Dream projects: YOUNG MEN IN SPATS

 

We all have several projects we would love to adapt either into a graphic novel, film or television series. Right now I'm in the process of reading YOUNG MEN IN SPATS by P.G. WODEHOUSE and I would absolutely love to adapt it either into a television or web series.

 

YOUNG MEN IN SPATS revolves around adventures of the various members of that Diogenese Club for bright young idiots, The Drones Club.

 

I think the stories in the book would lend themsleves to either a web series of short episodes or a 1/2 television series. The stories are silly and the characters are blissfully idiotic. There's nothing but pure enjoyment in Wodehouse's work.

 

In an era where it seems like we're getting choked with more Kardashian and Honey Boo Boo type reality series's or sitcoms that just seem to be developing more and more of a mean streak with the only type of humor the entertainment industry thinks characters that just downright cruel is funny, we really could use Wodehouse's brand light-hearted whimsy more and more.

 

Mr. B's ALL HAIL THE CHAP would be the song I'd choose as the theme song:

 

 

But with Wodehouse's work, I'd have to see securing the rights from literary agent that handles his estate. But it is most certainly on the list.

Wodehouse in Wooster... I mean... Worcester...

At the moment I'm trying to get together a little event right in the heart of the metropolis of Worcester MA called Wodehouse Day on October 15th which is PG Wodehouse's Birthday.

The event is inspired by an Evite I had gotten Facebook inviting people around the world to celebrate PG Wodehouse's Birthday in style by hosting parties in 1920's dress much like the stories and the time period that PG Wodehouse wrote in.

It's a great time of the year to plan the event seeing that it's close to Halloween and it's just a great excuse to go out in fancy dress and have a fun night out with friends.

But where to have it?

An artist and Art Museum chum of mine Cynthia Woehrle suggested the 55 Pearl Street Restaurant inside the Historic Bull Mansion.

CAPITAL IDEA!! Most of Wodehouse's stories took place in mansions, manor houses or in Bertie Woosters favorite establishment The Drones Club. So, 55 Pearl seems very fitting for such an event.

Hopefully, they'll like the idea and I'll be able to have it there. But if everything falls through I'm definitely opened to suggestions.

BUT TENTATIVELY AT THIS MOMENT Wodehouse in Worcester will be happening Thursday, October 15, 2009 from 7:00pm - 10:00pm (that's about the time the rates for the parking garages go down)at 55 Pearl in the Historic Bull Mansion located on 55 Pearl Street in Worcester, MA !!

I'll have a little promo up in a couple days but please pass it along to your friends or anyone who might be interested!!

And if you would like to check out their website, click on the piccie below:

Polly and Handgraves casting call...

Not a real casting call, mind you. It was actually sparked by one of the questions asked on Alterna Comics new Creators Page. If I were to do a movie based on my books, who would play the part. The only question I was completely sure of was Polly and Handgraves. I would cast Oona Chaplin as Polly and Rupert Everett as Handgraves. With the Ditty Bops song Nosy Neighbor as the title track.

Polly and Handgraves

Well, I just started writing a follow up to A Sinister Aura. Unlike the first tale, it's not going to be based on actual events. BUT like Sinister Aura, it's going to be a mystery based around actual places in Worcester and Worcester County.

It's going to be a combination of an earlier draft I started for the second Polly and Handgraves story as well as parts and plot ideas from another story I had started to write but kind of abandoned.

Since I like both ideas I thought I would combine them into one story with all the elements of historic Worcester, classic murder mystery formula and some conspiracy theories I have cooked up that might amuse you.

Stay tuned for the return of Polly and Handgraves. But in the meantime, order your copy of A Sinister Aura or come out to Comic Con in Boston on Sunday and get your copy personally signed by me:

Bid on Polly and Handgraves

To celebrate the release of my latest graphic novel The Adventures of Polly and Handgraves: A Sinister Aura this April, I have currently posted a copy of the book on E-Bay!! The winning bidder of the auction will receive a copy of the book SIGNED PERSONALLY to them as well as some Polly and Handgraves art.

