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[CCBC-Net] Stories to Films
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From: James Elliott <libraryjim>
Date: Thu, 3 Sep 2009 22:19:45 -0400 (EDT)
Like Elsa, I know that the topic is 'officially' over, but I just thought of this movie and thought it might bring a smile to the authors on the list:
A good movie (largely forgotten) that details the travails of an author watching a producer wreck his story was Alan Alda and Michael Caine in "Sweet Liberty".
Alan Alda plays a history professor in a sleepy New England town who writes a best-seller about a little known British General and his relationship with a Colonial woman during the Revolutionary War. He is at first excited when he learns that a big-name producer is coming to the town to film the book for a movie, but excitement turns to horror when he sees the 'shooting version' of the Script. He then moves about behind the scenes to try to salvage some semblance of fact into the story with the help of a disgruntled screen-writer while acting as 'coach' to Michael Caine's character -- an actor who is playing the British General -- and romancing the leading lady, played by Michelle Pfeiffer.
Fantastic film.
Jim Elliott North Florida.
----- Original Message ----- From: Elsa Marston <elsa.marston at gmail.com> To: ccbc-net at ccbc.education.wisc.edu Sent: Thu, 3 Sep 2009 18:25:50 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [CCBC-Net] Stories to Films
Dear CCBC friends--
Please forgive me for being late in writing about the "books to films" question again. I was very interested in Marian Dane Bauer's response, and so sorry that her experiences have been disappointing, maybe even worse. If ever a story needed a true, delicate, discerning treatment in film, it would be one of hers, and it must indeed have been frustrating to see her work lose its special qualities. I hope there'll be something better in the future!
My own experience was gratifying largely because making the film was a labor of love for the filmmaker, rather than a bottom-line, commercial enterprise. He came across the story in his public library, serendipitously, and decided as soon as he had turned the last page that he wanted to make it in to a film (He's Egyptian-American, so that's a strong source of motivation right there.) He did make changes--added a few scenes, mainly for local color, and shortened some scenes where I thought the character's motivation needed to be built up more clearly--but I've never heard those particular spots questioned. I did not work with him on the script; he felt I would naturally be too loyal to my own vision; but I had seen another of his short films and had confidence in his work. I decided to keep out of his work, other then sympathizing and encouraging as called for (and a lot *was *called for--it was a *struggle*!), and not to worry about it. This is quite similar to what the writer of a picture book typically has to go through: you can't have much--or any--say about the illustrations, so you might as well relax, hope for the best, and think about something else. I am 93% happy and satisfied with the film, maybe 94%, and I think that's pretty good!
One of my picture books, *Cynthia and the Runaway Gazebo, *was made into a musical called "Pirates in the Gazebo!" which had its premiere (and only production that I know of) by the Peterborough (NH) Players in 2000. Again, I took a completely hands-off attitude, and was absolutely delighted with the results. Just luck, but I appreciate it!
I wish other authors to be happy with whatever transformations are made of their work. It can so easily go the other way. Anything that makes us smile more than grimace is to be grateful for.
Elsa www.elsamarston.com
_______________________________________________ CCBC-Net mailing list CCBC-Net at lists.education.wisc.edu Visit this link to read archives or to unsubscribe... http://lists.education.wisc.edu/mailman/listinfo/ccbc-net
Received on Thu 03 Sep 2009 09:19:45 PM CDT
Date: Thu, 3 Sep 2009 22:19:45 -0400 (EDT)
Like Elsa, I know that the topic is 'officially' over, but I just thought of this movie and thought it might bring a smile to the authors on the list:
A good movie (largely forgotten) that details the travails of an author watching a producer wreck his story was Alan Alda and Michael Caine in "Sweet Liberty".
Alan Alda plays a history professor in a sleepy New England town who writes a best-seller about a little known British General and his relationship with a Colonial woman during the Revolutionary War. He is at first excited when he learns that a big-name producer is coming to the town to film the book for a movie, but excitement turns to horror when he sees the 'shooting version' of the Script. He then moves about behind the scenes to try to salvage some semblance of fact into the story with the help of a disgruntled screen-writer while acting as 'coach' to Michael Caine's character -- an actor who is playing the British General -- and romancing the leading lady, played by Michelle Pfeiffer.
Fantastic film.
Jim Elliott North Florida.
----- Original Message ----- From: Elsa Marston <elsa.marston at gmail.com> To: ccbc-net at ccbc.education.wisc.edu Sent: Thu, 3 Sep 2009 18:25:50 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [CCBC-Net] Stories to Films
Dear CCBC friends--
Please forgive me for being late in writing about the "books to films" question again. I was very interested in Marian Dane Bauer's response, and so sorry that her experiences have been disappointing, maybe even worse. If ever a story needed a true, delicate, discerning treatment in film, it would be one of hers, and it must indeed have been frustrating to see her work lose its special qualities. I hope there'll be something better in the future!
My own experience was gratifying largely because making the film was a labor of love for the filmmaker, rather than a bottom-line, commercial enterprise. He came across the story in his public library, serendipitously, and decided as soon as he had turned the last page that he wanted to make it in to a film (He's Egyptian-American, so that's a strong source of motivation right there.) He did make changes--added a few scenes, mainly for local color, and shortened some scenes where I thought the character's motivation needed to be built up more clearly--but I've never heard those particular spots questioned. I did not work with him on the script; he felt I would naturally be too loyal to my own vision; but I had seen another of his short films and had confidence in his work. I decided to keep out of his work, other then sympathizing and encouraging as called for (and a lot *was *called for--it was a *struggle*!), and not to worry about it. This is quite similar to what the writer of a picture book typically has to go through: you can't have much--or any--say about the illustrations, so you might as well relax, hope for the best, and think about something else. I am 93% happy and satisfied with the film, maybe 94%, and I think that's pretty good!
One of my picture books, *Cynthia and the Runaway Gazebo, *was made into a musical called "Pirates in the Gazebo!" which had its premiere (and only production that I know of) by the Peterborough (NH) Players in 2000. Again, I took a completely hands-off attitude, and was absolutely delighted with the results. Just luck, but I appreciate it!
I wish other authors to be happy with whatever transformations are made of their work. It can so easily go the other way. Anything that makes us smile more than grimace is to be grateful for.
Elsa www.elsamarston.com
_______________________________________________ CCBC-Net mailing list CCBC-Net at lists.education.wisc.edu Visit this link to read archives or to unsubscribe... http://lists.education.wisc.edu/mailman/listinfo/ccbc-net
Received on Thu 03 Sep 2009 09:19:45 PM CDT
