Speculation
Two of my novels have been the subject of film options, though nothing eventually came of either. There's preliminary discussion about developing a third of them for the big screen, so I've been pondering a bit on the subject.
The first of mine to be optioned, shortly after it was published, was my paranormal debut, The House of Lost Souls. The story deals with the repercussions in the present day of satanic rituals enacted in the 1920s.
The screenplay writer set the whole thing in 1927, so instead of it being a ghost story it became a cautionary tale about a sensation-seeking flapper getting in too deep with some dubious people. No spectres. No sinister echoes resonating down the decades. I'm not surprised it didn't get further than a script.
The second film project involved The Waiting Room. The core of the story deals with the consequences of confounding nature by returning someone from the dead. But the novel is densely plotted and the action takes place in two time-frames; 1919 and the present day.
I've always thought personally it would make a better four or six-parter on the telly on a Sunday evening than it would a feature film.
Brodmaw Bay is the subject of the most recent discussion. I really hope it comes to something because I think Bay the most film-able of my books practically. And the Cornish coast is naturally atmospheric and cinematic.
Do I cast the proposed films of my novels in my head? Of course I do. I'm only human. Except that I get to the movies so seldom that the actors I choose all tend to be too old to play their roles.
There are dreams and there's reality. This is one field of endeavour where the former actually has a chance of becoming the latter. I'm more optimistic than I was on those earlier occasions and keeping my fingers firmly crossed.
The first of mine to be optioned, shortly after it was published, was my paranormal debut, The House of Lost Souls. The story deals with the repercussions in the present day of satanic rituals enacted in the 1920s.
The screenplay writer set the whole thing in 1927, so instead of it being a ghost story it became a cautionary tale about a sensation-seeking flapper getting in too deep with some dubious people. No spectres. No sinister echoes resonating down the decades. I'm not surprised it didn't get further than a script.
The second film project involved The Waiting Room. The core of the story deals with the consequences of confounding nature by returning someone from the dead. But the novel is densely plotted and the action takes place in two time-frames; 1919 and the present day.
I've always thought personally it would make a better four or six-parter on the telly on a Sunday evening than it would a feature film.
Brodmaw Bay is the subject of the most recent discussion. I really hope it comes to something because I think Bay the most film-able of my books practically. And the Cornish coast is naturally atmospheric and cinematic.
Do I cast the proposed films of my novels in my head? Of course I do. I'm only human. Except that I get to the movies so seldom that the actors I choose all tend to be too old to play their roles.
There are dreams and there's reality. This is one field of endeavour where the former actually has a chance of becoming the latter. I'm more optimistic than I was on those earlier occasions and keeping my fingers firmly crossed.
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Martin
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Sep 14, 2013 06:46AM
The Waiting Room would transfer brilliantly to either a mini-series or film. Broadmaw Bay the same. Hope they do FG. You deserve to get more exposure for your brilliant novels.
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Would love to see Brodmaw Bay as a movie or mini-series. Will be keeping my fingers crossed too!
As a huge fan of your work and a huge fan of horror/supernatural films, the idea of a F. G. Cottam book turned movie is exciting. Of course, movies almost never do justice to the books they are based on, but I agree with Martin that people should have more exposure to your work. And also, a nicely made film (so rare in the horror genre) would be a bonus for your fans.
I always though the Colony would make an excellent movie. You all the necessary elements in play: action, suspense, a mystery, a cinematographic setting, and some creepy goings-on. What do you think about its transferability?
And I agree with you regrading the Waiting Room. That would be one amazing mini-series. Any possibility that will ever be taken up?
Oh and I forgot to ask the obvious question: Who are you mentally casting in your movies?
I'd have Brian Blessed as the burly Jesuit priest in Dark Echo. I think Hugh Grant would be pretty much perfect as Julian Creed in The Waiting Room. Wish Bill Nighy wasn't too old for Richard Penmarick in Brodmaw Bay. Rhys Ifans comes to mind as Penmarick,but you'd know he was a baddie from the outset.It's been suggested to me that Daniel Craig and Rachel Weisz would be a good fit for The Greers in Bay, but they'd likely be on the expensive side! Whatever, it's a fun game to play.
Spare no expense -- when else can you have the luxury of a limitless budget. I second Daniel Craig, but interestingly I would place him in any movie of your books. Till you mentioned it, I didn't realize I had him pictured the whole time I was reading Magdalena Curse. Interesting thought about Hugh Grant -- I highly doubt I would have come up with him. I shall ponder. This is a fun game.
Television stardom is fickle and insecure and Creed is a fraud getting by on public school urbanity and a superficial charm (before the story gives him his shot at redemption). He'd have to grow his hair and put some serious gym work in, but if he did, I can think of no one better for him than Hugh Grant - though it was suggested to me, I didn't think of it independently!
The Waiting Room is my favourite book of yours, exactly for its dense plotting. Plus I thought the ending was just so wonderfully brave, totally apt, and deeply unhollywoodish. Plus, it captured the most delicious part of horror for me - the creeping dread type - so well. A UK multi-part television production would be able to do it justice, but the plot is too good and too dense for a 120 minute movie. It needs historical sensitivity in the production values. Much more likely to get it here. I agree the Broadmaw Bay is probably the most cinematic.
They're kind words and a big compliment from a fellow writer. Someone suggested Creed should just go back and bump off Bruno - but he can only orchestrate the one moment and of course it's in 1916.Then there's the fate element in having been a soldier before becoming a fraud and so having the necessary skill - and will - on the battlefield.
Really pleased you liked the ending. My endings tend to divide opinion, but that's the one I'm proudest of.
