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Alan Moore Pulls LOEG From DC Comics
Mark Andrich writes "In its return from a sabbatical, Lying In The Gutters reports that Alan Moore, author of the V For Vendetta comic, has publically disassociated himself from the movie of the same name, and disputes claims of support made by Joel Silver. As a result, he has also pulled the League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen comic book series from Warner owned DC Comics, and is handing it to two small press publishers in the US and the UK. And in the subsequent mood of elation, has announced his engagement to long term partner Melinda Gebbie."
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because these comic book to big screen movies are much better when the original creator is involved. I think that Frank Miller really helped keep Sin City true to the books.
I had finally decided that this year I would be V for Halloween (I like being obscure people for Halloween) and then I heard about the movie being released on November 5th...
Since when is Guy Fawkes obscure?
So this is just a specific issue, and no gigantic rebellion against the evilness and vileness of Hollywood? Or do you think Hollywood was pushing him, and this is just the straw that broke the camel's back?
Hopefully I didn't put any [] around my words.
Problem is, many innovators (especially in the arts) don't have the skills to take their products to a wide audience on their own. There's a reason beyond just "cashing in" that someone would choose to option their idea to a corporation-- Marketing, publishing and distribution are difficult and daunting tasks. And it's easy to say "go with an indie film company-publishing-record label-whatever", but these companies' abilities to actually sell product vary wildly.
So yeah, up-and-coming artists, writers etc. should realize the value of their ideas and protect themselves from being screwed in the future. They should enter every business deal with a good lawyer, and consider working with reputable "indie" companies rather than a big name giants. And most importantly, those who have "made it" should look out for the little guy and do what they can to fight for creator's rights.
The odd spoiler follows.
In an interview I read recently, Moore says something along the lines that he doesn't think there will ever be a market for a film where the hero is an anarchist terrorist. Obviously we don't know whats in the film, but even though its been made I sort of share his skepticism. One wonders if V really does remain a terrorist who goes around blowing up public buildings in the film for no other reason than to make people think and feel freely...seems a little unlikely "in the current climate". My money is on them twisting that element to make it the struggle of the lone hero against the repressive regime, but the subtlety in what V's aims actually are, and the moral ambivalence, will be long gone (if you take out the motivation than V is undiscernable from say Rambo, both blow lots of things up to fight Bad Guys(tm) ). Also, is it really going to begin with the attempted rape of a underage prostitute by the secret police? And can we really trust Elrond to keep the damn mask on all the way through? A flashback (yes, yes, but look how its drawn) or an unmasking would ruin the whole thing. I can't think of many Hollywood stars who'd be prepared to do that as a leading actor (David Prowse will of course always be the exception, but he wasn't as such a Hollywood star, he was the Green Cross Code man!)
As to Hollywood getting England wrong, we are so well used to that, to be honest it barely registers anymore. It was going on long before any of us were born. One sort of grows up realising theres a special mythological England with bizarre Ye Olde customs and behaviour that exists in films and the one you actually live in. But then thats probably true for everyone across the world to some extent. And being the sinister villains rather than the lantern jawed hero is fine with me as well, they always have the best lines anyway. Our accents (e.g., the woman in Frasier...wtf?), our culture and our history are regularly and comprehensively pissed all over in the name of the North American market, but heh, as the Voice of Fate would say:
England Prevails.
Plays violent online games as: Nerfherder76
Let's not forget that Wachowski sibilings are responsible for making V is for Vendetta movie, and we all know what sort of travesty they are capable of.
Even though Natalie Portman is in it, they had Trinity in Matrix and still managed to ruin that.
If you don't know what AltaVista is (was), get off my lawn.
Nobody forced them into signing the contracts. If they were foolish enough to sell their ideas for so little, I don't have much sympathy.
In contrast, Stan Lee has managed to protect his ideas quite well (and lucratively for him). Perhaps before they sign over anything else they should get in contact with him and learn some negotiating skills.
I taught Watchmen as the grand finale to an honors college course on apocalyptic literature. The response was outstanding.
Little pictures of people in funny costumes do not an immature genre make. Not in Moore's case, not by a long shot.