Sunday, March 18, 2007

It's been a week, so...


I should post something. I've been a little bogged down with teaching this week, and we've had a small (not so small, really) tragedy regarding a well-loved cat. This latter has been hard on the kids. So I've been distracted.

Umm... The only almost news-worthy thing is that I've entered into talks with a film production company that's interested in the rights to Walk Through Darkness. I won't say much more about it until things have gone further - if they do. But I'm thrilled at the prospect of getting WTD in production. I think it would suit film, in a more intimate way than something like Pride of Carthage. And with Gabriel's Story still in the works... Well, maybe the stars will align at some point and one of these things will be on a big (or small) screen near you soon. I'll be sure to let you know more when/if anything is finalized.

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11 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

very cool. would love to see this a movie. fingers are crossed.

11:04 AM  
Blogger David Anthony Durham said...

Thanks Drew. I'll be having a conversation with them tomorrow. Here's hoping it goes well.

6:03 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Yeah, David, I hope all does go well. Good luck.

3:59 PM  
Blogger David Anthony Durham said...

Drew,

Indeed, the conversation was encouraging. Very interesting, lots of names and ideas thrown about. It's early, early days yet. Nothing concrete, but it's a start.

8:08 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

David,

That has to feel good, yeah? Talking films, how do you invision WTD playing out on film? Who are some of your favorite filmmakers?

10:05 AM  
Blogger David Anthony Durham said...

Drew,

You know, I'm too superstitious to speak specifics for Walk Through Darkness - or for any of the books, really. Don't want to jinx things. Also, when I imagine WTD in film I'm willing to go a lot of different ways, and to defer - to some degree - to the wisdom of the film-related people that have been good enough to be interested in my work.

As for films I like... Well, I watch an awful lot of movies from all categories: big budget, indy, foreign, action, historical, contemporary, fantasy, anime, etc. I mention that because I've no problem admitting I'm a consumer of lots of different cinematic entertainment, but when it comes to films that feel important to me, really memorable, they're usually foreign or independent.

I remember the first time I watched Babette's Feast. I finished it like, "Oh, oh... That was really good. I didn't even know how good it was until just now." Same reaction to Jesus of Montreal and Baghdad Cafe and Jean de Florette. Julie Dash's Daughters of the Dust was amazing. Early Spike Lee was important to me. In the past ten years or so, I’ve been bowled over by Breaking the Waves, most M Night Shyamalan films, most Hayao Miyazaki films, City of God, Monster’s Ball, 21 Grams, Brokeback Mountain, The Sweet Hereafter, the Chinese Ghost story movies, Amores Perros and Y Tu Mama Tambien, just to name a few. Oh, and the Lord of the Rings movies are in their own league.

As for directors, I don't feel as much director loyalty as I use to, partially because some directors that I used to love have produced some disappointments recently. I'd say, though, that I wouldn’t fail to check out new films from Alfonso Cuaron, Alejandro González Iñárritu, Terrence Malick, Quentin Tarantino, Tim Burton. And Mel Gibson continues to perversely interest me.

Anyway, that's what comes to mind. How about yourself?

4:59 PM  
Blogger James McLauchlan Johnston said...

I've always dug the Scandanavian scene for movies.

'My Life as a dog' had a huge impact on my adolescence. Recently I watched 'Kitchen Stories' with my parents. Also really liked 'Noi Albino' and 'Breaking the waves'.

Lately though I've been watching Tv series on DVD/computer with Helen. Have got back into Dennis Potter who made semi-musical nostalgiac pieces for British TV in the 70s, 80s and 90s: 'The Singing Detective', 'Lipstick on your collar'. And of course the HBO greats, 'Deadwood', 'Sopranos', 'Six Feet Under'.

Any more news on Gabriel's Story making it onto film?

10:07 PM  
Blogger David Anthony Durham said...

Yeah, "My Life as a Dog" was great. I guess I was just old enough at the time that I didn't feel like it was about me, but I remember it well.

I also remember exactly where and when I saw "Breaking the Waves". It was such an uncomfortable viewing experience the first time, but in a great way.

Only news on "Gabriel's Story" is that there is no news. Certainly, Redwave is still working on it. There is screenplay. There is a producer and a director, and they're working it. I do know that the screenplay has been hanging out with a lead actor (I'm talking Marshall here, not Gabriel.) that could transform my financial situation overnight by getting involved, but it's not gonna happen. Said actor has a mountain of offers on his many desks, and I won't loose sleep waiting. (Although, if he's reading this and still considering please give my people a call...)

Shameless, but such is the enduring delusion. Every time that phone rings… it’s a wrong number. Or it’s the folks at Rite Aid with a special offer. But one day, one day...

10:58 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Me, lets see. I'm a huge fan of movies that not only rely on a good script but tell the story through the selection shots, and as I write this only two people come to mind, Terrence Malick and David Gordon Green. I'm a huge fan of Green and I respect to his approach to film. He uses the script as an outline, many times not even having it on set, allowing the actors to just "act." Love Malick, think DAYS OF HEAVEN is perfect. He has a new one slated for release in a year or two. I love Malick like I love Cormac Mccarthy, like they are some mythical Gods we should all be bowing to.

Dig, 21 GRAMS, THREE BURIALS, BABEL, UNDERTOW, COME EARLY MORNING, BROKEBACK [just got the short story to script book, awesome, worth the money] all of Malicks stuff.

8:12 AM  
Blogger David Anthony Durham said...

Drew,

Come Early Morning looks good. It's on my list now. And I do like David Gordon Green, too. He's an original. I see he has a new one coming out this year. I'll keep an eye on that, too.

11:15 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Yeah, Green just inked a two movie deal with Warner Brothers. They'll release SNOW ANGELS early this yr for the Oscar buzz, then, coming next yr, maybe, Green will write/direct Grisham's new non fiction book.

7:59 PM  

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