As far as the animation project, I have been messing around with Toon Boom and Macromedia a bit. I am just learning right now, so I will be starting with the basic 2D animation, but will eventually move on to 3D.

Is Toon Boom an actual animation company or software? Ah Macromedia. Are you learning the Flash language? I managed to make a crudely simple animation after hours of googling for tutorials online but never learned to use the script, unlike a lot of Flash masters out there (Homestarrunner!). I've seen some pretty amazing things done with Flash, but I personally also think the graphics capabilty of Flash results in images that're pretty darn toony. Have you ever worked with 3D programs like Poser or 3D Max?

My idea would be to have all the characters based on the over all suggestion of who would play what...from here. Except for RJ. I want RJ to be kind of a shadow like character, with no face (like Wilson from Home Improvement or the evil Dr. MADD from Inspector Gadget). It would go along with the artwork from the book covers and keep up with the untrackable identity of RJ. There would have to be careful detail to be able to show RJ's anger in his threatening eyes utilizing lighting aspects and shadows. It would take me a few months, and would have to do it parts (such as chapters of books), but I am going to give it a shot.

It will be fun...

I can see how you could do a comic-book-movie-like take on Jack, with his face in shadow and dramatic lighting, like the comic-y movies that've been out lately. But won't it be hard to keep Jack's face out of the whole thing though...what happens when he's talking to someone during the day? Unless you change the point of view and show everything as seen through Jack's eyes?

Be sure to share your progress with us

Toon Boom is actual software like macromedia. I have never done any animation on PC before, so I am starting with the basics and moving my way up. You can google toon boom and check out their website. You can do some pretty neat things with it.

I may start out with a comic-book-movie to begin with, and would use alot of the scenes from Jack's point of view (looking out through sunglasses). The basic form for Jack is simple, one would have to be smart about different angles to project jack from (like over-head, from the ground looking up (left or right) towards his back) . I will keep you posted as it comes along.

I have never worked with poser or 3d max. I will have to check it out...thanks.

Also to others that have commented on the whole RJ on myspace going against his nature and not matching the feeling of the series, in "Legacies", RJ opens his first scene checking his website for people requesting a fix it man. What better place than myspace for jack to advertise???

On the main website here FPW posted and I quote...

"Historical note: Years ago I sold film rights to THE TOMB to Beacon Films/Touchstone Pictures. The idea has been to title the film "Repairman Jack" and turn our guy into a franchise character. The project has spent 12 years in development hell, chewing up 6 writers who’ve churned out reams of scripts. This section contains a year or so of updates on the Repairman Jack movie project."

So if this is RJ's creator's intent...to Franchise Jack...how can you be against getting our guy out there into the public.

Maybe I am just being a stupid newbie...I have only read two of the RJ novels, and can't get my hands on "Conspiracies"(I have everyone but that one, spent all weekend searching bookstores, flea markets, booktraders,...etc) and will be ordering it from Booksamillion tomorrow. I think he should be franchised and marketed to the utmost extent. There is so much you could do with RJ, and create alot more fan interaction, but it seems like some people want to keep RJ to themselves, within a secret society of RJ's close personal friends, like in the series...

If a nerdy kid, with magical powers, and riding a broomstick can become the biggest thing since Star Trek, Star Wars, and that pedophile Michael "I've never had plastic surgery" Jackson, than our man RJ can definitely "F" some shit up in the franchise business.

But everyone has their opinions and that is the best part about literature and freedom of speech. I respect all views on this topic, although I debate them, I still respect them. Maybe there is more to the RJ stories that I will learn in the novels to come...I don't know.

But I do know that I would love to see RJ on the silver screen.

Well, I am going to go forth and make an unofficial RJ site. If anyone has any ideas let me know as this will be a fan friendly site with some cool ideas that I hope to implement. The site right now is:

"myspace.com/rpman_jack"

It is still under construction and if someone could post the WWJD pic from the shirt, I would greatly appreciate it. I would like to eventually have a Q/A on WWJD, that would give scenarios that could be new ideas or even trivia from previous novels.

I know the GU had expanded on characters with short stories, for the Nightworld Chronicles and Fahrenfort. I thought about doing a section with short stories written by the fans and posting them for others to read and comment on.

