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arlen schumer develops new logo for "fathers of the dark knight" !

4/16/2013

I was graciously presented with an all-new MASTER-LOGO design concept for my upcoming student stage play, earlier this evening. The design, developed and submitted by renowned comic book illustrator Alren Schumer, is a stunningly beautiful contribution to the "Fathers Of The Dark Knight" Production, perfectly reflecting my passion for this material, and my desire for excellence in every aspect of the show. I am honored beyond my ability to express adequate words of gratitude to have received such an extraordinary gift from so accomplished an artist. Check in regularly over the coming weeks to watch the development of this design into a final color rendering!

Mr. Arlen Schumer, is an award-winning comic book-style illustrator for the advertising and editorial markets, and a man of many talents and impressive accomplishments. As an author/designer of several coffee table art books, he is the man behind The Silver Age of Comic Book Art (Collectors Press), which won the Independent Book Publishers Award for Best Popular Culture Book of 2003. Long recognized as an expert on American popular culture, Mr. Schumer has presented his entertaining muilt-media "VisuaLectures" at universities and cultural institutions across the country since 1988.

Learn more about my good friend, the incomparable Arlen Schumer, at www.arlenschumer.com!

- Roberto Williams

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casting for the joker begins

4/12/2013

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April 12th, 2013.

An important casting session for "Fathers Of The Dark Knight' took place early this evening in Williamsburg Brooklyn.

Mr. Louis Harrison, 16 of the Léman Manhattan Preparatory School in New York City, auditioned for the daunting role of the maniacal Clown Prince of Crime , THE JOKER

Mr. Harrison spent 2 weeks preparing for his audition, and made the most of it by memorizing an entire monologue from Alan Moore and Brian Bolland's 1988 classic "The Killing Joke"!

Relatively new to acting, this young man, nevertheless bravely faced the challenge of this difficult audition, and earned himself a follow-up call-back audition scheduled to take place in one week!

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search begins for suitable theater space for "fathers of the dark knight"!

4/11/2013

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Producer / Director Roberto Williams began his search earlier today for a suitable theater space to accommodate his summer stage production "Fathers Of The Dark Knight".

Today's scheduled meeting brought Mr. Williams to the expansive and picturesque campus of Bronx Community College. There, he met with the affable and engaging Mr. Gene Adams , the Director of Collaborative Education Systems, and the head of BCC's Office of Academic Affairs.

The busy BCC administrator graciously lent his time as Mr. Williams discussed his vision for the student stage play "Fathers Of The Dark Knight" and showed images from this website. An impressed Mr. Adams then sent Campus Security Supervisor Anthony Brown to accompany Mr. Williams to view one of the campus auditoriums.

As a stunned Mr. Williams toured the theater space, the one word he kept repeating over and over again was "perfect".

A special note of thanks must go to Mr. Alex Simmons for facilitating today's important meeting at BCC.

Check in regularly here at www.fathersofthedarkknight.com for all the latest details as negotiations proceed with BCC to secure this stunning space!

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Comic book artist carmine infantino passes away at 87

4/4/2013

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I have been a fan of the Batman mythology all my life. For as long as I can remember, I have thrilled to the adventures of fictional Gotham City. Those memories are as indelible a part of my childhood as my memories of learning to ride a bicycle or my first day in kindergarten.

Of course, I came into Batman fandom at a very strange time. The year was 1971 and I was a wide-eyed four year old just discovering the adventures of Batman and Robin in re-runs of the 1966 campy television series. Naturally, the show didn't seem "campy" or silly to me back then. I just thrilled to the color, and the action derring-do. It certainly puzzled me why my mother spent so much time laughing whenever she watched the show, but it did not dampen my enjoyment.

Now, what made 1971 such a strange time for Batman fandom was the fact that even though the Batman of TV was a campy boy scout, the character in the comics was decidedly different. That other version of the character was called "The Dark Knight Detective"... the "Masked Manhunter"... He came out only at night. He was... spooky. Somehow that made him much more heroic.

But my first exposure to this "darker" Batman was NOT in the pages of those legendary comic books written by Denny O'Neil and drawn by Neal Adams. No, my first exposure was actually at Alexander's Department Store in Kings Plaza mall in Brooklyn, NY! You see, my parents brought my brother and I there to meet "Batman and Robin" who were both on hand LIVE to greet kids in the Toy Department. To say that I was disappointed by the live Batman and Robin is an understatement. I hoped for Adam West and Burt Ward. But what I got instead was the overly cheerful store manager and his bored assistant, both wearing cheaply-made costumes and posing for snapshots with kids.

