Book Description
From the director and writer of Being John Malkovich—a film by Spike Jonze, starring Nicolas Cage and Meryl Streep, from a screenplay by Charlie and Donald Kaufman about the adaptation of the bestselling book The Orchid Thief—an exciting new filmbook in the Newmarket Shooting Script® series. This latest head trip from director Spike Jonze (Being John Malkovich) concerns an orchid collector (Chris Cooper), a journalist (Meryl Streep as author Susan Orlean), and the screenwriter (Charlie Kaufman, played by Nicolas Cage) who, in adapting Susan Orlean's book The Orchid Thief, writes himself into the movie. The Orchid Thief tells the story of a Florida man who schemes to clone the "ghost orchid" and sell it to people all over the world who are struck with orchidelirium, the obsession with collecting rare orchids at any price. Adaptation: The Shooting Script® includes the complete screenplay, a selection of 20 black-and-white movie stills, as well as an introduction by Charlie Kaufman.
About the Author
Screenwriter Charlie Kaufman wrote Being John Malkovich and Human Nature. Director Spike Jonze has directed several features, including Being John Malkovich, and music videos for artists including Björk, The Beastie Boys, Weezer, Daft Punk, Fatboy Slim, and Tenacious D.
Adaptation: The Shooting Script FROM THE PUBLISHER
"One of the most talked about scripts of the year, Adaptation is the story of an orchid collector (Chris Cooper), a journalist (Meryl Streep, as author Susan Orlean), and the screenwriter (Charlie Kaufman, played by Nicolas Cage) who, in adapting Orlean's bestselling book The Orchid Thief writes himself and his twin brother (also played by Cage) into the movie." "In the foreword, written exclusively for this Newmarket edition, Orlean reveals her own struggle to tell the story of the orchid, and her delight that "strangely, marvelously, hilariously, Kaufman's screenplay has ended up not being a literal adaptation of my book, but a spiritual one."" Kaufman and Jonze take readers behind the scenes of Adaptation and their other films to speak about how they collaborate, where truth and fiction diverge, the challenges of balancing various storylines, why they do not like to comment on the meaning of their work, and Kaufman's approach to writing.
FROM THE CRITICS
Library Journal
Skate rat turned director Spike Jonze followed up his wildly inventive Being John Malkovich with another metaflick, Adaptation. Written by Charlie Kaufman, the man who brought audiences inside John Malkovich's head, it is based on the true story of his attempt at adapting Susan Orlean's The Orchid Thief to screen. Sound confusing? Finding the truth in his story is a tricky thing, as Rob Feld explains in his Q&A with Kaufman and Jonze. Evidently, when he was unable to dramatize a flower successfully, Kaufman writes himself, fictional twin Donald (also credited as coauthor), and a host of others into the script about writing a script for the flower. The result is a twisted tale of writer's block so good that it is brought to the screen instead of Orlean's book. The Jonze-Kaufman collaboration produced an original and mind-bending world that earned Golden Globe nominations for best Screenplay and Best Motion Picture: Musical or Comedy. Nicholas Cage, who plays both Kaufmans, also picked up a nomination, while Meryl Streep won for Best Supporting Actress. Another no-brainer for forward-thinking film collections, with exclusive commentary from Orlean herself. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.
Art & Photography
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