There will of course be links to here, the new Wiki, and for merchandise.

I will also have a section to copy scripts for advertising FPW's books, and stuff etc on your own myspace page. Where all you would have to do is copy and paste in your book section, or send it to a friend as a comment recommending a FPW...

I would like to get more input and any ideas one may have. Once I get everything planned out and scripted to a user friendly interactive site, I will post a launch date.

Also, how about an ABE and GIA site...?

It will take me a bit to get it organized, but hopefully everyone will like the finished product.

I'm kinda confused about some of your comments, Legion...

I am a newbie to the RJ community, and only midway through my second book...Legacies, but I was instantly hooked, and amazed that I had not heard of RJ prior.

The ideas that I have are not to change the intent of the series as FPW is the only person who can do that. My ideas are to bring forth more marketing awareness and different avenues for the fans to interact. I am sure FPW would not mind if RJ gained more popularity through whatever means.

I had seen "The Keep" earlier in my life and when you cross over from novel to movie, there are always the negatives cause there is just so much you can merge into a movie from a 450 (average#) page novel. At times due to the script and the director's vision of how he sees the movie are just about always different from the author's vision. To properly do a cross-over, the author should be a director or co-director.

But I am not making a big production movie here. As I am a new Junkie here, I just thought it would be a different avenue to share the excitement and thrill that I have gotten from discovering RJ. I don't see how this could take away from the series? The series is just that, a series. All the other ideas are for fan interaction and to keep the excitement that I have of RJ and that others may have going.

But that is just my take on things as I am new to the community.

Not puttin down your ideas, mate. Just statin mine.

I'm kinda old school. I hate seeing any great literary work put on film, animated or merchandised. I put Myspace and web-based-promotions (outside of this site) right up there with those.

I have always found the great thing about books is that everything is left to your imagination, while movies and other media forms leave barely any room for that old, much unused ability of ours.

Comic adaptations are the last line for me, where I will accept them. Maybe because they are still forcing you to pay more attention to the dialouge than the background.

Anyways, that's me. Someday when I sell one of my ideas I'll be left to these ideals on my own. So until then, its just my opinion.

Legion,

Out of all the interaction that I have had with people on the forum, I respect your views probably the most. As a father of 5, from the ages of 11 down to 1yr old, I actually promote the values that you are stating in order to build their minds into creative self thinkers, and not the media fed zombies of today's age. We spend our weekends going to used bookstores, and its a requirement that my kids read at least one book a week. I am having an issue with my step-son, as he had become a game junkie prior to living with me, and seems to not want to expand his mind and his imagination through literary works.

The whole myspace idea is just a better way to get RJ out to the individuals that have no clue about the works of FPW, or our hero RJ. I would like to turn it into a more interactive site where the fans can actually express their own ideas, and be creative with short stories, fan art, and ideas. I am still in the planning stage with the unofficial RJ site, and want it to be different than most fansites. The layout right now is similar to the website here, and once i get more time, I will have links to this site and the Wiki. Although I am building the layout, I want it to actually be designed around the inputs and creative ideas/expressions of the fans.

I do agree with you about most novels transitions to the silver screen. I would like to see RJ on film, but I hope that FPW will play a big part in the direction of the movie, as this is his baby.

So yes, I do understand where you are coming from. I was a Navy Recruiter for 3 years during 1999-2002, and there is a huge gap between the creative free thinking generation of old and the mindless zombies of the "Me-Generation." But that is a thread for another forum.

Legion,

Out of all the interaction that I have had with people on the forum, I respect your views probably the most. As a father of 5, from the ages of 11 down to 1yr old, I actually promote the values that you are stating in order to build their minds into creative self thinkers, and not the media fed zombies of today's age. We spend our weekends going to used bookstores, and its a requirement that my kids read at least one book a week. I am having an issue with my step-son, as he had become a game junkie prior to living with me, and seems to not want to expand his mind and his imagination through literary works.

