To look forward is to
always remember where we came from and how we came to be where we are today.
Reflecting on this
Journey of a Lifetime;
It is nearly five
months since Nicolas Awde & Patrick Stark (Producers) signed Hollywood
screenwriter Jay Wolpert (Pirates of the Caribbean / The Count of Monte Cristo)
to write the film adaptation based on the highly acclaimed novel by award
winning American Author W.D.
Wetherell’s A Century of November.
Sometimes it’s
difficult to take that first step, especially when you are shooting for the
stars. When you consider dealing with a commercially successful writer who has
helped create one of the largest and most successful box office franchises
in film history, that task can seem daunting.
It’s been said that’s
it’s not real until you sign on the dotted line, or until you can feel the
script in your hands, the idea of making a feature film at this level still
seems like a dream.
Where does it all
begin to make a feature film? Story and Characters
First, Patrick found
the source material that was all about a beautiful Story filled with rich
Characters, a novel entitled A
Century of November.
Where would a
parent’s love for a child end…
Gone with the Wind Meets Saving Private Ryan…
It is a story set
on the canvas nearing the end of the First
World War, of a father who receives word that his only son has been
declared “killed/missing”. Leaving his home and peaceful life behind him,
journey’s halfway around the world through extraordinary situations to lay to
rest any chance that his son was coming home.
The story of any
parent whose loved one(s) have journeyed half way around the world, to fight in
a dangerous conflict for their country transcends time and even though the
novel is set in the past, the story holds many contemporary values of today.
Second, Nick &
Patrick secured the option on the novel, giving them the exclusive right to
develop the novel into a feature film. This process took about six months and
the experience was tremendously rewarding in so many ways.
Nick & Patrick
received the blessings from Mary
Bisbee-Beek, (Director of Trade Marketing, Publicity and Foreign Rights
at University of Michigan Press), and the tremendously talented
author, W.D. Wetherell.
Nick & Patrick
asked each other what movie, adapted from a novel in recent years, impressed
them the most.
Almost
simultaneously, they said The Count of Monte Cristo.
Not knowing who the
screenwriter was, they quickly looked it up on www.imdb.com to discover that Jay Wolpert not only
wrote the adaptation to The Count of Monte Cristo, but he was the first
screenwriter hired to adapt Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the
Black Pearl.
Patrick, having
worked in the film industry a long time felt realistic on
how Hollywood works, he practically threw up his hands, saying
“Forget it; we’ll never get a guy like that to write this script.”
Nick, the eternal
optimist, however, has a different way of looking at things and simply
suggested sending Jay’s agent the novel. After much prodding, Patrick finally
surrendered and sent a FedEx package that included the novel and a small typed
letter to Jay inserted inside to Rich Freeman at Paradigm.
When Nick &
Patrick sent the novel out to their first choice screenwriter Jay Wolpert to
adapt it into a screenplay. They sent the novel to his agent Rich Freeman, they weren’t sure
what to expect. Would Jay get the novel or even read it? The reality of this,
is that Jay did receive the novel, read it and fortunately loved it as much as
Nick & Patrick did. Thank you Rich!
The next step for
them, was to move on with an out of sight and out of mind attitude. In the
meantime, they continued to pursue many other leads for potential
screenwriters, but they could never quite find the right fit for adapting the
novel.
Months later, out of
the blue, Patrick received a call on his cell phone.
“Patrick? This is Jay
Wolpert…Thank you so much for your letter, and I read the book. I loved it. But
there’s not a hope in hell that I can adapt this into a script for you. I’m way
too busy, and quite frankly, I’m sure you can’t afford me.”
All Patrick could
think of was, “Holy shit”. Jay Wolpert is on the phone, he read the book, and
he loves it.” The rest of the stuff about not having any time and that we couldn’t
afford his rate, etc. seemed to be blocked from his brain. All he could think
of to say was, “That’s encouraging.” Jay replied “what do you mean that’s
encouraging, I just told you that I can’t do it”. Patrick said “you said you
loved the book”
Patrick called Nick
immediately.
The fact was, at this
moment, they were convinced: A
Century of November is gold.
Jay’s call encouraged
them to really get to work. They thought that if he likes the book, then other
top Hollywood screenwriters would too.
Fortunately for them,
before any others could respond, Jay called back, saying that he couldn’t stop
thinking about the book, but was still too busy to tackle this project. He also
mentioned that if some of his pressing assignments started to clear up, maybe
he could consider talking about an adaptation.
Jay also suggested
that Nick & Patrick come up with a potential offer, something Jay wouldn’t
normally receive from a studio.
They started to think
and started to get excited.
Until…..
Another month later,
Jay called once again. “My slate is clean. Let’s negotiate.”
Nick & Patrick
came up with the beginnings of a screenwriter deal and Jay flew
to Vancouver to meet with them.
Although this meeting
was of great importance, Nick had a previous engagement he could not break or
reschedule, so Patrick met with Jay.
The meeting was a
tremendous success, as they discussed creative story points and what needed to
happen to negotiate successfully.
Although it took
nearly 10 agonizing months, Nick & Patrick worked out a viable partnership.
Jay signed on to
write the adaptation to A Century of November and signed on as an Executive
Producer to the film project.
There are some
moments from their story that help illustrate that nothing’s impossible:
respectful persistence, drive, determination, heart, passion and a never give
up attitude is everything.
They have recognized
their opportunity.
A Century of November is born...
Development endures
to the next stage…
A Journey of a
Lifetime continues…
