'Twilight' shows authors don't always cringe at film adaptations

By Ted Geoghan | Special to amNewYork

October 1, 2008

It should come as no surprise that many authors gripe when their work is translated to the screen. Anthony Burgess famously hated Stanley Kubrick's adaptation of "A Clockwork Orange." Yet others, such as " Harry Potter" author J.K. Rowling, warmly embrace it.

The eagerly-anticipated film version of Stephenie Meyer's " Twilight" (due this November) has the author enthralled.

"While watching the playback from a very intense scene with Bella and Edward, the girl next to me literally slid right out of her chair," Meyer said. "I think her bones melted. She also may have stopped breathing for a few seconds... I know I did."

The transition to screen is rarely an easy one. After securing film rights, moviemakers often have to receive an author's blessing before adapting. Some even hire the authors as consultants, to ensure the story remains intact - and lend the film additional credibility with readers.

"The Surrogates," a graphic novel by Robert Venditti and artist Brett Weldele, recently went before cameras in Boston. Though Venditti was wary at first, seeing Bruce Willis cast as its star relieved the author.

"As far back as '02 I thought Willis would be the best choice for the lead, because he¹s one of the few actors that can be both convincingly tough and vulnerable," Venditti said.

Venditti was also a consultant on the screenplay, but tried to maintain a mostly hands-off approach and let the filmmakers do their job. He also made an effort not to be overprotective of the original.

"Some changes have been made [to the film], but that's to be expected," he said. "Thankfully, all of the subtext and character that made the graphic novel successful are there."

The biggest challenge filmmakers face in pulling off a good adaptation is winning over audience members who may be disappointed if what's on screen doesn't match their own conception of the original. But recreating a book verbatim is a near impossible task, not to mention an unnecessary effort.

"Adapting a novel to film seems easy, until you realize that you're limited to what you can see and hear. There are no interior thoughts, descriptions, or streams of consciousness in film," said director Tom Holland, who helmed the adaptations of Stephen King's "Thinner" and "The Langoliers."

"It's very limiting and freeing at the same time."

Holland has, of late, stuck to unique material. His original web series, "5 or Die," debuts online Oct. 16.

And while fans are always excited to see an interpretation of their favorite tale, what matters in the end is whether it holds up as a good film.

"People always defend lousy movies to me by saying, 'Well that's from the book,' " Bryan Norton, a professor at New York Film Academy.

"My answer is always, 'It's a movie now. I didn't just spend twelve bucks to have to read the book to appreciate it, did I?' "

Novels as films aren't always flops. Here are four page-to-screen success stories.
-The Shining: Stanley Kubrick completely re-wrote the book's final act, yet created one of cinema¹s scariest finales.

-The Color Purple: The movie cut major plots and ignored the lead's bisexuality. It was nominated for 11 Oscars.

-Jurassic Park: Adapted to be more action-oriented than the novel, the film became the number one box office hit of all time.

-Adaptation: Unsure how to adapt Susan Orlean's 'The Orchid Thief,' scribe Charlie Kaufman inserted himself and that dilemma into the eventual Oscar winner.