Jack-Man

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Dear Jack: Webisode 11 of Jack-Man, “Panic at the Playground!”

4 years, 7 months.

Dear Jack: Webisode 11 of Jack-Man,

Dear Jack,

Last week’s shooting of “Webisode 11: Panic at the Playground!” couldn’t have gone any better. You had so much fun seeing your friends Sophie and Madison again. They made such perfect superheroes. We spent all Saturday morning there at Pinkerton Park in the hot Tennessee sun.

I love the way the 3 of you interacted with me as I played the Playground Ninja, who was sent by the Green Meanie after Jack-Man refused to buy a boat or use a credit hard; instead, he plans to pay off his house early.

You all have some serious talent!

The number of views of Webisode 11 so far are showing that it is by default the best one yet: In just 4 days, it has received nearly 100 views; whereas it took a whole month for the 1st webisode to get that many views.

Based on the success of this one, I’ve decided I need to replicate that same formula as much as possible; which includes involving guest stars whenever possible, and always including an original song of mine to play during an action sequence.

That means I’ll typically be writing and recording at least one or two new songs each week, but that’s okay… I love doing it! I’m even trying to get Mommy to start singing with me on some upcoming songs…

This weekend we are scheduled to shoot at your school for some special episodes while it rains. I also am planning on having my friend Ben Wilder as a guest star villain.

Our family was very excited to learn this week that for an upcoming road trip, we’ll be able to review a Chevy Colorado truck! That is super cool!

By the way, you are now closer to age 5 than you are to 4. This week you turned 4 years, 7 months old.

Love,

Daddy

choremonsterfinalIG-1

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Dear Jack: Webisodes 9 & 10 of Jack-Man

4 years, 6 months.

Dear Jack: Episodes 9 & 10 of Jack-Man

Dear Jack,

Last weekend you and I left the house at 9:00 AM and didn’t return until nearly 3:00 PM. During those 6 hours, you and I made Webisodes 9 and 10 of Jack-Man; plus we got to hang out at Whole Foods for lunch and you bought Fuzzy (your new rabbit) at TJ Maxx for 3 bucks.

We filmed Webisode 9 in our neighborhood, finding the perfect “haunted house” for Jack-Man to encounter. My twist on the story is that the ghost could only exist if Jack-Man believed in him.

In Webisode 10, I got to try out not some newly learned editing tricks to speed up the action sequences. I also wrote a brand-new song exclusively for this episode, “I’m Coming For You.” I plan to do more of these original songs for Jack-Man.

I’m really excited about Webisode 11, which we are planning on filming this weekend while your friend Sophie will be in town, along with Madison as well. That will be a really fun reunion!

Something that I hope is becoming evident for Jack-Man fans is that these storylines contain social commentary and/or a deeper message than is on the surface.

For example, in Webisode 9, the ghost that only exists if you believe in him represents the psychological limits we place on ourselves that only bother us, but not other people.

EP10 Title Card Actual

And in Webisode 10… well, I feel it’s pretty obvious what Chill Pills represent, as they are easily prescribed to combat “the signs of hyperactivity.”

Jack-Man is a web series that is obviously geared towards children yet contains concepts geared towards adults.

Like in Webisode 11 this weekend, the Green Meanie will be attempting to get Jack-Man to spend the money he got from finding the treasure chest in Webisode 10, instead of investing it.

I can’t wait to record it!

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Jack: Webisodes 7 & 8 of Jack-Man, Plus Motivational Speech; Shia LaBeouf Style

4 years, 6 months.

Dear Jack: Webisodes 7 & 8 of Jack-Man, Plus Motivational Speech; Shia LaBeouf Style

Dear Jack,

This week we released 2 new webisodes of Jack-Man. In Webisode 7, “Caffeine Conspiracy,” Green Meanie attempts to sell Jack-Man on drinking soda by explaining it will give him extra energy.

Of course, he is referring to the addictive, unregulated caffeine. Green Meanie openly acknowledges his “caffeine conspiracy” to addict others to his soda.

He also recruits his old friend Caffeine Cowboy to intimidate Jack-Man into drinking soda, resulting in a draw.

Dear Jack: Webisodes 7 & 8 of Jack-Man, Plus Motivational Speech; Shia LaBeouf Style

Webisode 8, “Banana Shenanigans,” shows Caffeine Cowboy becoming a politician in an attempt to make bananas illegal, so that Jack-Man will no longer have access to what gives him his superpowers.

We also decided this week to take advantage of a trending video of Shia LaBeouf.

You, as Jack-Man, delivered the same motivation speech.

This coming weekend, we’re planning on filming 2 more webisodes, which will introduce a new concept in our Jack-Man webseries: allowing Green Meanie to interact with the audience in attempt to get ideas to drink Jack-Man to give in to Green Meanie’s agenda.

I like the concept of “choose your own adventure” being incorporated into our show. So we should have 10 episodes up by early next week.

Before we know, we’ll be doing our 100th webisode. And so many cool things can happen between now and then.

It helps that you’re so cooperative as we make this videos. A few weeks ago as we were filming in the Franklin Factory, a lady walked by and commented under her breath, “Good luck getting a kid to make a video.”

She didn’t realize I didn’t need good luck.

Making these videos is what we do. It’s our father and son quality time each weekend, which is important.

I love knowing in the midst of our busy lifestyle, we get to dedicate time together for this.

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Jack: Webisode 6 of Jack-Man, “The Juggler Strikes Back” (Featuring Best Fiends)

4 years, 6 months.

