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After I watch a movie, I like going to imdb.com for the trivia info about it. It’s fascinating what goes in and around the making of a film!
A couple weeks ago I watched Mary Poppins (1964), a movie I haven’t seen since I was a kid. There was some really interesting trivia about the movie, but one in particular struck me most: P.L. Travers, the author of the Mary Poppins novels (1934-1988) initially refused to sell her book rights to Disney in 1938. She finally gave in twenty years later, but she insisted on script approval.
Travers disapproved of the script and made many changes. However, these changes were ignored. When Travers demanded her revisions to the script take place, Walt Disney himself told her that while she did indeed have script approval, she did not have final draft approval. Yeesh! P.L. Travers strongly disliked the film adaptation, was insulted at how she’d been treated during production, and refused to allow any further Disney collaborations with her work. Hell hath no fury like a writer’s wrath!
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So what’s the moral here? Be very very careful when you sign a contract with a film production, whether it’s for an adaptation of your novel, or a film studio hiring you to write the novelization for their movie. Terry Brooks had a horrendous experience adapting the screenplay Hook (1991) into a novel (though he had a much more positive experience with the novelization of Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, 1999). You can read all about Terry Brooks’ novelization experiences in his book Sometimes the Magic Works: Lessons from a Writing Life.
Who knows what the future holds with your writing and possible film adaptation? If you want more control over the screenplay, learn from P.L. Travers’ experience and remember to clearly specify final draft approval!
UPDATE: I wrote this post last week and scheduled it, and then five days later someone retweeted this article: 11 Authors Who Hated the Movie Versions of Their Books. How perfect is that? Mary Poppins is on the list as well as ten other really interesting ones. Again, be aware of what you’re agreeing to when filmmakers come a-knocking!
UPDATE: I wrote this post last week and scheduled it, and then five days later someone retweeted this article: 11 Authors Who Hated the Movie Versions of Their Books. How perfect is that? Mary Poppins is on the list as well as ten other really interesting ones. Again, be aware of what you’re agreeing to when filmmakers come a-knocking!
Would you sell the rights to your novel for a film adaptation? If no, why not? If yes, would you insist on script influence or final draft approval or perhaps that you adapt the screenplay yourself? Or would you be unconcerned how the film adaptation turned out?
I hope you’re having a great week! Wishing you a wonderful weekend, Zigzaggers!!
21 comments:
I love Terry Brooks' movie adaptations:) I say write a good book and let Hollywood worry about the movie later.
I have sold rights to a film version of my book (well, an option anyway), and I would do it again.
Currently, my first book has been made into a 10 minute short film that will be doing the rounds of film festivals this year. The short film will also be used to pitch a full length movie idea to studios.
The producer sought my input on the script and used some of my suggestions regarding language and character. However, I had no say in the fact that the main characters are older in the movie than in my book and that they bumped my MC into a minor role and made her sister the MC.
I'm okay with that. I find it fascinating to watch an alternate interpretation of my work take place. And in the end, I'm an author not a movie maker. If the movie sends more people to my book, then I'm happy!
This is super interesting! I would sell the rights for film adaptation but would definitely want to have some influence on the final script. The first script for Cassandra Clare's City of Bones didn't have Magnus and she knew he was an essential character, so they wrote another script including him!
That's so interesting, Laura, thanks for sharing this tidbit! I love Mary Poppins and didn't know this about the book the movie was based on. That's what I don't like about this biz... that you could stand to lose so much control over your own book, re: the cover, the design, etc. etc. But I think it's a small price to pay. I guess the lesson here is to read the fine print and take in every word! Like "final draft"!
Fascinating tidbits here, and a cautionary tale for all writers! I hope to have this problem one day ;)
If I wasn't involved, I wouldn't sell the rights to my YA series. The books are clean and uplifting and someone would want to make them trashy and borderline R just so they would sell.
This is an interesting question. It seems very few movies are as good as the books. If $$ was right I mgiht be tempted just to sell let them do what they will.
If I allow myself to think about things like that...not only am I putting the cart before the horse...I've installed a turbo booster as well! :)
It's a little scary - I don't like most movie versions of novels I love, but there are enough exceptions to hope it would work out okay :)
Hmm...it is scary. I would of course. But I know I would be a mess about it and how they would change it to fit their vision and not mine.
