Thursday, September 22, 2016

Jay Chapin's fictional Romance and Time Travel Sci-Fi Novel, "Timeline Rupture" is now available on Amazon!


Timeline Rupture


https://www.amazon.com/Benjamin-Franklin-Timeline-Rupture-Chapin/dp/1539186083

About the Book

A depressed University of Pennsylvania physics professor, builds a time machine in an attempt to save his wife from the 9-11 attacks, but his plan falls into jeopardy after meeting a high school physics teacher and falling for her.

The good news is, that his new romantic interest seems to want to help him with his time traveling goal. But the bad news is, during their experimentation, they severely rupture the timeline, by transporting Benjamin Franklin to the present. And in this new timeline, not only are their lives in jeopardy, but the fate of the world rests on their shoulders.

Will he see his deceased wife again? And if he does, what about his new romance? And what will it take to get Ben Franklin back, and restore the proper timeline?

Many people have asked how I came up with the idea to write this novel. Since I was just a boy, I have been totally intrigued by the concept of time travel and was enthralled any time a movie, book, or TV show came out with that theme.

I was also quite intrigued with the famous man that discovered electricity, helped to get independence from the British Crown, and eventually ended up on the hundred-dollar bill. For those of you that don't know of whom I speak... I am referring to the legendary Benjamin Franklin.

In my younger days, as I watched movies with time travel, like “Back to the Future,” “The Terminator,” “Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure,” as well as certain episodes of “Star Trek,” and “Star Trek, The Next Generation,” (you Trekkies know which ones I'm talking about), I constantly thought about, if time travel were possible, how would that change the present? The movie “Time Cop” sure put that into perspective for me.

How many of us during our adulthood, have fantasized about, “If we had the chance to do it over, what would we do differently?” In the movie “Peggy Sue Got Married,” I'll never forget the moment, when she realized that if she did not marry her husband, she would never have her daughter. The truth is, that time travel could be a very dangerous invention, even when you're attempting to use it for good.

So as I grew and went through life, I kept this concept of time travel in my brain, and the story you are about to read, grew inch by inch and piece by piece. In the last five years, I finally decided that I needed to get it out of my head and into my laptop.

Now, some people say to me, "Yeah, Ben Franklin was a pretty important historical figure, and taking him out of the equation would certainly change the present timeline, but not as critically as the way you spell it out." Well I totally disagree.

Many time travel fans have heard of "The Butterfly Effect" (not to mention the movie of the same name). Merriam-Webster defines it as, "a property of chaotic systems (as the atmosphere) by which small changes in initial conditions can lead to large-scale and unpredictable variation in the future state of the system." So… If a butterfly flaps its wings in China, for example, it could cause a large amount of devastation in the USA. If you took Benjamin Franklin out of the fight for Independence, would America have won the war?

The point being… Whether it's Ben Franklin, John Adams, George Washington, or let's say, Julius Caesar, Moses, Abe Lincoln, or any historical figure... If any of them ceased to exist in their own timeline, our present world would radically change. How would it change? That's hard to say specifically. But the world would become radically different!

Now, some other critics and historians feel that writing this fictional story about a great historical figure is wrong. Here is how I answer that... Loosen up! Stop being so uptight! It's a book of fiction with a premise of "What if?" What would the world be like without Ben? This is simply my take on it.

And not only do I love Ben Franklin, have studied this legendary man and his life very closely throughout the years, to the point where I feel like I know him as a friend, but I actually believe that one day when I see him in eternity, he will thank me for such a great and fun story about him.

This is an epic adventure and romance novel, filled with some quirky, yet fun loving characters, as well as lots of surprises, intrigue, mysteries, and yes...Time Travel! 




Monday, April 4, 2016

What Inspired Me to Write "Planet Earth - The Game" and What Do I Want the Audience to Get From the Story?


I've been asked the question, "What inspired you to write Planet Earth - The Game and what do you want the audience to get from the story..."

I had been pondering for many years to write this screenplay, but for a multitude of reasons, I just never got to it. You know how it is...work, play, laziness. They all get in the way. But my biggest problem was, yes...I had the premise, which slowly developed in my head over many years, that we, the inhabitants of this planet needed to adhere to some simple rules to be successful. Much like a game. But I was just not sure how to embark on such a concept as this.

The first fact that I will confess is that although I am certainly not a religious human, I did spend many years of my life researching the bible, both new and Old Testament. I studied the Greek and the Hebrew, as well as many biblical scholars' research, doing my best to dissect and discern the original text. And what I found other than a religious premise, is that our existence on earth is run by a definite system that must be followed much like a video game. Now for those of you who get upset, saying to me "Life is NOT a GAME!!" (I hear that all the time!)...I know that...It's serious business. When I say life is like a game, it's simply a parable for the inhabitants to understand that...you really should read the rule book!

Now it is not my goal here to get "preachy" on you, but when reading biblical passages without a church or a synagogue breathing down my neck, I was able to see Jesus as the first human who figured out the system of rules, how to master that system and ultimately, he was able to beat the system!

This discovery led me to the premise of what I consider to be a biblical parable, that we who live on Planet Earth are in a very serious life versus death "game", where evil lurks around every corner and we need to grasp the actual rules and the system that is in place governing us, and then master these regulations in order to beat the system and "Win the game". The biggest problem is, most humans have come to incorrect conclusions of what winning down here actually entails. But in "Planet Earth - The Game", the solution to winning is made clear! 

