One of the highest compliments kids bestow upon my books is, “It would make a great movie.” At least they present the remark as a compliment. I like to think it is because my books are vivid, and detailed, but that is just a guess. Over the years, any numbers of my books have been optioned for movies, and while some of the projects have progressed less and more, the films have never been made. All this comes to mind because a producer has approached me about a possible series based on the Crispin books. I do not have much in the way of expectations, simply because of my prior experience in the world of film. That said, the other question in this regard which kids ask is, “Would you like one of your books to be made into a movie?”
When the books have progressed to the script stage, and a few have, I always feel a sense of disappointment at what has been done. The books seem fine the way they are. That said, a film, would bring more readers to the book, and I would enjoy that. The money? Writers of books on which movies are based get far less than popular imagination would dole out.
The truth is, when a producer calls me about the possibility of a film, I tell them to call my agent, wish them all the best, and get on with my writing. It’s real.
1 thought on “Movies vs. Reality”
I have NEVER liked a movie better than the book! Some have come closer to pleasing me than others and I’ve discovered it depends on how true to the book they are! I prefer reading to the sensationalism of movies! You said yesterday to my students, and then again to the teachers, “It’s what the reader puts into the book that makes it comprehensible; this is impossible to do in most movies and tv shows because they are just not real.” Yes, indeed, Avi, your writing is real!