Novels adapted for the big screen

Tornadoboy · Feb 28, 2007

As authors what are your feelings on having your novels adapted in to films? I've recently read a few things about Clive Cussler's problems with the two films adapted from his books and the ensuing court battles, although I don't know who is in the right in that particular case I thought the whole topic might be interesting for everyone to mull over. Personally with few exceptions I have not been impressed at how the majority of novels have been treated, if there is one thing Hollywood is consistent about is its ability to do so little with so much.

kristie911 · Feb 28, 2007

As much as I like what I write, I don't think I'd object much if someone wanted to twist it around and make a movie. I'm not in it for the money but I certainly wouldn't turn down the money they'd pay me to do it!

ChaosTitan · Feb 28, 2007

Tornadoboy said:
if there is one thing Hollywood is consistent about is its ability to do so little with so much.

Therein lies the problem with adaptations. Novels and films are two very different mediums. Most adaptations are bound by telling a 500 page story in two hours. It's difficult to manage, and often fails to impress fans of the novel because so much must be left out.

Once in a while, a filmmaker is given more leeway, and they can create something like "The Lord of the Rings," or the miniseries of "Roots" or "The Stand." "The Green Mile" was a terrific adaptation, but it clocked in at over three hours long. Sometimes you find a genius like Brian Helgeland who can take a 900 page book like "LA Confidential" and trim it into a tight, classy 2.5 hour film. Maybe it isn't the most faithfully adapted screenplay ever (dozens of characters and tangential storylines had to be cut), but it works. It tells the essence of the story.

And just because audiences love an adaptation, doesn't mean the author will. Didn't Stephen King hate Kubrick's version of "The Shining?"

If someone wanted to adapt and film one of my novels, I would be all for it. I love film as an art form, and it would be fascinating to see how Hollywood would cast it and interpret my worlds. Maybe I would be happy, maybe I would hate it. I'd love to find out.

Selcaby · Feb 28, 2007

With my WIP, I've always been aware that once the basic scenario was set up the plot could go in any number of directions. Choosing one means choosing to discard all the others. If a filmmaker wanted to pick a different one, that would be fine by me. I'd hope they knew what they were doing and would pick something that would work better on screen than what's in the book would, or that they had more enthusiasm for and so were more likely to do a good job with.

I'd feel weird if they wanted to change things like characters' names, their basic personalities, the basic setup of the story, or the setting. (Please don't set it in America. It's a British book.) But I wouldn't stop them if they wanted to. I'd be curious about how it would turn out.

I'd hope whoever was playing my protagonist had a really good understanding of what goes on in his head.

It's unlikely to happen. But dreams are nice.

Insert Name · Feb 28, 2007

I would never let any of my work be adapted. I would consider it if I were allowed to write the sceenplay (a format with which I am familiar with). It isn't a power trip...well, yes it is. I think I am a rational person and with Hollywood's track record of botched adaptations as well as their loathing of novelists, I refuse to hand over my work to them. I don't have a huge desire to cross cultural mediums. I've seen adaptations before I've read novels and in every case except one (Sideways*) it prevented me from ever wanting to read the novel.

*I technically read the novel because I am a drunkard and like novels about drunkards.

jodiodi · Feb 28, 2007

I don't think I'd mind. I wouldn't want it changed until it was unrecognizeable. I mean, the characters are who the characters are and I don't want theier basic personalities and such changed. However, when I write, it's like I'm watching a movie in my head so I can picture it on the big screen. Dream on, of course.

Will Lavender · Feb 28, 2007

Strangely, I'm having to answer this question right now.

For me, it's a no-brainer.

My agency in NYC hired a sub-agent at Creative Artists. The money that the guy at CAA was talking about the book bringing in could allow me to become pretty much a full-time author.

No-brainer.

Even if the film's a flop, it's still big publicity for the book. Really, truly, I don't see a lot of godawful films. Bad films? Absolutely. But I haven't seen too many embarrassing movies made out of books, even though the books are usually better.

I'm not one of those people who romanticizes my own work to the point where I can't allow it to be changed in any way. It's just a story. Stories are meant to be interpreted in different ways.

(Note: the manuscript has hit a "stall" in Hollywood. They're waiting on my edit. That's a lot of pressure.)

James D. Macdonald · Feb 28, 2007

If they spell my name right on the check, I don't care what they do with my book.

