Hello again, I’m here this time for various reasons, i wanted some info from RJ Torbert, and not just normal info, something that a lot of fans DONT KNOW… also, in light of recent events happening in New Orleans regarding a drunk bus driver driving into a crowd, i think we see a world in which anything can happen, and would you believe a similar accident happened to RJ and his wife! Yet that is not so ‘common knowledge’ among fans who know of him…. In this world ANYTHING can happen at any time and it actually shows in regards to RJ and Wes Craven too… Wes was pushed closer to RJ even more than ever than before after RJ’s accident, but it was originally re-ignited when Scream 4 came about, but after Scream 4 had died down and left Theaters RJ could continue with his book (The Face of Fear) and eventually it was released, Wes being the kind of man he was requested the book and loved it, so much that he left RJ a comment to use in relation to both books (See back cover of NO MERCY). Im sure RJ was proud and honored to have it there. Following on from that Wes had told RJ about his illness and this saddened RJ greatly, it was also evident that Wes cared too about RJ and his wife Roseann because when RJ informed Wes of the Drunk driver accident they were both in Wes’s contact increased more so by email, As time went on Wes would ask for news on NO MERCY, RJ would inform him of the latest at the time but sadly Wes passed away before getting a chance to read it, Wes passed away on the actual day the book was finished in the editing process. RJ stopped work on the book temporarily to have a page added into the front of the book to show his love and respect for Wes, he thought about what to write in tribute to ‘the master of horror’ and finally the book was ready for print. As you open the NO MERCY book fans will notice that there is a single page for the Wes Tribute.. Its just sad that he didn’t get chance to read it.. However, before Wes passed, and with being in contact more with RJ he shared a true story about something that really happened to him, an incident with somebody who had a GhostFace mask in tow… Its unclear as to what actually happened at this time but Wes had got the chance to take pictures as the event’ unfolded. Wes thought it would be good for RJ to use in his writing, this event is to be the starting point for RJ’s third Powers and Johnson Novel.. Wes had sent the pictures and info for RJ to use, RJ wanted fans to know how much he respected Wes and wanted Wes’s memory to not only be remembered for his movies, but for this too.. this ‘something’ that had happened to him… Info below is from RJ Torbert.
“AS YOU KNOW, WES AND I WERE IN REGULAR COMMUNICATION FOR YEARS ,WHICH INCREASED AT THE BEGINNING OF SCREAM 4. ————-THE COMMUNICATION INCREASED EVEN MORE AFTER MY WIFE AND I WERE ALMOST KILLED IN A CAR ACCIDENT IN LATE SEPTEMBER OF 2013— BY A DRUNK DRIVER. OUR VEHICLE WAS HIT BROADSIDE(T-BONED) BY A LARGE FORD EXPEDITION WHICH CAUSED OUR VEHICLE TO FLIP 3 TIMES OFF THE HIGHWAY AND INTO THE WOODS HITTING A TREE TO STOP IT. BY THE GRACE OF GOD AND OUR SEAT BELTS AND A BRAND NEW CAR, WE NOT ONLY SURVIVED BUT MY WIFE WALKED AWAY. I , HOWEVER HAD TEETH KNOCKED OUT AND MY SHOULDER NEEDED SURGERY. AS MANY OF YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED , I HAVE NO SYMPATHY FOR DRUNK DRIVERS AND CONTINUE TO REMAIN DISAPPOINTED AND FRUSTRATED THAT THE LAWS ARE NOT MORE STRICT. THE YOUNG MAN WHO HIT US WHO BY THE WAY HAD 5 TEENAGERS IN THE CAR ( YES 5) GOT OFF LIGHTLY WITH A LICENSE SUSPENSION AND COMMUNITY SERVICE BECAUSE IT WAS HIS FIRST OFFENSE. A DRUNK DRIVER WHO PUT 7 PEOPLES LIVES IN DANGER AND BY THE WAY WAS UNDERAGE (18) GOT OFF THIS LIGHTLY. EVEN YESTERDAY , ANOTHER 30 PEOPLE WERE INJURED IN NEW ORLEANS BY A DRUNK DRIVER WHO PLOWED THROUGH A CROWD. