wasp factory film
Simon Priestman
Does anyone know if the Wasp Factory has been made into a film?
If so, how can I get it?
Phil Bradley
In article <6bs72r$ctr$1...@taliesin.netcom.net.uk>, Simon Priestman
<sprie...@NO.SPAM.torex.co.uk> writes
>Does anyone know if the Wasp Factory has been made into a film?
>If so, how can I get it?
to an American company, but they've not yet taken up the option of
making it into a film. ISTC that they wanted to base it in the US and
entirely change the plot, which comes as no suprise. So - don't hold
your breath.
However, if you get a chance to see the stage production, grab the
opportunity with both hands, since its excellent!
Phil.
--
Phil Bradley: Internet Consultant, Trainer, Web designer and Author.
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Matthias Penzel
In article <6bs72r$ctr$1...@taliesin.netcom.net.uk>, Simon Priestman
<sprie...@NO.SPAM.torex.co.uk> writes
>Does anyone know if the Wasp Factory has been made into a film?
>If so, how can I get it?
>
what he had to say on it (plus some more):
"...I'm the only person who doesn't seem to be worried about the fact
that people are still cursing about THE WASP FACTORY, ha ha. Everybody
else seems to think I should be worried about it, or annoyed about it.
It's almost like being asked to disown your first child, because it was
the first one. If anything, I think you're gonna love it more, ha ha ha!
That'll change if they make the film of it, of THE WASP FACTORY - and
it'll all come back."
Q: Is it still with that Irish company?
Iain Banks: "No, they were bought by another company - I don't know what
nationality they were - and then err, then the worst thing in the world
happened: it was bought over by an American, a Hollywood-based cmpany.
So they've got it until the end of this year; they've got it until the
last day of the last month of '95. If they don't make it, then the
rights are free again. I think, it refers to the first day of principal
photography which is the cut off point. If they haven't started by then,
the rights come free; which I hope they do, because I mean... I don't
know how people think it's gonna sound, but I've got an in-built
instinct of mistrust of Hollywood. Certainly for something like THE WASP
FACTORY. I think they would make a terribly bad film of that."
Q: Are there a lot of books that were made into movies where you thought
it did work?
Iain Banks: "I don't know. I don't have a big enough sort sample of
things where I read the book and saw the film to retell, to be honest,
no. [quite a pause] I think it can be done. I'm an enormous fan of CATCH
22, but also I'm a fan of CATCH 22 THE FILM, which I think is terribly
underrated, it's a brilliant movie. But I think it was generally
recognised, generally seen as not a success. I think, it was a failure
actually at the box office. So it can be done even with the most
apparently difficult novel; which CATCH 22 was, regarded as being un-
filmable. I think that... it is a fabulous film, quite wonderful. It's
quite different from the novel in other ways, but I think it's true to
the spirit and that's the hardest thing of all. It means you do have to
cut out a lot, but... I think it's wonderful.
So it's possible, put it that way."
Q: Did you see those theatre adaptations?
Iain Banks: "Yeah, I thought the one of THE WASP FACTORY worked very
well indeed; I would've never anticipated what Malcolm Sutherland, who
adapted it, did - with the [use of] characters. He had two people to
play Frank and one person for everybody else."
Q: Plus the girl, actually.
Iain Banks: "Well... Yeah, that's a point. Her as well. And I would
never've thought of doing it that way and when I first heard about it I
thought it was crazy, but it did work. And that is the difference
between the different media involved. I think, I know how to write a
novel and obviously he knows how to write a play and how to adapt
something for the stage.
I saw the one for THE BRIDGE as well, which I thought was... I
admired the courage in mounting it, but it was err [pause]... it didn't
work for me. That was shown at the Travelling Theatre in Glasgow and
various places around Scotland. A brave attempt, but I think they chose
the wrong property, the wrong book."
Q: Didn't Malcolm Sutherland also plan to do CANAL DREAMS as an opera?
Iain Banks: "Ah! Yes! The last I heard from Malcolm, yes, he wanted to
do CANAL DREAMS as an opera. I've heard no more about it. I told him he
was crazy, but if he wanted that the operatic rights would probably stay
free in the mean time, ye know. Ha ha ha!"