Siddow · Feb 28, 2007

If I were to get lucky enough to have someone want to make a film out of one of my books, I'd jump and scream and run, laughing, all the way to the bank.

But I'd probably never watch the film. Okay, I might watch the opening credits until my name showed up, but that's it.

swvaughn · Feb 28, 2007

Hell, I've been casting my movie ever since I finished my first thriller.

I want Steven Strait, and Marc DaCoscas (sp?), and Ken Watanabe, and what's-his-name with the really blue eyes... I have lists.

I agree with Uncle Jim. I have no integrity. Not that Uncle Jim doesn't have integrity, but I don't.

williemeikle · Feb 28, 2007

Will Lavender said:
But I haven't seen too many embarrassing movies made out of books

Ahem! They've made an industry out of doing it to Stephen King's work...... OK so we get the odd good one to compensate but..... have you seen Needful Things? or Cujo? .... need I say more?

Willie

Will Lavender · Feb 28, 2007

williemeikle said:
Ahem! They've made an industry out of doing it to Stephen King's work...... OK so we get the odd good one to compensate but..... have you seen Needful Things? or Cujo? .... need I say more?

Willie

I actually don't think either of those was embarrassing.

I'm talking about Ishtar bad.

As long as the movie wasn't epically bad, and as long as I got...um...compensated, I think I'd be okay.

Of course, it's easy to say that having never had a movie made of my work. Check back with me if it ever happens and my tune may have changed.

(FWIW, King wrote Cujo drunk. He can't complain too much about the film version.)

kristie911 · Feb 28, 2007

James D. Macdonald said:
If they spell my name right on the check, I don't care what they do with my book.

This is exactly what I wanted to say...as usual, Uncle Jim said it much better and with fewer words. I really need to work on that!

J. Weiland · Feb 28, 2007

kristie911 said:
This is exactly what I wanted to say...as usual, Uncle Jim said it much better and with fewer words. I really need to work on that!

One can only admire his conciseness.

Elodie-Caroline · Feb 28, 2007

I would love my books to be turned into films, that's exactly how I picture them as I write them, especially the one I not long ago finished. I think the director would probably concentrate a bit more on the Cat and Mouse plot of my book, than what he would the love interest in it, but I wouldn't mind, just so long as the characters were true to how I wrote them. I would much rather that a European director had it to film, than Hollywood though.

Some films are as good as the books eg: Shawshank redemption and Interview with the Vampire. Peter Benchley's Jaws was much better as a film, the book seemed to concentrate too much on Brody's wife and the bloke whom Richard Dreyfuss played, having an affair. Cujo was a complete cop-out, the little boy died in the book, but the film had to have that feel good factor and he was saved, just in time... a bit like bombs always having 2 seconds before they explode before someone saves the day lol

Elodie

Tornadoboy · Feb 28, 2007

williemeikle said:
Ahem! They've made an industry out of doing it to Stephen King's work...... OK so we get the odd good one to compensate but..... have you seen Needful Things? or Cujo? .... need I say more? Willie

"Cujo" and "Needful Things" were absolute masterpieces compared to excrement like "Graveyard Shift", "The Mangler", "Sleepwalkers", and "Dreamcatcher!"

It seems to me I've heard SK say in the television remake's commentary that he didn't so much as hate Kubrick's adaption of "The Shining" as he felt it simply wasn't anything like the story he wrote. He put a lot of personal baggage in the book about his own alcoholism and of his father that didn't make it in the film, and the character Wendy was a lot more assertive than the one played by Shelly Duval (Whom personally I think was terrific!).

I go back and forth on the issue myself, although I'm more worried about my stuff ever getting the chance to see the light of day, never mind someone wanting to make a film based on it! But one thing I've always wondered is whether or not having people introduced to the book by the film is counter-productive? Will they want to read the book out of curiousity? Or will they avoid it because they think they already know too much about the story and how it will end to make it worth the effort?
Personally I've done both, so maybe as a whole it balances itself out?

maestrowork · Feb 28, 2007

Movies seldom hurt books sales -- in fact, they help tremendously, even if the movie sucks.

