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Interview conducted
in December 2002
LATEST PUBLICATIONS:
"The Technopriests - #4
Halkattraz, l'Étoile des bourreaux"
"Pin-Up Girls" |
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| |  | |    | | By Christophe Labussière | | Photos Christophe Beauregard |
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Fred Beltran is currently one of the most interesting and innovating French sci-fi comic book artists. Indeed, he truly masters the art of drawing and colorization on computer (Painter for the 2D, Amapi for the 3D and Lightwave for the final touch), bringing an amazing depth and accuracy to his drawings. Among other things, Fred worked for magazines like Jeune et Jolie and Jazz Magazine, and created his first drawings at the Humanoïdes Associés as a colorist. Since 1999, he's been drawing alone his first series, "Megalex" based on a Jodorowski's scenario. Fred's also the bassist of the Washington Dead Cats, and he particularly likes buxom heroines that he always tries to draw "out-of-proportions". A collection of his "Pin-Up Girls" has been recently published. Fred accepted to share a few moments with us in order to discuss the fourth tome of "The Technopriests", which has just been published.
Don't you have the impression that your ways of working made the Sci-fi comics look outdated?
I don't know... In any case, I didn't intend to. I'm just interested in learning, and being out of plumb... My coming to computers proves it.
Now that you've got your own series "Mégalex", do you still feel like colouring other people's work?
Actually, I'm only working on "The Technopriests" now because I like this series and Zoran's drawing and I consider this work otherwise than a simple "colorisation". I was given the cover, and I'm free to work on colours and light... I sometimes touch up some faces, I draw some sceneries from scant indications... Basically, I'm having fun. As for the rest, I never had a colourist's vocation, even if I consider it a noble duty.
Could you explain how you work on "The Technopriests"?
I get the drawings from Zoran, the text from Jodo, some additional explanations and off I go. Actually, I pretend it's the working drawing of my own work, even if it's different from what I do. This gap is what interests me.
Isn't there a chance that the drawer may not be satisfied with your choices, with such a work method?
I don't know...
And in this case, what happens?
Nothing happens.
In "The Technopriests" series, I think there's a rupture from the third tome. It's more "Beltran-like" than "Janjetov-like". How do you explain this?
Good point. To me it's a kind of "collaboration" between the both of us, after a while a style emerges. I think in return Zoran probably influences me too.
Were you a founding member of the Washington Dead Cats?
No, I only joined them three or four years ago... Before that, I played with another group, the Snails, in which I was "singer-guitarist", and the Washs's singer produced both the albums. It was a family affair...
Do you only listen to "alternative" music?
No I don't, my tastes go from Charlie Parker to the Ramones, from Cochran to Mozart, from Bellafonte to traditional Beriberi chants... Quite a large variety! For a long time I loved the 50s more than anything else (rock'n'roll, jazz, blues, etc.).
Do your musical tastes influence your drawings?
Yes of course they do. In my pin-ups, there's something of the 50s... The "post-punk" imaginary still inspires me too.
Have you ever worked on records artwork?
Yes I did, for my former band the Snails, the Bad Lieutenants, Peter Kröner, Micropoint...
What about the cinema? Don't you feel tempted?
Yes I do. If I can find what I want... It's already happened, and I hope it will again. But I won't accept bread and butter jobs that are too far away from my current preoccupations.
What about other supports like CD-Rom or the Internet?
I'm looking for time to do something with Flash... personal stuff... but it doesn't go well on the planning side.
Were you ever tempted by mangas?
I worked for Japan, but I never drew "mangas". Mangas are part of a culture, the Japanese culture, and it's not mine... I'm from the "pre-Goldorak" generation. Nevertheless, I'm glad of the success of mangas, like all these things that force us to reconsider what we do.
About your pin-ups… do you really have a "manic obsessive" attraction to buxom girls?
I wouldn't say that... But it has become a trademark, a private joke.
Were you never tempted to strip them of their clothes?
It wouldn't be as funny... You need a bit of frustration to create desire, don't you think?
What are your references in comics?
All the Métal Hurlant stuff... Everything Franquin did; it's total perfection.
What about the films?
Like for the music... It goes from Fellini to Tim Burton, from "Toy Story" to Topor's "La Planète Sauvage". | | | | | | | |
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