The 20-year old writer of Zeep and all the Kingdom contains, Nolan Cross takes his inspiration from the widest variety of stories, most prominently ‘The Lord of the Rings’, ‘Twin Peaks’, and the filmmakers Lars von Trier, Alejandro Jodorowsky, Stanley Kubrick, and David Lynch. Video games, classic literature, and the real world are all in addition fundamental to the development of Zeep as a genre-blending, operatic fable of duality. Nolan’s ultimate goal is to be a filmmaker, and bring his ideas to life in a movie trilogy, or limited series.
He first grew up in Toronto, where he imagined fantastic stories with his oldest friend and grandmother figure, Vicki. After moving to Revelstoke B.C., Nolan worked closely with designer Benji Andringa to bring the World of Zeep to life in a graphic novel. After developing the first volume and screening the ‘animatic’ of it at the local cinema, our ambitious project has continued to evolve.
Nolan continues catching ideas for strange film projects, and will soon attend the Film Production course at Vancouver Film School. In his spare time, he enjoys drinking red wine and practicing archery (though not at the same time).
Also from the Greater Toronto Area and now rooted in the rugged beauty of the Okanagan, BC, Benji Andringa is a graphic designer and illustrator with a unique blend of bold visuals and a deep love for nature, wildlife, music, and art. Specializing in apparel, branding, and custom artwork for clients around the globe, he brings a meticulous, hands-on approach to every project—drawing on everything from antique print techniques to digital illustration.
Passionate about local communities and sustainable practices, Benji’s work captures the spirit of the outdoors and the authenticity of artisan craftsmanship combined with modern techniques. When he’s not creating, you’ll find him out exploring the backcountry, setting up at a new campsite, or chillin by the beach. His graphic novel debut, Vol 1, marked the beginning of an ongoing journey into storytelling and illustration. Since then he has been honing his skills adapting new tools and techniques to bring Nolan’s ideas to life.
Follow along @lowclassart to see what he’s working on next.
