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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: Webisodes 3, 4, 5 of Jack-Man: “One Bitten, Twice Nice”; “Backyard Brawl”; “Farmers’ Market”

4 years, 6 months.

Dear Jack: Webisodes 3, 4, 5 of Jack-Man: “One Bitten, Twice Nice”; “Backyard Brawl”; “Farmers’ Market”

Dear Jack,

Friday morning you woke up at 5:30 and wanted to watch something on the Kindle. I explained that it was still time to be asleep, but if you didn’t want to lay in bed for another 30 minutes until it was time to get up; that you and I could make another Jack-Man episode instead.

It seemed like the better option to you, so Webisode 3 was born…

So from 5:30 to 6:30 AM Friday morning, the two of us were filming while Mommy got ready for work. Then you and I had to hurry to get ready for school and work ourselves.

While I do plan to record most webisodes outside, we made this one mainly inside; as Green Meanie sends Monster Man into Jack-Man’s closet to scare him.

I wanted this episode to be a bit more on the thrilling side. I wanted to see Jack-Man confronted with one of the most familiar (imagined) fears of young children: discovering there is a monster in the closet.

Hopefully, this story line is unique in that there actually is a threatening monster in the closet. But of course, Jack uses his quick thinking to utilize a way to quench the enemy.

Obviously every superhero series has an edge of darkness to it. In this webisode, I wanted to introduce a more intense combat scene with the scariest villain yet.

The audience is seeing that while Green Meanie isn’t one to physically attack Jack-Man himself, he prefers to send members of his infinite henchmen army to attempt to defeat Jack-Man.

Green Meanie is more evil and greedy that he appears. After all, he has access to a Monster Man!

Dear Jack: Webisodes 3, 4, 5 of Jack-Man: “One Bitten, Twice Nice”; “Backyard Brawl”; “Farmers’ Market”

It is becoming evident that Jack-Man isn’t in this alone. That is why in Webisode 4, “Backyard Brawl”, we meet Jack-Man’s cousin and fellow superhero, Super Calla; which is short for Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. However, Green Meanie also brings his family along, which leads to an epic fight in Jack-Man’s backyard.

We were able to do this webisode thanks to my family being in town for Memorial Day weekend.

Dear Jack: Webisodes 3, 4, 5 of Jack-Man: “One Bitten, Twice Nice”; “Backyard Brawl”; “Farmers’ Market”

And actually, last Saturday morning while they still were driving in, you and I shot Webisode 5, “Farmer’s Market”, at the Franklin Factory. It was the first time we did a webisode in front of the unassuming public.

I think my favorite one so far is Webisode 4, “Backyard Brawl.” It was a lot of fun for our family!

Love,

Daddy

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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

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Dear Jack: Webisode 1 of Jack-Man- “Here, Kitty Kitty”

4 years, 6 months. 

EP1 Title Card

Dear Jack,

This past weekend, you and I shot our very 1st official episode of our new web series, Jack-Man. You were great! Here it is:

As the writer/producer/director/video editor/theme writer & performer, I can confirm that you (as the main lead) did very well following my instructions, scene to scene. I am very pleased with how “Here, Kitty Kitty” turned out.

I re-recorded the Jack-Man theme song, changing some of the lyrics, from the Toyota Sienna version I did for our homemade commercial.

Here are the new, official lyrics:

“Jack-Man, who will fight for justice?

Jack can, he really likes bananas

That man gets his superpowers from them

Jack-Man, knows just where to hit ‘em

When it comes to creepy villains

He packs a punch and eats a healthy lunch

Jack-Man!”

This is the 1st of many, many webisodes I hope to record with you. I plan to create a large collection of “creepy villains” (mainly played by me) for you to encounter.

In this 1st episode, the main underlying plotline of the show is revealed: Green Meanie attempts to get children hooked on soda, which in the words of Green Meanie, “is filled with sugar, caffeine, and weird chemicals.”

Soda is Jack-Man’s kryptonite, where has bananas and water are what gives him his super powers; those of which will slowly be unveiled as future episodes are released.

I’m not exactly sure who the demographic of the show is going to be. My assumption is that Jack-Man is designed for young children. Hopefully kids will like it; and hopefully, parents will deem it safe enough for their children to watch.

Obviously, being part of the super hero genre, there will be swashbuckling action… but if I do it right, our show should still be age appropriate for kids who would want to watch it.

We’ve already filmed the 2nd episode as well, which I plan to release in the next few days.

This is fun!

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Jack: I Could and Would Die for You

4 years, 5 months.

Dear Jack: I Could and Would Give My Life for You

Dear Jack,

Without any hesitation, I could and would give my life for you.

However, I believe there is nothing heroic or surprising about that statement whatsoever.

Instead, it’s simply common knowledge, I would assume; that a father would simply in a moment either risk his life or give his life if he saw his child in serious danger. Cue a relevant song:

The reason I recently gave this thought is because recently when we took our mini vacation to Pensacola, we walked out to the end of the long fishing pier at Casino Beach. Mommy and I took turns holding you up to the guard rail to let you see over into the water.

(We were all surprised to the see the man next to us catch a small shark; which he ultimately was required to throw back into the ocean.)

As we left the pier and walked back to the beach, you asked me this:

“Daddy, what would happen if another child’s daddy or mommy was holding them and they pretended like they were going to throw their child into the water, but then they really did, but they didn’t mean to?”

I was amazed at such a deep, hypothetical question from a 4 and a half year-old little boy.

My answer was this:

“They would do whatever it takes to get their child back. If it were you that fell in, I would immediately jump in after you.”

Granted, I’m not sure I would survive the hit of impact of the water (that pier is pretty high off of the water), or that the water would absolutely be deep enough to save my fall.

Either way, I would follow you, even to death. Cue another relevant song:

This reminds me of a scene on one of my favorite shows, Lost; during the final season one of the main characters gets trapped in a submarine, after a bomb explodes, causing water to rush in.

Spoiler alert! Even though Lost ended almost exactly 5 years ago:

Her legs are pinned down from the explosion, leaving her upper half out of the water, as her husband desperately tried to bend the steel bars in order to free her.

After several attempts, he realizes it’s impossible. Though he himself was free and could escape instead of drowning, he chooses to stay with his wife; dying with her in the flood.

It was one of the most touching moment in Lost for me.

But ultimately, it wasn’t heroic. You undoubtedly would die for the people you love the most; without hesitation.

So yes, it’s a dark thought to think about you falling in the water or that we would not spend many more decades together here on Earth.

I just want you to know- I can’t imagine living the rest of my life with you or Mommy. If I felt I was about to lose either of you, I would instantly throw my life in front whatever it was to try to prevent anything bad from happening to you two.

Not because I’m some great guy, but simply because you and Mommy are my life. What would life be without you?

Love,

Daddy