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It's Monday, I just had buttered chicken, so let's talk about something that people don't tend to know but it should really be discussed more often: What it means when a book is optioned for TV or film. Particularly author control in this process. Or, rather, the lack thereof.
Honestly, the food stuff has little to do with any of this save it was delicious, and if you haven't had Indian food for a minute, you should treat yourself. You deserve.
Anywho, back on topic!
Anywho, back on topic!
Can you pick the cast? Why did the writers do this? Why is this person playing that character? Why wasn't this scene included?
There are thousands of questions like that that essentially boil down to the follow: how much control do you have of this thing?
The answer: None.
There are thousands of questions like that that essentially boil down to the follow: how much control do you have of this thing?
The answer: None.
When a writer options their book for film or TV or whatever, they're signing away ALL of their rights regarding that adaptation. Sure, every contract for every book is different, but the gist remains the same: There are new people in charge of this version of the story, and the
author is not one of them. Will some authors be involved? Certainly. As much as the people in charge want them to be. But, ultimately, authors aren't the ones making the decisions. At least 99% of the time. Your got your household names who might be able to get away with that,
but most authors, even the NYT, international bestseller ones, technically have no say in what happens in the show/movie. They can be consulted, IF the people who bought the rights are amenable, but that's still not decision making power. As always, the words on the page are the
ONLY thing the author 100% controls. Hell, most of the time they don't even get a say in the cover, and you think someone's gonna let them choose what does or doesn't happen on screen?? HA! That...that's funny, right there.
It's kinda like if you sold your old computer, and then someone swapped out a bunch of components and it started performing different, then you get a random email asking WHY that's happening. YOU didn't make any of the changes, so you're not gonna know anything about them.
Random analogy is random, but gets the job done.
So, when you're wondering why something did or didn't happen in these adaptations, 99% of the time the author isn't going to have the answer to those questions, because they weren't the one making the decisions.
Fin.
So, when you're wondering why something did or didn't happen in these adaptations, 99% of the time the author isn't going to have the answer to those questions, because they weren't the one making the decisions.
Fin.
Addendum: Y'all know what I mean by household names, okay. Steven King, Nora Roberts, the lady with the books about that magic school. That statement wasn't a dig at anyone, so let's not make this something it isn't.
