Savant Books and Publications LLC

06/20/2024

OTOSOTU – SCIFU VERSES SCIFI

I’M certain you’ve heard of SciFi or Science Fiction. But have you heard of SciFu or Science-Based Futuring? I’ve been a SciFi fan from as long as I can remember, a highlight of which was my first novel manuscript, “The Hyperbolic Curve,” at 16 years of age. It was never published, but I became somewhat of a celebrity in high school for having written a novel at such an early age.

Years later, while writing the manuscript for THE EDGE OF MADNESS (Savant 2020) by Raymond Gaynor, my thriller pseudonym, I ran across Prof. Jim Dator’s article, “Jim Dator’s Alternative Futures and the Path to IAF’s Aspirational Futures” in the Journal of Futures Studies. I suddenly realized that alongside SciFi and SciFan (Science Fantasy) was this whole new genre, SciFu, distinguished by its plausibility, giving SciFu readers a particularly strong sense of actuality, and my SciFu novel THE EDGE OF MADNESS was born. So powerful is this genre, that it quickly appeared in printed, eBook and audiobook forms.

Recently, when I started JET Progress, an independent film production company, with Setsuko Tsuchiya, William Maltese and Zachary M. Oliver, screenwriter William Maltese wrote the script for our first, experimental SciFu Art Film, OTOSOTU – On The Other Side Of The Universe. So today, I invite you to experience this first-of-its-kind film, a SciFu film about the human soul that uses storyline, acting and drama to capture and hold viewer interest, without resorting to graphic violence, drugs, crime or personal violation. Try it; you might like it!

https://youtu.be/Hr29crqeFEA

OTOSOTU (On The Other Side of the Universe) - a SciFu* film about the human soul. Starring Daniel S. Janik, Sakura Kai (aka Setsuko Tsuchiya), William Maltes...

06/17/2024

HITTING THE MAG CIRCUIT

I’M absolutely thrilled to announce my appearance in the Facebook “Film Globe Magazine” – https://www.facebook.com/groups/filmglobe/posts/7615149408592922/. It may be a small one, but I do believe that magazines today continue to play a major role in “getting the word out,” whether glossy paper or digital, and as such, I strongly support them.

Actors, like myself, Daniel S. Janik; Sakura Kai; and William Maltese often end up doing a strange dance between publicity and quiet seclusion, the former necessary to “get the word out” and the latter equally necessary to screen, memorize and deliver dialog while filming. As an actor who began his thespian career in the literary arena authoring books, I’m always working hard to maintain a balance between these two extremes, and magazines have typically offered that balanced middle ground.

The “problem” is one that is common to all authors and actors: One needs to be sufficiently well-know (or have a significant financial draw) in order to attract agents, magazine writers, journalists, book or film publishers. Yet, if one actually meets this requirement, the situation is often the opposite: It’s suddenly necessary to become a businessperson, lawyer and publicist while controlling forces which detract significantly from the authoring or acting. It’s the continual struggle between content creators and content distributors. And at its base are “financial risk” verses “financial reward.”

But, the bottom line is one has to place one’s toe in the water, if the process is to begin. So, having done that with “Film Global Magazine (FGM) online, I’ve shed my clothes for swimming briefs and am ready to jump wholly in.

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06/11/2024

REINVENTING SCIENCE FICTION

I’VE been a science fiction fan for as long as I remember, having written my first novel “The Hyperbolic Curve” at 16 years of age. More recently, under the pseudonym, Raymond Gaynor, I published a science fiction adventure novel with literary colleague A. G. Hayes, entitled QUANTUM DEATH – https://www.amazon.com/dp/0996325530 – Book 5 of the 7 Koski & Falk Secret Agent series. Quantum Death, however, bordered on something other than science fiction, combining plausible future technology (“the Quantum Death Machine”) with solid drama. It was then than a new literary genre emerged: SciFu or science-based futuring, using plausible extensions of current scientific technologies. It was from “Quantum Death” that, pairing with outstanding screenwriter William Maltese, that the SciFu film OTOSOTO (On The Other Side Of The Universe) was born.

A JET Progress/Draqual Media production, OTOSOTU demonstrates the best in SciFu, for example, by introduction of “interactive holography,” an eminently plausible device taken from my recent SciFu novel, THE EDGE OF MADNESS – https://www.amazon.com/dp/0999693859. OTOSOTU, which is currently available for FREE YouTube public screening, is my Opus Magnum, featuring myself, Daniel S. Janik, alongside Sakura Kai and William Maltese, and introducing Pam Hoffman as the Voice of the Imperax Galactic.

