Born in 1953 in Jacksonville, FL., Tom attended the University of Florida in Gainesville, graduating with a bachelor's degree in Advertising Design. Theere he met his wife, Susan Paris, whom he married upon graduation (literally - it was her graduation day).
Freelancing in advertising and design for several years, Tom soon found his ambitions aimed towards the comics industry. 1984 saw appointments with editors from Marvel resulting in one assignment, and in 1986, Tom landed his first regular assignment on SKYWOLF back-ups in AIRBOY. Two years later Tom broke in at DC drawing STARMAN for DC, getting in on the ground floor, designing the characters and drawing the first 25 issues. Work followed on the revolutionary set of ROBIN mini-series, as well as three issues of BATMAN and six issues of DETECTIVE COMICS.
Moving to Marvel, Tom found a dream come true, drawing SPIDER-MAN for two years. While at Marvel he also worked on the PUNISHER, wrote and drew a WARLOCK mini-series, and was artist on the X-MEN spin-off book, MUTANT X.
In 1996 Tom bought an ARRIFLEX SB 16mm camera, which leadhim to direct two short films, THE NOT-SO-GREAT ESCAPE and BUBBAS IN THE MIST, both comedies. His most recent project, DOUGIE'S ROOM, is a psychological thriller detailing the last day in prison for Douglas Hemmings. DOUGIE'S ROOM was accepted into the SILVER SPROCKET INTERNATIONAL FILM FEST for 2002.
He wanted a new life. Actually, he just wanted a life that had a career. One career seemed to come to a screeching halt and another was beginning … slowly. Would the new career manifest itself in time before the economics of bills and paying them took its toll on our hero? Or would he be able to find work in comics again? Is there really life after comics?
Our hero in this instance is me … Tom Lyle.
One of the toughest things about being an artist is to be true to your goals, no matter what the cost … financially or emotionally. Storyboarding and doing occasional commissions has partially filled the gap, but there hasn’t been enough of either to make the lifestyle I had built as a comics artist. Not without some sacrifice. I’ve had moments when I thought the best path would be to just go find a real job … any real job and try to salvage my lifestyle.
Luckily I have a wife who’s an artist and who understands, and even encourages my goals. Not only that, but we were smart enough not to have children or I’d have to take the aforementioned pathway.
This is a situation tailor-made to test your mettle, your confidence, your ego and your willingness to go the distance. Will I pass the test? I don’t know yet, but I have met Quentin Tarantino’s mom, Connie Zastoupil to those who know her, who might help me find some answers.
Last fall, I was having lunch with fellow artist Charles Vess and we were both talking about the then upcoming LORD OF THE RINGS film. Both of us were looking forward to it with great excitement. (I think it lived up to our expectations. It has flaws, but I know that I like it a lot.) That led to a discussion of comics and fantasy in comics.
I realized that I was sorely lacking in having read few of the books that he listed off. I have been so caught up in the superhero genre that I have ignored the types of stories that had hooked me in the first place … fantasy and adventure. There was one project he mentioned that greatly intrigued me and, luckily, he had a spare copy. He gave it to me. I read it. It was touching, moving and just generally a great story.
My first thought was, “This would make a freaking great film.” I contacted Charles and asked if he knew the email address or phone number of the creator. Again, Charles came through for me and I got the creator’s email address. All I can tell you for now is that the creator lives in England. Next week I’ll tell you who he is and what the project is, but I’ll have to leave you in suspense for the rest of the details…
As a result of my last short film I formed a production company. With that in mind I set about to do something big - I was going to option this project for a motion picture. What about money, I thought? You don’t have any to offer. Well, here’s the philosophy that got me in comics, got me the ROBIN assignment and has gotten me anywhere in the arts: It doesn’t hurt to ask.
I contacted the creator and we began an email discussion over his project, and the optioning of it for a motion picture. He had already had one previous deal for his story, which had tied it up for sometime in development hell. They had no intention of making it, and just wanted it off the market.
Naturally, when someone comes to you and offers chicken feed up front, and wants to tie up your project again, you might be skeptical. This person was. Luckily for me, Charles Vess came through yet again. He told our mystery man that I was on the up and up, that I was dead serious about the project.
Here’s a humorous aside to this tale. When we decided to get serious about negotiations, the creator put me in touch with his lawyer. The lawyer’s response: “You guys are on your own. For what this guy’s offering up front, there’s no money in it for me.” He was talking about me, and I’m paraphrasing of course, but I think its funny. He’ll miss out on his cut now when I get this film made! Lawyers!
By December we had worked out a deal, and by early January of this year we had the contracts all signed and sealed and notarized. As part of our discussions, he mentioned that he knew a producer who was gonzo for this project and loved it dearly. He gave me her address, email address and phone number. I contacted her and we have been talking by email regularly, as she’s living in the Czech Republic. Quite an obstacle, but she at least seems interested in this project, and another, for which my wife just finished a screenplay.
The producer is Quentin Tarantino’s mom: Connie Zastoupil.
Now, after all this namedropping, you think I’d tell you how tough she is and all that kind of Hollywood myth. Not so. She’s a BIG comics fan, so she already knows a lot of people in the industry … Charles Vess included. She’s great to talk to and very encouraging.
That said, it seems like your saying, “What’s the Big Deal, then?” Well, Connie is a neophyte producer who just formed her own production company last year and I think its extremely cool and comforting to be dealing with another person trying to make a new life as I try to make mine.
All right, so the climax is kind of no big deal. At least so far it is… I’m writing the screenplay adaptation of this project right now. In the meantime, money is still a problem. So … what am I doing about that?
Next week I’ll tell you about that, what I’m trying to do, and about what comic project it was that I “optioned” to make a motion picture. What a life!
