If you could make a film on ANY book/story...

[Dan Goldberg]

Hey all,

 

I was just curious as to what book/story/text would be your dream to make into a film and why.

 

Don't consider budget, or capabilities, etc. Simply state what book/story/text and why!

 

And, if you'd like, add possible actors/actresses to play the roles :lol: :lol:

 

-----------------

 

I'd have to say I'd love to make Guy Vanderhaeghe's Englishman's Boy into a film because there's so much emotion and morals to be learned in it, which applies to the kinds of film I make. As well, the adult/children interactions are incredibly unique and meticulous and I think I'd have a blast choregraphing and directing those interactions. :)

 

How bout you?

[Stuart Brereton]

Cormac McCarthy's 'Blood Meridian', though I suspect Ridley Scott may beat me to it

[David Sweetman]

Probably Arthur C. Clarke's Rendezvous with Rama, Camus' The Stranger, Asimov's Foundation, and somehow - I have no idea how - Nietzsche's Thus Spoke Zarathustra. The problem is, I love Zarathustra but it says so many things I disagree with that I don't think I could make it into a film, even if I found a technique that would do it well. It's something I'd love to watch, though, done well.

 

Joseph Conrad's "Heart of Darkness" too, but it's (almost) been done...and the precedent would be hard to beat.

[Matthew Buick]

If someone were insane enough to hand me £80,000,000 I would definately make a TV series of Liberation Day by Andy McNab. It's such a great book, it helped my to stat positive through the bleak winter, and I love the south of France.

 

Bill Butler ASC would definately be the photographer. :)

[Nick Mulder]

heh heh,

 

I'm keeping mine to myself for the time being!

 

Its a comic adaptation with a small enough twist though ...

[Andy_Alderslade]

Well a private dream would be to make a mini series depicting the life of Walt Disney.

 

Everyone laughs when I say that, but honestly it would be great, the guy was really f**ked up!

 

It would depict him from a naive Kansas city cartoonist/filmmaker strugling to get by to the insane, manical meglomaniac who's favourite breakfast was dounuts dunked in wisky.

 

Of course one would have problems avoiding the presence of 'Disney' images and music in the background - and I doubt the Mouse House would grant permision for such a project to go ahead.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I think a proper, hard nosed, epic adaptation of Huckleberry Finn would be nice - its a brilliant book, and all the previous film adaptations gloss over the interesting stuff.

[Elliot Rudmann]

Time and Again by Jack Finney

 

or possible a TV series adapted from the book The Last Ship, by William Brinkley.

[Brian Dzyak]

I'd like to burn all copies of the Star Wars prequels and start over again.

[Dan Goldberg]

Joseph Conrad's "Heart of Darkness" too, but it's (almost) been done...and the precedent would be hard to beat.

 

I forgot about that one. Now that I think of it, I'd have to put that on my list as well. :D

 

I'd like to burn all copies of the Star Wars prequels and start over again.

 

Really? Not a fan?

[Jesus Sifuentes]

Carlos Castaneda's - Art of Dreaming

Translating such a lucid perspective would be an experience into the metaphysical. The Cinematics alone would be worth it.

 

I always wanted to do an 3D animation of Edwin Abbott Abbott - Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions

[M Joel W]

Easy question: three-hour adaptation of The Master and Margarita.

[Igor Trajkovski]

"Return to Castle Wolfenstein" - the FPS game. :)

 

You know, B.J. Blazkowicz, Heinrich Himmler's SS Paranormal Division,

Helga Von Bulow, her Elite Guards (hot babes :)), resurrecting corpses, bio-technology, secret weapons, Übersoldaten... you name it!

 

I even came up with the weird idea,

if i would be the producer to make 3 versions.

Filmed at the same locations/studio sets, same actors,

but 3 different directors with their on treatment,

modification of a base script, HoD's by choice...

 

And the directors are:

 

1) Steven Spielberg

2) Peter Jackson

3) David Lynch

 

Under #3 i would give DL the freedom to do whatever he likes

and go nuts in mood/psychodelia. :) <--- risky step, don't you think?

 

===========================

 

"STAR CONQUISTADORS"

 

A SciFi novel.

 

The next GREAT space EPIC after Star Wars!

:)

 

 

 

Regards

 

Igor

Edited April 21, 2007 by Igor Trajkovski

[David Mullen ASC]

I've always wanted to do an epic about Hannibal's campaigns against the Roman Empire...

 

As far as books...

