Casting Call

[impressive]

Something SubJoe said on another thread reminded me of this. I don't much anymore, but I used to cast the movie of every (fiction) book I read. I particularly remember very fixed ideas about who would be in "The Stand." Unfortunately, the movie was made many years later ... and by then all the actors I'd picked were too old for their roles. *sigh*

Anyway, does anyone else do this? Any particular book + cast you'd care to share? And what about one of your stories? How would you cast your favorite?

 

[The_Darkness]

Something SubJoe said on another thread reminded me of this. I don't much anymore, but I used to cast the movie of every (fiction) book I read. I particularly remember very fixed ideas about who would be in "The Stand." Unfortunately, the movie was made many years later ... and by then all the actors I'd picked were too old for their roles. *sigh*

Anyway, does anyone else do this? Any particular book + cast you'd care to share? And what about one of your stories? How would you cast you favorite?

Due to the enormus and unchecked popularity of comic book movies these days, I find myself doing that with the comics I see. For purposes such as that, I'd say that acting capacity is an over-all larger factor than any other....with make-up FX what they are today, as long as person physically resembles the character in the slightest, it's not too much of a stretch to put virutally any actor in any role, so long as they are capable of acting the part in the first place.

 

[impressive]

Due to the enormus and unchecked popularity of comic book movies these days, I find myself doing that with the comics I see. For purposes such as that, I'd say that acting capacity is an over-all larger factor than any other....with make-up FX what they are today, as long as person physically resembles the character in the slightest, it's not too much of a stretch to put virutally any actor in any role, so long as they are capable of acting the part in the first place.

I can see a build-a-movie service in which you submit the novel and the cast, and some FX geeks plug it all in and return a custom DVD.

 

[impressive]

And, is it only me who thinks Grisham writes his books with actors in mind? I swear sometimes he's describing a particular actor when developing a character.

 

[SensualCealy]

I do that too Imp, when reading DaVinci Code, I thought of ( I think his name is) Robert Finnes to play the role that Tom Hanks got. I dont see Tom as a serious actor very often and he never came into mind until they said they had him for the part.
Its too early to remember the characters in the books, but the lead lady I would have used Kate Winslet as a redhead or close to it.

I find doing that makes the book easier to read and draws me into it more.
C

 

[impressive]

I do that too Imp, when reading DaVinci Code, I thought of ( I think his name is) Robert Finnes to play the role that Tom Hanks got. I dont see Tom as a serious actor very often and he never came into mind until they said they had him for the part.
Its too early to remember the characters in the books, but the lead lady I would have used Kate Winslet as a redhead or close to it.

I find doing that makes the book easier to read and draws me into it more.
C

I haven't yet read DaVinci Code, but from the description at the beginning of Angels & Demons, I just can't see Hanks in that role. He's too ... goofy ... even when being serious.

 

[SensualCealy]

I picture the role as more of an inspector Clouseau type role but only modern day. And you are right Tom doesnt fit, I keep seeing him as a Boosom Buddy. I did love him in Terminal and Castaway, he did a great job with those roles, I think they could have picked someone thats known for serious roles to fill the part.

Im bad at remembering actors names but I can picture them and what they played in that reminds me of them for the role.
The Scientist at the beginning of Angels and Demons that is in the wheel chair, I picture him as the guy that plays in Six Feet Under, the florist. He has an accent at least for the show and has the rough yet taylored look. And the Scientist that is killed, his daughter should be the actress that was on Another World, she had really long dark hair, olive complection, and has since gone on to play lead parts on tv movies and other sci fi tv shows. I know that doesnt help much but...
I wish I were better at names.

c

 

[impressive]

The used to be a sitcom on called "Fish" -- a spinoff of "Barney Miller." If I recall correctly, he had a housefull of odd kids -- orphans, perhaps. Anyway, one of the older kids was a greasy, heavy set boy. I really wanted him to be Harold in The Stand.

I had Robert Redford in the role of Stu (not Gary Sinese) and Kirstie Alley as Nadine (although Laura SanGiacomo was okay). Cicely Tyson as Mother Abigail.

 

[SensualCealy]

LOL I should have read the book!
Who wrote The Stand?
C

 

[Guest]

I actually put incorperated that idea into Literotica Olympics Day 20. When Vella suggests that the story will be filmed as a made for TV movie, everyone begins to speculate who will play them in the movie.

When I read books I sort of cast it. I don't really pick an actor for a part but I develope a clear picture of the character. If that character is recurring in a series of books it will be the same picture even if the author makes changes to the description.

 

[impressive]

LOL I should have read the book!
Who wrote The Stand?
C

Stephen King

 

[Remec]

Due to the enormus and unchecked popularity of comic book movies these days, I find myself doing that with the comics I see. For purposes such as that, I'd say that acting capacity is an over-all larger factor than any other....with make-up FX what they are today, as long as person physically resembles the character in the slightest, it's not too much of a stretch to put virutally any actor in any role, so long as they are capable of acting the part in the first place.

