Spike Jonze and Charlie Kaufman have made a new film with characteristic ingenuity, and we at Sakebomb decided to keep up with their thematic expedition and do some Adaptation of our own. One irrepressible character from the Being John Malkovich production (for which we did the promotional website) was the "indefatigable misunderstood genius" Lloyd Rice; since the predictable little bastard had swung another Production Assistant job on the Adaptation set, we asked him again to deliver his journals detailing the experience. We then took these journals, edited them, hired actors, and adapted everything into several mildly-dramatized "behind the scenes" short films for an internet audience. (Check out the archived BJM journals for a little background.) Lloyd can be rather particular, and it came as no surprise that the first cuts of Production Days sent him into conniption fits. His reactions and communication with myself over the past few months have been posted here alongside the films to provide a glimpse into a few more layers of the adaptation process; from reality to journal to script to film; the wheels within wheels, as it were. Adaptation is not a painless process. Evolution and development tend to incur growing pains, and whether it is an orchid adapting to a changing environment or a story adapting to different creative processing, everyone everywhere does not get what they want. Some ego must wither that the fittest prevail, some sacrifice occur that herd run strong. Or something like that. (See feature film for more extensive/eloquent exposition.) Anyway, Lloyd can be a real pain in the ass and I think you'll find this entertaining accompaniment to the movies, whether or not the high concept is lost in the mist. -Chuck Verbatim | home |