True Grit At Motor City Comic Con
The logo of Motor City Comic Con
Image Source: Motor City Comic Con
If there is one thing that the Detroit area is getting to be known for, it is our grit and perseverance. This is a character trait that has been embraced by our home American football team, the Detroit Lions (who I am watching play as I am writing this), and the idea of having grit has grown to many areas in Southeast Michigan. Walking around at the Motor City Comic Con this afternoon, I could definitely see many instances of grit - listening to people’s stories and seeing the exhibitions, I saw the guests’ and exhibitors’ determination.
Even finding a parking spot required perseverance on my part - The Motor City Comic Con is so popular that between 50,000 and 70,000 attendees come in one weekend. Luckily, the Novi Suburban Collection Showplace is a huge venue, and the volunteers and workers there can manage the large crowds with ticket and line systems.
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A binder of drawings and illustrations, Funko POP, and a sign on the table at Guy Gilchrist’s booth at the Motor City Comic Con
Image Source: Cultureslate
Once inside and checked in, I was happy to learn that I would still be able to catch most of Guy Gilchrist’s panel. I can’t say that I am original for growing up loving the Muppets and all the other creations of which Jim Henson was the mastermind. Guy Gilchrist was hired by Jim Henson and Henson Associates to draw illustrations and comics of the Muppets. He also worked on Fraggle Rock and Labyrinth, amongst other projects. When I arrived at his panel, it was just Gilchrist and the moderator on the stage.
Gilchrist was explaining the first few months he had when he was hired by Henson Associates. He felt very anxious for the first six months when he got there because HA wasn’t going through his partner, so Guy thought that since he wasn’t being called, that something bad was going to happen. Gilchrist resolved to himself, “Until someone says I’m not the Muppets cartoonist, I AM the Muppets cartoonist!”. He went on to say that not only was it NOT a bad thing that HA didn’t contact Bill directly, “It was the dawn!” He knew he had to prove himself, and Guy said that he decided that “I’m going to ink the crap out of this thing!” Through his resolve and determination, Gilchrist was able to make a name for himself working with Jim Henson and the Muppets.
Drawing of Kermit the Frog
Image Source: Cultureslate
Gilchrist had a lot of advice for his audience. He told us that no matter what you want to do with your life, “you’ll have to make your own road”. He also explained that when you are trying to make a name for yourself, “you’ll have to show that you’re not afraid to fail in order to succeed”, and that advice goes for whatever path you want to take in life, but if you’re called to drawing, then you’re going to have to just keep drawing! But, in order to just keep drawing and follow your own road to what you want to do, you will have to be prepared to make some sacrifices: An audience member asked Mr. Gilchrist if drawing for him was just joy? Mr. Gilchrist gave a very thoughtful answer. He explained that “if your joy is making somebody happy, if that’s your joy”, whether it’s acting, drawing, or whatnot, then “you’re going to pay for it with something”. He asked what is the most precious thing we all have? The answer, of course, is time. Mr. Gilchrist pointed out that time is the one thing that none of us know how much of it we have. So, while you are busy drawing and making someone happy, then there is a trade-off: “You’re doing THIS instead of this”. Mr. Gilchrist reminded us in the audience that he had gotten his first job when he was sixteen years old for Disney. At the time, he was also playing baseball like any other teenage boy. But, once he got his job when he was sixteen for Disney, Guy had to quit playing baseball. He had to stay in at night and practice his drawing and get better at it. He couldn’t just go out and hang out with his buddies anymore because he had to work at Disney. That was a sacrifice that he had to make.
When the moderator said that it was time for the panel to end, Guy Gilchrist said no, there was still more to say. He then led the audience in a sing-along of “The Rainbow Connection”. This beautiful song is definitely a testament to the power of grit:
What's so amazing that keeps us stargazing
And what do we think we might see?
Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection
The lovers, the dreamers, and me.
No matter what, people who have dreams will keep on striving for them.
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