OTOSOTU is based on two books, THE ALIEN WITHIN by Adrian DeBolt and MICHAEL: THE MASTER by W. Lambert III, both author pseudonyms for the incomparable author William Maltese. If you’re reading this, then you, your family and friends are invited to the FREE screening to the first 1,000 viewers. Viewer comments are appreciated.

https://youtu.be/Hr29crqeFEA

:TheMaster

OTOSOTU (On The Other Side of the Universe) - a SciFu* film about the human soul. Starring Daniel S. Janik, Sakura Kai (aka Setsuko Tsuchiya), William Maltes...

06/09/2024

WHAT’S BETTER THAN A GOOD SCIFU STORY?

WHETHER you’re talking books or films, as Imperax Captain-Major Brit Mylo offers in the recently released SciFu movie, OTOSOTU (pronounced “Oh-Toe-So-Two” for “On The Other Side Of The Universe”), “A serendipitous crack in the space-time continuum? An Unexplained Cosmic Event? Perhaps a wondering black hole, pausing just long enough to swallow the Astership, and later spit it back out into the same place where it disappeared? No…I think not.” In fact, I can’t think of a better venue of book or movie than SciFu. Why?

Because it’s grounded in contemporary technology, it’s immanently plausible, and plausibility (like the communicators in “Star Trek”) makes for a more immersive experience. Because it’s science-based, it lends credibility and opens the door to a desire for new technologies based on the presented ones (like phone-less “cellular” or interactive holographic communication). And because it’s futuring rather than fiction or fantasy, it appeals directly to one’s curiosity, evoking personal discoveries. My opinion: Add some interesting characters, a little mystery and some drama and you have a winning book or movie.

So, what’s better than a good SciFu story, be it book or movie? Nothing, except maybe the story itself. Which brings me to: OTOSOTU can be viewed now on YouTube in its entirety for FREE by the first 1,000 viewers (we call it “screening”). So, what are YOU waiting for?

https://youtu.be/Hr29crqeFEA

OTOSOTU (On The Other Side of the Universe) - a SciFu* film about the human soul. Starring Daniel S. Janik, Sakura Kai (aka Setsuko Tsuchiya), William Maltes...

12/11/2023

NO LIMO

READERS sometimes email me at [email protected] asking me if, with my wife and I being actors, we regularly take a limo to go somewhere. Well, yes, it’s true Sakura Kai (aka Setsuko Tsuchiya – https://setsukotsuchiya.com) and I, Daniel S. Janik (https://janik.yolasite.com/actor.php) are actors as well as authors, but, ummm, sad to burst the limo bubble, but we walk together to work whenever possible, which is most of the time.

First, weight and body tone always come before luxury. The camera can be frustratingly stubborn, portraying one as shorter or heavier than actual. We also go ballroom/Latin dancing regularly, and do home exercises, all to “keep in shape.” We also eat a brunch and very small dinner instead of the usual three meals a day, and favor a Japanese-Mediterranean diet.

Second, while people occasionally stop and greet us, we’ve always enjoyed public interaction and haven’t yet shied away from interacting face-to-face/one-on-one with hard-and-fast fans or the curious.

Third, Hawaii, where we live, is far too dependent on cars for transportation, and we strongly support walking, ride-sharing and all non-polluting forms of transportation.

Having said all that, I immensely enjoy or couple time, holding hands and walking together. Call us “old fashioned,” “in love,” or just “human.” And, yes, we wear a mask when walking alongside a busy road or when passing groups of people. It’s about health, however, not avoiding people.

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12/05/2023

ONE OF THE BIGGER CHALLENGES IN FILMING

DANIEL S. JANIK here, director and lead actor of OTOSOTU (pronounced “Oh-Toe-So-Two” which is the acronym for ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE UNIVERSE). I was recently asked what I thought would be the biggest challenge in filming OTOSOTU. Remember that OTOSOTU is a production of JET Progress, a small, independent production company in Hawaii — https://jet-progress.yolasite.com.

