When I was creating the first Eye Witness book, (A Fictional Tale of Absolute Truth), from 2002-2004, I believed that this one project was the answer to God’s calling for my talents. Retell the Passion story of Jesus, in a relevant, accessible and entertaining way and will hopefully reach a lot of people with the story who might not really delve into it otherwise.
Shortly after publication of this book in 2004, when I was marketing it at conventions, churches and bookstores, I learned that this wasn’t enough. People wanted more. They wanted to know the outcome of this event, which was one of the most relevant in man’s history. People wanted, (needed it seemed), to be able to better understand the effect Jesus’ life-death-resurrection had on the world and his contemporaries, both friend and foe alike. Though to the mature Christian the answers may seems all very elementary, to those who are not yet believers (or skeptics) these answers may be missing or the answers they have heard, confusing to them...and after all that is the kind of person I am writing for.
The more I had people ask me when the next book was coming out, the more I began to ponder this and it all became very clear to me…I wasn’t through yet! Here was one of the world’s greatest action-adventure stories ever written, just waiting in the wings for someone to do a contemporary adaptation of. I am referring to of course…the book of Acts. This book of the Bible contained the answer to most asked question for non-believers…how did this one week two thousand years ago end up affecting the lives of so many people, even today? Thus was born the Eye Witness Trilogy!
I share all this exposition, because it’s that time again gang, when I embark on the most time consuming portion in the creation of one of the Eye Witness graphic novels….the illustration process. Since December 2006, I have been busy writing my screenplay, (I call it a screen-play, because creating a working script for a graphic novel for me, is more in line with that format, than it is to say writing a manuscript for a novel), for the third and final chapter in the Eye Witness saga….Eye Witness: Destiny Road.
For the next approximately 15 months, (depending on life’s diversions), I will be sequestered to my studio creating this, the largest of the Eye Witness books. At over 160+ pages, it will involve close to 1000 individual illustrations. At an average of about 8 hours a day of work, six days a week, that means I am beginning what will be about 3000+ hours of work to complete the trilogy. I don’t share this for any other reason, but to educate those of you out there in the blog-reading audience who may not understand or appreciate what it takes to produce a graphic novel this size.
Starting with this entry I will attempt to let you, the reader, come along for the ride as I am developing this book and see behind the scenes in the process and watch all the prat-falls that can occur along the way. So make sure to visit the blog regularly to see what I am up to and even sneak a peek at some of the artwork as it unfolds.
Robert James Luedke
Head Press Publishing
www.Headpress.info
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Eye Witness creator on Worldwide Podcast
This Friday Evening, (April 20th), at 9pm eastern time, I'll be a part of a world-wide Podcast.
It will be broadcast from the home of RECOVER IN CHRIST MINISTRIES. During the broadcast I’ll be talking about the making of my Eye Witness graphic novel series (www.headpress.info) and how the graphic arts can play a big role in getting people involved in ministry.
To listen in and even participate in this live Net event, go to:
http://www.talkshoe.com/talkshoe/web/talkCast.jsp?masterId=20077&talkCastId=20077
…copy and paste the above link, and let your friends, family and people in your church know they can CLICK THE LISTEN BUTTON to stream and listen.
Talk at you then...literally!
Robert Luedke
Head Press Publishing
www.headpress.info
It will be broadcast from the home of RECOVER IN CHRIST MINISTRIES. During the broadcast I’ll be talking about the making of my Eye Witness graphic novel series (www.headpress.info) and how the graphic arts can play a big role in getting people involved in ministry.
To listen in and even participate in this live Net event, go to:
http://www.talkshoe.com/talkshoe/web/talkCast.jsp?masterId=20077&talkCastId=20077
…copy and paste the above link, and let your friends, family and people in your church know they can CLICK THE LISTEN BUTTON to stream and listen.
Talk at you then...literally!
Robert Luedke
Head Press Publishing
www.headpress.info
Monday, April 09, 2007
Johnny Hart...RIP
Sunday April 8, 2007 NEWS 'B.C.' creator Johnny Hart dies
Johnny Hart, an Endicott native whose collection of cartoon cave-dwellers amused and sometimes irritated newspaper readers for almost 50 years, died at his Nineveh home on Saturday. He was 76.
