John August

Big Fish

Movie titles in movies

Big Fish, Video

[This supercut](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0V1sYNvKZt8) by honsco tracks characters saying the title of the movie they’re in.

Of my films, only Big Fish shows up, and it’s hard to hear. Amos Calloway (Danny DeVito) says it at the circus scene:

AMOS

Face it, kid. You were a big fish in a small pond. This here’s the ocean, and you’re drowning.

Both The Nines and Go have their titles spoken in dialogue repeatedly. I had to check the script to be sure, but yes, Corpse Bride does speak its title:

VICTORIA

Please, Pastor Galswells! It’s Victor! He needs our help! He’s married to a corpse! He has a Corpse Bride!

To my recollection, you won’t find any examples in the two Charlie’s Angels movies, or Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Screenwriters don’t simply adapt, they adopt

Adaptation, Big Fish

Daniel Wallace, who wrote the book Big Fish, [on movie adaptations](http://www.puremovies.co.uk/articles/some-things-are-better-left-on-the-page/):

> The best adaptations are inspired by the source material, not dictated by it. The screenwriter doesn’t work for the author; he takes possession of the story, and owns it as much as the novelist does. If not, if there is even a hint of subservience, the adaptation and the movie it hopes to become will suffer, and sometimes die a grisly, unliterary death. And if you’ve never seen an unliterary death it’s a sad thing to watch.

New dates for Anatomy of a Script

Big Fish, Follow Up, News

Because of a travel situation, I had to swap dates for my [Anatomy of a Script](http://johnaugust.com/archives/2011/anatomy-of-a-script-series) session on Big Fish. I’ll be coming two weeks later.

__March 16:__ Will now be Mike Werb & Michael Colleary on Face/Off (screening at 4:45 pm)

__March 30:__ Will now be me talking about Big Fish (screening at 5:00 pm)

Winnie Holzman (Wicked, My So-Called Life) and Robin Schiff (Romy & Michelle’s High School Reunion) are hosting on behalf of the Writers Guild Foundation.

[Tickets](https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/155452) should still be available.

If you purchased tickets for the original date, and now can’t make it, call 323-782-4692. Sorry to reschedule. I promise it’s a really good reason.

My schedule for Austin

Big Fish, News, Travel

I’ll be part of three panels at this year’s [Austin Film Festival](http://austinfilmfestival.com), including a special session on Big Fish.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 21st

1pm

The Business of Screenwriting

with Edward Burns, Franklin Leonard, Craig Mazin

2:45pm

Visual Storytelling

with John Lee Hancock, Randall Wallace, H.W. Brands

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22nd

8:30am

Book-to-Screen: “Big Fish”

If you’re planning on attending the Big Fish session, you’ll get a lot more out of it if you’ve already read both Daniel Wallace’s novel (you can find in on Amazon) and the screenplay (from the Library). I feel weird assigning homework, but trust me, you’ll have much better insight if you’re familiar with the book, script and movie.

I won’t have much time to meet-and-greet after these sessions — on Friday, I’ll be racing to the airport for a friend’s wedding. So if you’d like to say hi, your best bet is to track me down at one of the social events:

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 20th

7pm

Film and Food Gala

Driskill Hotel

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 21st

5pm

AVVB Opening Night Reception

Speakeasy, 412D Congress Avenue

11pm

WGA East & West Late Night Welcome Party

Buffalo Billiards, 201 E. 6th Street

Some of these are 21+, and the first one requires tickets beyond just a conference badge. If you’re a student, I know that can be a challenge. I’ll try to tweet my location if I have some downtime.

And if you see me at the Driskill — or in line at the burrito place — don’t be shy about saying hi.