Hi Spies,

I haven't written in a while but, I just got the green light (finally) to record my new audio - book production of 'I Justice'in October. Frank Sinatra Jr will narrate in the first person and play the lead. We're working on the cast now, but Ed Lauter (The Longest Yard) is set to play a part.

I met Frank because I had heard his audio commentary on three of his father's movies, Robin and the Seven Hoods, Ocean's 11, and Sergeants 3. His voice, articulation, as well as his respect for character actors impressed me, so I approach Frank to do the narration on my full cast audio - book McKnight's Memory.

It turned out that Frank was coached for voice work by the great voice actor Paul Frees. Frank also collected recordings of some of the great actors reading books, such as James Mason and Charles Laughton. Listening carefully to them so as to perfect his narrating technique. Thusly Frank was very much interested in doing his first audio - book.

In his live concerts, Frank Sinatra Jr is known for his great story telling on stage, so it was an easy jump for him to do the narration for a story. I asked him why he waited so long to do an audio - book. He said, "This project is a 'story well told', so I decided to do it."

Frank requested his recording be done at night as that is when most singers feel their voice is the best. He gave a concentrated performance, only taking one break during the three hours as he wanted to stay 'in character'. On my other audio - novel I had Rod Taylor (The Time Machine, The Birds) do one take on his narration. Basically a continuous read unless he was unsure of a line, then he'd ask a question.

Frank however, wanted to read a one minute section of the text and then do two more takes of that same section, so I'd have a choice when it came to editing. After we finished he said, "Most of the best takes will be the third take." And with a couple of exceptions that turned out to be true when I got to the editing the next day.

Frank found a few places where he asked if he could change the words, as I wrote the text I encouraged him to do so. All his additions were great. For example, there is a line that read, "The hit man was dead before his 200 pound body crashed to the floor." Mr. Sinatra changed it to: "The hit man was dead before his 200 pounds crashed to the floor." When I heard that, I was overjoyed that this subtle, but powerful change had happened.

Then Frank said, "Okay fellas, I'll read it as written so that you'll have a choice." But I knew right then which reading I would use. This happened a few other times as well. I was in awe of his annunciation and how he sometimes ended a paragraph in an upward tone, leaving it hanging as if more will come. I don't know what that's called, but I loved it.

During our breaks, he talked about the sets that he visited of some of the now classic movies, such as Journey to the Center of the Earth and Them.

After hearing the final test product with sound effects and music. Frank said he had some additional ideas and I worked with him for three more nights adding a lot more effects and music. The end result was so much more powerful. Frank has the Music Supervision credit on the project.

So as you see, Sinatra recorded it 'His Way'. The McKnight's Memory cast includes Robert Culp, Nancy Kwan, David Hedison, Henry Silva, Don Stroud, Barbara Leigh, Alan Young, Edd "Kookie" Byrnes, Gary Lockwood, and others. Produced by Larry Metzger. Written and directed by me. Okay, I'll let you know when 'I Justice' comes out.

Paul