Well, the final scene will be one in which Michael Mylo will appear inside a spaceship with Brit Mylo, both roles which I’ll be playing. Directing oneself is a challenge, only slightly less daunting that directing one’s wife and co-star, Sakura Kai (aka Setsuko Tsuchiya) or one’s close friend, co-producer, and co-star, William Maltese. However, directing and filming one’s character side-by-side with another of one’s characters in a small space has to top them all. How to do it? For now, you’ll just have to be left guessing, but follow the film behind-the-scenes at https://janik.yolasite.com/otosotu.php for a revealing peek after we begin filming the first week in January 2024. I guarantee it’ll be worth your time.

OTOSOTU is a Sci-Fu (science futuring rather than fiction or fantasy) drama about the nature of the human soul. Once again, we’re aiming for the drama to carry the film, rather than action, violence, special effects, drugs, crime or other typical Hollywood devices. To be filmed in the same minimalistic, neo-noir style as the 30+ international-award-winning film just completed and released on YouTube by JET Progress, WINNOWING, serious movie-goers will be delighted by OTOSOTU in the new film genre, Sci-Fu, introduced by author Daniel S. Janik under my thriller-pseudonym Raymond Gaynor: “The Edge of Madness” — https://www.amazon.com/dp/0999693859.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Je6CCCIrQGs&t=18s

-winning #2024

THE EDGE OF MADNESS (Aignos 2020) By Raymond Gaynor 257 pp. - 5.25" x 8" Softcover Pocket Book ISBN 9780999693858 Suggested Retail Price (SRP) $16.95 Taking ...

04/07/2023

ANOTHER WEEKEND OF FILMS AND FILMING

ASSUMING you had the opportunity of reading the previous post (if you haven’t now would be a good time to do so), you’ll already know that actor/author Daniel S. Janik (https://janik.yolasite.com) and actress/author Setsuko Tsuchiya (https://setsukotsuchiya.com) are busy, busy, busy this weekend, all involving filming. But first, regarding authoring, I’m continuing to work towards completion of the sequel, PROPHECY, to my Amazon-genre-bestseller book, THE EDGE OF MADNESS — https://www.amazon.com/dp/0999693859 — and Setsuko is continuing translating her latest book, THE POWER OF DANCE — https://www.amazon.com/dp/1737643162 — into Japanese. Okay, now on to films:

This weekend, we’ll both be filming more segments of the JET Progress production of WINNOWING — https://winnowing.yolasite.com (follow us “Behind-the-Scenes” at https://janik.yolasite.com/winnowing.php) — bringing us closer and closer to the end of filming. This weekend we’ll be playing Richard Andrews and Sakura Kai reading excerpts from “Adonis” and “Demons’ Stalk” by author/screenwriter William Maltese as part of the auditioning experience portrayed in WINNOWING, a film about perseverance in which two actors stretch their acting abilities to persevere through multiple live, screening auditions for possible lead roles in an otherwise undisclosed "Really Big Film.”

This Saturday evening, I’ll also be joining a round table read of the script for the upcoming Kurt Ken Kaminaka production of THE JOY OF DEATH, the sequel to the just-released THE PERFECT ILLUSION available now for viewing on Amazon Prime — https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BYSR2TBB. Watch for me in a long, bright red jacket as a political agitator and gala party-goer, and again, as the white-lab-coated, ethically challenged Dr. Stevenson. Sunday evening, Setsuko and I will be working with our professional dance coaches on a possible dance scene for the nearing filming completion of the K. Simmons production of FINDING KATE — https://ksmediagroupinc.com/finding-kate.

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04/05/2023

MAKE REALITY GREAT AGAIN!

THE catchphrase in the movie, THE PERFECT ILLUSION, that just yesterday was released on Amazon Prime — https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BYSR2TBB — and in which both Daniel S. Janik and Setsuko Tsuchiya appear, Daniel as a featured party-goer, political agitator and the ethically challenged Dr. Stephenson, Setsuko as a background gala dancer and party goer. A suicidal man finds a new reason to live after he stumbles upon a curio shop that transports him into the future. Soon he finds himself risking his life trying to save the woman of his dreams, but struggles as reality may not be as it appears.Working with directors Kurt Ken Kaminaka and Lymari Graciano has proved one of the great experiences of our acting careers.

As a supporting actor in THE PERFECT ILLUSION, I am pleased to appear in this, my second major film appearance, the first as lead actor in STATIC — https://ksmediagroupinc.com/the-static-movie directed by Kenny Simmons, in which I play Will Gardner, an irascible veteran facing the biggest challenge of his life, Alzheimer’s Disease and Setsuko, Edna, a card-winning rest home denizen. We’re currently awaiting the release of MOCOS — https://janik.yolasite.com/mocos.php — a tongue-in-cheek horror film about an alien sneezing disease that grips the world. In MOCOS, directed by Elias Perez, we play Dr. Gregory Grant and reporter Akari Koko-Grant, respectively.