Well, I'd definitely be concerned with how the film turned out, but I'm not sure I'd be the best one to judge a film draft. It would be a nice problem to have to worry about someday, though!
I also am a IMDB fiend, and drive my husband crazy with random movie trivia after a movie. Too funny! I had no idea about Mary Poppins. Will definitely be checking out that link.
I'd probably allow a film adaptation, and influence, but no interest in adapting the screenplay myself.
Shannon at The Warrior Muse
So interesting about Mary Poppins. I love that movie so wonder what she didn't like.
I'd definitely consider a movie adaptation (or TV show) but would want some say in the script. No way am I skilled enough to write one but I wouldn't want fans disappointed. A recent disappointment was Percy Jackson.
Great post. Thanks so much!
Laura, you'd volunteered to be a minion at the A to Z Blog - would you please be my minion???
I didn't even know Mary Poppins was a book. Wow. I wonder what the differences are. I love IMDB.
Hi, Laura. Sadly, my day job has me up at 3 am and in the office before 4 am. I'm working a solid 11 hours each day and have now begun working Saturdays. Why am I telling you this? Because at this point I would sell one of my teenagers to get out of having to do that! Okay, perhaps I wouldn't sell the teens, but I would sell pretty much anything else! *laughs*
I have artistic integrity; however, if somebody wants to hand me a wad of cash for my work - and it helps me get out of my day job... I think you see my point. ;)
*hugs to you and yours*
-Jimmy
A movie adaptation of my CassaStar would be like the Holy Grail. Unless it was the SyFy Channel, I'd likely do it. Or rather my publisher would do it.
I would go for it.
I'm going to check out the link about the 11 authors.
Wow, that;s very interesting. To not be able to have final control over your initial work.... that would be hard. I'm sure that happens a lot.
Robert- Hello and welcome to Wavy Lines! That's a great way to look at it. :) Thanks for visiting and commenting!
Dianne- Congratulations! That's really awesome. You have a great outlook on your work being made into a movie!
Steph- Hello and welcome to Wavy Lines! That was really great of them to accommodate her wished like that. Thanks for visiting and commenting!
Julie- Absolutely! If you're going to give up control, you have to be okay with the aftermath and not throw a fit about it.
Bluestocking- Lol, I know what you mean! Travers got lucky that her book was turned into such a hit film, even though she didn't like it personally. Some adaptations are really terrible, though, and I wished they'd sought out the creative genius of the author!
Diane- Thats true, you're right that would probably happen. It's a shame Hollywood feels the need to do that.
Bish- It definitely would be a temptation and something to give a lot of serious thought!
Don- Lol. Still, it's something that probably crosses every writer's mind!
Jemi- Travers got lucky that her book was turned into such a hit film, even though she didn't like it personally. Some adaptations are really terrible, though, and I wished they'd sought out the creative genius of the author!
Jennifer- Yea, that wouldn't be fun. If you're going to give up control, you have to be okay with the aftermath and not throw a fit about it.
Susan- That's what others have said, too!
Shannon- Hello and welcome to Wavy Lines! The imdb trivia has saved me on more than occasion while playing Trivial Pursuit! Thanks for visiting and commenting and I appreciate the follow!
Natalie- Hello and welcome to Wavy Lines! The filmmakers changed Mary Poppins' personality and other characters and scenes. If you check out the links it tells you! Thanks for stopping by and commenting and I appreciate the follow!
Diane- I'm one of your minions, woohoo!!
Clarissa- It's an entire series! The filmmakers changed Mary Poppins' personality, other characters, and scenes. You know, the usual things filmmakers do! Travers felt like they missed the essence and vision of her novels.
Jimmy- Wishing you well with your increased hours! I hope you find time to relax and rest!!
Alex- That would be awesome! Who knows, maybe it'll happen!!
Medeia- Definitely do so! It's really interesting.
Kimberly- It'd be really difficult to give up control! Travers got lucky that her book was turned into such a hit film, even though she didn't like it personally. Some adaptations are really terrible, though, and I wished they'd sought out the creative genius of the author.
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