Hart is survived by his wife Bobby, and two daughters. Funeral arrangements have not been announced. Hart's B.C. comic strip was launched in 1958 and eventually appeared in more than 1,300 newspapers worldwide with an audience of 100 million. He lent his characters to promote many local agencies and activities, including the Broome Dusters hockey team, BC Transit, Broome County Parks and the professional golf tournament which became the B.C. Open.
B.C. participated in the nation's space program. In 1972, Hart received a public service award from NASA for outstanding contributions.
Later in his career, some of Hart's cartoons addressed religious themes -- a reflection of his own deepening Christian faith -- which dismayed some readers and delighted others.
Hart's biography at the Creators Syndicate web site said he never considered cartoon a serious profession until he graduated from Union-Endicott High School. At 19, he met Brant Parker, a young cartoonist who became a prime influence and who later became a partner in the Wizard of Id, another of Hart's comic strip creations.
"I'm very hard-pressed to find the proper words to express my feelings," said Alex Alexander, founder of the B.C. Open. "I talked to Bobby, his wife, just a few days ago and she told me he was doing quite well. And I was encouraged by that. And then when I found out this morning he had passed away, it came as a shock." Hart designed the bronzed trophy given to B.C. Open champions, showing a caveman following through on his golf swing after hacking out a divot. And Alexander called him "the soul" of the tournament.
"Johnny was very much involved with the tournament," Alexander said. "He was just always very helpful. Always wanted to do anything that he could to help the tournament progress. And he was always there when we needed him. Never said no. Just a great, great influence."
-------------------------------------------------
On a personal note...This gentlemen, for me, was very influencial in the crafting of my comic strip work, throughout high school, college and a strip I had worked on for syndication during the 80's. His sharp wit and wonderful way of turning a clever pun still influences the way I look at strip comedy and satire today.
He was truly one of the giants in the comic strip world, and because he had been doing it for so long, he was a constant in our lives (like the sun rising each morning), so I don't think we'll realize what a prize he was, till we no longer get to see any more of his work in each morning paper.
bob luedke
www.headpress.info
Johnny Hart, an Endicott native whose collection of cartoon cave-dwellers amused and sometimes irritated newspaper readers for almost 50 years, died at his Nineveh home on Saturday. He was 76.
Hart is survived by his wife Bobby, and two daughters. Funeral arrangements have not been announced. Hart's B.C. comic strip was launched in 1958 and eventually appeared in more than 1,300 newspapers worldwide with an audience of 100 million. He lent his characters to promote many local agencies and activities, including the Broome Dusters hockey team, BC Transit, Broome County Parks and the professional golf tournament which became the B.C. Open.
B.C. participated in the nation's space program. In 1972, Hart received a public service award from NASA for outstanding contributions.
Later in his career, some of Hart's cartoons addressed religious themes -- a reflection of his own deepening Christian faith -- which dismayed some readers and delighted others.
Hart's biography at the Creators Syndicate web site said he never considered cartoon a serious profession until he graduated from Union-Endicott High School. At 19, he met Brant Parker, a young cartoonist who became a prime influence and who later became a partner in the Wizard of Id, another of Hart's comic strip creations.
"I'm very hard-pressed to find the proper words to express my feelings," said Alex Alexander, founder of the B.C. Open. "I talked to Bobby, his wife, just a few days ago and she told me he was doing quite well. And I was encouraged by that. And then when I found out this morning he had passed away, it came as a shock." Hart designed the bronzed trophy given to B.C. Open champions, showing a caveman following through on his golf swing after hacking out a divot. And Alexander called him "the soul" of the tournament.
"Johnny was very much involved with the tournament," Alexander said. "He was just always very helpful. Always wanted to do anything that he could to help the tournament progress. And he was always there when we needed him. Never said no. Just a great, great influence."
-------------------------------------------------
On a personal note...This gentlemen, for me, was very influencial in the crafting of my comic strip work, throughout high school, college and a strip I had worked on for syndication during the 80's. His sharp wit and wonderful way of turning a clever pun still influences the way I look at strip comedy and satire today.
He was truly one of the giants in the comic strip world, and because he had been doing it for so long, he was a constant in our lives (like the sun rising each morning), so I don't think we'll realize what a prize he was, till we no longer get to see any more of his work in each morning paper.
bob luedke
www.headpress.info
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