The Brain Drain Project Update
Hey there Brain Drainers!! Well it's Monday morning, we're now in November and I realised I hadn't updated in a while. I thought I'd do a quick update... Until I realised just how much has been going on over the last 8 months. I will endeavour to not babble on but I did very much want to share with you all that's been going on this year.
I guess one of the big things we have worked on this year was to get The Adventures Of Hydro Girl comic to more events and to also get her to bigger events. And boy did we do that. Hydro Girl managed to get accepted in to the two biggest comic and gaming expos in Australia. SupaNova and Oz Comic Con and the best part was not only did we get accepted in to OCC we were invited to speak on a panel speaking about the comic and disability representation and inclusion. This was a fantastic first step. Next year we aim to expand on Hydro Girls bigger events by going to Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide so fingers crossed that all that goes well. Now the big events were amazing but we also have done a bunch of smaller events such as Nerdmania, Border Dimensions, (Which John spoke on a panel once again talking about the comic, Hydrocephalus, Disability representation and inclusion) ComixPo 5.0 and 6.0 and The Seeds Garden Soup Festival. These smaller events proved to be just as important when it came to sales and making connections. And because they're not quite so crowded you really get to connect with your audience and meet the people that have fallen in love with the comic. I've supplied a bunch of our favourite photos from the comic events so far this year.
NERDMANIA, BORDER DIMENSIONS, COMIXPO 6.0, SUPANOVA & OZ COMIC CON
In between all of these events we had the launch of Issue 3!! We officially launched at Oz Comic Con and the comic went off!! The comic has sold out 3 times just this year which was super exciting to see and made he mad rush to get it finished totally worth it.
It's been absolutely fantastic having photos being sent in with people and their comics! I've added some of my favourites!
Another project that has been happening over the last 12 months is the amazing work from the performing arts class at Peregain Springs State School in QLD. These children have taken on the Hydro Girl story and are currently creating their own story lines, scripts and movies. What is most impressive an exciting is that the children have taken the time to find out what hydrocephalus is and really understand what it is and the importance of inclusion and acceptance of people with the condition. As well as their movie creations which I have put the link in here for you to watch, the school also held a Hydro Girl day where they were allowed to have purple hair for the day!! Massive shout out and congratulations to all you amazing student at Peregain Springs for all you hard work throughout the year! You are the real heroes and I can't thank you enough!! Watch the movie here- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQKjb675yR4
The last thing I wanted to talk about is hydrocephalus awareness month. The thing I like the most about this month hearing about other people's experiences with the condition. I feel like it's that one time of year where the general community is a bit louder and more open than what they would normally be. I took a different approach to the month this year, I would normally share an old hospital photo that's quite graphic to capture people's attention and do a write up to the story behind it but since writing Hydro Girl's last 2 issues I've found that the story line really has provoked some undealt with emotions that I always seem to have trouble expressing verbally. Whether these be from personal experience or from listening to other people's experiences the built up emotion is the same. So this year I chose to draw my interpretations of the stories I had been hearing with a mixture of what I myself have dealt with whilst on this roller coaster of a hydro journey.
I've added the artwork and their descriptions that I used on facebook.
So that's been the year so far, The Adventures Of Hydro Girl still has one more event to go! Indie Comic Con is a great way to meet other artists and they work really hard on making the experiences for artists and cosplayers the best it can possibly be from an atmospheric and community vibe point of view and we are very much looking forward to it!! Hydro Girl herself will be attending this event so if you want to meet her and the team make sure you head to the event.
Aaaand I think that's about it. Phew, I hope that wasn't too long. I hope you all enjoy the photos from the year we've had so far. Remember, if you are a hydro hero and you need someone to talk to please feel free to shoot us an email to projectbraindrain@hotmail.com We are always happy to lend our support. I hope you're all happy, healthy and above all having your life's best adventure!! Sending love and hydro hugs as always,
Sarah Brain Drain xx
