|
|
ADAPTATIONS
To The Best of Our Knowledge
from Wisconsin Public Radio
Imagine that you're a writer for "The New Yorker"
and your book about one of your articles is into a screenplay. In
this hour of To the Best of Our Knowledge, Susan Orlean tells
us what it's like to one day look up at the big screen and see herself
being played by Academy Award winning actress Meryl Streep. Also,
the fine art of adapting Samuel Beckett's plays into films.
SEGMENT 1:
Screenwriter Charlie Kauffman ("Being
John Malkovich") made himself a character in his adaptation
of Susan Orlean's book "The Orchid Thief". The
movie is called "Adaptation," and is up for several
Academy Awards, including one for Meryl Streep who plays the author.
Orlean tells Steve Paulson that the notion of being portrayed
by Meryl Streep influenced her decision to permit the project
to proceed, even though Meryl's "Susan" is a far cry
from the real person. And we hear clips from the movie. Also,
Michael Colgan, director of the Gate Theatre in Dublin,
co-produced "Beckett on Film." He talks with Steve Paulson
about the challenges of turning 19 of Samuel Beckett's plays into
films.
SEGMENT 2:
Tom Carson is a novelist, television critic
and the author of "Gilligan's Wake." He talks with Jim
Fleming about blending James Joyce's classic "Finnegan's
Wake" with those seven wacky castaways from "Gilligan's
Island." Also, John Wesley Harding is a singer/songwriter
who regularly draws on his love of literature. So now, as he tells
Jim Fleming, he's turning his song "Miss Fortune" into
a novel.
SEGMENT 3:
Paul Feig is the creator of the critically
acclaimed TV series "Freaks and Geeks." He tells Anne
Strainchamps that the show (which is no longer on the air) was
based on his real-life adolescence. Now he's written a memoir:
"Kick Me: Adventures in Adolescence." He and Anne laugh
over some of the highlights.
Cassette copies are available
at 1-800-747-7444. Ask for program number 03-03-09-B.
................................................................
Books:
- Tom Carson, Gilligan's Wake: A Novel
(Picador)
- Paul Feig, Kick Me: Adventures in Adolescence
(Three Rivers Press)
- Susan Orlean,
The Orchid Thief (Ballantine Books)
Websites
Music:
- -- "Morning" by Mark Adler from the CD,
"Original Score: Focus" (Milan)
http://www.milanrecords.com
- -- "He Can't Come Today"/Ray Manzarek
from the CD, "Songs Inspired By Literature: Chapter One Benefit
CD" (The SIBL Project) http://www.siblproject.org/aboutcd.html
- -- "Miss Fortune"/John Wesley Harding
from the CD, "Awake: The New Edition" (Appleseed Recordings)
http://www.appleseedrec.com
- -- "Inner Laugh"/Money Mark from the
CD, "Mark's Keyboard Repair" (Mowax/A&M Records)
- -- "Bad Reputation"/Joan Jett from the
CD, "Fit To Be Tied: Great Hits by Joan Jett & the Blackhearts
(Polygram)
- -- "Pick Up The Pieces"/AWB from
the CD, "Rock Instrumental Classics, Volume 3: The Seventies"
(Rhino) http://www.rhino.com
Distribution dates:
................................................................
Questions and comments can
be addressed to: flemingj@wpr.org
our shows :: about
us :: search :: home
|
