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The Steve Laube Agency

Helping to Change the World…Word by Word

The Steve Laube Agency

The Steve Laube Agency

Helping to Change the World Word by Word

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So You Want to Be in Pictures?

By Dan Balowon December 17, 2013
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cinema clapper and film tape

At some point in their careers, just about every novelist will yearn to see their books on the silver screen.

However, the number of authors who are fortunate enough to have movies made and actually like the final film version, are few and far between.  Movies have been found to be a proverbial “good news, bad news” experience for authors.

An illustration of this is Roald Dahl’s children’s book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, written in 1964.  The first movie, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory in 1971 was not what Roald Dahl had in mind at all. In fact, the “darker” remake in 2005 starring Johnny Depp was actually closer to the intent of the author, but not revered nearly as much by viewer as the 1971 version with Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka.

E.B White hated the “jolly songs” in the 1973 animated version of Charlotte’s Web. The 2005 live action remake was closer to the author intent.

Another interesting example was P.L. Travers who wrote the Mary Poppins books. She was so disgusted by the Disney movie that she placed a clause in her will that no American would ever work on future film versions of her books. This story is now depicted in a movie of its own which released last Friday called “Saving Mr. Banks.”

Tom Clancy widely disliked and distanced himself from the movies made from his books. Stephen King has had legendary battles with producers. Clive Cussler actually sued the film producers of the movie “Sahara” (see this link for some details as of January 2013).

So, what problems do authors have with movies made from their books?  Complaints tend to fall into one of the following categories:

  1. Plot elements left out, changed or added
  2. Characters left out, changed or added
  3. Creative vision

To be fair, the producers of movies have time and money constraints.  A 100,000-word novel might need a trilogy of two-hour movies to cover everything.  So, at the outset, they need to cut out about half the content.  Most likely a secondary plot line and numerous characters would be deleted. No doubt that writing a screenplay is different than writing a book.

A common battle is casting.  If you envision your protagonist as a six-foot five-inch John Wayne-type and the movie producer casts a short and sensitive leading man, you can begin the cycle of disappointment.  Even if the author is involved in the movie production is not a guarantee everything will run smoothly.

For Christian authors, the risks of working with Hollywood can be quite high.  Spiritual content will most likely be eliminated or sanitized beyond recognition.  Inclusion of violence, sexuality, profanity and general edgier content is almost assured. When you invite all your Christian friends to the premiere, they will most likely doubt your salvation after seeing a PG-13 adaptation of your Christian novel. Steve Laube tells me of a producer who wanted to add an opening scene to one of his client’s stories “to show the sinful depths to which someone could fall in order to show the arc of redemption.” And then the producer said, “I can’t get any funding unless we get the film rated at least PG-13.” (The client chose not to pursue the film option.)

Even for Christian filmmakers, where the Christian content is maintained and the edgier content is not added, authors will have disagreements over plot elements, characters and creative vision.

So, let’s assume everything goes to your liking with the production.  Enter the reviewers and viewers. The reviewers are an entirely different group than book reviewers and they are very hard to please. Your movie receives bad reviews, it spends two weeks in theaters and goes to on-demand TV. Having fun yet?

So, you want to be in pictures? Fasten your seat belt low and tight across your lap and hang on to the handrails; you are in for a ride.  A check of reality is that it can be a mixed bag for the millions of dollars spent.

Anyone with experiences with books to film?

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Category: Career, DanTag: Career, movies

‘Tis the Season

By Steve Laubeon December 14, 2013
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Best Christmas Card Photo Ever? – Jon Acuff thinks so: Source:  jamiliajean.com via Jon on Pinterest

Read more‘Tis the Season
Category: Fun Fridays, Humor, Steve

Fun Fridays – December 13, 2013

By Steve Laubeon December 13, 2013
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This simply made me smile. Extremely clever.
And these Canadians aren't afraid to say "Merry Christmas!"

Read moreFun Fridays – December 13, 2013
Category: Fun Fridays, Steve

Staying Sane Over the Holidays

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon December 12, 2013
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Just because you're a writer doesn't mean you get a pass over the holidays. Many writers are contract-bound by December and early January deadlines, while other writers have self-imposed deadlines to keep their careers moving. The late arrival of Thanksgiving has also put a monkey wrench into many of our plans. I don't know about you, but I just can't get in the mood -- or find the time -- for …

Read moreStaying Sane Over the Holidays
Category: Career, Personal, TamelaTag: Career, Holidays, Personal

Taking the “Dis” out of Discourage

By Steve Laubeon December 11, 2013
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by Nancy Farrier

With over 400,000 books in print, Nancy J. Farrier is no stranger to the ups and downs of the writing life. That combined with being a worship leader and Bible study leader has given her all kinds of valuable lessons on discouragement--and its solutions!

__________

“We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair…”    II Cor. …

Read moreTaking the “Dis” out of Discourage
Category: Career, Guest Post, The Writing Life, Writing CraftTag: Discouragement, Encouragement, The Writing Life

A Writing Life – Pearl S. Buck

By Dan Balowon December 10, 2013
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Seventy –five years ago today, Pearl Buck became the first American woman to be awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature.  The king of Sweden gave her the award at a ceremony on December 10, 1938 in the Stockholm Concert Hall.  It read:
“By awarding this year’s Prize to Pearl Buck for the notable works which pave the way to a human sympathy passing over widely separated racial boundaries and for …

Read moreA Writing Life – Pearl S. Buck
Category: Career, Dan, Writing CraftTag: Career, Writing Life

Fun Fridays – December 6, 2013

By Steve Laubeon December 6, 2013
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Another fun song from The Piano Guys. Enjoy!

Read moreFun Fridays – December 6, 2013
Category: Fun Fridays, Steve

Clear Your Brain!

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon December 5, 2013
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When I talk to writers about the day-to-day operations of my office, I usually mention weekends. And that we have them.

I make an effort to stay away from the computer for business on the weekends unless there is some urgent reason to do otherwise. This may sound selfish, and perhaps it is. But I also try not to bother my clients on the weekends because I want them to have weekends, too. …

Read moreClear Your Brain!
Category: Career, Creativity, TamelaTag: Career

The Many Faces of Discouragement

By Karen Ballon December 4, 2013
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I know I promised you the final blog on accountability partners, but as I’ve talked with publishing folks and friends the last few weeks I’ve noticed a theme: Discouragement.

It’s a well-documented fact that people struggle with depression and discouragement more during the holidays than any other time of the year. I wonder sometimes if writers are among the most discouraged. Part of it, I’m …

Read moreThe Many Faces of Discouragement
Category: Career, Encouragement, Get Published, KarenTag: Discouragement, Encouragement

The Right (Size) Stuff

By Dan Balowon December 3, 2013
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One hundred and fifty years ago this fall, President Abraham Lincoln delivered his famous Gettysburg Address on the site of the battle that turned the tide of the American Civil War.  It was 270 words and took two minutes to deliver.

Not as memorable was the 13,600-word oratory by American statesman Edward Everett that lasted for two hours prior to Lincoln’s epic speech. In fact, the program …

Read moreThe Right (Size) Stuff
Category: Craft, Dan, Editing, Get Published, Writing CraftTag: Craft, Writing Craft
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