“How does it feel to see your book become a feature film?” People wonder about different emotions and explore feelings to understand an unusual experience. Some folks are curios to the feeling. Is the response common for all authors who has a book become a feature film?
The adventure of watching a book become a film on the big screen is amazing. From an author’s view, it’s an tearful experience and a fearful one all together. Authors like Ron Hall, Kevin Kwan, and J.K. Rowling said similar things in personal interveiws, (paraphrased) “… fear of connecting … or if the cinemtography accurately reflects the story …” runs through their minds. They want the right message to reach viewers similar to that of the book. Mostly they wish for success in viewing, blockbusters like Crazy Rich Asians, Black Panther, Harry Potter, and the emotional movie Same Kind of Different As Me, for example.
From a personal experience, the fear of your work being seen on the big screen never subsides. Failure is real like that of success (but success is never a relief – it’s short lived until the next person watches the show). When a person sits for 90 minutes in front of the movie, I tend to wonder, crossing my fingers in hope for a written review. I ponder questions like- Did they laugh? Will they disscuss scenes with others? Did they get the message? Was there a feeling of worthiness? Or did they feel it was a total waste of time?
It’s unfortunate the crew from A Choice to Yield Movie didn’t make it to the big screen (available on youtube) nor get to the masses. Those great actors and extras didn’t get a chance to see their work come to life in front of viewers. However, their talents have had an amazing impact. In spite of not showing at your local theater, a number of actors were catapulted into the business (stage and screen) and a few of them are on their way to stardom.
The answer to the question “How does it feel to have a book become a feature film?” Well, from the author’s point, it’s love pure love regardless of success or failure. It’s a positive strike keeping your life’s dream and passion alive. Personally, I’m told to do it again and one day, I shall.
Lonz Cook 