(no subject)

[malsperanza]

The good news is: Tom Stoppard is writing the screenplay for His Dark Materials.

:

"With a skittish eye, perhaps, on the power of religious groups in the United States, New Line's executives say they will probably insist that the books' repudiation of religion be softened into more of a meditation on the corruption of power in general. Mark Ordesky, executive vice president and chief operating officer of New Line Productions, said in an interview that "the real issue is not religion; it's authority-- that's what's really the driving issue here."

Mr. Ordesky pointed out that the figure who most represents God in the books is known as "the Authority" and said that the core of the story is about "people who are striving to be free and have free will, who are in conflict with forces of authority and totalitarianism."

What the studio likes about the trilogy, Mr. Ordesky said, is the same thing it liked about "The Lord of the Rings": the story. "Big-budget, big-spectacle, visual-effects movies are in themselves of no interest to audiences," Mr. Ordesky said. "What resonates is when you take all that and have a compelling human story beneath it."

New Line--we hatess it, we hatess it forever.

(Quoted passage is from NY Times Arts & Leisure section p. 5, Jan. 25, 2004)

Comments

[malsperanza.livejournal.com]

He probably *is* complaining and doing what he can to prevent the bowdlerization of the books. Stoppard may be an ally. Early days. A letter campaign to this Ordesky person at New Line might be useful.

But sadly, no author is ever able to retain much control of the content of a book once the movie rights are sold. Even very powerful authors like Rowling and Stephen King have only an advisory voice, not final say. For that matter, screenwriters and directors don't either. When you're spending $100 million, the guy with the checkbook calls the shots. (Which is why visionary directors like Orson Welles and Bertolucci and Terence Malick and Terry Gilliam have traditionally had such a hard time getting movies made.)

There are actually some good reasons for this. Authors rarely are good at converting their own books to film. Look at the pitiful bollocks Anne Rice made of the screenplay of "Interview with the Vampire," when she demanded to write it herself (narrowly rescued from total risibility by a good director and two prettypretty actors).

Fingers crossed for HDM. But yah, at least we know Stoppard will give it the treatment poor Harry Potter didn't get.

[blackholly.livejournal.com]

True. Once movie rights are sold, the studio calls the shots. Even if you are contracted to write the script yourself, the studio can bring in other writers to change parts of the script afterward. Many scripts have a succession of writers working on them.

[malsperanza.livejournal.com]

Oh, Holly--has Tithe or Spid perchance been optioned?!! *crosses fingers, bates breath, begins casting game*

BTW, I woke up this morning to find that there are currently 7 books *in* my bed (and 2 cats). OK, so the squeeze is out of town, but even so: seven. I ask you. v. embarrassing. I mention this humiliating fact because they are:

The Little Drummer Girl (John Le Carre)
Gun, with Occasional Music (Jonathan Lethem)
Tithe (Holly Black)
War for the Oaks (Emma Bull)
Tam Lin (Pamela Dean)
Plato's Republic (doh)
Being Dead (Jonathan Crace)
Carpenter's Gothic (William Gaddis)

Oh, Christ, that's eight.

Also, my copy of Tithe is not a signed copy. Must remedy this. Also, did I mention that Spid was hands-down the big hit of the xmas gifts to the nieces and nephews this year? All 4 ages, which I find really interesting. I gave it to them with personalized flashlights for undercover reading (never too soon to get the next generation used to waking up with grooves in face from bindings). Mysteriously, *they* have signed copies. Definite administrative mismanagement somewhere at the top.

Re:

[chresimos.livejournal.com]

Ahaha. You have Plato in your bed! *highly amused* Also, your endorsement of under-the-covers reading(which I left off long ago upon discovering that simply staying up all night had the benefits of healthier lighting ;D).

It is unfortunate about movie-makers running away with the rights of things.

Re:

[malsperanza.livejournal.com]

I have Plato in my bed, but I can't say that he's very interested in me. :P

And anyway, he's in translation, poor sod.

And he's only there because I think Glaucon is a Withheld Hero of sorts. (OK I admit it: I read Plato for the sex scenes. Call me weird.) All the books on that list (except possibly one) have Withheld Heroes. I think.

[blackholly.livejournal.com]

So, have we been sleeping together for a while or was this our first time?

Spiderwick was optioned, so I am learning more than I ever wanted to know about Hollywood. That said, so far I have had nothing but a pleasant experience with the studio, the writer and everything. Am keeping my fingers crossed.

Would love to meet for lunch again. Perhaps when it is less hideous out? I have had the same cold all winter, I think.

[malsperanza.livejournal.com]

Hurrah re Spiderwick. Go you. *does the dance of major motion*

So, have we been sleeping together for a while or was this our first time?

*smirks*

A lady never tells. But please note that at the moment you are participating in a multiauthor faerie orgy, plus cats.

Would love to meet for lunch again. Perhaps when it is less hideous out?

Definitely! Am dying to ask you some questions about, oh, plotting & other stuff. Words, archetypes. The usual. But snow due again tomorrow, according to friends in PA who are up to their noses. Also, why is it so freezing? What is this, fucking Labrador?

Am out of town for a big chunk of Feb, but OTOH Feb is weird-flavored hot chocolate month at City Bakery. We will figure something out.

Am not sure WTF is wrong with LJ--I seem to have sent that message to you about 6 times.

[malsperanza.livejournal.com]

But to answer your question: I read Tithe the first time last year.