When you write, do you imagine the movie version? Who would you cast in the lead roles in your current novel?
9 thoughts on “Reader Friday: Casting Director”
Although it’s not really happening with my latest WIP, the histroical mystery I wrote has more or less all of it’s main characters cast apart from my leading lady.
They include: Donald Sutherland, Miranda Richardson, Jude Law, Rupert Penry-Jones, Hugo Weaving, James Purefoy, Neil Patrick Harris, Daniel Radcliffe, Helena Bonham-Carter and Michael Gambon.
Readers who have seen a few scenes from my WIP said it reads like a movie – meaning, they can readily imagine scenes as though watching a movie. I didn’t set out to write it that way, but I don’t suppose that’s a bad thing. 🙂 Anyway, Jennifer Aniston would be a great, age-appropriate leading lady, Steve Carell could easily be her leading man, and Rob Lowe would be a near-perfect antagonist. That was fun to think about. 🙂
I do try to picture the character on his or her own, but inevitably the Hollywood thing creeps in. I generally visualize the scenes like a Hollywood film anyway, so I guess it makes sense. I always try to picture who I would cast, with a firm understanding of who Hollywood might pick instead. For my current WIP, I’d probably go with Bradley Cooper. Strong and agile, he looks like he could play a 30-ish 6’2″ ex-kickboxer. As for my next book (that’s already trying to take center stage away), it’s a futuristic cyberpunk novel, with a noticeably bigger protag, both in height and in build. He’s still somewhat in shadow in my head, so I haven’t got a bead on him yet. However, being the geek I am, I’d probably pick Adam Baldwin (Jayne Cobb from FIREFLY & SERENITY) even if he is a bit old for the part.
If it was a big movie, Hollywood would probably miss the point entirely, and either cast The Rock for his size, or Tom Cruise because he bought the rights to another big character just so he could pretend he’s tall again. Sigh.
Hell, no. I can barely picture it as a book.
I try to picture characters as movie actors, but doesn’t always work for certain characters. But from DAY 1, I saw my villain played by Stanley Tucci. He might be getting a bit old, but the ten-years-ago Tucci is perfect. Cool, ruthless, evil evident in his eyes, yet he commands respect and looks the part of a crooked, conspiratorial real estate tycoon.
My MC, a tall, fit, younger baby boomer musician with a genius IQ and a Renaissance Man outlook on life, is tough to cast. John Cusack has the look, the aura I’m going for, but doesn’t quite look rugged and self-reliant enough for one of the faces of the character. Mark Wahlberg and Hugh Jackman look tough enough, but might not have the sensitivity the character needs to show. Christian Bale might be a good compromise.
My female MC has to be blond, tallish, gorgeous and smart,(Don’t they all need to be that?)and oozes self-confidence that masks her insecurity. Naomi Watts and Michelle Pfeiffer come to mind.
I use Scrivner. There is spot to put pictures of characters. I actually cast my stories with actors or others. I usually don’t share the pictures, so no one is hurt.
Warren Oates, Bill Paxson and Steve Buscemi. First one be tough to pull off
I do see many scenes and action bits playing out in my head like a movie. For characters it depends. Sometimes I have a strong idea of them in my head that matches an actor, sometimes I will have pictures of multiple actors that remind me of that character- not just for looks, but for attitude, character, or action. And sometimes I have a feel and go more for art – like deviant art because there is no particular actor in mind that quite works, but sometimes I can find my character’s essence better in a good piece of art.
I found that pictures can really help with keeping a character consistent as I write. That way I’m not going back through the prose and asking myself “Did Jo have glasses?” Granted the glasses aren’t usually a major plot point but it is the kind of thing that a reader is likely to catch if I don’t.
Unfortunately I also do what I think a lot of Hollywood does (or Broadway if you watch Smash) in tha as my vision for a character changes I find that I need a different face to attach to the role. SO I will go through a half dozen different actresses for the same character over the lifespan of the writing.
