tjcw316 Wrote: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?
Quote: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.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?
It will be fun...
tjcw316 Wrote: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.
tjcw316 Wrote: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.
tjcw316 Wrote: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 Wrote: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:
Legion Wrote:But no tv or games. This will be thinking and meditation time. And not as a punishment.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!
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.
tjcw316 Wrote: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...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.
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.