A question to Stephen King

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Scott DeVoe

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Apr 20, 2016
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Mr. King, I'm a huge fan and have been so for a couple years now. Ironically, at least to me, The Green Mile was the first book that I read of yours and it was the first book to get me hooked on reading. I say it's ironic because it wasn't until I read that book that I realized that I wanted to be a writer; and now, I'm 18 and about to attend college for screenwriting and directing. And as such, I've been critiquing movies and making notes and such, but then I found your movies. Children of the Corn was by far the most interesting, despite the mushroom cloud monster (I mean no disrespect) and the Shining was the most fulfilling. I like how there's was a large focus on Jack's transition, even if the dialogue got stale after a while. Basically, sir, how'd you direct these films to be as great as they are?
 

Moderator

Ms. Mod
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Jul 10, 2006
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Welcome to the Board!

Stephen does not personally respond to posts so won't be answering your question directly. If you mean "direct" in the usual way of his actually directing the film (not the screenwriting), the only movie he has directed himself was Maximum Overdrive and he did not write all of the screenplays for the adaptations.
 

mal

content
Jun 23, 2007
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Howdy Scott DeVoe, Critiquing others work is a good way to see it from different angles and that is a good way to learn. Have you ever tried to write a screenplay based on someone else's book or short story? It might be a good exercise for your future career path. To me it seems a screenplay would be more difficult. When writing you go with the story and edits/re-edits. When writing a screenplay you must always keep the visuals in mind (lighting/location, etc.) as well as the dialogue, audio, shot framing, etc. I'm no writer but that sounds much more difficult (and therefore much more fun). Good luck in your studies! All the best, mal.
 

Scott DeVoe

New Member
Apr 20, 2016
2
8
26
Mr. King, I'm a huge fan and have been so for a couple years now. Ironically, at least to me, The Green Mile was the first book that I read of yours and it was the first book to get me hooked on reading. I say it's ironic because it wasn't until I read that book that I realized that I wanted to be a writer; and now, I'm 18 and about to attend college for screenwriting and directing. And as such, I've been critiquing movies and making notes and such, but then I found your movies. Children of the Corn was by far the most interesting, despite the mushroom cloud monster (I mean no disrespect) and the Shining was the most fulfilling. I like how there's was a large focus on Jack's transition, even if the dialogue got stale after a while. Basically, sir, how'd you direct these films to be as great as they are?
Howdy Scott DeVoe, Critiquing others work is a good way to see it from different angles and that is a good way to learn. Have you ever tried to write a screenplay based on someone else's book or short story? It might be a good exercise for your future career path. To me it seems a screenplay would be more difficult. When writing you go with the story and edits/re-edits. When writing a screenplay you must always keep the visuals in mind (lighting/location, etc.) as well as the dialogue, audio, shot framing, etc. I'm no writer but that sounds much more difficult (and therefore much more fun). Good luck in your studies! All the best, mal.
Thanks Mal! Yeah, and I find I learn a lot more about the director after critiquing their work. The only screenplay based on other people's work I've attempted was Ragnarok (from the Ancient Norse Myth, not the movie) for a project in my Mythology and Film Literature class. Although, most of what I write have been either short stories or, most recently, a play which I'm hoping to get published soon. Yeah, it is rather difficult at first, but after the first 127 edits, it's not half-bad and after 20 edits after that, it's presentable. Thanks again Mal! -Scott