#i have a love/hate relationship with the way he's been sticking to crime/thrillers too anon

[astrovian]

My 'controversial' opinion is that I'm frustrated by the amount of projects RA does that I don't care at all about. I understand why he picks them and I know other people seem to like them, but I just want him to do something I'm actually excited about that will stretch his acting muscles. I also think his writing technique is solid enough to write different genres and wish he wouldn't stick to crime/thrillers. I guess what I'm realizing as I type this is that I want him to pick more projects for (apparent) reasons other than working with his friends or marketability. But I don't want to seem like a snob :/ I don't mean it in a snobby way, I just don't like suspense and I think he doesn't get to show off his acting skill very often :/

Thank you for this anon!!! Tbh, I'm not even sure I'd call that ✨controversial✨ because I think that's a fairly common sentiment, but thank you so much for bringing it to my attention, because of course I have thoughts on this and I'm so, so, sorry this is so long

So hear me out (and I should say this is all pure speculation): I think this really boils down to RA not deliberately pigeonholing himself into the crime/thriller genre in terms of acting (we'll come to the writing later), but also not deliberately un-pigeonholing himself. Let me explain what I mean:

We know RA has his fingers in a lot of pies, and has had so for the past 3 - 4 years, really. Always consistently running in the background are: Audible commitments - obviously we don't know what his contract is like with Audible (nor should we), but at the rate he regularly pumps out audiobooks, I would hazard a bold guess that his contract will continue for the foreseeable future Writing - this seems have been the main background occupation we're aware of since he started writing Geneva years ago. Since Geneva's fairly good reception, and given that he has found joy in writing, he's kept this up and it seems to be his 'main focus' right now White Boar Films - we'll come to this later, because I fell down a rabbit hole of company records which has led me to believe that the work that White Boar has been doing has been stalled somewhat (outside of RA's control), so may not be a priority for him but I'm sure is still running in the background Given that he has all of these background things taking up his time (and passion), I think it's fair to say that he's stepping back from acting, little by little Now - that doesn't mean he's done, but I think he's made it pretty clear in previous interviews that he's starting to re-direct his energy elsewhere - partly out of following things that are interesting him, but also he did seem to have a whole thing about 'being past his prime' (*cough*bullshit*cough*) as time ticks on So I am making a bold assumption, with absolutely no evidence except a gut feeling, that RA is probably not being as active as an actor looking for work would be, and as he has been in the past That is to say - if a project comes across his desk, and seems interesting - great! He'll do it. But that also means that if a script or idea doesn't come his way, maybe he isn't actively seeking it out This is why I say he's potentially not deliberately pigeonholing himself into the crime/thriller genre re: acting - it might just be that he's getting similar offers from studios (as, my understanding is, tends to happen when you excel in a particular type of role) and is too pre-occupied/busy/just not actively looking elsewhere to counter these offers with something outside the genre

Now, in regards to his writing:

I haven't actually read any Harlan Coben, but RA's bromance with Harlan Coben seems to have been a big influence on his writing projects - I think it's a combination of:

having a mentor figure/friend who writes solely in the field and learning from Harlan (actually, even just from Harlan's TV adaptations) is likely to make him lean in that direction for genre - you're inspired by the things you're surrounded by, right?

perhaps just a genuine love of the genre 🤷‍♀️

the success of Geneva - he clearly has some sort of deal with Audible, wherein they get first dibs on texts. We also don't know what sort of deal he has with his publisher - if his contracts with either/both pigeonhole him into genres or not. Also, as a fledgling writer... you're likely to stick to what you know works, right? Geneva did well, and it seems The Cut has as an audiobook, so why, when you're perfecting the craft, attempt something a bit more out of the box?

This is all not to say that I disagree with you, anon - I am 100% on your side, and I don't think that this makes you snobbish at all. I also *really* wish we would see him branch out of these genres - and I actually like this genre of book/media!

I just really wish we had something more lighthearted coming out from him - which is why I hold Claude Becker up as an example of a role I wanna see more of. Was Claude a super interesting, complicated character? No. But he was kinda fun and so different to what he's been doing lately!!

I feel like getting the man to attempt anything related to comedy/rom-com/light-hearted dramas would be a bit of a stretch because I think he just doesn't see himself as that kind of person (which, again is uh... bullshit because he would be great at it), but I would LOVE to at the very least see some more Claude-esque roles from him - just something to stretch his chops outside the dark crime/thriller. However, I think his attention is so split between projects right now that I can't see him making any moves off the path he's on right now for the next little while 🥲

In regards to whether he's having to spend much time on White Boar Films - we know this is kinda his baby, but I think his writing, as a result of both the fast-track Audible is able to put it on and the success of it so far, has taken a front seat compared to his producing which is now on the back-burner. This is likely because White Boar's initial partners (at least, for The Fens) have caused some roadblocks, and while Imaginarium Productions (the other production company White Boar is working with) has faired better, there still doesn't seem to be much progress from what I can tell

Looking at the White Boar timeline:

April 2020 - the White Boar Films Twitter & Instagram accounts are created 2nd December 2020 - White Boar Films is incorporated with Richard as the sole shareholder 31st December 2021 - RA remains sole shareholder of White Boar Films, with 0 employees in the year to date, and with just a bit under ￡500,000 invested as funds Early January 2022 - RA formally announces White Boar Films & it goes live on social media, with Emily Marr also named as an Executive Producer/Head of Development July 2022 - I have good reason to suspect this is when RA starts to mostly base himself out of London as opposed to NY. I don't want to give any more specifics, or want to speculate on any other reasons, but nursing White Boar might also play a part in this change 26th of October, 2022 - social media announces that the company has bought the rights to The Fens, and White Boar Films will be producing it alongside Sprout Films & Adam Barth at Eccho Rights. These will be 6x 60-minute episodes with RA attached as Rowan Jackson 22nd of December, 2022 - Sprout Films applies to the UK govt. to be struck off as a company 31st December 2022 - White Boar Films continues to retain 0 employees in the year to date. RA is still sole shareholder, and no particular progress is made in regards to company projects or assets, but the amount invested as funds in White Boar Films doubles to over ￡1,100,000. 21st March 2023 - Sprout Films is officially dissolved 31st December 2023 - White Boar Films continues to retain 0 employees in the year to date. There is limited financial activity, with RA still sole shareholder, but the amount invested as funds in White Boar Films increases to over ￡1,600,000 October 16 2024 - Adam Barth, who is supposed to be working on The Fens for Eccho Rights, leaves Eccho Rights. He is then hired by another production company, Avalon Unknown date: White Boar Films is not listed on The Fens project as a producer according to the screenplay writer's agency, with the production companies listed as the now-dissolved-Sprout Pictures & MJZ

I think White Boar just has some normal teething problems for a starter-company - but even the two (potentially stalled?) projects they're supposed to be developing are crime/thriller based... and with Sony developing the Geneva TV show, I think his mindset will be in these genres for the forseeable future, really

I think surely there has to be some real passion in him for the genres, anyway, for all aspects of his projects to be so centred around them - in which case I love that he's getting what he wants to do

(but also if he could just bless us with some different genres in either his writing or producing or acting, that would be much, much appreciated)