Indeed, you have heard that Kelsey Grammar is playing Dr Henry McCoy, aka The Beast, in X-Men 3, right?

 

[The_Darkness]

Indeed, you have heard that Kelsey Grammar is playing Dr Henry McCoy, aka The Beast, in X-Men 3, right?

Yes, I have...but don't get me started on X3....the director is going to bone that project so very very much. Everytime I read an update on what's going on, it just pisses me off more and more.

 

[Remec]

Yes, I have...but don't get me started on X3....the director is going to bone that project so very very much. Everytime I read an update on what's going on, it just pisses me off more and more.

hehehe
<nodding vigorously>
Yep, while not badly done, I still regard the first two as pretty much a travesty, and have been studiously avoiding as much as I can any details on X3. Would rather just go see it and be suprised/appalled at the same time. <BG>

But I seem to run into that a lot when it comes to comic-book adaptations. I mean, I really don't care how wonderful your end result can be when you look at how naturally cinematic and well constructed some of the original stories are/were.

 

[The_Darkness]

hehehe
<nodding vigorously>
Yep, while not badly done, I still regard the first two as pretty much a travesty, and have been studiously avoiding as much as I can any details on X3. Would rather just go see it and be suprised/appalled at the same time. <BG>

But I seem to run into that a lot when it comes to comic-book adaptations. I mean, I really don't care how wonderful your end result can be when you look at how naturally cinematic and well constructed some of the original stories are/were.

True that...but at the same time when a director blatently ignores things such as the original, ass-kicking draft of the script, 40 years of back-story, and any semblence of character building done in the first movies....

Could be worse though, could be Resident Evil 2....

 

[OhMissScarlett]

The used to be a sitcom on called "Fish" -- a spinoff of "Barney Miller." If I recall correctly, he had a housefull of odd kids -- orphans, perhaps. Anyway, one of the older kids was a greasy, heavy set boy. I really wanted him to be Harold in The Stand.

I had Robert Redford in the role of Stu (not Gary Sinese) and Kirstie Alley as Nadine (although Laura SanGiacomo was okay). Cicely Tyson as Mother Abigail.

I always pictured Sam Elliot as Stu and Rutger Hauer as The Walking Dude.

I have to say I was pretty happy with the movie and the way it was cast.

They always say Margaret Mitchell had pictured Groucho Marx for the role of Rhett Butler in GWTW. Personally, I think being the writer and not having an adaptation cast the way you want it would suck more than anything.

 

[Lauren Hynde]

I don't usually do it, but MlledeLaPlumeBleu, when she read an early partial draft of my story Plastic Love, decided to cast a haggard Hugh Grant for the role of Alex. I was never again able to shake the image off.

 

[impressive]

I always pictured Sam Elliot as Stu and Rutger Hauer as The Walking Dude.

Yeah. That works.

I have to say I was pretty happy with the movie and the way it was cast.

Except for Harold. I couldn't deal with Harold. At first, Gary Sinese bugged me -- but he's such a damned fine actor that he pulled it off.

 

[The_Darkness]

So as a question, when you write, is there anyone in particular you imagine characters in the story t be...like writing a specific actor in a role?

 

[OhMissScarlett]

Except for Harold. I couldn't deal with Harold. At first, Gary Sinese bugged me -- but he's such a damned fine actor that he pulled it off.

IMO, one of the best performances was by the guy who played Larry Underwood(I can't remember his name, of course). They cut so much Larry material out of the movie, yet he managed to convey the character so well. That's the Stephen King magic, in his world, shitheads can be heroic and heroes can turn into shitheads.

 

[impressive]

IMO, one of the best performances was by the guy who played Larry Underwood(I can't remember his name, of course). They cut so much Larry material out of the movie, yet he managed to convey the character so well. That's the Stephen King magic, in his world, shitheads can be heroic and heroes can turn into shitheads.

Yeah. And the Larry/Nadine love story was SO underplayed.

 

[OhMissScarlett]

So as a question, when you write, is there anyone in particular you imagine characters in the story t be...like writing a specific actor in a role?

I kept picturing my character Hank in Hot Buttered as the guy who plays Sawyer on Lost. I don't know why, usually all my characters are strictly a product of my imagination.

 

[cloudy]

The only one of my stories that I've ever actually pictured someone specific for a character role in it is The Warrior's Song. Rodney Grant would be perfect for the character Joseph TwoEagles. *swoon*

http://www.rodneygrant.com/vanishingprod1.jpg

 

[OhMissScarlett]

The only one of my stories that I've ever actually pictured someone specific for a character role in it is The Warrior's Song. Rodney Grant would be perfect for the character Joseph TwoEagles. *swoon*

http://www.rodneygrant.com/vanishingprod1.jpg

Lol. I had pictured him as Michael Greyeyes. Though Rodney is equally delicious.

 

[impressive]

So, what about the Dune sagas? Anyone favor the theatre version over the SciFi channel movie? Who would you cast as Paul? Leto? Jessica? The Baron?