So I have been asked the question, how did I eventually come up with the story for the screenplay? I will admit, that it took a sorrowful and tragic event to be inspired to write this. 

Back in the summer of 2014, one of my best friends tragically passed away. As you can imagine, when I heard the news about my buddy passing, I was devastated. Now everyone deals with these kind of ordeals differently. For me...I started writing. A story popped in my head. All that I had imagined for years about life being a game, developed and swelled through my brain. My last screenplay took months to develop and write, but this one took just a few days (oh...and a year of rewrites). Through grief, my imagination ran away with me! But that's how many Hollywood stories are devised.

Most of my motivation to write this story came from my belief of what the secret of winning this game of life is about. And I assure you that currently, most people think that winning has to do with accumulating the most amount of stuff. More money than the next guy. But winning is actually more simple than that. To win??...just ask yourself this question...Have I helped to make this planet a better place today? Even in the most minute way?

So again I ponder the question...When this is made into a movie, what do I want audiences to get out of it?? Three main concepts. 1) This life of less than 100 years is just a stepping stone to much more that is coming! And 2) the way to win in this life is hardly what most inhabitants think! And 3) the moral to the story is that LOVE conquers all! When someone sees the movie, "Planet Earth - The Game", I want them to have a new lease on life...And hopefully help to make this planet a better place...even in the most minute way. Is that asking too much??




Tuesday, March 22, 2016

WHO SHOULD DIRECT THE SCRIPT "PLANET EARTH - THE GAME"?




I keep getting asked the question, who are my favorite directors and who would I want to direct my newest screenplay, "PLANET EARTH - THE GAME"? Now I know that everyone has a different rating system when viewing movies. But what makes a successful movie for me?...Is the feeling of being ready, willing and able to successfully take on the world when It's over.  Well if I had my way, the following directors would be at the top of my list...

Well I should probably start with my favorite movie - "Back to the Future directed by Robert Zemeckis. With "Back to the Future", Zemeckis took time travel and turned it into a genre. When Zemeckis first wrote it, no one would ever have thought that a movie where a high school kid goes back in time and becomes the love interest of his own younger mother, could ever make it, but somehow he pulled it off with flying colors. With a science fiction adventure in a small town setting, a background love story, a scary and intimidating antagonist, as well as an open ending for a sequel and franchise, his success was a no-brainer. That's the kind of director that "PLANET EARTH - THE GAME" demands!

With great and fun movies filled with adventure, you can't go wrong with Ivan Riteman. His ability to take a serious science fiction movie like "Ghostbusters" and keep it light and fun with the principal actors coming from comedic backgrounds, is just what I need for my screenplay. For example, his movie "Kindergarten Cop", starts off as a heavy law enforcement epic dramatic thriller, with Arnold Schwarzenegger as a hard-ass L.A. narcotics detective, and slowly turns into a heart-warming love story with quite a happy ending. I appreciate that Ivan has the ability, to bring multiple genres together, shake it up, pour it out in the theatre, and we all go home feeling satisfied and ready to take on our own crazy lives with success.

How can I not mention the stupendous and vastly successful Steven Spielberg. Now here's a guy that I don't even have to mention what movies he's done (but I will). We all know him because he can take a script in any genre and turn it into a colossal success, as well as a franchise! Whether heavy drama (Schindler's List, The Color Purple), science fiction (E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Minority Report), or adventure (Jaws, Jurassic Park, Raiders of the Lost Ark), his creativity is vast and he has the ability to hold the spectator in total awe for hours. I certainly can't go wrong with Steven.

And finally I must mention J.J. Abrams. Yeah the newest Star Wars is epic! But...I pick J.J. for a different reason. For the life of me, I can't ever imagine how someone could have taken the beloved characters of the original Star Trek series that I loved growing up with, and competently update it with all new younger characters! AND actually make it work!! And not only get my approval...but approval from the mass majority of Trekkies!!! Once thought totally impossible, I just love his work on the new Star Trek Movies! I give him a 10 for not only successfully updating the franchise, but making the characters compelling, humorous, and skillfully constructing them to become even more beloved than they were before!


You probably see similarities amongst these 4 directors. Of course success is one trait. And science fiction is present within 3 of the four picks. But again...the most important similarity and trait is that when you walk out of the theatre after watching a movie made by one of the directors above...you are transformed. You start out anew, with a unique, confident and positive outlook on life. Ready to take on the world. I don't know about you, but that's what I want from a movie, and it's certainly what I need from a director when he gets a hold of my screenplay,
"PLANET EARTH - THE GAME"!



For further information, contact:

Jay Chapin:

443-750-0192

Friday, March 4, 2016

Jay Chapin talks about Planet Earth: The Game


Q: What is Planet Earth: The Game?

Jay:
 Planet Earth: The Game is my latest screenplay for a feature film, that puts forth the idea that everything that happens on Planet Earth is in fact a game being played and controlled by inhabitants of another planet called Paradisia. 

Q: Who is the principal character?

Jay:
Jake is the protagonist. He had no idea that his life was part of a game until he was killed off and invited to become the game master by Mr. Yah, the game's creator. Instead of living the game, he's now playing the game. 

Q: What is the major conflict of the plot?

Jay:
As the game master, Jake breaks all the rules in an effort to protect and reunite with his wife from Planet Earth.

Q: What is the theme of Planet Earth: The Game?

Jay:
Extraordinary circumstances demand extraordinary solutions in order to ensure survival.



For further information, contact: 

443-750-0192
chapin12@comcast.net