Horror Filmmaker Authors Children's Book.

9/11 And A Personal Crisis Take Genre Filmmaker Down Unexpected Path.

Los Angeles: "Share love: Love is a rose. Smell it and pass it to a friend." So begins the whimsical "Good Things To Share," an inspirational picture book about sharing . Published by veteran entertainment company PopPix LLC, the book is a primer not only for children, but a refresher for adults to literally share with their loved ones. Brimming with wry humor, it's surprising at first to learn that such a sweet book was authored by a former maker of horror films.

"The book was the result of a rough time I had just gone through," says robust, James '"J.T." Cummins, a filmmaker and former effects artist who wrote and illustrated "Good Things To Share." "Consider it therapy," jokes Cummins, who just over a year ago was wrestling with not only the emotional undertow of 9/11, but a personal health crisis that was killing him.

Do No Harm

Cummins, who had written and directed the cult horror film "The Boneyard" starring Phyllis Diller, and contributed effects to numerous films such as "House," "Strange Invaders," "The Thing," and "Enemy Mine," felt compelled by the events of 9/11to offer something more positive to the world then just horror movies. "Like everyone, the incidents that day shook me. For awhile, I was like the walking wounded, unsure of my place or my responsibilities in a post 9/11 world." After some deep soul searching, Cummins decided that he could no longer be involved in projects that fostered violence or negative energy. Instead he adopted a "do no harm" ethic in his life and work. "Through my film work I had spent most of my adult life perpetuating fear and violence. It may have been artificially created, but the intent to instill these negative emotions into an audience was sincere. It was an unspoken part of the job, and it has always bothered me."

Life Changing Events

Just after the attacks on America, Cummins' ambivalence toward his career dovetailed With another life altering event - major open heart surgery at LAC+USC Medical Center in Los Angeles to correct a defective mitral valve. "Actually', remembers Cummins, "I had two open heart surgeries, each two months apart. Because an attempt to repair the valve didn't take, the surgeons had to operate again and install a small prosthetic valve. It was a very difficult time," Cummins confesses. "No way could I have gotten through it without my family, friends, faith, and the team at USC."

Birth Pains

It was during his recuperation that Cummins first considered a serious sea change in his career, feeling that the stressful demands of the film business were partially responsible for his health problems. Wanting to control his own destiny, he considered several other creative endeavors, but nothing "clicked." It wasn't until Cummins reconciled his own feelings about his surgeries and 9/11 that he was able to put pencil to paper. What he drew was a little doodle of a baby, which now bears that name. "It was a crude drawing, "Cummins offers. "But, there was a sweet quality about the character that totally captivated me. I knew this was a character worth sharing."

A reflection of a more innocent time, Little Doodle has certainly generated a "buzz" among the readers of "Good Things To Share." "It's interesting to see people's reaction to Doodle," Cummins says. "After the 'aw, isn't he cute,' remarks, readers most often comment that Doodle looks like themselves, or remind them of someone they know." It's this direct connection that people have with the character that makes Cummins feel that Little Doodle will find his niche in the world of picture books. "Whether I was writing a script, directing a film, or making movie monsters, the goal was to create characters that a person could relate too. Connection is the key. It's the difference between a memorable character with longevity, and a forgettable one.

Filmmaking vs. Publishing

First to "connect" with the mischievous tike was Cummins' long time producing partner Richard Brophy, who had previously produced "Boneyard" and the indie thrillers "Dark:30," and "Harbinger," which Cummins had also written and directed. Brophy immediately saw potential in Little Doodle and offered to publish a book featuring the character.

"Being a first time publisher, the challenge was learning to apply my producing skills to publishing. It's been an adventure all the way, " laughs Brophy. "What's really surprised me about publishing is how similar it is to the film business. Both are creative venues which rely on producing a product and then marketing and distributing it to a worldwide audience. The difference between them is in the area of control. Unlike film, where you're at the mercy of a studio executive or distributor, we have the final say so on the books content, and how and where the books are sold and marketed. Some might find this level of control burdensome," Brophy adds. "But, J.T. and I thrive on it. It makes all the difference in the world to us that we have a level of protection where no one can arbitrarily waltz in and muck things up. Of course then, the success or failure of the book rests squarely on our shoulders - as it should when anyone creates something. If J.T. and I have raised this baby right, it's my hope that 'Good Things to Share' will be the first of many 'Doodle books' to come."

Whether or not "Good Things To Share," is a success may be a moot point as both Cummins and Brophy already feel like winners by just publishing the book. "In light of all that's happened in the past year," says Cummins, now fully recovered. "My hope, at the very least, is that Little Doodle brings a smile to everyone who might need one."
        

DOODLE TRIVIA

Like any artist, J.T. Cummins has invested a lot of himself in his creation. For instance...