Although it’s not really happening with my latest WIP, the histroical mystery I wrote has more or less all of it’s main characters cast apart from my leading lady.
They include: Donald Sutherland, Miranda Richardson, Jude Law, Rupert Penry-Jones, Hugo Weaving, James Purefoy, Neil Patrick Harris, Daniel Radcliffe, Helena Bonham-Carter and Michael Gambon.
I’ve got a blogfest post from ages ago where I explain some of the choices a little better – http://chippy-thelifeofwriting.blogspot.co.uk/2011/04/now-starring-blogfest.html
Readers who have seen a few scenes from my WIP said it reads like a movie – meaning, they can readily imagine scenes as though watching a movie. I didn’t set out to write it that way, but I don’t suppose that’s a bad thing. 🙂
Anyway, Jennifer Aniston would be a great, age-appropriate leading lady, Steve Carell could easily be her leading man, and Rob Lowe would be a near-perfect antagonist.
That was fun to think about. 🙂
I do try to picture the character on his or her own, but inevitably the Hollywood thing creeps in. I generally visualize the scenes like a Hollywood film anyway, so I guess it makes sense. I always try to picture who I would cast, with a firm understanding of who Hollywood might pick instead. For my current WIP, I’d probably go with Bradley Cooper. Strong and agile, he looks like he could play a 30-ish 6’2″ ex-kickboxer. As for my next book (that’s already trying to take center stage away), it’s a futuristic cyberpunk novel, with a noticeably bigger protag, both in height and in build. He’s still somewhat in shadow in my head, so I haven’t got a bead on him yet. However, being the geek I am, I’d probably pick Adam Baldwin (Jayne Cobb from FIREFLY & SERENITY) even if he is a bit old for the part.
If it was a big movie, Hollywood would probably miss the point entirely, and either cast The Rock for his size, or Tom Cruise because he bought the rights to another big character just so he could pretend he’s tall again. Sigh.
Hell, no. I can barely picture it as a book.
I try to picture characters as movie actors, but doesn’t always work for certain characters. But from DAY 1, I saw my villain played by Stanley Tucci. He might be getting a bit old, but the ten-years-ago Tucci is perfect. Cool, ruthless, evil evident in his eyes, yet he commands respect and looks the part of a crooked, conspiratorial real estate tycoon.
My MC, a tall, fit, younger baby boomer musician with a genius IQ and a Renaissance Man outlook on life, is tough to cast. John Cusack has the look, the aura I’m going for, but doesn’t quite look rugged and self-reliant enough for one of the faces of the character. Mark Wahlberg and Hugh Jackman look tough enough, but might not have the sensitivity the character needs to show.
Christian Bale might be a good compromise.
My female MC has to be blond, tallish, gorgeous and smart,(Don’t they all need to be that?)and oozes self-confidence that masks her insecurity. Naomi Watts and Michelle Pfeiffer come to mind.
I use Scrivner. There is spot to put pictures of characters. I actually cast my stories with actors or others. I usually don’t share the pictures, so no one is hurt.
Warren Oates, Bill Paxson and Steve Buscemi. First one be tough to pull off
I do see many scenes and action bits playing out in my head like a movie. For characters it depends. Sometimes I have a strong idea of them in my head that matches an actor, sometimes I will have pictures of multiple actors that remind me of that character- not just for looks, but for attitude, character, or action. And sometimes I have a feel and go more for art – like deviant art because there is no particular actor in mind that quite works, but sometimes I can find my character’s essence better in a good piece of art.
I found that pictures can really help with keeping a character consistent as I write. That way I’m not going back through the prose and asking myself “Did Jo have glasses?” Granted the glasses aren’t usually a major plot point but it is the kind of thing that a reader is likely to catch if I don’t.
Unfortunately I also do what I think a lot of Hollywood does (or Broadway if you watch Smash) in tha as my vision for a character changes I find that I need a different face to attach to the role. SO I will go through a half dozen different actresses for the same character over the lifespan of the writing.