[Hendrsb33]

Okay All!

I’m going to post my thoughts here so that everyone interested can see what I’m up to without having to email it separately to everyone. Not only that, but I’m gonna start writing my messages in Word then copy/pasting then onto the forum. I wrote a good long message earlier today then the forum “errored out” on me and I lost everything that I had written. Now I’m trying to remember everything I wrote before!

I’m getting a lot of good input from people but I have to be a little bit selfish and editorial in the interest of whittling down ideas into something coherent. Also, since I would have to spend a few months drawing the book, I want to draw something that I resonate with. It sucks to spend a lot of effort on something you don’t like. But don’t take that the wrong way, I’m open for debate and compromise.

Also, I’m noticing a few of you are seem to have artistic talent as well. You might consider drawing books too. I do directed studies for the Academy of Art in San Francisco so I’m a pretty good art coach.

So, here’s me thinking out loud…

I’m thinking along the lines of an ensemble cast of characters tackling a situation from converging perspectives. It would be an international cast from a variety of cultures. In the end, they somehow come together to address the problem. Some are self-aware, others are on the path of self-awareness. The idea is UNITY. Some of the issues I’d like to examine would be: ignorance (both positive and negative aspects), fear (and how to overcome it), self-discovery, hope, a bit of humor too. There’s room for other stuff but I’ll be keeping notes.

To stimulate further comparisons, here’s a list of movies and shows that are good examples:

CONTACT (humanity’s place in the Universe)
K-PAX (extraterrestrial or higher knowledge)
THE 4400 (tv series- time travel and genetic manipulation)
THE MAN WHO WOULD BE KING (high adventure and heroic figures)
APOCALYPSE NOW (journey toward ancient mysteries and human motive)
KNOWING (dire apocalyptic warning)
LORD OF THE RINGS (unity of purpose, self sacrifice, fellowship)

I’m pretty aware that I’m dominating this process but there is still much that can be done within these creative confines.

--Shep