The whole myspace idea is just a better way to get RJ out to the individuals that have no clue about the works of FPW, or our hero RJ. I would like to turn it into a more interactive site where the fans can actually express their own ideas, and be creative with short stories, fan art, and ideas. I am still in the planning stage with the unofficial RJ site, and want it to be different than most fansites. The layout right now is similar to the website here, and once i get more time, I will have links to this site and the Wiki. Although I am building the layout, I want it to actually be designed around the inputs and creative ideas/expressions of the fans.

I do agree with you about most novels transitions to the silver screen. I would like to see RJ on film, but I hope that FPW will play a big part in the direction of the movie, as this is his baby.

So yes, I do understand where you are coming from. I was a Navy Recruiter for 3 years during 1999-2002, and there is a huge gap between the creative free thinking generation of old and the mindless zombies of the "Me-Generation." But that is a thread for another forum.

Howdy, tj! Your post evoked a memory. Back when I lived in Brockport, we had a guy in the house calling himself Frank. He thought it was a hoot and a holler to summon an Army recruiter to laugh at. (This was late 1975.) The sergeant showed up, fine uniform with his decorations and ribbons. I took it upon myself to explain a fool was hoaxing him, and apologized. The Sarge took in good humor. Had a cup of coffee with us, told a few of his war stories. Even the asshole Frank was abashed. The Sarge was a real man.

Legion,

Out of all the interaction that I have had with people on the forum, I respect your views probably the most. As a father of 5, from the ages of 11 down to 1yr old, I actually promote the values that you are stating in order to build their minds into creative self thinkers, and not the media fed zombies of today's age. We spend our weekends going to used bookstores, and its a requirement that my kids read at least one book a week. I am having an issue with my step-son, as he had become a game junkie prior to living with me, and seems to not want to expand his mind and his imagination through literary works.

The whole myspace idea is just a better way to get RJ out to the individuals that have no clue about the works of FPW, or our hero RJ. I would like to turn it into a more interactive site where the fans can actually express their own ideas, and be creative with short stories, fan art, and ideas. I am still in the planning stage with the unofficial RJ site, and want it to be different than most fansites. The layout right now is similar to the website here, and once i get more time, I will have links to this site and the Wiki. Although I am building the layout, I want it to actually be designed around the inputs and creative ideas/expressions of the fans.

I do agree with you about most novels transitions to the silver screen. I would like to see RJ on film, but I hope that FPW will play a big part in the direction of the movie, as this is his baby.

So yes, I do understand where you are coming from. I was a Navy Recruiter for 3 years during 1999-2002, and there is a huge gap between the creative free thinking generation of old and the mindless zombies of the "Me-Generation." But that is a thread for another forum.

Aw, shucks. :o Its a shame you're not in Philly. Sound like the type o people Tina and I look to hang out with.

I cannot count how many days I have spent in a bookstore. And we cannot wait until Rome, our son, is old enough to do just that. Between outdoor activities and bookstores I don't plan on giving him the time to be a video game junkie. He will get specific alone time where he is to be by himself. But no tv or games. This will be thinking and meditation time. And not as a punishment.

It kills me to drive through my old neighborhood, see the remains of my youth just sitting there unused. Nobody in site, no adults and sure as hell no children. From the basketball hoop down the street to the neighbors pool, its like seeing old friends dying of loneliness.

Where are all of those kids who should be swimming on a hot summer day? Inside playing PS3 or X Box.

Where are those kids who should be running though the woods and climbing trees? They don't have the option. They tore down our woods for a strip mall.

If I go to the library its packed with kids. All of them are on the computers and I'd say not a single book has moved in the kids section in the past 5 years.

That's not gonna be my son.

I think that was in Bloodlines but it wasn't myspace. It was Repairmanjack.com. At least I'm pretty sure it was not myspace... Would check but my copy of Bloodlines was lent but never returned...:mad2:

It was in Bloodline indeed

[slight Bloodline spoiler here, but nothing to write home about]

It's just at the beginning of the book, maybe the 3rd page. Jack was thinking about setting a MySpace account for RepairMan Jack, but saw that all avatars of Repairman Jack were already taken, so he set a Jack Fixx account.

Jack Fixx is also the name of the Jack-not-so-much-alike character in the P. Frank Winslow novels, the guy whose dreams are tapping in Jack's real life. I only had to read Bloodline for the 4th time to notice that P. Frank Winslow was a transparent disguise of F. Paul Wilson. Aren't I quick.

