Rod On, Jr.
By: Elsa Lee

Rod On, Jr. is a twice published novelist and successful screenwriter before his film directorial debut met with critical acclaim. His subsequent films and screenplay have been equally well received and he continues to direct feature-length, short films, high tech commercials, and videos as well as writing novels and original screenplays. Rod On, Jr. was the award winning director at the Philadelphia International Film Festival and Market 2004 for his movie “Une Grand Perte”. He directed a second feature-length film, “City and Crimes” which he also authored. He has directed videos of the following artists: Jamiroquai, McSolaar, and Robin Williams. He has also directed high-tech commercials for Lancome, BMW, and Toyota. He is presently in development of his third theatrical feature film titled “The Last Chapter,” a psychological drama thriller suspense which he authored and for which he will serve as director. This project is based on the unpublished novel “Le Dernier Chapitre”. The book is scheduled for publication by Michel Lafon Publishing which is acquiring worldwide rights for the novel.

Are we going to talk about Le Dernier Chapitre or The Last Chapter?

It is the same book; Le Dernier Chapitre is the French title while The Last Chapter is the English title. However, the original title is “Le Dernier Chapitre”.

The Last Chapter is your third novel. What are your other publications?

“Une Grande perte” (Great Loss) and Strange Destiny were my previously published novels. “Une Grande Perte” is a powerful social drama. The story revolves around the loss of loved ones and short departures of a friend. The story takes place at the border of French-Germany in a town called Strasbourg. “Une Grande Perte” was not published in English, sorry! Strange Destiny is a psychological mystery drama inspired by a true story about an Italian family—the Brostani’s—and their son Armandi Brostani, a graduate student from the University of Maryland. He committed suicide in 2001 after acknowledging that he was the psycho-killer of 8 students on two university campuses in the US and Italy. The book was published in 2003 and was very well received by critics around the world.

“Strange Destiny” sounds like a sad story!

No! A beautiful story! A story of love, caring, and forgiveness. (very serious) Go buy the book and you will find out what I am talking about. If you are not moved by the story, I will buy you a drink the next time I see you.

How and when did you get started as a writer?

Growing up I hated reading. I did all I could to avoid books. Turns out later I learned I was suffering from a reading comprehension disability. It wasn’t until 12th grade that things changed. My mom found my journal under my bed, by curiosity because I was a very shy guy. She read it and was shocked by the details of my journey in school, home, relationships between my brothers and sisters. She made a copy of the entire journal and sent it to my uncle in Paris with a note “I think that my son is sick. Can you help me?” In Paris I came across different books and amazing authors such as Jean Paul Satre, Emile Zola, Jean Racine, Krosvissov, the rest is a long story. Then, my first literary agent, Catherine Henry, gave me The Outsiders, Rumble Fish, Tex, That Was Then This Is Now. She explained that Hinton was 16 when she wrote The Outsiders. From page one until the end of the book I was catapulted into another world. The book amazed me. I thought about it for days after reading it. I could not wait to read another book. And it was like that for all of Hinton’s books. Before I knew what was happening to me, I was buying books in stores and reading at least a book a month. Then, Catherine helped me through different writing exercises. She challenged me to write outside my personal life and to be as precise as the short stories of my journal, but without being connected to the story of my characters. I loved it! My career, you might say, had begun.

How do you usually find your ideas?

It’s a great question. Sometimes I get a character in mind. Sometimes a plot or a twist ending. Lots of times I just start writing and see where it lead me. Occasionally, I get inspired with something that has a beginning, middle, and end. With The Last Chapter it was different because the lead character, Eric Leeman, is a writer and I am a writer. Eric is a best-selling author of 7 books! Eric is going through a very difficult time of his life and career. Somehow, I sympathized with him but I couldn’t find any solutions to help him, so it was hard to find an end to the story.

Did you ever get any rejections?

Did I ever get any rejections? Yes. I still get rejections. Part of being a writer is having a thick skin. Finding an interested editor, I believe, has to do a lot with luck and timing.

How do you react to rejection?

There are two types of rejections. Formal Letters and what I call Positive Rejection. A Formal Letter is just like it sounds. No signature, or a rubber-stamp signature. You wonder if they didn’t just open your submission, attach a Formal Letter, and return it to you without so much as reading a word. A little depressing at times. But what can you do? The Positive Rejection is when an editor actually takes the time to personalize the rejection letter in some way. “Close, try us with your next story idea.” Something. Anything that makes it more than just a Formal Letter Rejection. Those I consider inspiring.

Do you have any other interests besides writing and cinema?

Yes! Music! In fact, you know, sometimes it takes at least a year to raise funds for movie production, so in the meantime, a friend came to me with the idea of starting a record label…so, I did! Arusa Music Entertainment. I’m having a lot of fun with it—we have several really great artists and great producers that are making some hot songs.

Wow! A man of many talents and interests! What is the name again?

(smiling) Yes. Arusa Music Entertainment.

Juggling the music, directing, and writing, how do you find time to relax?

Haha. There is no time to relax! You know, when I hear a good song…hear a great artist sing some strong, pure notes…that’s the greatest pleasure of all! That is my relaxation.

Goals for the future?

Stay alive.