 |
Would you like to have Madam & Eve appear in your publication, magazine or newsletter?
Email us HERE for reprint enquiries.
Would you like to have Madam & Eve appear in your publication or newsletter?
Email us HERE for enquiries.
Click HERE to follow Madam & Eve on Twitter!
Forget �The Power of Now!� - Learn �The Power of Now-Now� and �The Power of Just-Now!�
Change your life � and your mother�s life today!!
With Mother Anderson's Secret Book of Wit & Wisdom!
BUT IT RIGHT NOW!
Buy MADAM & EVE books online!
The latest Madam & Eve collection, Twilight of the Vuvuzelas is now available at AMAZON.COM.
ORDER YOUR COPY HERE.
Twilight of the Vuvuzelas can also be ordered directly from our publishing partners Jacana Media.
ORDER YOUR COPY HERE.
Our South African readers can order our books from KALAHARI.NET.
Yes, it�s here! The brand new Madam & Eve collection - Twilight of the Vuvuzelas!
With special guest stars: Julius Malema, Jacob Zuma, Father Christmas, Jackie Sebi, Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs, Homer Simpson, The Hawks, The Scorpions� and even Clint Eastwood!
SEE! Bloodsucking madams at the world cup!... the horrors of nationalisation!... Madam & Eve in High Definition and 3D!...James Bond as Bloody Agent 007� Ras Dumasani sings our national anthem� dangerous potholes� newly-discovered South African dinosaurs� escaped tigers� and hit musicals like Malema Mia!
Madam & Eve: Twilight of the Vuvuzelas
--including a special FULL COLOUR cartoon section!
Available NOW at good book stores everywhere!!
My Brilliant Career: Stephen Francis
(Interview with Stephen Francis published in The Sunday Times, 26 June 2011)
Stephen Francis is the writing half of the cartoon strip Madam & Eve, which he created with Rico Schacherl. Francis speaks to Adele Shevel about life as a cartoonist, and why he'd love to be sued.
When people ask what work you do, what do you say?
I usually say I'm a writer. If they ask what I write, I say movie, TV and corporate scripts and cartoons. Only if they keep pressing, do I finally mention Madam & Eve. I don't know why I do this, but I think it's because it somehow changes peoples' perceptions of me. Either people make a big deal over it, which makes me uncomfortable ... or they suddenly get wary, being careful what they say in case they might end up portrayed in a cartoon. So usually, I just say writer.
The only time I mention Madam & Eve right away is if I think it will impress some chick who I want to sleep with. But I can't use that because I'm in a relationship now and frankly, she's more impressed if I remember to leave the toilet seat down.
How did you get into the world of cartoons?
I started drawing and doodling at an early age. As a teenager, I was in a rock band and I used to write and draw cartoon strips about the band's 'adventures'. At university, I had my own cartoon strip in the school newspaper. But it wasn't until I came to this wonderful country that I seriously thought I could make a living from it. The way we work is - I draw a rough version of the cartoon - almost like a 'blueprint' - and Rico uses it as a guide to work his own magic.
Who is your favourite cartoon character (not one of yours)?
That's a tough one. I'd have to say either George Bush, Jacob Zuma or Julius Malema. Oh, wait. Those are real people. But they certainly come up with great material.
Where does your inspiration for Madam & Eve come from?
People are always surprised when they learn that the idea for Madam & Eve came from an American. But I think that's what gave me an advantage.
Coming here as an outsider, I was able to see things from a different perspective. I first came here because my first wife was South African. So the first 'madam' I ever knew was my mother-in-law. She used to complain about the maid; once the maid trusted me, she'd complain about the mother-in-law. This was a unique relationship, and although complicated, it had lots of comedy potential. And so the seed was planted.
What is the biggest joy you get from your work?
Making people laugh, and hopefully making them think at the same time. And also proving all my teachers and family members wrong who used to tell me that drawing all over my notebooks was a waste of time.
What is the biggest challenge about what you do?
Meeting deadlines. And finding a way to make people laugh, even when current events are tragic.
What traits make one a good cartoonist?
Sense of humour, talent, discipline to meet deadlines and the ability to observe; to see things from a different perspective: the comedic perspective.
Read the full story HERE.
VERN & DERN COMIC STRIPS
You can read VERN & DERN cartoons
HERE!
|
|
