Beauology 101: “Ten With Tim .” My Interview With Wynonna Earp’s “Doc Holliday” – Tim Rozon

Tim Rozon & Beau Smith.

Tim Rozon & Beau Smith.


by Beau Smith

Life is filled with a series of “game changing” moments and opportunities. A little over a year ago, I had a few in the form of having a character I created 20 years ago become a TV series shown worldwide—Wynonna Earp. (SyFy Channel)

Even though I’ve been writing comic books ,as well as being a VP of marketing in publishing for 30 years, I had no idea how having a TV series based on a character of mine would change my life.

It has been filled with opportunities, but most rewarding of all are the people that Wynonna Earp has brought into my life. Tim Rozon is one of them.

Tim Rozon as Doc Holliday

Tim Rozon as Doc Holliday


Tim Rozon plays the historical legend of the old west, Doc Holliday, on the TV series. The Montreal native plays him so well that you would think Doc Holliday stepped right out of the history books and took human form. One thing I’ve learned from meeting Tim is that he is filled with enthusiasm for everything he does – his acting career, being the co-owner of two noted restaurants in Canada, a musician, an avid outdoorsman, a former model (he loves for me to mention that manly occupation), and now a comic book writer.

Tim and I, along with the talented cast of Wynonna Earp, have been lucky enough to have traveled the United States and Canada in the last year for premieres, conventions, store signings and media events. Without fail, each time, Tim and I manage to find some time to play hooky and squirrel out some comic book stores in those areas to visit and spend any money that we’ve earned as adults. Our wives, Beth and Lindsey, have grown accustomed to us disappearing with nothing and returning with bags of comic books. We’d like to think the musty smell of paper is part of our appeal. (So we keep thinking.)

Wynonna Earp Legends: Doc Holliday Issue #1

Wynonna Earp Legends: Doc Holliday Issue #1


Because of the TV series Wynonna Earp, both Tim and I have found ourselves so lucky to do things we never thought we’d ever experience. In my case, it’s having a TV show made from a character I’ve written and created. For Tim it’s brought forth his childhood dream to write comic books. This November his dream becomes a reality as the two issue comic book miniseries that he and I have co-written together, Wynonna Earp Legends: Doc Holliday, is published by IDW Publishing.

Recently, as Tim and I finished the script for the last issue of the miniseries, I asked him if he would like to be interviewed about his experience of becoming a comic book writer here in my Westfield Comics column of Beauology 101. Please note that he said “Yes” in less than a second even though he is currently moving into a house he just bought, running both of his restaurants, preparing for the second season of Wynonna Earp on SyFy AND getting ready for our debut at New York City ComiCon and book signing at Barnes & Noble in New York. I shot the questions over to Tim and within an hour, they were answered, along with his question of “Is that all ya got?” They man is a working machine.

So here is our conversation. We wanted to share it with you as a Westfield Comics exclusive. We hope you enjoy it and we sure hope you pre-order your copies of Wynonna Earp Legends: Doc Holliday #1 and #2 right here from Westfield Comics.

So pull up a chair here at our poker table and play a couple of hands with me and Tim “Doc Holliday” Rozon.

Beau Smith and Tim Rozon

Beau Smith and Tim Rozon


Beau Smith: As an actor, you’ve played many roles on the screen, all of various character and attitude. You’ve grown accustomed to immersing yourself into the personality of that particular character. Currently you find yourself wearing the role of Doc Holliday on the hit TV series, Wynonna Earp. (SyFy Channel) This is your first time writing a comic book. One would think you would have no trouble writing the character you play on TV but in writing a comic book script, how difficult, or not, did you find writing all the characters in the story?

Tim Rozon: I found it really hard at first because of the pressure of writing your characters. I mean you created them. You gave them life and then, for some insane reason, you trusted them to me for a couple of pages!! I mean I didn’t want to disappoint you! I definitely found it easier to write the pages of the character/villain I helped create (Boone Helm) with you from scratch because it was such a team effort on him, but then again your main characters are so well developed that I found it pretty easy to write a scene with them in it once I started writing. I could see them in my head and how they would sound the way I thought you would write them. I had the confidence of knowing you would fix anything you hated anyway.  When you have Beau Smith in your corner it definitely gives you courage.

Tim Rozon as Doc Holliday

Tim Rozon as Doc Holliday


Beau Smith: Thanks for the overly kind words, Tim, but my confidence in you was never in doubt. What aspect of writing a comic book do you enjoy the most?

Tim Rozon: Working and learning from you. Your humility and openness with your work, thoughts and time was astounding. I mean, I can honestly say this whole process of writing a comic book with you has been a highlight of my life. My favourite part is in the writing. Just to be able to escape in my thoughts and know that I could go anywhere with them and put them down on a page or panel.

Beau Smith: Thank you for your flattering words, T.R. But your natural talent is what brought you to this table. One of the many differences between writing a comic book and writing a TV/film script is that your budget with what you place on the page, location, cast, action, is unlimited. BUT, unlike a TV screenplay, you are limited in dialogue and time within a 20 page comic book of words AND pictures. Did you find that restricting or freeing?

Tim Rozon: A picture says a thousand words right? But honestly, I found it to be both restricting and freeing at the same time. I just wanted to make sure the words I did put down were all I needed to say what I was trying to say. I found it to be like cutting the fat off of a piece of steak. Yeah, I could make it juicier by leaving it on but if it’s good steak, I didn’t have to. At the same time, it truly is an amazing feeling to know that there are no budget restrictions. If I can think it, It can happen!