We went out to Niantic, CT to this place called the BookBarn this weekend...WOW!!!

This was a literature heaven. Words can not really explain this place! Look it up online by googling "Book Barn CT Niantic."

They had one building alone for horror/thriller, one for romance, one for history/military/general information, one that had a mix of thriller/romance. It was truly a beautiful place, with most books being $1.00.

Then they have another Downtown Book Barn that is more organized. I was able to purchase Reborn, The Touch, An original "The Tery", Implant, Deep As Marrow, Haunted Air, The Select and a few others. The one I have not been able to find has been "Conspiracies".

The wife is a big Nora Roberts fan. We ended up spending over $60.00 this past weekend, and got over 50 something books for us and the kids.

I have been to a few outlets up towards the Poconos before, but my favorite out of all the book stores are the Booksamillion stores and borders. I have found that Barnes and Nobles do not carry much FPW novels. At least the ones I have been too.

Oops...sorry to babble off topic...gotta go put a copy of conspiracies on order now...debated on waiting til September for the reprints to come out. Don't know yet...eager to continue my quest with RJ...

But no tv or games. This will be thinking and meditation time. And not as a punishment.

It kills me to drive through my old neighborhood, see the remains of my youth just sitting there unused. Nobody in site, no adults and sure as hell no children. From the basketball hoop down the street to the neighbors pool, its like seeing old friends dying of loneliness.

Where are all of those kids who should be swimming on a hot summer day? Inside playing PS3 or X Box.

Where are those kids who should be running though the woods and climbing trees? They don't have the option. They tore down our woods for a strip mall.

If I go to the library its packed with kids. All of them are on the computers and I'd say not a single book has moved in the kids section in the past 5 years.

That's not gonna be my son.

Can't help an off-topic reply. Legion, we have certain differences in opinion, but more people, and I hope parents especially, need to have your no-tv-and-games attitude. I've seen too many of my peers hooked on video games while their real lives completely disintegrate. It's disturbing to me that someone would not go out with friends, won't exercise and interact with flesh and blood people, but rather go on a "raid" with "friends" online, shut in their room all day long. The need for escape into games of course is affected by many things, not the least parental upbringing and personal and family health, but I think despite that, kids from happy, healthy families are falling prey to the sheer pressure to game because that's what everyone else is doing for fun. You can't play basketball outside by yourself; might as well play Metal Gear inside with friends. World of Warcraft and other games are the crack and heroin of my generation, more dangerous since parents usually buy them for their kids to begin with. I won't comment on whether games make people more violent or whatnot, but I think it's unquestionable that games can be frighteningly addictive and disruptive for many people. I've seen some studies claiming that games aren't addictive...and I say BS!

Back on Topic...

Maybe I am just being a stupid newbie...I have only read two of the RJ novels, and can't get my hands on "Conspiracies"(I have everyone but that one, spent all weekend searching bookstores, flea markets, booktraders,...etc) and will be ordering it from Booksamillion tomorrow. I think he should be franchised and marketed to the utmost extent. There is so much you could do with RJ, and create alot more fan interaction, but it seems like some people want to keep RJ to themselves, within a secret society of RJ's close personal friends, like in the series...

If a nerdy kid, with magical powers, and riding a broomstick can become the biggest thing since Star Trek, Star Wars, and that pedophile Michael "I've never had plastic surgery" Jackson, than our man RJ can definitely "F" some shit up in the franchise business.

I checked out Toon Boom; looks good! I learned a little about 3D Max in a high school graphics course and fell in love with computer animation after that, so I'm looking forward to seeing samples of your stuff soon.

I understand your point about the fansite; I think it's the same reason people write fanfics or make music videos about their fav book/movie/comic/whatever. It's a way to express yourself, and if you can hook in some new fans, all the better. Jack will always have his own voice and image in my mind, but I wouldn't mind seeing him on the silver screen either.

(Talking about a kid on a broomstick getting famous...you heard about the Twilight series that's suddenly shot to ultimate children's literature heaven? I just read them since my sister was gaga over them...and I'll take the kid wizard's story and Rowling's level of writing any day.)