comicdom Website
Comicdom.gr will host a series of articles dedicated to the work of Will Eisner, one of the most important and inspiring creators. Will Eisner Week will take place on the website with a week of posts, reviews, and articles dedicated to Graphic Novels and Will Eisner. There will be interviews and contributions from Greek artists. Make sure to visit the Comicdom Website on a regular basis.

Hartford, CT at Trinity College
Trinity College welcomes three comic strip artists for a lively panel discussion of "From Comic Strips to Comic Books to Graphic Novels." On Friday, March 5, 2010 at 1:30 PM, hear artists Jerry Craft, Joe T. Staton, and Andres Vera Martinez, and moderator Professor Thora Brylowe in Boyer Auditorium in the Albert C. Jacobs Life Sciences Center. For more information visit the Will Eisner Week Panel at Trinity College.

Amherst, MA at the University of Massachusetts
Don't miss Will Eisner's Ideals: A Panel Discussion on Comics and Society with three comic artists - Howard Cruse, Gary Hallgren and Sophia Wiedeman. On Tuesday, March 2nd at 4:00 PM in Herter Hall, Room 227. For more information visit Will Eisner's Ideals.

Philadelphia, PA at La Salle University
Visit the Community Gallery at the La Salle University Art Museum located on the lower level of Olney Hall to see their exhibition of Digital Art. For more information go to www.lasalle.edu/museum.

New York, NY at Columbia University
Visit Butler Library at the Columbia University campus in upper Manhattan to see their graphic novel exhibition. Seven themes are presented and for each theme an image from traditional art is matched with three images from graphic novels. For more information go to the Butler Library Blog.

If you would like more information about the events scheduled for Will Eisner Week this year, you've come to the right place. There are events, panels, classes, and contests scheduled in Amherst, Hartford, New York City, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, San Diego, Savannah, Tucson, and Athens, Greece. There's still time to add your event to the list.

Watch this space for links to the organizations involved. Or click here to receive information about events at specific cities.

If you're close to Columbia University in New York City, make sure to visit Butler Library on their campus in upper Manhattan. Part of their large collection of graphic novels is on display on the third floor of the library. The display cases there present an exhibition designed to encourage interest in using these unique resources in curriculum and research. Seven themes are presented and for each theme an image from traditional art is matched with three images from graphic novels. The exhibition has been put together by Karen Green, the Columbia University Graphic Novels Librarian. For more information visit the University Library blog.

Look for the Will Eisner Booth at the American Library Association Mid-Winter Show in Boston. We'll be there from January 15th thru the 18th with information about Will Eisner, his Comics and Graphic Novels, Will Eisner Week, and the Comic Book Industry Will Eisner Awards. Write to Admin at this website, if you'd like a pass to the show.

There's more information about the ALA Show here: ALA Mid-Winter