To start bidding, click on the banner below:

Polly and Handgraves out this month!!

I'm still working on the second story and my hopes is for it to become a series. But in the meantime, you can purchase your copy by clicking on the cover.

Written and Illustrated by BRET M. HERHOLZ graytones by Rori Shapiro Lettered and edited by Peter Simeti

Loosely based on a true crime that occurred in Spencer, Massachusetts in 1889, "A Sinister Aura" is a mystery story in the tradition of Agatha Christie, brought to you by Spencer, MA native Bret M. Herholz (Diary of the Black Widow).

Heavy rains force Polly Plum and her valet Montgolfier Handgraves to seek lodging in a small town on their way back to Worcester, Massachusetts. Soon Polly discovers she has arrived on the night of young socialite Lionel Hampstead's apparent suicide. Guided by troubled dreams and haunted by Hampstead's spectre, Polly and Handgraves soon discover that there's something sinister lurking in the past of Hampstead himself and his bride to be, Ivy Proust.

I love old movies!!

I had already mentioned my affections for old movies in a prior blog post but watching The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes with Basil Rathbone last night reminded me why I love that simplistic approach of old movies.

Yes, Nigel Bruce's irritating, bumbling and harrumphing Doctor Watson makes me want to tear my hair out. Which I suppose isn't wise nowadays seeing that my hair doesn't grow back so quickly anymore.

But that's besides the point.

The soft tones of the black and white as well as the flickering lights in the background.

Movies between the 1900's to the 1940's are probably my favorite to watch. I love silent films. I take a silent movie approach to many of my illustrations. It's easy to draw a scene and have a speech balloon saying "The murderer got away!"

But it takes a great deal of skill to show that without the use of words. Merely expression and body language. And I think that's why I feel many silent movie actors are very underrated.

I love movies from the 30's and 40's because that was the time my Grandparents lived through. I was very close to my Grandparents and even though they are gone, these movies are what keeps me connected to their time.

Actually, when I was as young as many of the students in my art classes, I was watching stuff like the Marx Brothers, Laurel and Hardy as well as movies with Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, W.C. Fields and Mabel Normand.

My Grandfather loved Laurel and Hardy. They had a night of Laurel and Hardy films on TMC over August. I found myself chuckling at a scene where Stan Laurel is sitting with this child who is telling him the story of the Three Bears. With voices. During the story Laurel keeps falling asleep. And what wakes him up is when the little girl does the baby bear voice.

To some, they would find the scene boring and unfunny. Mostly because nowadays if you're not getting kicked in the crotch, it's not funny. But what was funny about the scene was the look on Laurel's face everytime the little girl would make him wake up with a start.

Like I said, I knew about most, if not all these movies when I was a kid. I've found a lot of my students have never seen a silent movie in their life. And I think it's kind of sad that a lot of these films are being missed by people nowadays.

So, if you get a chance go on Amazon.com, put them on your Netflicks list. Or wait till they're on TMC again.

The Adventures of Sally by P.G. Wodehouse

It was one of the P.G. Wodehouse books sitting on my bookshelf that I've both been meaning to read and trying to read for the longest time. I'm glad I finally decided to sit down and read it. I really love P.G. Wodehouse's humor. It's so light hearted and carefree.

Basically, his work is like watching a situation comedy with brains.

It also kind of disappoints me that like his book Laughing Gas, they have never adapted The Adventures of Sally for television or film the way they have adapted works like Piccadilly Jim, Heavy Weather, Blanding Castle and of course Jeeves and Wooster who have been played by Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry, Ian Carmichael and Dennis Price and David Niven and Arthur Treacher.

There was even a musical of Jeeves and Wooster by Andrew Lloyd Webber By Jeeves! which featured Jeeves and a banjo playing Bertie Wooster.

Yeah, I haven't seen that one either.

But it's a pity that The Adventures of Sally have not found it's way to becoming a screen adaptation. I'm finding it to be a very funny and enjoyable read.