SCRIPT REPORT: THE TORTILLA CURTAIN
March 14th, 2002
Scott Steindorff (HUMAN STAIN) has hired newcomer Dayan Ballweg to adapt T.C. Boyles novel TORTILLA CURTAIN. The film, based on Ballwegs take of the material, is being fast-tracked. Director Richard Pearce will grasp the reins on the project.
Ballweg, whose YOUNG AMERICANS script was a finalist in the Nicholl Fellowship screenwriting contest (the script is being made by director Andy Hurst), brought an interesting twist to the material which impressed the producer. (This is a good thing; the novel is rather directionless and doughy-with-significance.) Steindorff went on to say: Dayan is a young bright writer who will rise to the top."
The book tells the story of a car accident that brings together the lives of an illegal-alien couple and an affluent couple who live close by, but in an entirely different world.
We here at Screenwriters Utopia consider Ballweg a screenwriter to watch. We havent had the opportunity to see his overhaul of Boyles novel yet, but we thought his YOUNG AMERICANS script showed a blazing flair with the format and heralded a new voice in the trade.
If Ballweg is able to do what his producer said with this novel -- give it a comedic tweak that sets the material free -- then I suggest you book his time now, folks, because it wont be easy in the future. He will become the tough-adaptation taskmaster of his day.
Hopefully my shameless ass-kissing (almost as intense as Steindorffs) will get me a look at this adaptation and I can, for once, highlight a writer who took material and improved on it. There is an age-old legend that its possible.
Well just have to wait and see.
-- Darwin Mayflower (darwinmayflower@yahoo.com)
Ballweg, whose YOUNG AMERICANS script was a finalist in the Nicholl Fellowship screenwriting contest (the script is being made by director Andy Hurst), brought an interesting twist to the material which impressed the producer. (This is a good thing; the novel is rather directionless and doughy-with-significance.) Steindorff went on to say: Dayan is a young bright writer who will rise to the top."
The book tells the story of a car accident that brings together the lives of an illegal-alien couple and an affluent couple who live close by, but in an entirely different world.
We here at Screenwriters Utopia consider Ballweg a screenwriter to watch. We havent had the opportunity to see his overhaul of Boyles novel yet, but we thought his YOUNG AMERICANS script showed a blazing flair with the format and heralded a new voice in the trade.
If Ballweg is able to do what his producer said with this novel -- give it a comedic tweak that sets the material free -- then I suggest you book his time now, folks, because it wont be easy in the future. He will become the tough-adaptation taskmaster of his day.
Hopefully my shameless ass-kissing (almost as intense as Steindorffs) will get me a look at this adaptation and I can, for once, highlight a writer who took material and improved on it. There is an age-old legend that its possible.
Well just have to wait and see.
-- Darwin Mayflower (darwinmayflower@yahoo.com)
Comments
Only logged-in members can comment. You can log in or join today for free!
Advertisement