 

There are a number of classic science fiction novels -- there was an atmospheric book set in the South called "More Than Human" by Theodore Sturgeon, sort of reminded me of "Scanners" and "X-Men" but on a small, intimate scale, about some humans hiding out in the woods, living in poverty, because they have evolved certain paranormal powers but only feel rejected by humanity for it.

 

Alfred Bester's "Demolished Man" I think was a version of the Hamlet tale (it's been awhile since I read these.)

 

Another attempt on "Martian Chronicles" may be nice.

 

The Rama books by Clarke. Some of Stephen Baxter's novels.

 

As a kid, I loved the original Hugh Lofting "Doctor Doolittle" books, which were much stranger than the musical movie version with Rex Harrison. But you'd have to figure out a way to take out all the condescending, insulting tone regarding African tribes and whatnot.

 

How about one more attempt to get H.G.Well's "Time Machine" done right? Actually, Stephen Baxter wrote an amazing sequel to the book called "Time Ships", written as a journal of the time traveller himself rather than his friend in the original.

[Jim Simon]

Given that Jackson sort of beat me to it, some may see this as something of a copycat answer, but since I was a teenager (20 years ago), I've wanted to make a movie out of "The Sword of Shannara" by Terry Brooks. Although it is often criticized as being somewhat plagiaristic of Tolkien, a viewpoint I couldn't in good conscience argue with, I've always felt it was the far superior story.

 

"The Watchers" by Dean Koontz. Would make an excellent film if done right.

 

"Ice Station" by Matt Reilley. This book is so intense, it makes most action movies seem like knitting with your granny by comparison.

 

Every book by Vince Flynn. Mitch Rapp is simply the coolest fictional character ever.

[James Steven Beverly]

The story of Philo Farnsworth, starting with him as a 13 year old boy working in the fields of Rigby Idaho along side the rest of his family sharecropping, barely eaking out a living and going to highschool, the encouragement his chemistry teacher, Justin Tolman and his moment of brillance when he saw into the furrows of the fields as they are being plowed and hit apon the idea of electronic scanning. His struggle as a young man to create television and the people that help, inspired and supported his struggle. His break-through that came with his modest hopes of being able to send a single picture of smoke to another room a few feet away that becomes television when he notices the smoke on his screen is moving.

 

The theft of his world changing invention by Vladimer Zworykin and RCA and subsequent legal battles His deal with John Baird and his loss of the BBC to an vitually identical system stolen from his ideas. The death of his son, his marital problems and his struggle with drpression. His estabishment of the first television station in the early 30's His eventual victory over the corporate giant, the impact of WW2 and his sale of patent.

 

His one and only television appearence on I've Got a Secret in 1957 ( the year I was born BTW) and how no one could guess who he this great genius was so for that he won 80 bucks and a carton of cigerettes. His eventual comdimation of TV and him turning his back on it and ending with the Apolo 11 moon landing and the television pictures beamed from the surface of the moon, followed a title with his date of death in 1971 and end credits over a montage of some of the most historic images ever broadcast.

 

As for actors, who could play him from 13 to 64? Someone capible of playing the age range and depth of this man's genius and passion in a realistic way. Tough call no one comes to mind off the top of my head. I'd need a young Dustin Hoffman or Al Pacino, who would that be?

Edited April 21, 2007 by James Steven Beverly

[Dan Goldberg]

Although it is often criticized as being somewhat plagiaristic of Tolkien, a viewpoint I couldn't in good conscience argue with, I've always felt it was the far superior story.

 

I've never read that story. I myself am a MASSIVE lotr fan, so you've intrigued me quite a bit. I'll have to check it out.

 

The story of Philo Farnsworth, starting with him as a 13 year old boy working in the fields of Rigby Idaho along side the rest of his family sharecropping, barely eaking out a living and going to highschool, the encouragement his chemistry teacher, Justin Tolman and his moment of brillance when he saw into the furrows of the fields as they are being plowed and hit apon the idea of electronic scanning. His struggle as a young man to create television and the people that help, inspired and supported his struggle. His break-through that came with his modest hopes of being able to send a single picture of smoke to another room a few feet away that becomes television when he notices the smoke on his screen is moving.

 

The theft of his world changing invention by Vladimer Zworykin and RCA and subsequent legal battles His deal with John Baird and his loss of the BBC to an vitually identical system stolen from his ideas. The death of his son, his marital problems and his struggle with drpression. His estabishment of the first television station in the early 30's His eventual victory over the corporate giant, the impact of WW2 and his sale of patent.