Wynonna Earp Legends: Doc Holliday Issue #2

Wynonna Earp Legends: Doc Holliday Issue #2


Beau Smth: Let me put you on the spot. Not only was this your first comic book script, but you also co-wrote it with me, the creator of the character. Did that put any pressure on you and make this first jump into the deep end scarier or did you find it easier to float? Can you describe what this was like for you….and still not crush MY feelings or tick me off?

Tim Rozon: See my answer’s for question #1 and #2. lol…. It was scary at first, of course. I mean, I have never written a comic book before in my life and you were not only trusting me to write just anything but you’re trusting me with writing your own work. It’s like I said before, only a special kind of person would be so open to that and you were. So you made it easy. Fear turned to excitement really, REALLY fast. I felt truly blessed to be a part of the whole process and it was an opportunity of once in a lifetime.

Beau Smith: Growing up, you were a comic book reader and collector. You still are today. What comic book or comic book character really hooked you as a reader and why?

Silver Surfer #11

Silver Surfer #11


Tim Rozon: Silver Surfer issues #1-18 from 1968. The story by the great Stan Lee and art by the best of the best, in my opinion, John Buscema, Joe Sinnott, and my all time favourite, Jack Kirby. I was first just drawn to the art. I thought the Surfer just looked really cool but then when I started reading the stories I was hooked. The Silver Surfer is, at its heart, a love story and a tragic one at that. I mean, he made a deal to save the woman he loves to roam eternity to serve his master so she could live. There is great sadness to his strength and did I mention he has a freaking surfboard in space!!

Beau Smith: What part of writing a comic book interests you the most?

Tim Rozon: See answer #2! Creating. I love the creative process. I love it in acting and I really like it in writing. It’s so fun to just let all the walls come down and be free.

Beau Smith: When interviewers, friends, and family ask me “What’s Tim Rozon like?” I always tell them that you’re a true Renaissance Man. You’re an actor, a restaurateur, a chef, a musician, an outdoorsman, a businessman, and now a writer. For all the publishers and editors that are reading this, is writing comic books something you want to add to your quiver of creative arrows, or is this a one time thing for you?

Tim Rozon: LOL. You’re make me sound more important than I am! I’m pretty much a jackass of all trades and a master of none. To answer your question, I would love to keep writing books. LOVE. I would also like to be selfish and keep writing them with you.

Wynonna Earp Legends: Doc Holliday Page 2. Art by Chris Evenhuis. Colors By Jay Fotos

Wynonna Earp Legends: Doc Holliday Page 2. Art by Chris Evenhuis. Colors By Jay Fotos


Beau Smith: You’ll get no argument from me on that partnership. There are a lot comic book crimes we could commit. The artist on Wynonna Earp Legends: Doc Holliday is Chris Evenhuis, an amazing rising star in comic books. What was your experience like working with Chris and seeing your words come to life through his pencils?

Tim Rozon: There are no words to describe the experience. It’s been surreal. He makes movies on paper. He gives real life to characters on a page. I love his style and I think you guys really gel amazingly together. I’m always in awe of talented artists because it was the art that first drew me into comic books so many years ago. I think Chris’s style will stand the test of time and we will be seeing stuff from him for a long, long time. When I first saw the art for a character I helped create, Boone Helm, I just about died. Coolest F@$king thing I had ever seen.

Beau Smith: I agree, Tim. Chris is amazing with his use and layering of expressions and emotions. He and Kevin Maquire are masters of this. How would you best describe the overall mood of these two issues of Wynonna Earp Legends:Doc Holliday, and is this more of the same Wynonna Earp, or something different?

Tim Rozon: I’m not gonna be the one to give anything away but I will say this, even though it says “Doc” in the title and I play him on tv, this is a very important Wynonna Earp story and she will be tested like never before.

Wynonna Earp (Melanie Scrofano) and Doc Holliday (Tim Rozon)

Wynonna Earp (Melanie Scrofano) and Doc Holliday (Tim Rozon)


Beau Smith: My last question is slanted to the upcoming second season of Wynonna Earp on SyFy. I know that Showrunner and writer, Emily Andras, hasn’t let any cats out of the bag, but daydream with us a little here. In a perfect Tim Rozon world, what would you like to see happen in season two or beyond?

Tim Rozon: I trust Emily and her team as much as I trust you. So I know whatever is coming it will be great. Of course in a “perfect Tim Rozon world” … It would be pretty cool if the TV show would have some of the characters or storylines from our books together. And let’s switch the tables and get Beau Smith the comic book writer playing on the show as the “Smitty” role!! Lets see how you do thrown into the world of acting!! You know I’ll return the favour and be there for you like you have been there for me throughout this experience. Let me end this by saying thank you Beau Smith. THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart.

Beau Smith: I don’t know if the world is ready for the horror of seeing me on their TV screen, but I really thank you for backing me in that bar room brawl. Thank you for your time, amigo. I urge everyone reading this to follow you on Twitter @realtimrozon

Wynonna Earp Legends: Doc Holliday Issue #2 Subscription Cover

Wynonna Earp Legends: Doc Holliday Issue #2 Subscription Cover


Beau Smith

The Flying Fist Ranch

www.flyingfistranch.com

@beausmithranch

Silver Surfer #11 cover from the Grand Comics Database.

USER COMMENTS

We'd love to hear from you, feel free to add to the discussion!


Notice: Undefined variable: user_ID in /home/wfcomics/public_html/blog/wp-content/themes/westfield2010/comments.php on line 73