By Megan Whalen Turner
So, I have a friend in Tinseltown named Peter Mansinne. Peter suggested I write a movie treatment for The Thief and shop it around Hollywood. It was a whole lot more fun than I would have anticipated.
For one thing, it’s a chance to revisit the story and put in the stuff that didn’t fit in the original text. For example, the sneakiness that preceded Gen’s stint in the king of Sounis‘s jail.
It’s a chance to imagine new things. Like, how the temple is destroyed after Gen carries off Hamiathes’s Gift. I decided that Aracthus did it, with the help of some serious minions.
Clark Kohanek is a friend of my friend and a storyboard illustrator. All I had to do was tell him what I had in mind, and he drew the pictures to go with my treatment. Most of these images are just preliminary sketches.
Now I know how it must feel to be Virginia and say, “I’d like to see a guy on a horse with a gold ring, please,” and have it show up in real life. Clark could put anybody in my movie I wanted . . .
This was Clark’s rough sketch. Ambiades isn’t quite right, but I wouldn’t change a thing about Daniel Cr—I mean, Pol.
But best of all. In Hollywood, everybody loves everybody. No one has a good idea, they all have GREAT ideas. No one writes a good book, we all write GREAT books. It’s a huge lovefest. I had a wonderful time and met all kinds of amazing people who were interested in working with me. All I had to do was remember what Terry Pratchett said: “The difference between me and Neil in our attitude to movie projects is that he doesn’t believe they’re going to happen until he’s sitting in his seat eating popcorn, and I don’t believe they’re going to happen.”
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Oh, I hope they make a movie of The Thief! (And hopefully the sequels…the sequels have become my favorites!)
If they do make it a movie, make sure they do it right; like the book. Harry Potter and the Princess Bride are the best examples of book done as movies the right way!!!!
After reading this post, I think I’m converted to reading anything Megan writes (and sincerely think if she did a blog on her writing adventures, it would be hilarious). It’s good to hear that you are making efforts of making The Thief into a movie, because it would be very awesome. I’m really hoping Gen stole away all the hearts of everyone you talked with. And I think I might have to print off the pictures and glue them in my book. Thanks!
i would die! die!!
*waves flag for eugenedies*
*pumps fist for megan* =D
and darn it, i had eugenidies spelled
right the first time.
*thud* That was the sound of my jaw hitting the floor at the thought of an actual THIEF movie. I would take everyone I know to that show.
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LOLS, Cindy, it’s Eugini, Egenid, Eguenides . . . anyway, the sun is shining at last! It’s time for you to schedule your surf lesson!
It would be awesome if a Thief movie was made (as long as it was done well). For me, it would blow my mind if an traditional animated Thief movie was made, but that’s just me and it’s not likely to happen. However, I would just be happy to see a live action one. Good luck with this!
I don’t know how I feel about this….I really don’t. HOPEFULLY Megan will make sure Hollywood stays true to the books, because she has many adoring fans.
To an above commenter, Harry Potter was NOT a good example of book-to-movie. Gods, how can you say that? 1 and 2 were O because they at least kept the right “feel”. 3,4, and 5 were pretty awful, in my opinion. 6 was tolerable.
Oh, look! I can type while hyperventilating.
WHEEEE!! (if it’s good.) WHEEEEEEE!!!
Congratulations Megan! All the best with your latest Awesome Adventure : )
This would make the dreams of the entire Sounis community on LiveJournal come true.
’bout damned time. I’m just sayin.
don’t let them white-wash Eugenides. The world needs more dark-skinned, dark-haired characters!
Also, in the Magus and Crew picture, I’m trying to figure out who’s who. From left to right, is it Ambiades, Gen, Magus, Pol, Sophos?
and as far as we know, Gen didn’t steal one single thing while we were there
Uh-huh.
Where do you think he GOT the American Express card???
But, wow, those drawings are amazing.
“Serious minions.” I love it!
We’re not Hollywood, but we think you have *GREAT* ideas and write *GREAT* books!
[...] blog continues to be awesome. Check out Megan and Eugenides Tour Tinseltown and Come Home With their American Express Cards Safe (and as far… to see a couple storyboards for a hypothetical The Thief [...]
He didn’t steal anything, huh?
So why am I looking at pictures of big white letters on a hill reading, “HOLLYWOO”?
Sounds awesome!!! Hope this comes to something, a Thief movie could be spectacular!!