Casting STILLWATER
It's a pretty reliable question from readers: "Who would you cast in the movie of your book?" or "What actor/actress do you see as Jack?" It's always Jack, interestingly enough. My answer always surprises them: When I'm writing, I don't see my characters' faces. To me, they are a combination of personality traits and tiny physical characteristics: Jack's long eyelashes, the chicken pox scar above Ellie's eye, Kelly's blonde hair, Buck Pollard's barrel chest, Miner's sallow complexion, Ethan's vampire dude hair. As a writer, I don't like describing my characters in too much detail. I prefer the reader to envision the character themselves. It gives the reader ownership of the characters, ties them to the character in a way my detailed description wouldn't.
Still, I get the appeal of casting the movie. (Personally, I'd love to see STILLWATER as a TV series.) There have been dozens of times I've watched a tv show or movie and thought, "She would make a good Ellie." There was one time in Starbucks when Jack McBride literally walked in the door. As soon as I laid eyes on that man I knew he was Jack come to life. You know what's funny? I can't describe him to save my life, except he was tall, dark and handsome and knew how to wear a suit.
The other day when I was pulling together my list of Cowboys & Cowgirls You Want to Ride Off Into the Sunset With (if you haven't checked it out, or shared it on social media, you should!), I decided to cast STILLWATER and blog about it so my STILLWATER readers don't think I've completely forgotten about them, what with all the SAWBONES promotion.
Remember, these aren't who I see when I write, but the actors/actresses I'd like to play the parts.
Jack McBride - Patrick Wilson
I know, I know. He doesn't have dark hair. But, Patrick Wilson sold me with his performance as Lou Solverson on Fargo Season 2. You gotta admit, he looks good in a suit.
Ellie Martin - Carrie Coon
Ellie Martin is one of those people who you meet and think, "she's attractive" or maybe you don't think about her one way or the other. But, the more you get to know her, the more beautiful she becomes. Ellie might be the most complex character in the STILLWATER world, a complexity you haven't gotten the full view of. A phenomenal actress would need to play all the highs and lows that are coming her way. Carrie Coon is a total bad ass on The Leftovers, and Ellie Martin is nothing if not a bad ass (just wait until THE FISHER KING; you'll see what I mean).
Ethan McBride
I've totally forgotten this child actor's name, but he's got the brooding good looks and attitude that Ethan has.
Kelly Dudley Jackson Kendrick - Kristen Bell
This is the one character I visualize as a real person. There are three choices for Kelly, and each one would be amazing, but I'm going to go with Kristen Bell because there's just something about her that makes me want to be her best friend, which is Kelly's superpower - making people want to be around her. (The other two actresses are Reese Witherspoon & Elizabeth Banks.)
Miner Jesson - John Hawkes
John Hawkes, man. He's such a great character actor and plays hangdog very well, which is how I think of Miner most of the time.
Buck Pollard - Jeff Bridges
This isn't who I imagine Buck Pollard as at all. Honestly, I picture Robert Duvall from 20 years ago, or Will Patton with 20 extra years on him. But, Jeff Bridges is one of the best actors of his generation and has the perfect mix of gruffness and charisma to play a manipulator like Buck Pollard.
Eddie McBride - Josh Holloway
I know, right?
Eddie McBride #2 - Josh Lucas
On the other hand, if you wanted an actor who looked like he could legit be Jack's twin, Josh Lucas is your man.
Those are my choices. Who would you cast in a tv/movie adaptation of STILLWATER? Or, who do you see in your mind's eye when you're reading? Reply in the comments, or on my Facebook or Twitter.