But... there was one redeeming (and most memorable) part of the visit to the Department Store: Each child was handed a souvenir "pin-up" of The Caped Crusaders after meeting them. When I received my copy, I was immediately struck by the power of the image: Batman.. that is The Batman, standing on a grimy Gotham rooftop with his cape caught dramatically in mid air. Crouched next to him, tense and alert, was Robin The Boy Wonder. Both heroes were framed by a huge full moon as they stalked the underworld of the city's nastiest villains.

This night time scene was unlike anything I had ever seen, and that pin-up was something I would NEVER forget throughout the following decades of my Batman fandom. In my mind and heart, that pin-up was the definitive Dynamic Duo image... re-establishing the tone and mood originally intended by Bob Kane, Bill Finger, and Jerry Robinson.

Despite the fact that the pin-up was signed, it would be years before I would learn that the artist was a man by the name of CARMINE INFANTINO (with inks by Murphy Anderson).

As I got older and became more and more immersed in the world of comic book artists and writers, the name Carmine Infantino continued to have a special place in my heart as the artist responsible for permanently re-defining my two favorite heroes with his legendary pin-up.

Mr. Infantino passed away today at the age of 87. I am most inadequately trying to pay tribute to this great man with these few words on the blog of my website.

It is my sincere hope that Mr. Carmine Infantino considered himself to have had a full and rich life. I hope he knew how many of us were great fans of his work, and how many people he inspired to enter the industry. Even though he had been retired from comics for many years, the industry is a slightly less special place tonight with his passing.

The cast and production crew of "Fathers Of The Dark Knight" extend their heartfelt condolences and prayers to Mr. Infantino's family.

-Roberto Williams 4/4/13

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"Fathers of the dark knight" in negotiations to appear at kids comic con 7!

4/3/2013

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"Fathers Of The Dark Knight" producer Roberto Williams hosted a meeting earlier today in Williamsburg Brooklyn, NY with Mr. Alex Simmons, the curator of The Kids Comic Con 7 event, taking place on Saturday May 11th, 2013, at Colston Hall of Bronx Commnity College (181st Street & University Ave Bronx, New York 10453).

The main purpose of the meeting between Mr. Williams and Mr. Simmons was to discuss the possibility of FOTDK cast members making live appearances IN COSTUME at the upcoming convention event. Mr. Williams and Mr. Simmons hope to generate additional public awareness for "Fathers Of The Dark Knight" and to build more excitement for the play as the production ramps up toward the targeted late summer theatrical premiere! For more information on The Kids Comic Con 7 event, log on to www.facebook.com/KidComicCom or www.KidsComicCon.com.

"Fathers Of The Dark Knight" is proud and honored to have this opportunity to partner with Mr. Simmons... a most-respected and accomplished writer, public speaker, teaching artist, and voiceover actor for over 20 years! To find out more about Mr. Simmons' impressive accomplishments, log on to www.SimmonsHereAndNow.com.

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Casting for the Role of bill finger begins

4/3/2013

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The first of several young actors has auditioned for the role of comic book writer BILL FINGER for the stage production of "Fathers Of The Dark Knight". Mr Charles Grant, 20, is a one of the founding members of the Rice Company High School Theater Troupe. Like Bill Finger himself, Mr. Grant's primary area of interest is writing, and he is currently performing re-writes on his first screenplay. Interested in branching his arts skills into the area of acting, Charles auditioned for the role of Bill Finger on the afternoon of April 2nd, 2013.

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"FAthers of the Dark Knight" official Website now open!!

4/2/2013

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Now you can get the latest production news and information regarding the upcoming student stage play "FATHERS OF THE DARK KNIGHT"... all in one place! The official FOTDK Website is now open!! Pull up a chair and make yourself comfortable! There's a LOT to see and a lot to get excited about as we ramp up to our show premiere this summer!

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arlen schumer develops new logo for "fathers of the dark knight" !

casting for the joker begins

search begins for suitable theater space for "fathers of the dark knight"!

Comic book artist carmine infantino passes away at 87

"Fathers of the dark knight" in negotiations to appear at kids comic con 7!

Casting for the Role of bill finger begins

"FAthers of the Dark Knight" official Website now open!!

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