Book-to-Movie

From IMdb:

Novelist Cussler Tries To Halt Shooting of 'Sahara'

Famed action/adventure novelist Clive Cussler has sued Philip Anschutz's Crusader Entertainment in an effort to halt the shooting of a movie version of his book Sahara, maintaining that his deal with Crusader gave him unqualified script approval and that the screenplays that have been submitted to him have been unacceptable. He told the Denver Post: "They've sent me seven scripts, and I've inserted each one in the trash can." Crusader has now countersued, accusing Cussler of delaying production of the film. In its complaint, the company said, "To option the rights to the entire [Dirk Pitt] series, Crusader paid Cussler an extremely handsome price -- even by Hollywood standards." Production of the film, which stars Matthew McConaughey as Pitt, Penélope Cruz and Steve Zahn, has already begun. In its counterclaim, Crusader accuses Cussler of attempting to "foment opposition to the film among his fans, and to organize a fan campaign to coerce Crusader into letting Cussler write the screenplay."

This may sound ironic coming from a writer, but once a piece (story, poem, etc.) is sold, the writer is no longer the authority on its success. While it's true that writers write for personal satisfaction and sometimes financial gain, we also write for audiences. The act of selling the movie rights to one's books is a commitment to a wider audience than writing the books alone.

Given Hollywood's rap for "butchering" books into movies, a writer may think creative control/approval is the answer. This can lead the author to try and fine-tune the presentation for the "right" reaction. Ultimately, though, and especially with a movie, audiences have the most say in how material is received. What an author finds moving or dull may be just the opposite to a viewer. If pleasing oneself is so much more valuable than pleasing an audience--if an author feels he is always the best judge of his work--why market one's books to the public? On the other hand, wanting to transmit your work to others requires some willingness to let it go.

I, for one, welcome movies made from books. As the book is the author's creative expression, the movie is the collaborative expression of everyone involved. Each deserves to be presented and heard. Whether audiences think a movie portrays its source accurately, the source receives greater attention. Isn't that precisely the author's goal in selling the rights?