 

His one and only television appearence on I've Got a Secret in 1957 ( the year I was born BTW) and how no one could guess who he this great genius was so for that he won 80 bucks and a carton of cigerettes. His eventual comdimation of TV and him turning his back on it and ending with the Apolo 11 moon landing and the television pictures beamed from the surface of the moon, followed a title with his date of death in 1971 and end credits over a montage of some of the most historic images ever broadcast.

 

As for actors, who could play him from 13 to 64? Someone capible of playing the age range and depth of this man's genius and passion in a realistic way. Tough call no one comes to mind off the top of my head. I'd need a young Dustin Hoffman or Al Pacino, who would that be?

 

That sounds amazing. I really like it. As for the young Dustin Hoffman or Al Pacino?....no idea :P . That's a tough one.

[Mark Williams]

Hey all,

 

I was just curious as to what book/story/text would be your dream to make into a film and why.

 

Don't consider budget, or capabilities, etc. Simply state what book/story/text and why!

 

And, if you'd like, add possible actors/actresses to play the roles :lol: :lol:

 

I would like my screenplay on celluloid

 

http://www.freewebs.com/stormdrainfilms/services.html

 

There are many actors out there suitable for the parts but I have jennifer alba in mind for the leading lady!

 

Failing that I would remake a Christmas carol as close to Charles Dickens version as possible. I'd like to play the lead and scrooge too.

 

http://www.freewebs.com/stormdrainfilms/gallery.html

[Gavin Greenwalt]

There are some F Scott Fitzgerald shorts I would like to see produced. But I'm not sure they could capture them adequately. Also a handful of Arthur C Clarke Shorts.

 

I just want to see more short films being made and being profitable. Several 30 minute mini-features would be incredible! The problem with so many short story -> Film adaptations is that they're just too long. Not all stories are 90 minutes of material! Brevity is golden imo.

[James Steven Beverly]

That sounds amazing. I really like it. As for the young Dustin Hoffman or Al Pacino?....no idea :P . That's a tough one.

 

I think so too. Now if we can only get a studio or producer with enough clout to get it greenlit to agree with us...we'll be in business. Maybe Joseph Gordon-Levitt not quite Hoffman but he shows great promise. B)

[Hal Smith]

Well a private dream would be to make a mini series depicting the life of Walt Disney............

Of course one would have problems avoiding the presence of 'Disney' images and music in the background - and I doubt the Mouse House would grant permision for such a project to go ahead.

Actually dramatic stories about flawed genii have been pretty popular over the years. It just might be possible to get the House of Mouse to bite on a script that showed Walt's warts provided it was pretty PR puffy about his strong suits.

[ryan_bennett]

For me, It would be a "proper" adaptation of the Ian Fleming's Moonraker. Have you read that book, so much better, clever-er - why don't I just stop all this and say it flat out, it's completely different than the movie with Roger Moore and a real fun read. It would be that or adapt one of the Bond shorts that Fleming wrote.

 

Also would like to sort through some Jules Verne and other tales.

[Keneu Luca]

ORDEAL - The autobiography by Linda Lovelace.

 

She accepts zero responsibility for her participation in performing in pornographic films, claiming she was forced to do so completely against her will the entire time. When I read this book I was stunned by her audicity. Did she really expect anyone to believe her?

 

I would center the entire film not around her porn-making years, but pick up as she is in the middle of fighting for women's rights, working on the book, the release of the book, and how she responded to the critics.

 

I do believe she is and was a truly tragic figure. And I'm sure she was a victim of abuse, just not to the degree she said she was, or in the context of how she claimed. But because she did in fact regret the choices she made in her life, but was unwilling to own up to those choices. This is what interests me about her.

 

I have started a script a few years ago, but havent worked on it in quite some time. Title is DEEP REGRET.

 

Unfortunately, I hear Courtney Love is about to star as Linda in a biopic of her. We'll see.

 

I myself would cast completely unkowns.

[Daniel Smith]

Star Wars.

 

 

Oh wait...

[Matthew Buick]

I'd like to do Chronicles of Narnia...PROPERLY...no PC.

[Dan Goldberg]

I'd like to do Chronicles of Narnia...PROPERLY...no PC.

 

haha :lol:

 

I'm surprised to see so many people wanting to "redo" an already existing film (and many for good reason :P ). Just surprised me is all.