Hey folks, Harry here... Quint is there, here's Quint... that bastard...
Ahoy, squirts! The crusty seaman, Quint, here during the first lull I've come across during the SANTA BARBARA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL. I've just returned from Peter Jackson's award ceremony, but before I get to that I'd like to throw in my coverage of the two panels I saw today, one a screenwriter panel and the other a director panel.
The screenwriter panel included: Patty Jenkins (MONSTER), Denys Arcand (BARBARIAN INVASIONS), Anthony Minghella (COLD MOUNTAIN), Tom McCarthy (STATION AGENT), Queen of the Geeks and Fran Walsh (LOTR), Jim Sheridan (IN AMERICA), John August (BIG FISH) and Frank Pierson (DOG DAY AFTERNOON) in the role of moderator. Nice little bunch, huh?
Anyway, the panel went off greatly. All the speakers, especially Denys Arcand and Jim Sheridan, were funny, informative and very laid back. Matter of fact, he said one of my favorite things of the day: "Being a director is like being the hero in a Greek tragedy. You feel everybody's out to get you and you know they'll succeed in the end!"
Minghella revealed that when he adapts books, he reads the book once, then puts it away and doesn't re-read it until after the film is made. Interesting technique, but maybe a process that encourages a loss of detail.
Jenkins talked a lot about her troubles getting MONSTER made, her being a first time director with this kind of material. She made special mention of the trouble she had with lawyers due to the fact that she made a movie about real people, most of whom are still living.
Fran and the Queen of the Geeks were asked about striking that balance of being true to the original material, yet still making a solid film. They made mention of the scene in ROTK where Frodo sends Sam away on the Minas Morgul steps. That wasn't included in the novel, but how do you make that climb interesting intermixed with the action of the other plot threads? They also wanted Gollum to be able to be successful in driving the two friends apart. Cinematically, it made more sense.
That's nice, but what about the NEWS?
CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY?
This isn't a big piece... John August, the screenwriter of BIG FISH, recently turned in his draft of Tim Burton's CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY and he revealed that he hadn't seen the '70s version, WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY and when Burton asked him to do the screenplay for CHARLIE, he said, "Shouldn't I see the '70s film before I start?" Burton responded, "Definitely not!" He wanted August to write his version of the original book without the influence of WILLY WONKA.
So, August didn't see WILLY WONKA until he turned in his draft and said he was surprised because his script was considerably "Less Dark" than the '70s film. I guess it took him off guard because the novel is so dark as is Burton's sensibilities.
Want more?
KING KONG
Fran and Philippa said they still haven't really started writing it yet, which is scary to them because they start shooting in August! Anything set in stone? "It's definitely 1933 and it's definitely a gorilla!"
The director's panel included Peter Weber (GIRL WITH A PEARL EARRING), Patty Jenkins again, Minghella again, Gary Ross (PLEASANTVILLE), Tom McCarthy again, Ed Zwick (LAST SAMURAI), Vadim Perelman (HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG) and Denys Arcand again.
This panel was moderated by Peter Biskin, some head honcho of Premier Magazine... He didn't do a very good job moderating the panel was considerably less interesting than the writer's panel. However I did actually get off my ass and ask a question when the time came.
THE TALISMAN
You see, Vadim Perelman is directing the adaptation of Stephen King and Peter Straub's THE TALISMAN, one of my favorite books, so I had to ask about where he is in the production. He responded with a basic answer... about how he's looking forward to it and is really excited about the work.
The real story comes after the panel when he hunkered down and talked to a few people. I was sitting in the very front and he caught my eye and kinda waved me over. I introduced myself and he apologized for not going into further detail. The fact is he hasn't even seen Ehren Krueger's script and won't until next week. I had one burning question that I couldn't wait to ask, so I shot it off:
I asked if the studio was wanting it to get a PG-13 rating. He said of course. I then asked how he's planning on pulling off the Sunlight Home segment (my personal favorite part of the book) and Wolf's rampage and still keep it PG-13. He responded saying that he's pretty sure that the Sunlight Home segment isn't going to be included. No Sunlight Gardner burning Jack's hands? No Wolf rampage? Whaaaaaa?????
He did say that Wolf will definitely be in the film (of course) and that the reasoning behind the cut was both for time and for ratings... That the studio wants it at or under 2 hours. My question to the studio is why not make two films two hours each and include the Gardner home. How about making just one film, but 2 hours and 45 minutes long?
In the book the Gardner Home is perfectly paced and really solidifies Wolf as being one of the best, most sympathetic characters of the story. It's also important to see Jack's trip through hell. There's plenty of fat in the book (especially at the very beginning and there's also too much time spent on Richard's denial of the existence of the Territories) and I sincerely believe that with a little tender massaging by Krueger, a solid 2 hour 45 minute flick could be turned out with a PG-13 rating and still keeping Sunlight Gardner and all his lackeys doin' their thing in the Home.
Sorry about the rant, folks, but this project is very close to my heart and I would be extremely sad to not see them at least film a truncated version of the Gardner Home. This might all even be for nothing as Perelman hasn't seen Krueger's draft yet, but if it isn't I'm still prepared to raise holy hell about it. I'm supposed to be setting up a phoner with Perelman in about two weeks and hopefully I'll be able to get some specifics on the script.
Alright, let's get on to Pete's Award ceremony. Elvis Mitchell hosted the ceremony after an intro from that Stupid, Fat Hobbit Sean Astin.
They held a 2 hour long Q&A littered with clips from all of Pete's movies from BAD TASTE on (although I must confess my disappointment when they totally ignored FORGOTTEN SILVER). It was a lot of fun revisiting BAD TASTE, BRAINDEAD, MEET THE FEEBLES (why didn't they include the Sodomy song in the clips? Big missed opportunity if you ask me!) and HEAVENLY CREATURES and hearing some tales from Pete himself.
The coolest part of the event was that Santa Barbara native John Cleese presented Pete with the award. Pete is a huge Python fan and Cleese's appearance was a complete surprise. The grin on his face, man... check it out:
GEEK! Cleese played it really cool almost roasting Peter. (I'm paraphrasing here) "You really did achieve something... Someone from New Zealand making movies as amazing as these is like someone from Bakersfield painting the Sistine Chapel." "I went to New Zealand in 1963, 13 years after it was discovered" that sort of thing. Then he presented Pete with the award.
But that's not it. Cleese also presented Peter with a surprise secondary award, a stuffed plush Kiwi, the national bird of New Zealand.
Later on at a little get together after the ceremony, Pete geeked out about his experience meeting John Cleese, but he did have a very large regret and that was missing the opportunity of riffing on the "DEAD PARROT" sketch from Python's early years with the Kiwi gift from Cleese. That would have been something spectacular, I'm sure.
At any rate, I'm exhausted and I still haven't even written up the opening night film, VALENTIN, which I am going to have to put off until tomorrow.
So far this is a pretty kickin' fest and a lot of fun to watch. I'm going to leave you with a little something that blew my mind. My buddy (and photographer) Kraken and I went to the opening night party and one of the first people we saw totally blew our minds. Children of the '80s that we were, how could we not feel a bit awed in the presence of DOC BROWN? Jumpin' gigowatts!!!!
Surreal! Anyway, I'm headed off to bed, squirts. I'll be back soon with some actual movie reviews from this fest. 'Til that day, this is Quint bidding you all a fond farewell and adieu.
-Quint
email: Roads? Where Quint's going he doesn't need "Roads" Email the crusty seaman here!!!
