Strange Horizons has a new interview with Daniel Wallace, the novelist who wrote BIG FISH. It’s definitely worth checking out his perspective on the movie, and how the original writer deals with seeing his work changed in the process of adaptation.
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February 4th, 2005 at 5:25 pm
thanks for including this interview link. i had one of those life changing moments while watching big fish a couple weeks ago while waiting for the verdict of tests for cancer. it was long weekend of figuring out how i felt about life and so on.
the father’s death scene was so poignant to me. reality and truth should never have capital letters as their existence relies solely on the point of reference and world view of the participants. i was moved by the son being able to directly engage with the father, and the father being absolutely satisfied by it. they found common ground despite what the ‘truth was’. i too love a good story and sometimes the story ‘as it should be’ is just as important as how it ‘really’ is.
it has been a treat to read mr. august’s outlines and history of his process of creating this screenplay. i did not know this was based on daniel wallace’s story in the first place and finding his own words about the process is even more interesting. i will read his books now and thank this site for letting me discover him.
big fish helped me realize i want to live as fully as edward, for whatever time i have. i spent the rest of that weekend at peace with whatever ‘truth and reality’ was being passed on to me.
when the tests came back later that week, there was no cancer, but a huge kidney stone that is causing a lot of trouble.
i believe it’s a miracle allowed to happen because of the life attitude adjustment i was given via the miracle of the collaborative effects of movie making.
thanks to all.
February 5th, 2005 at 8:30 am
Thanks, Bird.
And I’m glad to hear it was a kidney stone. I’ve had a kidney stone — they’re probably the most physically painful thing a person should ever have to endure — but they are endurable. After it’s passed/smashed/surgically removed, try to remember how lucky you felt when you learned it wasn’t cancer. If you had a little of that attitude every day, you’d live quite a happy life.
And drink lots of water.
February 9th, 2005 at 3:58 pm
you know, i think i felt luckiest when i realized that it didn’t matter, that i was ok no matter the verdict. i felt so great even before the kidneystone verdict. transformation is transformation, no matter the vehicle. and i am having a ball. and still this feeling of thrilled contentment is forever linked with a big man turning into a big fish when the time was right.
thanks for the advice about water. it’s true. if anyone else ever reads this, drink WATER. drink what you think you want then double it.
blessings, b