Dear Jack: Webisode 6 of Jack-Man, “The Juggler Strikes Back” (Featuring Best Fiends)

Dear Jack,

You and I made 4 new webisodes of our exciting new superhero webseries, Jack-Man, over Memorial Day weekend.

The most recent is Webisode 6, entitled “The Juggler Strikes Back”.

In this storyline, we see your arch nemesis Green Meanie (played by me) and his henchman The Juggler (played by your Uncle Andrew) scheme a plan to defeat you by taking away your new favorite game, Best Fiends; which is free to download…

#LoveBestFiends

This post has been sponsored by Acorn.

In this smartphone game, you get to help the Best Fiends grow up and level-up fast to unlock new powers and take down the slug army.

By playing Best Fiends, players can even help Edward end Malaria. Seriously Digital Entertainment is serious about doing good in the world. They have teamed up with Malaria No More to help players give a child a life-saving test and Malaria treatment by playing this game. That’s an awesome way to help others! (When prompted just enter your email address and $1 will be given to Malaria No More.) 

Of course, in our new webisode, Jack-Man and his superhero cousin Super Calla (played by your real life cousin Calla) think of a clever way to get Best Fiends back.

Your Uncle Andrew had downloaded Best Fiends for free on his smart phone at the beginning of the weekend. By the end, he had gotten to Level 30; he stayed up playing Best Friends as I edited the newest Jack-Man episodes.

As seen in Webisode 6 of Jack-Man, “The Juggler’s Strikes Back”, you really enjoyed counting the items and characters on Best Fiends, and liked defeating the evil slugs.

This post has been sponsored by Acorn.

This is apparently a pretty popular game right now… which I didn’t realize…

Yet it is still continuing to grow in popularity.

We are seeing the same thing happen with our Jack-Man webseries, but I knew it couldn’t hurt to feature Best Fiends as a plot device in a Jack-Man episode, since people who search for Best Fiends footage on YouTube might find this episode of Jack-Man.

Best Fiends is now forever part of the Jack-Man series!

And to make it even easier for people to find our new show, I’ve created a playlist on Youtube so that anyone can watch all episodes together at once, in chronological order:

We had a lot of fun this weekend making new webisodes of Jack-Man and playing Best Fiends!

Love,

Daddy

This post has been sponsored by Acorn.

This post has been sponsored by Acorn.

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Dear Jack: Webisode 2 of Jack-Man- “Shaving Bath-Man”

4 years, 6 months.

Jack-Man Webisode 2

Dear Jack,

Word is getting out about our new web series, Jack-Man. So we filmed the 2nd episode, “Shaving Bath-Man.” I released it on YouTube yesterday morning. Here it is:

In this webisode, a new villain is introduced: Bath-Man. He shows up to revenge the humiliation of Green Meanie, who Jack-Man defeated in Webisode 1.

Bath-Man is a very strong man, but has an unfortunate weakness. It just so happens that Jack-Man’s new weapon, the Philips Norelco Shaver 9700, is the perfect counter to Bath-Man’s strength.

“Shaving Bath-Man” also introduces a new jingle I wrote specifically for the Philips Norelco Shaver 9700, which is featured throughout the shaving scenes.

Unlike the 1st webisode which is mostly scripted, this new 2nd webisode was completely thrown together. You asked me last Sunday if we could do another Jack-Man video, so we did; pretty much right then.

I didn’t want to feature Green Meanie again in the following episode; in an effort to keep the story fresh. However, I didn’t have a good costume idea ready for a different villain.

So I thought, “What do I have in my closest that is the slightest bit unusual?” I remembered my gray bath robe.

From there, Bath-Man was created and I quickly whipped up a plot line, accordingly.

The overall storyline of Jack-Man will involve Green Meanie attempting to quench Jack-Man’s strength with sugary drinks and snacks, since Jack-Man serves as a threat to Green Meanie being as profitable if everyone knew how unhealthy sugary (and diet drinks) really are.

That of course leads to Green Meanie sending his henchmen to help defeat Jack-Man, as we see with Bath-Man, who is not necessarily emotionally involved with Green Meanie’s personal agenda of profitable off of people buying his drinks.

We make Jack-Man videos because you love doing them. You continualy ask me when we can do our next one.

Well, if all goes as planned, we will film Webisode 3 this weekend. You have made a special request to “do one where we just fight a lot.”

I can make that wish come true…

JM2a

Also, your teacher sent me some pictures of you from school this week:

Hi Nick!

Jack was very busy in our writing center last week!

He’s been very aware of letter sounds and sounding out words!

He’s spelled everything from; cat, dog, mark, and more.

The one that made me laugh the hardest, was this funny conversation we had.

“Ms. Aimee, how do you spell booze?”

“…….bruise?”

“No, booze!”

“…….what’s booze?”
“I just want to spell it.”

“Ok, well, let’s sound it out….”

“B?”

“Yep.”

“Ok thanks, two o’s make the oo sound right?”

“that’s right”

“Z?”

“Yep….”

“B…. oo….z…. ok thanks!”

Oh I about died laughing.

He is also fascinated with the light bright! It’s such a fun way to increase fine motor skills. He kept making the cutest crabs.

Aimee Cornelius

Lead Rockstar Preschool Teacher

Rainbow Child Care Center

Spring Hill, Tennessee

www.rainbowchildccc.com

Oh, this just in… looks like we might be filming a new Jack-Man episode sooner than we thought. Our neighbors saw our first 2 Jack-Man episodes and want to join in on the fun!

Love,

Daddy

JM2b

#FaTHURSday