Setsuko and I are currently filming WINNOWING, a mystery/drama film about two actors stretching their acting abilities to persevere through multiple live, screening auditions for possible lead roles in an otherwise undisclosed “Big Film.” From the William Maltese screenplay of the same name. WINNOWING — https://winnowing.yolasite.com — will feature Daniel S. Janik and Setsuko Tsuchiya as lead actor and actress playing not one, but two different roles each, and will be Setsuko’s film debut as lead actress.

Follow us behind-the-scenes in all our filming adventures at https://janik.yolasite.com/actor.php.

03/28/2023

RICHARD ANDREWS AND SAKURA KAI

COME now! You say you haven’t yet heard of this celebrity couple? Well, that’s because at JET Progress — https://jet-progress-productions.yolasite.com — we’re still working on the final touches to their visual personas. The pre-publicity photo shoot is currently awaiting final approval by Co-Producers Daniel S. Janik, Setsuko Tsuchiya and William Maltese.

Richard Andrews and Sakura Kai are characters in the upcoming film, WINNOWING, a light mystery/drama about two actors stretching their acting abilities to persevere through multiple live, screening auditions for possible lead roles in an otherwise undisclosed ‘Really Big Film’.” Taken from the screenplay by famed author William Maltese, auditioning appears is a metaphor for the making and ex*****on of those “Really Big Life Decisions” everyone faces day-to-day, at home, within family, with employers; It’s all about who one is, and how much to reveal to others and, of course, oneself.

Richard Andrews and Sakura Kai are played by Daniel S. Janik and Setsuko Tsuchiya of STATIC fame — https://ksmediagroupinc.com/the-static-movie — fame. Interestingly, in WINNOWING they play additional character roles, those of Jeff Candleston and Aika Abiko, Draqual Media Casting Directors. Follow Daniel and Setsuko “behind-the-scenes” during the filming of WINNOWING at https://janik.yolasite.com/winnowing.php.

03/27/2023

DUCK BEFORE IT HITS!

HAVING successfully dodged the anticipated asteroid anticipated to fly between the earth and the moon — https://www.virtualtelescope.eu/2023/03/25/near-earth-asteroid-2023-dz2-very-close-encounter-a-time-lapse-22-mar-2023/ — I’m reminded of several other recent incidents where the old Cold War adage, “Duck and cover” resurfaced. I especially recall the false Honolulu missile alert of 13 January 2018 — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_Hawaii_false_missile_alert. With 15 minutes to prepare for impact, my partner and I located ourselves on the opposite side of a massive building from where impact, perhaps 10 miles away, was projected. We barely had time to pledge eternal love, hug, kiss and wait for annihilation, or in this particular case, the state’s admonition that this was a mistake, and to resume our lives as usual. It’s an odd feeling to say goodbye and really mean it. Even odder when you live to recall the feelings, at best surreal, at worst preparing emotionally and physically for the end of one’s life in less than 15 minutes. Didn’t happen to be in Hawaii at that time? Consider the movie, 20 MINUTES — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOgpShh0Bjw — that just opened in theaters on Oahu.

But “Duck before it hits” isn’t all darkness and oblivion. Consider the JET Progress Production WINNOWING, currently in filming, yes, on Oahu, based on the William Maltese screenplay of the same name. WINNOWING features actors Daniel S. Janik and Setsuko Tsuchiya of STATIC fame. WINNOWING portrays, “Two actors stretch their acting abilities to persevere through multiple live, screening auditions for possible lead roles in an otherwise undisclosed ‘Big Film’.” WINNOWING reaches far beyond its title and apparent theme, however. People these days are constantly challenged regarding how much they should reveal of themselves in a society increasingly beset with phishing, spoofing, trolling and identity theft. And, what is a stellar audition anyway? Is it posing authentically in a desired character role? Or, is it, as Shakespeare said in AS YOU LIKE IT (spoken by Jaques) that, “All the world’s a stage/And all the men and women merely players”? Is anything “real” anymore? Eh?

Speaking of “Duck before it hits!” I know of few films that have an actual mascot, but WINNOWING definitely does: Our very own Mr. Maltese, and you’d better duck!

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