Daniel Wallace on Big Fish
Howl: What were some of the things you felt the film really nailed and got right?
Wallace: The most important thing: the spirit of the book. The emotions that attend a son trying to understand his father before he died.
Howl: What were some of the things you would have changed or felt were not as true to your vision in the book?
Wallace: It would have been more honest to have Edward have an affair with Jenny, instead of resisting; that's the kind of man he really was.
Howl: What was it like taking something that you visualized in your head and then saw become tangible?
Wallace: At first it was disconcerting. Everyone's vision is different and this was different from mine. But I thought they did a great job, once I got used to seeing that.
Howl: How involved were you in the production (pre-production and post- included)?
Wallace: Hardly at all. I thought it was their business. I just wrote the book, which stays the same no matter what.
Howl: How do you feel about the creation of further films based on your other books?
Wallace: That would be a dream come true, but it's winning the lottery twice: doubt it will happen.
Howl: As a writer, how would you say the adaptation of one of your books into a feature film has affected your career?
Wallace: Big time. I sold ten times more books after the movie came out, and I bought a house.
Howl: Have you seen other films based on books that you've read (i.e. Jaws, The Godfather, and so on) and thought, "They really nailed it," or "They really butchered that," and why?
Wallace: Hmmm. I can't say that I have. I don't compare books to movies, though. They are two different ways of telling a story.
Howl: When a book is adapted to a film, some of that world built up in the readers' imaginations is ultimately lost or altered. How do you feel about that and did it do the same for you?
Wallace: Yes, but that's okay: a film is no more like a book than a cat is.
Howl: What were some of the most memorable experiences from having your book adapted to film?
Wallace: Being on set, being directed by the great Tim Burton, flying to London to attend the Baftas.
Howl: What advice would you give to any published writers whose works are being considered for film adaptation? Lessons learned?
Wallace: Let it happen. Even if they make the worst film ever made you'll sell more books and have a bigger profile. It won't hurt, only help.
Wallace: The most important thing: the spirit of the book. The emotions that attend a son trying to understand his father before he died.
Howl: What were some of the things you would have changed or felt were not as true to your vision in the book?
Wallace: It would have been more honest to have Edward have an affair with Jenny, instead of resisting; that's the kind of man he really was.
Howl: What was it like taking something that you visualized in your head and then saw become tangible?
Wallace: At first it was disconcerting. Everyone's vision is different and this was different from mine. But I thought they did a great job, once I got used to seeing that.
Howl: How involved were you in the production (pre-production and post- included)?
Wallace: Hardly at all. I thought it was their business. I just wrote the book, which stays the same no matter what.
Howl: How do you feel about the creation of further films based on your other books?
Wallace: That would be a dream come true, but it's winning the lottery twice: doubt it will happen.
Howl: As a writer, how would you say the adaptation of one of your books into a feature film has affected your career?
Wallace: Big time. I sold ten times more books after the movie came out, and I bought a house.
Howl: Have you seen other films based on books that you've read (i.e. Jaws, The Godfather, and so on) and thought, "They really nailed it," or "They really butchered that," and why?
Wallace: Hmmm. I can't say that I have. I don't compare books to movies, though. They are two different ways of telling a story.
Howl: When a book is adapted to a film, some of that world built up in the readers' imaginations is ultimately lost or altered. How do you feel about that and did it do the same for you?
Wallace: Yes, but that's okay: a film is no more like a book than a cat is.
Howl: What were some of the most memorable experiences from having your book adapted to film?
Wallace: Being on set, being directed by the great Tim Burton, flying to London to attend the Baftas.
Howl: What advice would you give to any published writers whose works are being considered for film adaptation? Lessons learned?
Wallace: Let it happen. Even if they make the worst film ever made you'll sell more books and have a bigger profile. It won't hurt, only help.