Date: Sunday, February 25, 2007

Start Time: 12:00pm

End Time: 1:00pm

Description: Join us for the Degrassi discussion panel
and find out how the highest-rated teen show on
American cable television is being translated into a
series of original graphic novels. Panelists will
include J. Torres, author of the Degrassi: Extra
Credit graphic novels, Ramn Prez illustrator of the
second volume in the series, and Jake Epstein, who
plays Craig Manning, one of the most popular
characters on the long-running television show,
Degrassi: The Next Generation.

The panelists will
discuss the challenges and benefits of creating
graphic novels that are drawn from a property that’s
already well-established on television; how plotlines
and character development from the television show are
handled in the graphic novels; fan reaction to both
the show and the books; and how these two distinct
components complement each other. Also up for
discussion will be the success of the television show
and the graphic novels in foreign markets, the
challenge of working with different illustrators in a
continuity series, and the creation of other Degrassi
projects spun-off from Degrassi: Extra Credit.