Aaron NabusHall H Show host Aaron Nabus talks to writer and comic book creator, Gabe Cheng about comic book, For Molly. This episode is also available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, iHeart Radio, Deezer, Amazon Music, and Spotify. The Hall H Show is hosted by Aaron Nabus and Alex Benedicto and is the “Voice of Independent Creators.”
Show Notes:
Hello fellow nerds, geeks and supporters of indie pop culture creators! Aaron Nabus here and thanks for listening to the Hall H Show!
On this episode, I’ll be talking to a former high school teacher turned writer, Gabe Cheng.
He currently has a Kickstarter campaign going on until Friday, August 6, 2021, for the fourth chapter of his comic book, For Molly. You can also get caught up by picking up issues 1-3 – which is what I did.
For Molly is an action packed modern fantasy adventure, set among the abandoned things in the New Jersey forest, where talking dogs and off-the-grid humans have precariously coexisted – until now. It tackles themes such as guilt, abandonment, and trust. The two main characters, Greg and Molly start out hopeless and isolated, but through their experiences in the forest and despite all of the challenges they face, they discover something in each other that’s worth fighting for.
Gabe, welcome to the Hall H Show!
Opening Round Questions:
- Since this is your first time on the show, can you tell us about your origin story?
- Where did you grow up? Since your comic book takes place in New Jersey, did you grow up there?
- What are some things that you miss from your hometown?
- When did you realize you were artistic and what attracted you specifically to writing?
- Can you briefly tell us about your time as a high school teacher?
- What motivated you to switch gears and become a writer full time and pursue a career in the entertainment industry?
- Why is creating comic books important to you? How was writing the first issue of For Molly a cathartic experience for you? It first started as a screenplay, right?
- How have you been able to stay creative during the pandemic?
- What’s a typical day like for you? How do you balance your creative projects and life in general?
- Can you give us some insight on how you generally come up with ideas for stories? Do you have a process for brainstorming initial concepts? How do you keep track of everything? What is your research process like?
For Molly Questions:
- For anyone new to the For Molly universe, what would be your pitch to encourage someone to check it out?
- Out of all the possible stories floating around in the creative ether, how did you come to actualize this particular one?
- Could you tell us about a few of the main characters?
- Could you tell us about the creative team?
- Any details about the Kickstarter that you’d like to highlight?
- How has learning about the Kickstarter process gone for you?
- Are you planning on attending any in-person comic conventions to promote your new book and your other work this year? On a scale from 1-10, 10 being the highest level of concern, how concerned are you about attending public events amid the pandemic?
Thunder Round Questions:
- You mentioned Futurama earlier, what kind of character would you be on there?
- What kind of books, TV shows, and movies were you into as a teenager?
- What’s something that you hated as a kid but love now as an adult?
- Favorite karaoke song?
- You’re at a comic book shop and thumbing through the back issue bins. What kind of comics would you be looking for?
- What do you think a Gabe Cheng, in another universe, is doing right now? I’m sure there is probably another version of you that’s still a high school teacher. What are some other possibilities?
- If a movie was made about your life, what kind of music would be on the soundtrack?
- What’s something your fans would be surprised to know about you?
- As a pizza enthusiast, what are some of your favorite kinds of pizza? Do you make your own pizzas? What are your favorite pizza joints in Los Angeles?
- Do you have a daily routine to help you get in the right mindset to create?
- If you could describe yourself with one word, what would it be?
- What’s one thing on your bucket list that you have already accomplished and one thing still unchecked?
- If I gave you a million dollars, what would you do with it? How about $100?
- What’s something new that you learned recently?
- Your main character in For Molly, Greg is modelled after the actor John Cho. What are some of your favorite John Cho movies?
Closing Question:
You made a switch from being a teacher to a writer. What kind of advice can you give to someone that is struggling to give their creative side a chance to flourish but is still working a full time job in a “traditional” career to make ends meet?
Follow Gabe Cheng:
Twitter
Facebook
Instagram
Website
Thank YOU:
Thank YOU for listening to the Hall H Show podcast! I’m happy and humbled when I find out people support a project or start to follow one of our guests because of one of our episodes. So thank you so much for your continued support.
And, thanks to my guest, Gabe Cheng. Please give him a follow and consider supporting his comic book, For Molly, which is available to back on Kickstarter until Friday, August 6th, 2021.
We love putting the spotlight on independent pop culture creatives, like Gabe. If you have a suggestion for a potential guest, please let us know!
If you believe in our mission to be the voice of independent pop culture creators, don’t be scared to give us a five star rating and a comment on Apple Podcasts. You can also find this podcast on Google Podcasts, Stitcher, iHeartRadio, Deezer, Amazon Music, and even Spotify!
Peace, cheers, stay safe out there and if you have a story you’ve been itching to tell, consider creating a movie with your smartphone!
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