Q: How are the plans for the movie adaptation for COMPLICITY?
Iain Banks: "The rights were sold... last year in fact. Trouble was that
the company that bought it, the chap... the executive who was going to
produce it, the producer in the company who really liked it, whose baby
it was, he left. So I think it's in limbo now. Cause they still've got
it but they're not interested and he's still interested but he's no
longer with them."
Q: That'll also stay with them for five years? Is that the ordinary
running time - like with THE WASP FACTORY?
Iain Banks: "No, no, just one year, it should come up for renewal soon.
I think it was only one year. The options usually go for one year. A
complete rights' buy-out - as is what happened to THE WASP FACTORY - is
seven years."
--
Matthias Penzel
Richard
I'm sure I remember seeing an advert for a theatrical production of Wasp
Factory, but I can't remember any of the details now - anybody know
anything?
Matthias Penzel
In article <01bd37be$dab12bc0$11aa...@joseph.bfriars.ox.ac.uk>, Richard
<don'tspamr...@fido.bfriars.ox.ac.uk> writes
>I'm sure I remember seeing an advert for a theatrical production of Wasp
>Factory, but I can't remember any of the details now - anybody know
>anything?
first staged at the Citizens Theatre, Glasgow in Sept '92, then at the
Bagleys Warehouse in London.
I believe Malcolm also worked on some musical of THE BRIDGE (or
something like it) at about the same time. I have no idea who he is and
what else he might've been up to since then.
--
Matthias Penzel
Douglas Bailey
Matthias Penzel <matt...@journo.demon.co.uk> wrote:
>In article <01bd37be$dab12bc0$11aa...@joseph.bfriars.ox.ac.uk>, Richard
><don'tspamr...@fido.bfriars.ox.ac.uk> writes
>>I'm sure I remember seeing an advert for a theatrical production of Wasp
>>Factory, but I can't remember any of the details now - anybody know
>>anything?
>
>Malcolm Sutherland adapted, designed and directed the adapation. It was
>first staged at the Citizens Theatre, Glasgow in Sept '92, then at the
>Bagleys Warehouse in London.
...where I (having just entered the country that day) caught the final
performance. An excellent adaptation, using video monitors,
pre-recorded audio, puppetry, and three actor/stagehands -- Daniel
Illsley, Paul Hunter and Lucy Allen -- who *all* played Frank (the
only onstage character; everyone else was a voice-over or a puppet).
Utterly brilliant.
I asked afterwards if the adaptation had been filmed (with an eye to
getting a copy to show my friends in the USA) and was answered in the
negative, so I'm afraid this particular production is lost to us. But
it *was* excellent; I still wear my WASP FACTORY T-shirt with pride.
doug
======================================================================
douglas bailey (trys...@ne.mediaone.net)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
don't you let my letter get you down...
Neale Grant
After careful consideration, Matthias Penzel fashioned the following message:
>Q: Is it still with that Irish company?
>Iain Banks: "No, they were bought by another company - I don't know what
>nationality they were - and then err, then the worst thing in the world
>happened: it was bought over by an American, a Hollywood-based cmpany.
I can't remember exactly where in the chain this was (probably before
the Irish company) but I'm sure that at one point _TWF_ was to be
relocated to France by a French company, and Banks went on record to say
that that might be quite cool. A French version of _TWF_ - what does
everyone think of that idea?
Neale
Brit(S) H++: a21 s+++:- "Even if the aliens are short, dour and sexually
hf++ y- P-- S++ R--->$ obsessed - if they're here, I want to know about
!A+++ Ci MuR+++ACIPZ+ them." -- Carl Sagan, _The Demon-Haunted World_
Am+++ B+>+++ V-- (v1.1) http://ferret.lmh.ox.ac.uk/~roney/
TKBowman
There is a Welsh film called "The Making of Maps" that I saw at a film festival
2-3 years ago that I would recommend (if you can find it) to fans of Wasp
Factory.
The film is atmospheric and disturbing with a storyline that has many
similarities to Wasp Factory. The film is about a strange adolescent boy who
lives in a house on the windswept Welsh coastline along with his recluse
mother, philandering father, and sister.
