THE JAMES MASON COMMUNITY BOOK CLUB discussion
Authors and Their Books
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WOULD YOU ACCEPT A GREEN-LIGHT FROM HOLLYWOOD IF YOU KNEW IT'D RUIN YOUR BOOK?
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Mar 22, 2012 01:36PM
Most authors (I assume) would love to have their book optioned for film. The publicity, press, and yes, potential earnings! My question is if somehow you knew Hollywood was going to ruin your story that you've worked on for months or even years (directors will interpret your plot and characters how they see fit), would you pull your project or "let them have it" for the notoriety?
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Yes - within reason - most readers understand what Hollywood does to books. They will continue to read your books regardless. The publicity far outweighs the risk.
Probably. Depends on the level of financial security it offered; it's not just that everyone has a price, it's that we've all got futures to think about. If one studio messing up one of my books will guarantee I can afford to write full-time for a living, even if only for a few years? I'm all over that.
Kaamil:My Epic Fables are wide open to interpretation, and they were written that way.
They are dialogue driven with little discription, and this leaves anyone (a director) free to use his or her own imagination, a fine thing by my estimation.
Certainly I would not be pleased if a book were ruined.
But given that I have several books on the same theme, any interest by the film industry, no matter how badly carried off, I think would be a good thing.
On the other hand, most authors know that in the final determination what you're selling is the title, and so it could very well be a rewrite from that point on.
Then it's just a matter of money & is it enough.
I just don't think, given the nature of my books, it's much of an issue for me.
Howard wrote: "Kaamil:
My Epic Fables are wide open to interpretation, and they were written that way.
They are dialogue driven with little discription, and this leaves anyone (a director) free to use his ..."
Howard, I agree. And it's great that your work has a lot of connotation. I think that helps you accept whatever changes would inevitably occur. We all know that a John Carpenter (with his clout in Hollywood) is going to change some things. I, for one, would let him have at it "if the price is right."
My Epic Fables are wide open to interpretation, and they were written that way.
They are dialogue driven with little discription, and this leaves anyone (a director) free to use his ..."
Howard, I agree. And it's great that your work has a lot of connotation. I think that helps you accept whatever changes would inevitably occur. We all know that a John Carpenter (with his clout in Hollywood) is going to change some things. I, for one, would let him have at it "if the price is right."
Joyce wrote: "Yes - within reason - most readers understand what Hollywood does to books. They will continue to read your books regardless. The publicity far outweighs the risk."
You are so right Joyce. A lot of the movies based on Stephen King's books are horrendous (Bag of Bones). Understanding that it's Hollywood and not him, I continue to buy his books and I'm continually amazed at his writing!
You are so right Joyce. A lot of the movies based on Stephen King's books are horrendous (Bag of Bones). Understanding that it's Hollywood and not him, I continue to buy his books and I'm continually amazed at his writing!
L.H. wrote: "Probably. Depends on the level of financial security it offered; it's not just that everyone has a price, it's that we've all got futures to think about. If one studio messing up one of my books wi..."
Yes, financial security is the key. I could always look at one of my books that Hollywood ruined knowing that it set me up for life (or even for a few years)!
Yes, financial security is the key. I could always look at one of my books that Hollywood ruined knowing that it set me up for life (or even for a few years)!
Certainly. It would give me the chance to become the caricuture of a Hollywood writer. I'd buy one of those houses on stilts in the Hollywood Hills, become a specatacle in the neighborhood and an embarassment to the community. Maybe drive my Bentley into the pool and leave it there. What's not to love?
