Should SK sell books to be filmed?

  • This message board permanently closed on June 30th, 2020 at 4PM EDT and is no longer accepting new members.

Neil W

Well-Known Member
May 27, 2008
1,203
2,592
Isle of Wight UK
OK, I understand that there is major income to be made from selling film rights, but at this point Steve is richer than Venezuela so maybe he doesn't need the dosh any more.

See, I've been thinking about The Shining, and how it is likely that far more people have seen that than have read the book. And, as a result, they think that Kubrick's unpleasant version of the Torrance family is the right one. The book Torrance family's loving relationship is a matter of ignorance to a large number of people when The Shining is mentioned - they think Jack Nicholson chewing scenery - "Heeeere's Johnny!"

Does having a bad film made of a good book permanently reduce the perceived worth of the book? Is there merit in not having your books filmed, so as to preserve their integrity?

I don't have an answer, but I thought it was an interesting question.
 

fljoe0

Cantre Member
Apr 5, 2008
15,859
71,642
62
120 miles S of the Pancake/Waffle line
Does having a bad film made of a good book permanently reduce the perceived worth of the book? Is there merit in not having your books filmed, so as to preserve their integrity?

Absolutely not (refers to the quote above). The book is always there intact for anyone who cares to read it. I would think that Steve actually picked up a few more readers because of movies. I've read authors before because I saw an interesting movie based on their work.

Film and novel are two very different art forms. I think anyone that reads much realizes that and doesn't really expect movies to come out exactly like the novel. Personally, I love both the book, The Shining and the movie although they are very different.
 
Last edited:

Walter Oobleck

keeps coming back...or going, and going, and going
Mar 6, 2013
11,749
34,805
I imagine you ask ten people you get ten different answers. I think the hostility toward Kubrick's The Shining is a hoot, was my 1st exposure to anything King, and the fact that it exists probably has little bearing on whether or not a reader ever discovers King's stories. I enjoyed the movie all those years ago but it was years later before I picked up a King story to read, It, if it matters. I don't know what he's supposed to do...not sell film rights? Guess we ought to be happy that the man has those rights as so many rights are being taken away from us, and that adaptation is cheered by too many. Why stop with Kubrick's The Shining? Why not include all of the movies in the list as one could make the argument that having seen the film there's no point in reading the story. At the same time I'm sure there are those who saw the movie and rushed out to get the book. Who wins who loses and does it matter?
 

Bev Vincent

Well-Known Member
Apr 11, 2006
4,351
11,651
Texas
www.bevvincent.com
Steve's a big fan of movies in general as well as books, so I think he's genuinely curious to see what a certain filmmaker will do with one of his novels.

He likes to quote James M. Cain, who said, "People tell me, don’t you care what they’ve done to your book? I tell them, they haven’t done anything to my book. It’s right there on the shelf. They paid me and that’s the end of it.”
 

Neesy

#1 fan (Annie Wilkes cousin) 1st cousin Mom's side
May 24, 2012
61,289
239,271
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Steve's a big fan of movies in general as well as books, so I think he's genuinely curious to see what a certain filmmaker will do with one of his novels.

He likes to quote James M. Cain, who said, "People tell me, don’t you care what they’ve done to your book? I tell them, they haven’t done anything to my book. It’s right there on the shelf. They paid me and that’s the end of it.”

This is the way to look at it. We should use this quote every time a newbie logs on with complaints as their first post, over how disappointed they are in the treatment of a book when seen as a movie.

Thanks Bev ♥
 

skimom2

Just moseyin' through...
Oct 9, 2013
15,683
92,168
USA
Steve's a big fan of movies in general as well as books, so I think he's genuinely curious to see what a certain filmmaker will do with one of his novels.

He likes to quote James M. Cain, who said, "People tell me, don’t you care what they’ve done to your book? I tell them, they haven’t done anything to my book. It’s right there on the shelf. They paid me and that’s the end of it.”

Grisham's attitude is the same, and it works for them. From a business point of view, whether the movie is panned or makes a zillion dollars, the end result is more name recognition for the author= he or she wins either way. As Cain, Grisham, King, et. al. have pointed out, the book doesn't change because a filmmaker takes liberties :)
 

Neesy

#1 fan (Annie Wilkes cousin) 1st cousin Mom's side
May 24, 2012
61,289
239,271
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
...Steve writes books???........dafu*k??????:dunno:

I miss your posts Giant! I really need some laughs right now...

p.s. I cannot vote for a weekend yet in your poll - but I am thinking maybe the first weekend in August at this point. Got to wait until they allow us to pick vacations for this summer (unless I have lost my job by then :()
 

The Nameless

M-O-O-N - That spells Nameless
Jul 10, 2011
2,080
8,261
42
The Darkside of the Moon (England really)
The other aspect is that the movies can be the introduction to the books. If it's an adaptation someone likes, they may seek out the book version or other books by the author.
This!

That is how I became a reader of SK's books - hell, a reader in general. I was always aware of the name Stephen King as the top guy in horror books, and always aware that alot of films are based on his work, but it was not until my late 20's that I decided to read IT, simply because of how much I loved the mini series - and because of how much I loved the book, I have now read 19 King novels/novellas, and I am currently reading my 20th - Desperation.

Some people just don't like reading, or lets face it, can't read. If Stephen sells his stories to film makers it opens up his form of art to fans of another. If they're good or not is the viewers opinion - I personally like The Shining movie better than the book, and the same with Stand By Me/The Body. I much prefered the book "IT" to mini series, but I still love the mini series. The Langoliers is one of my favourite King stories, but the film was just so bad (mostly down to the acting). Plus, Cash is King (like the pun?) - if Steve is richer than Venezuela, why not try to be richer than Canada (or any other country, I know nothing about global economics).

Anyway, I have said this before but, Joyland needs to be a film. That book just read as if it was a film in my mind.
 

OldDarth

Well-Known Member
Jul 10, 2006
730
2,994
Canada
I second Bev's comment. Movies/TV reach a far wider audience than books and as such are a gift for a writer to get great exposure. Obviously King no longer needs such exposure but the DePalma Carrie movie made Stephen King a household name.

I admire how King balances commercial movie/TV adaptations of his works by allowing Dollar Babies projects to be made for a single buck to up and coming artists.
 

Grandpa

Well-Known Member
Mar 2, 2014
9,724
53,642
Colorado
The readers don't the book, the storyline, or the characters. The writer does. What the writer does with it is his business, literally.

If the writer sells the story for a film without reservation, then that producer owns it as far as the film goes, and what the producer does with it is his business, literally.