I wouldn't mind, really, if they want to make a movie out of my book. I want the cash and the movie tie-ins! My name won't be on the screenwriting credit anyway so it won't be my fault if they suck. I do balk at casting Paris Hilton... I will give them money if they promise not to cast her....

scarletpeaches · Feb 28, 2007

Insert Name said:
I would never let any of my work be adapted. I would consider it if I were allowed to write the sceenplay (a format with which I am familiar with). It isn't a power trip...well, yes it is. I think I am a rational person and with Hollywood's track record of botched adaptations as well as their loathing of novelists, I refuse to hand over my work to them. I don't have a huge desire to cross cultural mediums. I've seen adaptations before I've read novels and in every case except one (Sideways*) it prevented me from ever wanting to read the novel.

*I technically read the novel because I am a drunkard and like novels about drunkards.

I agree.

I'd feel better if it was a Sunday evening BBC-adaptation three-parter rather than a Hollywood movie, though. As I was growing up, planning my future writing career, it was always the BBC adaptations that appealed to me. Old-fashioned of me, maybe, but the Auntie Beeb was always the gold standard to which I aspired and still do aspire.

James D. Macdonald · Feb 28, 2007

Hemingway once summed up his attitude toward the film industry, in spite of all the money he made, by suggesting that the best way for a writer to deal with Hollywood was to meet the producers at the California state line: "You throw them your book, they throw you the money. Then you jump into your car and drive like hell back the way you came."

and

Novelist James M. Cain, author of such noir classics as Double Indemnity, The Postman Always Rings Twice and Mildred Pierce, was reportedly once asked whether he was upset about what Hollywood had done to his books. "What do you mean?" Cain supposedly replied, waving at the shelves behind him, lined with the many editions of his novels. "Hollywood hasn't done anything to my books. They're still right there."

zornhau · Feb 28, 2007

Myself I'm a great fan of take the money and run. But what about - for want of a better term - brand identity?

For example Terry Pratchet, so I understand, has been very careful about letting people adapt his books into movies, and has walked away from at least one deal.

maestrowork · Feb 28, 2007

What brand. People know movies and books are different. SK has had so many movies made of his books because THEY MAKE MONEY! But we have no problem knowing that the movies are not "his" and if they succeed (as in Shawshank Redemption or Misery) or suck (as in IT), it has nothing to do with the author, but everything to do with the studios and filmmakers...

There are exceptions, of course, especially if the author is intimately involved in the movie.

I think the writer's ego can become a burden to his own brand. Don't know anything about Terry Pratchet, but the recent failure to launch of Hannibal Rising might be a cautionary tale. Thomas Harris was under contract to deliver another Hannibal book, and he wrote the screenplay of the film -- no doubt he was paid 8-figures for that. The film sucked (don't know anything about the book). It significantly hurts Harris's reputation. The book didn't do so well (so far) either... 700,000 sold out of a 15-million print run.

Something tells me Harris will not write another Hannibal book for a long time, maybe ever.

Elodie-Caroline · Feb 28, 2007

I've bought many a book after seeing the film first. Interview with the Vampire and What dreams may come to name two of them. I know the books will have a lot more insight into the characters and lots of little bits of information that a film could never portray.

Tornadoboy said:
But one thing I've always wondered is whether or not having people introduced to the book by the film is counter-productive? Will they want to read the book out of curiousity? Or will they avoid it because they think they already know too much about the story and how it will end to make it worth the effort?
Personally I've done both, so maybe as a whole it balances itself out?

maestrowork · Feb 28, 2007

I read quite a few books after I watched the movies; but in most cases, it was because I enjoyed the movies. So I can see how a movie could hurt -- if the movie sucks, I may not want to read the book. So, I think it's better for someone with a fan following than for some new writers -- a bad movie could potentially hurt the new writer's career, but would have minimal effect on an established one's. An exception is Sideways -- the movie actually came out, I think, before the book did. The movie was critically acclaimed and nominated for an Oscar best picture, and it really helped.

scribbler1382 · Feb 28, 2007

James D. Macdonald said:
If they spell my name right on the check, I don't care what they do with my book.

As usual, Unca Jim gets it right.

I've been listening to the PodCast about the Dresden files being adapted for the small screen from the series of books and it's been very educating. But the one thing I noticed was Butcher's healthy attitude about the changes necessitated by the adaptation. Apparently there was massive "nerdrage" over some of this, but Butcher understands they're different mediums with different needs and constraints. Smart boy, there.

zornhau · Feb 28, 2007

How about if the Harry Potter movies had been childish and bowdlerised? Would that have hurt JKR?

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