It's been a while since I've seen it but I remember being quite impressed and
noticing the Wasp Factory similarities. Has anyone else seen this film? Is the
film available on video in the UK?
todd
ANDY FOGARTY
The film version of Irish book the Butcher Boy is coming out soon.
i've been told the book is very wasp factory esque..haven't read it myself
though.
i saw an ad for the film too, looks erm bloody ish..not in a horror sense
though
ANDY
TKBowman wrote in message <19980213192...@ladder03.news.aol.com>...
Neil Costigan
for the record ...
the Butcher Boy and the equally brillant 'the dead school' are both by
the irish writer Patrick McCabe published by picador.
the Butcher Boy was short listed for the booker prize in 1992
from a review
"this brilliant story of a killer coming of age reads like "part Huck
Finn, part Hannibal Lecter" (New York Times Book Review). Dark,
haunting, and hilarious, the book stuns readers with its language and
chilling portrait of a macabre and dangerous mind. "
sound familiar :-) ??
the movie andy mentions has just opened in ireland
is made by neil jordan. stars, amoung others, STEPHEN REA, FIONA SHAW,
and sinead o connor
the movie has a web address http://www.butcherboy.com/
/neil c
ANDY FOGARTY wrote:
>
> The film version of Irish book the Butcher Boy is coming out soon.
> i've been told the book is very wasp factory esque..haven't read it myself
> though.
> i saw an ad for the film too, looks erm bloody ish..not in a horror sense
> though
--
----------------------------------------------------
neil costigan.
celo communications ab
sveavägen 166 16tr, 113 46 stockholm. sweden.
----------------------------------------------------
Steve
Yes, it's called "The Butcher Boy" starring Stephen Rea.
;-)
Simon Priestman wrote in message <6bs72r$ctr$1...@taliesin.netcom.net.uk>...
Phil Bradley
In article <888074596.24248.0...@news.demon.co.uk>, Steve
<sett...@setter70.demon.co.uk> writes
>Yes, it's called "The Butcher Boy" starring Stephen Rea.
think) Patrick McCabe.
ANDY FOGARTY
i mentioned the butcher boy cos someone mentioned a WELSH book similar to
the wasp factory. the butcher boy is an IRISH book that is supposidly
similar to the wasp factory, that has just been made into a film! you see
now? :)
ANDY
Phil Bradley wrote in message ...
Steve
Actually it was me. It was a joke, but I do think there are very big
similarities. The first time I tried to read THe Butcher Boy I had to stop
cos I felt it was a rip-off.
But then I always thought the "darkness" in The Wasp Factory was a bit
forced, as though he was trying to make a name for himself. I much prefer
his later books.
ANDY FOGARTY wrote in message <6cvgn1$9ll$1...@news2.news.iol.ie>...
Tony Rafferty
Steve wrote in message
<888607536.10681.1...@news.demon.co.uk>...
>Actually it was me. It was a joke, but I do think there are very big
>similarities. The first time I tried to read THe Butcher Boy I had to stop
>cos I felt it was a rip-off.
>
>But then I always thought the "darkness" in The Wasp Factory was a bit
>forced, as though he was trying to make a name for himself. I much prefer
>his later books.
I would urge anyone who has not yet read the Butcher Boy , or any other of
McCabes writing to give it try .
IMHO he is the best Irish writer since Flann O' Brien .
I havn't got out to see the film of the Butcher Boy yet so I can't comment
on whether seeing it will spoil the book . I suppose it must be unusual in
that it has had rave reviews all round IMO it is VERY unusual for there to
be a great movie of a great book and McCabe's novel certainly is a great
work of art .
I don't like comparing authors and I can see how the comparison between the
two novels can be made but forced to think about it I would feel that
McCabes 'Frank Pig' and his descent into madness is more convincing , less
fantastic than the more surreal world of the Wasp factory . What I do find
interesting about McCabe and Banks is a similar feeling I get from them that
they are writing to and of my generation with a voice I don't hear from
other writers .
BTW the first film of Flann O'Brien's classic At Swim Two Birds an Austrian
production is being shown at the Dublin Film Festival in a few weeks , now
anyonewho thought that the Wasp Factory was unfilmable should check that out
!!!!!!!