Thursday, October 20, 2011

Another reason to tell your story

So I was catching up on my Entertainment Weekly reading, and it was that "reunions" issue. I'm sure most of you've seen the pictures.

They reunited the cast of Family Ties, Romey and Michelle, Glen Close and Michael Douglass for Fatal Attraction, and of course The Princess Bride.

I never knew the backstory of Princess Bride. That it had once had Robert Redford attached as director. That it almost didn't get made.

That Rob Reiner had to cut everyone's salaries, had to cut all the expenses for sets, basically had five guys portray the "army of Guilder."

And it didn't fare very well at the box office.

But it became a cult classic. Who under 40 can't quote at least five lines from that film?

The starter, "As you wish," to the ender, "You'd make a great Dread Pirate Roberts." Or my favorite... Heck, I don't know if I can single out a favorite!

Anyway, it got me to thinking about movies that "shouldn't" have done well, for whatever reason. Or the movies that no one would get behind that everyone ended up loving.

Since we're getting close to Halloween, I'll toss out two scary ones: Blair Witch Project and Halloween.

I mean, seriously. Nobody believed those movies would be hits? NobodyHow does that happen?

Then my thoughts went down a different path. Can you imagine how different Princess Bride would've been if Robert Redford had directed it?

I doubt it would've been as silly-funny as it is, and I'm not sure it would've become the cult-classic it is today.

I feel like there's a lesson here. See what you think about this: We've talked about telling your story before. What if these examples illustrate why you're given the stories you're given.

Other writers might be just as good as you, possibly better. But no one else can tell your story the way you can.

What do you guys think?

Pondering.

Have a great weekend, reader- and writer- friends! Til Monday~ <3

31 comments:

Miranda Hardy said...

So very true. No one knows the characters inside my hard better. We all know how our stories are supposed to go.

Laura Pauling said...

I don't think that movie would've been near as good if more money had been put into it! I love that movie. :)

Matthew MacNish said...

You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.

No more rhyming, and I mean it. Anybody want a peanut?

When I was your age, television was called books. And this is a special book. It was the book my father used to read to me when I was sick, and I used to read it to your father.

You rush a miracle man, you get rotten miracles.

You mean, you'll put down your rock and I'll put down my sword, and we'll try and kill each other like civilized people?

I could go on. I love that movie.

Dr. Mohamed said...

Speaking of movies that either make it or don't, does anyone remember "Mother Night" with Nick Nolte? What a great movie...that almost no one has heard of...

Old Kitty said...

I'm still finding my writing style and as the years roll by I'm slowly discovering what I am most comfortable writing in and as.

I love the Princess Bride!! I'm so glad Rob Reiner directed it though!

Take care
x

Pat Hatt said...

So true, each person is different and even though visions can be similar no one can do it the exact same as someone else. It would have been way way different if Redford did it.

Jessica Bell said...

You hit the nail on the head my dear ... :o)

vic caswell said...

aww man! this post made me smile so big!
so true so true!
and r.i.p. mr. andre!

Anita said...

You've given me things to dream about over the weekend. :) Thanks!

Bish Denham said...

Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.

Of course TPB is one of my all time favorite movies. And it's so true that each writer/director brings his/her own special touch to a story.

One movie I can think of that didn't do well at the box office, but is another favorite of mine is Brother Sun, Sister Moon. Beautiful.

Carolyn Abiad said...

My kids look at me funny when I make them watch stuff like this. When they get it, they're like: Ooooooo. Then I can't shut them up! I just love this movie.

Precy Larkins said...

So true! Great post, and thanks for inspiring us.

I love Princess Bride. I'm so glad they made it the way they did.

Janet Johnson said...

*sigh* I love Princess Bride!

And isn't it amazing to realize how unique we all are? Robert Redford as director of PB? Near miss, I tell you!

Unknown said...

Wouldn't we all like our stories to become cult classics? I think I'd like that even better than landing on the NYT list for one week. :)

erica and christy said...

Aww, that's so true about the stories that come to us! Good tie-in!

Princess Bride, let me count the ways I love thee...(haha). "Hallo. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die." - not very funny or hopeful, but the line that always comes to me when I think of that movie!
erica

LTM said...

@Laura--I couldn't agree more! And it's true, the actors' chemistry had to be right. But something about that combo just worked. Good stuff~ :o) <3

@Mohamed--I don't remember that movie! Wow. Must check it out. Thanks~ :o)

@cherie--Yay! I hope I inspired you! I think there might be a little nugget of truth there. :o) <3

Jan Markley said...

I've never seen princess bride! guess I'm out of the loop!

Susan Kaye Quinn said...

I'm totally down with the idea of our stories being unique. I can see Princess Bride being a cult-fav precisely because there were LESS people involved in it, muddying things up. :)

KM Nalle said...

So I'm enjoying this fantastic post when BAM! you throw some awesome inspiration in at the end. LOVE IT. I sorta want to go buy the edition of Entertainment Weekly now. I love facts like this.

I always think about actors and movie roles. What if Tom Cruise had accepted role of Wren in Footloose or Molly Ringwald had played Vivian in Pretty Woman?

Julie Musil said...

You know what? I needed to hear this today. I'm plotting my next story, and I'm filled with all the usual doubts about my story. But it's my story, and only I can tell it. Thank you <3

LTM said...

@Jan--say it isn't so! Jump in the loop. You will LOVE it... :o) <3

Angela said...

I think your take on things in inspiring. But then, it often is?

How are things going for you, in trying to get your story out there?

Stina said...

I love the Princess Bride. I'm sooo glad Robert Redford didn't direct it in the end. You're right. It wouldn't have been a cult classic.

Though it is hilarious watching Mandy on Criminal Minds after watching Princess Bride. :D

Anonymous said...

My wife and I will watch The Princess Bride when it comes on. That's a movie that was so bad, it was good. Very very goos. A cult classic indeed!

Hart Johnson said...

Man, I ADORE Princess Bride. But yes, half the fun is how campy it is. I love the over-the-top. My first EVER blog quoted 'Then why didn't you list that among our assets?' though my favorite is probably the response to INCONCEIVABLE! "You keep saying that word. I do not think it means what you think it means." *snort*

Tracy Jo said...

Love this. The book I am writing is about my life. Sometimes it feels narcissistic but I want to help people. I want to write it to offer strength to young girls. It is MY story and you are right...nobody knows our stories, whether fiction or non-fiction...nobody can write our hearts and souls...like us.

Michelle Merrill said...

I love this thought! And it's so true. I'm writing a story and had a friend tell me she's writing something similar. After comparing ideas, though, they were completely different.

Patti said...

I just read that issue as well and loved the article on the Princess Bride (it's pretty much my favorite movie).

It's so true that two people can have the same idea and come away with two completely different books.

LTM said...

@Stephen--it's so true. I watched it by accident the first time, and then I watched it again and again... :D Good stuff~

Jemi Fraser said...

So true! It's so important not to get pulled down someone else's path. We need to stay true to our own dreams and hearts! :)

Sarah Ahiers said...

omg i love the Princess Bride so much! We quote it all the time in our house. Good times. And i'm sure the Robert Redford version would've been good, it just wouldn't have been the version we all love so much