Admiration and Comments

am posting this on behalf

I agree - this site is great.

I've thought about the Stravaganza books as possible movies, and I can't decide whether or not I would want them to become movies. After the incredibly disappointing Ella Enchanted movie (and it was one of my favorite books), I would rather the Stravaganze books stay books than become butchered movies. But, if they did become movies, I do agree that Luciano would be adorable indeed. He was an adorable character in the book, therefore he must be an adorable character in the movies. Maybe by then I'll have starting acting.

Anyway - yes. I do love the books. I am also impatiently waiting the third (although I think that it will be well worth the wait!)

---jocelyn

[Enrico Poggi]

hi ok so i hate the idea of these books becoming movies. thats all i can say i have no good reason but it just wouldnt be right to do it we should conserve the best stuff like the stravanza series to books for those few that can be bothered to read.
ps.City Of Flowers comes out next February in the UK dont know abotu anywhere else.

[Laredo]

It would be fascinating if they did become movies, i mean we assume the 3rd is the last and as long as it didnt turn out like harry potter 3 which they totally butchered i mean that bird should have learned the first time not to fly into the tree, nm, basically there wasa season a second if any of u didnt see it. but wouldnt it be cool to see if the characters were done justice, like rodolfo and his hair- i dont know why but he always reminds me of this Brom (artist) picture of samael, or even luciano, most of our imaginations go quite a way but it'd be nice to see visuals and especialy if mary had input in the movie, but of course if they ruined it there'd be alot of angry fans.

[jocelyn]

I'm not sure when it comes out here (USA). I think I remember the summer of 2005, but I have no idea where I read that from.

I agree with Laredo on the movie bit, as well. It would be an absolutely fascinating movie, but I would hope that if the books were ever made into the movies, the director would work with Mary Hoffman so that they could be as close to the books as possible.

For now, though, I'm still enjoying rereading the books!

[Duchessa]

Oh, i totally can't wait for februrary! No...seriosuly I can't. I need some sort of time machine to take me forwards to get City of Flowers NOW!
I'm honestly not sure about a moive. If done right it would be wonderful (especially as it seems so much more SANE to drool over a film, real-life version of luciano rather than a book character.) but there is always so much chance of it being tampered with and messed up. For instance, did you know that origonally, before J.K. Rowling put her foot down, Hogwarts was going to be turned, in the movie, into "Hogwarts High" complete with cheerleaders and Harry was going to be blonde and thingyy! Incredible isn't it??
Duchessa xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

[Enrico Poggi]

Miss Hoffman, please assure us if there is a movie you will make sure you are heavily involved in the directing so that we need not worry about the books loosing their integrity. ;D

[Mary]

Dear Enrico and all the others,
Whoa! Aren't we jumping the gun a bit? Naturally I should love there to be films but for that to happen a production company has to buy the rights, or at least option them, and that hasn't happened yet. Philip Pullman says if you sell your film rights, which the most lucrative thing a writer can do, you have to stand back and let them get on with it. But Jo Rowling did have a lot to do in the making of the HP films.

I suppose it's a case of what I could negotiate, if it were ever to happen. I certainly shouldn't want them to get away with casting Julia Roberts as the Duchessa or anything like that.

This is a fun game - who would you like to play what part? I always wanted Michael Gambon as Dethridge but I don't know if that's compromised by his being the new Dumbledore. And I always wanted Alan Rickman to play Duke Niccolo. For Rodolfo, Rufus Sewell or Jonny Depp. No idea about the Duchessa and of course Luciano and Arianna would be unknowns. Orlando Bloom for Aurelio the blind Manoush harpist.

Over to you

Mary

[Enrico Poggi]

Great Game but does it have to be famous people coz id like to play that evil stepbrother whos name always seems to evade my toungue. I want Billy Connoly to play something in it and i want Ted Danson to play the dad in the second book. And i dont care who plays the rest as long as the children are all nobodies so they cant be bigheaded.

[Duchessa]

Hmmmmmm, baggy Arianna!!! I have the hair for it!!!
Oooooh, Alan rickman for Duke Niccolo would be utterly perfect!!!!!! And I also agree with orlando for Aurelio though i'm not an orlando nut myself. If only there were a part for johnny depp. *sigh*.
I reckon there should always be a mix of famous people and unknowns. Famous people to draw crowds and look slick and experienced, unknows because...well...they have to start somewhere and you never know when you're going to find a gem!
It may seem like we're jumping the gun a bit but we're actually just PLANNING AHEAD!! This must happen eventually, it's written in the corteo cards.......
xoxoxoxoxoxoxox

[Duchessa]

oops, i missed it. Johnny depp as rodolfo!!!!!! YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Duchessofbooks]

The movie idea is always tempting (to readers, I mean, but I'm sure it MUST be so for authors, too), but I do think my imagination usually does a better job. If those comments about the origianl ideas for HP movies are true (and I am very skeptical), that's more reason to avoid the book-to-movie scenario.

[Duchessa]

I know what you mean. It would just be a nice little fantasy to see your favourite book as real and not just in your head.
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

[Enrico Poggi]

you people just dont get it. Haven't you ever seen LOTR or HP the movies can never ever possibly be as good as the film and frankly i dont think a film about these books would apeal to the masses, its a niesh market. The only reason i would ever want it to be a film was if miss Hoffman was out of money and couldnt write anymore.

[Enrico Poggi]

ok i realise i made a mistake but nobody's perfect i meant a movie cna never be as good as the book not the film

[LadyJasmine]

To Mary Hoffman,
(and everybody else of course ) I think the books would make a wonderful movie, but I dont really think Orlando Bloom would work...I mean, he's a brilliant actor, but, on the down side. A bunch of girls would just go to drool over Orlando(rolling eyes). Course.........That would be good for ticket sales, and he is cute. I hope they make a movie out of your book, it would be wonderful . But I don't want them to mess it up, that would be sad. And if you do get to help with the movie............Im always up to being on the big screen ;D

[Duchessofbooks]

Okay, cool idea... Everyone who has been faithfully sharing our thoughts and compliments on this forum gets a part in the movie! Let's see... I want to be someone who wears pretty dresses.

[LadyJasmine]

(Laughing) I want to be Ariana! ME ME ME! i can do it! now i just have to laern italian and find some way to get a tan....hmmmmmmmmmm(laughing) Since we're all claming parts(laughing) shes got a point though...........(laughing )

Veronica

[Enrico Poggi]

I cant remeber ifalready claimed a part or not but i want to be the evil step-brother in the COS.

[Duchessofbooks]

HIs name is Russell, Enrico, and yes, you did already claim that part. As far as this Stravagante is concerned, it's all yours! I guess that's a fun character part, but Russell never gets to Talia. If I were in the movie, I'd want to be in Talia for sure!

[Duchessa]

huh, i bagged arianna waaaaaayyyyyyy back on page one!! It would be the best thing ever to wear all her ducal stuff and dance and be all load and have people calling you beautiful right left and centre!
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox