About documentary

Many young boys love comics. Some of these boys have a talent for drawing and dream they can someday become comic book artists. But they grow up and have bills to pay, a family to support and suddenly the dream of becoming a comic book artist seems impossible to most. But not for Winnipeg comic book artists David A Robertson, Scott Henderson and GMB Chomichuck, three men from Manitoba who have never lost the dream. 

GMB Chomichuk at work with a model.
Photo by Thomas Bartlett

All three men balance day jobs. David works in Aboriginal education, Scott frames pictures and GMB is a teacher by day. But like the superheroes they grew up loving, these men have not-so-secret identities as artists. 

David, a Swampy Cree, wants to change the world as a graphic novelist by eliminating racism, sexism and indifference by educating youth about history and contemporary issues. His graphic novels, which he works on with Scott, depict the challenges and beauty of Aboriginal life and history in Canada. 

David does the writing and Scott does the drawing. Together, this dynamic duo worked on the graphic novel, 7 Generations, followed by the residential school story Sugar Falls and Tales from Big Spirit, all while Scott is trying to finish his own fantasy series The Books of Era.

GMB won the Manitoba Young Writers Award when he was 15 and has since gone on to found his own press—Alchemical—and is now on the lookout for literary oddities to get young people reading. His own graphic novels have won several awards and the high school students that he teaches give him inspiration every day on how to pursue his own art.

David Alexander Robertson speaks to youth at
Children of the Earth School in Winnipeg.
Photo by Thomas Bartlett

The documentary will give viewers a glimpse into the men’s lives as they work on their current projects, juggling the rest of life’s challenges outside of art. It will contrast the day world—their everyday work lives with the night world--where dreams come true as the men work at their art. In between day and night are their families, who support them.

We will see the men in their studios at work, explaining their process, collaborating with other artists and attending events like comic book festivals and book signings as well as at their day jobs and spending time with their families.