New News Just For You                Inside This Issue
		* Tune Into This	* Up Up and Away
		* World Travels	*  Behind the Scenes
		* Mail Bag	* Prize Winning Contest

Tune Into This               

 

I've been on a non-stop whirlwind these past six months and it's been pretty awesome. The best thing is there are now three great projects to tune into. Be sure to check out the "Now Showing" section of my website to stay current on when to watch. Just to recap here's what to look for.

 

* "DANGEROUS CHILD"… Tune into "Lifetime" on Monday, July 16^th.

* "HALLOWEEN 8" … Hits theaters in October just in time for Halloween 2001.

* "A RING OF ENDLESS LIGHT" … Tune into The Disney Channel in November.

 

Up Up and Away     

 

One of the questions you asked was…"What was the best gift you got for your birthday?" Well, that's an easy answer. My manager knows a pilot and flight instructor and she arranged for me to take flying lessons this summer. I took my first block of lessons on July 3^rd  through the 5^th and it was awesome. The early instruction is more about learning the manuals, terminology and getting familiar with the cockpit and controls. There's a lot more than that to learn of course, and most of my flying is with my instructor Gastone in full control.  I have officially logged 6 hours in the air.  It will be a while before I earn my wings and can go solo.  I managed to take off, do a few air maneuvers and landed on my own.  What a rush!  It's an amazing feeling.  I felt this peace and calm in the air, but was scared as crap all at the same time.  I buzzed the roof of my girlfriend's house and flew by to wave to my mom too.  With six hours down…There's only 34 more before I can test.  

  

World Traveler        

       

My work has taken me to some really amazing places these past few months.  I've been in Toronto, Australia and Vancouver all since March.  I thought you might like to see how I spend my time when I'm not on a set working.  So, here's your chance to come with me on a little road trip by way of pictures to some of the magical places I've been.

Below, Jarod, my co-star in "A Ring of Endless Light" joined me for a day of adventure sailing on the Solo.  She's a 54-foot racing yacht that cruises out of Manly Harbor to islands in and around Moreton Bay.  I had a great day.  I learned how to haul ropes, trim sails, weigh anchor and they even let me get behind the wheel.  The whole crew was great.  If you're ever in Australia take a trip on the Solo and sayG'day to the crew for me. 

 

            

 

 

               

 

Trail Blazer

Another adventure took me into the bushlands and rainforests of Australia.  Our guide took us to areas where we saw kangaroos and koalas in the wild.  We learned about survival and the aborigine culture; we visited a llama farm, a bird sanctuary and hiked into the night up to a waterfall.  The sounds of the rainforest at night are really wild.  We even walked along the treetops of a rainforest on suspension bridges.  The view from the top of the world while I was down under was really incredible. 

 

 

 

Escape to Paradise

 

It's a tough job, but someone has to do it and I'm sure glad it's me.  Here are just a few shots of some of the other great things I got to enjoy while working in Australia.  I met some great people and we had the best of times.  I took my mom para-sailing, got to work with the experts at Sea World in the dolphin cove and hang out on the beach with beautiful girls most of the day.  Like I said…It's a tough job!

 

 

   

  

 

 

Behind the Scenes

Working on "A Ring of Endless Light" was an incredible experience.  Everyday was a new adventure.  My first week of work was training with the dolphins at Sea World.  We had to learn the basic commands to communicate with them and we were taught some of the basic stunts that we would use in the film during shooting.  My co-star Misha and I had a great time in the water with the dolphins.  It was probably the part we liked best. 

 

 

 

                                        

 

Mail Bag  

The one question that you always ask in your letters is this…Does Ryan really read his own mail or does 
someone read it for him?  Well, I really do get my mail and when I have time, I do sit down and read it.  It's great to get all of your cards and letters with your pictures, drawings, poems and all the cool artwork and confetti and things you put in my cards.  I had a ton of mail to go through when I got back from being gone for so long.  It was great.  There were Easter cards, birthday cards and graduation cards too.  What can I say…my fans are the best.  Thanks for taking the time to give me so much love!  Another question you ask is…Can Ryan write back? I try to pick out about a dozen or so letters to respond to. But, I just can't write to everyone.  That's why I've got this great website for you to visit.

My offer still stands.  If you send a self addressed, stamped envelope, I will send you back an autographed picture.  I've gotten a lot of response from this offer and it really makes it easy to get back to you in a personal way.  So, send me your envelopes today.

Just in case you still have any doubts about me really getting your letters.  Here's a little proof for you.  Just ask these two fans who wrote to me 
recently and got a big surprise in return.  Kelly Read, who lives in Oklahoma, had read that I lived in OK too.  She wrote that if I was ever in the neighborhood I should stop by and see her at the Read Ranch in Chandler, Oklahoma.  Well, I took her up on her offer and spent a great day at the ranch with Kelly and her family riding the trails and reliving the old west.  If you're ever in Oklahoma, be sure to check out the Read Ranch.  It's located just west of Chandler, Oklahoma off the old historic Route 66.  So, be sure to take in the best of the old west with a trail ride, stay in the guest bunkhouses and visit the saloon and tradin' post.  Sit a spell and take in some good ole country air.  Thanks for the invite Kelly.

Another fan, Katie Beaumont, in Salt Lake City, Utah wrote that if I was ever in Utah she would like to meet me.  So, guess what?  While I was in Utah shooting "Luck of the Irish", I asked the production company to contact her for me and arrange for her to visit the set.  It was great to meet her and visit with her even is it was just a quick visit.  I was pretty busy the day she came and we were behind because of rain delays that day.  But, it was still kind of special and Katie got to see a little bit of what goes on behind the scenes.  She brought me flowers and was so sweet.  Thanks Katie.  Keep watching and keep writing.

Well, there you have it.  Keep writing and keep in touch.  You never know when your letter might be the one I pick up to write back to.  Better yet, I might just be working in your city or town soon and I could give you a call and knock on your door next.  Much love to all my fans always.

 

 

 

 

 

Prize Winning Contest

Be sure to check this out.  You already know about the really cool T-shirt offer I have out there for you.  I know a lot of you plan to order your T-shirt soon.  Well, here is a little incentive to get you to place your order today.  At the end of August, I will be having a drawing from all of the orders I receive before the end of the month.  The winning prize is a really awesome sketch I had done by an artist in Stanley Park while I was in Vancouver working on Halloween 8. So, I've decided to offer it to one lucky fan as the winning prize. It's a 14 x 18-matted poster, signed by the artist.  I'll sign and personalize it for the lucky winner too.  So, order your T-shirt today and you'll be automatically entered in the contest to win this one and only original charcoal sketch. Remember…the deadline for orders is August 31^st.

 

 

^{Click here for the order form!}

 

 

What You Ask What I say

Q         If you could say anything to your fans, what would it be?

A         "Rock Steady", lean on the Rock and you'll always be Steady.  Also, Life…grab on and hold tight cuz it's a wild ride!
            You have to stay strong.

Q         Is it hard to get the roles you play, and how were you picked for them?

A         The audition process is always tough.  That never changes.  Mostly, you have to be in the right place at the right time and be what they             are looking for to do the role.  There really is no set formula.  It's God's grace.