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, IT WAS NOT RELEASED TO THE PUBLIC AND ONLY VERY FEW KNEW ABOUT IT UNTIL WE RECOVERED, WHICH RESULTED IN SHOULDER SURGERY AND 8 MONTHS OF PHYSICAL THERAPY FOR MYSELF. WES, WHO WAS GOING THROUGH HIS OWN STRUGGLES, WAS VERY CONCERNED AND SUPPORTIVE WHICH BROUGHT OUR RELATIONSHIP MORE INTO THE PERSONAL AREA. TO THE POINT OF WHERE WE COMMUNICATED ABOUT MOST ANYTHING TWO –THREES DAYS WEEKLY. DURING THIS PERIOD HE SENT ME A THOUGHT ABOUT A FUTURE PROJECT AND SUPPORTED IT WITH PHOTOS BECAUSE THE EVENT HE DESCRIBED ACTUALLY HAPPEN TO HIM, AND HE SNAPPED A COUPLE PHOTOS WITH HIS CELL PHONE. I THOUGHT IT WAS VERY IRONIC AND ALMOST EERIE THAT AN EVENT INVOLVING THE GHOST FACE MASK HAPPEN TO HIM. THIS OCCURRENCE WILL BE USED IN THE NEXT AND FINAL CHAPTER OF THE POWERS AND JOHNSON TRILOGY BOOK SERIES. MY PLAN IS TO ALSO USE THE PHOTOS THAT WES ACTUALLY TOOK HIMSELF THAT HE GAVE TO ME. IT WILL PROVE THAT HE LIVES ON AND CONTINUES TO GIVE TO HIS FANS . I DO THIS OUT OF MY AFFECTION AND RESPECT FOR WES AND MY DESIRE TO KEEP HIS FANS CONNECTED TO HIS LEGACY. WHILE HIS FILMS WILL KEEP HIS MEMORY ALIVE, I THOUGHT SOMETHING NEW WOULD MAKE HIS FANS VERY HAPPY THAT A SCENE THAT TAKES PLACE IN THE BEGINNING OF THE NEXT POWERS AND JOHNSON NOVEL WAS INSPIRED BY THE TRUE MASTER OF HORROR, WES CRAVEN”
Well, its only back in June 2016 that RJ’s New novel NO MERCY was released and sadly some people THINK that he is just trying to make money off of GhostFace… Yet nothing could be further from the truth!
Text below comes from RJ himself…
TIM, as this point, ———-it is also getting a little tiresome about me doing books for profit, ———it seems everyone can work with GHOST FACE ——and make a profit including the studios, however, maybe the few would get quiet if they knew that the profits go to charity causes. I have taken 0 profit. Maybe that will make those skeptics feel better, however, if it makes people feel better, I have never taken a profit from the books, Checks have been issued to various charities. As many know, I originally wrote the Ghost Face Novels to bring it back to the public, A movie had not been done for 10 years. Remember Ghost Face is a big part of my job, and since I wanted to start writing a NOVEL, I combined 2 important things in my life. This was only done with the blessing from Wes , I didn’t need it legally but I respected him enough to want him to be happy with my decision. He was a huge supporter, and even signed copies of THE FACE OF FEAR to show his support. I WILL move on to other projects after the next and final Powers and Johnson Novel. I have even thought about writing a screenplay . As I encourage many every day and in tweets, We should continue to pursue our dreams and what makes us happy. No one should begrudge anyone in working hard and taking a profit should they decide to do so. In my case, I’m blessed to where I can help certain causes we believe in at ENTERTAINMENT 21 CORP from the sale of the books.
I Thank RJ VERY MUCH for his contribution to this article and in giving me the ‘Something fans DONT KNOW’ info i was looking for… I love the honesty he gives us, and the encouragement too!
You can visit the Official Powers and Johnson website HERE! You can also Purchase the Powers and Johnson Novels by Clicking the images of the books below! Links do exist on the Official Website too!
