Dear Moorefields,
Congrats on your TV debut.
As you can imagine, a film is very different to a novel. In a novel much
can be developed inside the character's head. In a film it all must be
shown through action. We have made a number of different attempts to
translate the story to screenplay form. At first, we tried to stick to the
form of the novel, but it became too cumbersome - more like a mini-series.
What we have opted for is to streamline the story, concentrating on the key
thematic journeys of Linh and Toan, beginning with the car accident and its
immediate aftermath, and using it as the catalyst to trigger two
flashbacks: one of the escape, journey and camp experiences, and the
second of the experiences with the gang and Kieu in Sydney, leading up to
the accident. This allows us to look at the struggle to achieve the dream
of a new life, and the results of achieving it (the dream is not all it
seems when you are striving for it!). When both flashbacks are complete, we
then pursue the story through the meeting with Hai and the climax at the
house, finishing with the funeral in Vietnam.
Part of the streamlining process requires that we 'rationalise' the
character list. In a novel, the role of the minor characters is to build
depth. In a film, there are many other ways of doing this, and too many
extraneous characters make the plot too hard to follow. (Remember, you
can't go back and reread a section in a film!)
The decision we made was for the film to follow Toan and Linh and for their
relationship and journey to dominate. Many of the original events still
occur, but they are seen in terms of their effect on Linh and Toan, as the
two flashbacks are their recollections of events. There are no new
characters - rather a reduction in the number who appear in the film. The
post-war events leading up to the escape are hinted at, rather than shown,
as, in cinematic terms, they really form a whole separate story.
The target audience for the film is more general rather than just the
younger viewer. We would anticipate an M rating, due to the subject matter
- but that is not, in the end, our call.
David will not be acting in the film. Rather, he will be co-producing and
directing - which is more than enough work.
We are not up to casting stage, yet, so maybe when we are, you can front
for an audition.
David and I are indeed speaking at the Powerhouse on 8/4, but not about
'Only the Heart'. As well as writing together, we are also involved in
running an accelerated learning institute called ALW (Acclerated Learning
Worldwide), which helps students develop advanced memory, study, writing
and personal development techniques. The session on Sunday is a
demonstration of aspects of that course. We will not be discussing the book
in the seminar, but you are welcome to come anyway - and say hello
afterwards. It begins at 2pm.
I'm glad you have found the bookrap to be valuable. I know I've found it
very enjoyable and interesting. It's always great for an author to get
feedback and different points of view on the novels he writes. It is
dangerous to become too isolated from your readership - you run the risk of
becoming irrelevant, and that is a writer's biggest crime!
Good luck in the future, and remember:
Be yourself
- Always
- All ways
Brian.
