Portland, OR based Oni Press is probably most well know for it Scott Pilgrim Versus the World comic series and feature film. They also have many more projects in what Hollywood likes to call “various stages of development” so that means they need a bit of help getting those set up.

Enter the William Morris Agency which has just signed Oni Press for (here’s another Hollywood term for you) “Representation in all areas.” What does that mean? Well, it means the agency will work with Oni and its sister company Closed on Mondays Entertainment to develop more Oni properties into film and television shows.

At the moment, those projects include feature film adaptations The Last Call with producer Barry Josephson, The Leading Man with producer Marc Platt, Frenemy of the State with Imagine Entertainment, The Return of King Doug starring Ben Stiller and produced by Red Hour Films and Ciudad with Joe and Anthony Russo writing and directing.

Closed on Mondays also has what’s called a “first-look deal” with CBS TV Studios to adapt Oni properties for the small screen. That means Oni takes its stuff to CBS first and if CBS decides to make it, great. If not, they can take it somewhere else. In exchange for that right, CBS pays Oni some sort of fee and more if the projhect actually goes into development, is made or ends up on the air.

As someone who’s spent some time with the guys and gals at Oni, I’m always happy when I hear they are doing well. They have some great comics and it would be nice to see more of them brought to the small or big screen.

Perhaps it’s because I never really got into the Scott Pilgrim comics by Bryan Lee O’Malley or maybe it’s that I just don’t really care for Michael Cera, but I have to say my reaction to the brand new Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World teaser trailer is decidedly mixed. Sure, its got lots of action, drama, romance and some great looking visuals, which is good.

To be honest, I can’t quite put my finger on why I don’t love it. I should, seeing as I really like comics in general and movies in particular. So, it should follow that combining those two things should generate considerable interest. It just doesn’t in this case.

Maybe it’s the way director Edgar Wright decided to include comic book flourishes like the giant “thock” and “whup” when characters get hit. Or, perhaps it’s just that I don’t care for Michael Cera and have seen him play this part too many times the exact same way. Could be something to that.

No matter what my opinion is, feel free to judge for yourself and click through to check out the teaser. Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World, which features Cera in the title role along with Brandon Routh, Jason Schwartzman, Chris Evans and Mary Elizabeth Winstead, hits theaters on August 13th.

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Oni Press, publishers of such outstanding comics and graphic novels such as Wasteland, Stephen Colbert’s Tek Jansen and Scott Pilgrim, has announced today something really special for you aspiring comic book artists out there who don’t know how to break into the business: A talent search.

Check out all the info in the official press release from Oni Press:

In past years the Oni Press Talent Search has been a terrific success, and this year we’re excited to continue our search for up and coming artists at Comic-Con International in San Diego, California July 22nd – 27th, and through the mail until August 15th.

THE GUIDELINES

In order to have your portfolio reviewed, you must illustrate at least one of the below stories. Realizing that different artists are geared towards different subject matter, three professional writers have each developed a five-page script, using a different genre and showcasing a different personal scripting style.

Supernatural comedy titled Our Hero by Philip Gelatt, writer of Labor Days, and Indiana Jones Adventures.

http://www.onipress.com/talent_search_2009/our_hero_by_Philip_Gelatt.pdf

Espionage thriller titled Cold City by Antony Johnson, writer of Wasteland and the Dead Space video game series.

http://www.onipress.com/talent_search_2009/cold_city_by_Antony_Johnston.pdf

Western drama titled Medicine Show by Frank Beaton, writer of various short stories appearing in This is a Souvenir, Outlaw Territory, 24/Seven and others.

http://www.onipress.com/talent_search_2009/medicine_show_by_Frank_Beaton.pdf

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