Jeff and me

Yes, that Jeff.

The word is out...someone put out a press release, I suppose....that Jeff Bridges is once again trying to get the film of THE GIVER made. He has been trying to for some years! Things in Hollywood get stalled for all sorts of reasons, most of them having to do with money.   But over these past years, with The Giver floating around out there, I have gotten to know some wonderful people who genuinely care about the quality of the movies they make (or don't end up making, as happens frequently). Jeff Bridges is one.

Most people (well, I haven't done a statistical study, but this is my impression) list The Big Lebowski as their favorite JB movie. My own personal favorite is a lesser-known film called The Door in the Floor. But when Crazy Heart was released, I came close to changing my mind. I loved Crazy Heart. I wrote Jeff at the time that when I saw The Door in the Floor I related to it in many very personal ways.  I could believe in the main character (played by JB) because he was a children's book writer obsessed by grief after the loss of two of his children. I had been there. I was a children's book writer who had lost a son and had to navigate that territory myself.

But then (as I told him at the time) I saw Crazy Heart  and he made me believe in that character as well. And that was more of a feat, because I had never been down and out, never been a drunk, never been as desperate and lost as Bad Blake. I thought Jeff was amazing in that film (for which, of course, he deservedly won an Oscar).

Anyway: I hope he can get this project off the ground this time. He has a fine screenplay and a lot of --- oh my goodness, I never thought I'd ever get to use this phrase --- street cred. Fngers crossed for The GIver. For Jeff Bridges. Hooray for Hollywood.

Comments

[Kelsey]

Hooray! I'm crossing my fingers that this goes through this time around.

I know lots of people cringe to see books turn into movies (so often badly) but The Giver is such a powerful story, and so timely, that I can imagine it touching many, many people through a well made movie. AND I think it will renew interest in The Giver and subsequent books - although I kind of doubt interest has ever really waned...

[Nadria Turner]

Jeff does look like the picture on the cover of The Giver...by the way, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I am taking a Children and Adolescents Lit course and it was a required reading. My daughter read it back in middle school, and it provided us with hours of conversation--a mother/daughter book club of sorts. Of course, she has read all three books in the series (I have to catch up). We really hope to meet you one day and please continue entertaining the minds of kids and kids-at-heart.

[Sally Bender]

I always have my fingers crossed for The Giver. I want more people to know about it, and sometimes it takes a movie to make that happen...unfortunate, but true. So, I will look forward to hearing that Jeff Bridges can get it made and will be first in line to see it when it hits theatres.

[Portia Pennington]

Well...anybody that can give Lois Lowry an opportunity to say "street cred" deserves to make a movie of The Giver! Plus...you just know he would do it right. Fingers crossed that this happens!

[Sarah Allen]

I saw the press release of this yesterday, and it was enough to make me run frantically around the house squeeling with glee :) The awesomeness of The Giver plus the awesomeness of Jeff Bridges might just be too much awesome to take :) I'm a little excited, in case you couldn't tell!

Sarah Allen: http://fromsarahwithjoy.blogspot.com/

[Jennifer Fischer]

I am so excited at this news!! Hooray indeed!! :)

[Lia]

Dear Lois,
I really liked your book STAY, Keeper's story. I would very much appreciate it if you wrote a second book, possibly one where Tug and Tussle are found, or the Mom is found, or maybe Emily's family is robbed. Ooh! Or Wispy has puppies! That would be very cute. Thank you for reading and considering my comment.
-Your reader and fan,
Lia.

[Jessika]

A dream come true for both you and me, though I've always feared that a film version of The Giver might not do it justice. My son so reminds me of Gabe, and I'm often struck by how much that rocks how I read the book, having the realistic version of something I only had a mental image of before. Nevertheless, a film sounds intriguing.

[Siobhan]

Have you read the Hunger Games trilogy? The first book (the beginning, at least) reminded me of Gathering Blue. I'm excited to see the Hunger Games movie next year- but it would be even better to get to see The Giver (especially with The Dude!!)

[Emilie]

Oh yay! Ive been waiting patiently for some time. Who will play Jonas, I wonder? And perhaps Gathering Blue could be some sort of companion/sequel...