Writer's Circle: Casting Call!

[Rachel-K]

Okay, a great book for this favorite lighter thread!

You are going to direct the film version of The Writer's Circle, and your job is to pick the perfect cast to reflect your reading of the novel. Who would you cast as Nancy? As Oates? One refreshing aspect of this novel is that we get a good number of characters older than 20! Who could play Virginia?

Gillian has to be the toughest.

Another question I'd have for your film version is this: Would this be a major production, with all the gloss, sets, and high celebrity cast, or a quieter, understated indie?

[cynthiaoh]

I don't know abou the other characters, but I think Glen Close would make a great Gillian.

[StewiesMom]

That's funny...  I think Gillian would be the easiest to cast.  And, although this story takes place in the US, I'd pick a couple of actors from the UK.  Here goes:

Nancy - Kristin Scott Thomas

Gillian - Michelle Pfeiffer

Bernard - Simon Callow (Played in Four Weddings & A Funeral)

Virginia - Bea Arthur (I know, she passed away last year, but still)

Adam - Hayden Christensen

Paul - Alexander Gould (Played in Weeds)

Chris - Freddie Prinze, Jr. (Yes, I know the character doesn't look like him, but who says I can't place actors where I like!?!)

Amy - Kristi Yamaguchi

Kim - Kirsten Dunst

Delores - Rue McClanahan ( I heard she also passed away, but see above for Virginia's character)

Oates - Kris Kristofferson

I think I've got the major characters, but there you have it.

[literature]

My picks:

Gillian:  Sigourney Weaver

Aimee:  Cameron Diaz (as portrayed in My Best Friend's Wedding)

Adam:  Tab Hunter (when he was quite young)

Virginia:  Shelly Winters or Joan Blondell (boy am I aging myself)

Chris:  Hugh Grant (when he was young)

Oates:  Rock Hudson (as he was portrayed in the movie All That Heaven Allows)  Those of you that were in Eternal On The Water FL club will remember this.  This movie was one of my favorite all time movies from my younger days.

Bernard:  John Larroquette (in a subdued mood)

Jerry:  ?

I think it should be a quieter, understated movie.  It doesn't have to have all the glitz and glamour to be successful.  It's all in the casting and story line.

[dhaupt]

Wow, a lot of good choices. I don't have many choices but the two below

I like Kathleen Turner for Gillian 

and Danny DiVito for Bernard

But I see this better as a Broadway production better than a film

[Corinne-Demas]

This is so much fun!  I love hearing your suggestions because they tell me a lot about how you see the characters. 

I would be thrilled to have The Writing Circle made into a movie. Anybody have connections with any directors, filmmakers, or actors?   I know from my writer friends who've had film versions of their work done that authors aren't always happy with the results-- films sometimes alter the original story so its barely recognizable.

When I write picture books I sell the text, and the publisher selects and hires the illustrator.  It's always interesting to me to see how an artist interprets my words.  So far I've been enchanted by the illustrations for my books-- and quite in awe of the illustrators who've spent months and months working on my story.

--Corinne

[DSaff]

Here are some of my suggestions, although there are already some good ons listed. 

Nancy = Michelle Pfeiffer

Oates = Liam Neeson

Gillian = Angelina Jolie

Adam = Ashton Kutcher

Bernard = Dustin Hoffman

Virginia = Meryl Streep

Chris = Chris O'Donnell

Aimee = Natalie Portman

Paul = Taylor Lautner

[Bonnie_C]

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DSaff wrote:

Here are some of my suggestions, although there are already some good ons listed. 

Nancy = Michelle Pfeiffer

Oates = Liam Neeson

Gillian = Angelina Jolie

Adam = Ashton Kutcher

Bernard = Dustin Hoffman

Virginia = Meryl Streep

Chris = Chris O'Donnell

Aimee = Natalie Portman

Paul = Taylor Lautner

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Donna,

I think  your cast is spot on.  I would only tweak it a bit with the following:

Bernard:  Jack Nicholson

Virginia:  Shirley MacLaine

Bonnie

[Suetj]

I love this casting...and the less is best idea.  Hollywood movies are so full of special effects it would be a lovely understated enjoyable movie to watch.

[StewiesMom]

Donna,

I initially thought of Taylor Lautner, but then I reconsidered!  Nice choices!  I especially like Natalie Portman.  She'd be perfect.  I was trying for youthful and ethnically correct, but your choice is so much better!

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DSaff wrote:

Here are some of my suggestions, although there are already some good ons listed. 

Nancy = Michelle Pfeiffer

Oates = Liam Neeson

Gillian = Angelina Jolie

Adam = Ashton Kutcher

Bernard = Dustin Hoffman

Virginia = Meryl Streep

Chris = Chris O'Donnell

Aimee = Natalie Portman

Paul = Taylor Lautner

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[nymazz]

I like Jack Nickleson for Bernard but can't imagine him with Natalie Portman who is a good choice, that combo is to weird. haha

[DSaff]

Those are good too.

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Bonnie_C wrote:

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DSaff wrote:

Here are some of my suggestions, although there are already some good ons listed. 

Nancy = Michelle Pfeiffer

Oates = Liam Neeson

Gillian = Angelina Jolie

Adam = Ashton Kutcher

Bernard = Dustin Hoffman

Virginia = Meryl Streep

Chris = Chris O'Donnell

Aimee = Natalie Portman

Paul = Taylor Lautner

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Donna,

I think  your cast is spot on.  I would only tweak it a bit with the following:

Bernard:  Jack Nicholson

Virginia:  Shirley MacLaine

Bonnie

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[DSaff]

I like Taylor for the role, but Alexander Gould could work too. So many good options! 

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StewiesMom wrote:

Donna,

I initially thought of Taylor Lautner, but then I reconsidered!  Nice choices!  I especially like Natalie Portman.  She'd be perfect.  I was trying for youthful and ethnically correct, but your choice is so much better!

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DSaff wrote:

Here are some of my suggestions, although there are already some good ons listed. 

Nancy = Michelle Pfeiffer

Oates = Liam Neeson

Gillian = Angelina Jolie

Adam = Ashton Kutcher

Bernard = Dustin Hoffman

Virginia = Meryl Streep

Chris = Chris O'Donnell

Aimee = Natalie Portman

Paul = Taylor Lautner

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[GuzziAlfa]

Having Gillian on my mind, I can't see Michelle Pfeiffer.  Personally, I see Christina Cole or Melissa George.

Bernard - Peter Wingfield

Rachel - Lauren Graham

Sorry - just really wanted to get the Gillian character out there having Gillian on my mind and all.

John S.

[crazyakchick]

i'll have to think about the rest, but my first thought for gillian was cate blanchett.  and, thinking about it, she's the only one i felt strongly enough about to have a defiinitive face for. 

[pen21]

I am not very good at this and usually just read this thread. But I was thinking of Demi Moore as Gillian. That is the picture in my mind.

pen21

[dhaupt]

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pen21 wrote:

I am not very good at this and usually just read this thread. But I was thinking of Demi Moore as Gillian. That is the picture in my mind.

pen21

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Hmm pen, I never pictured Demi for Gillian, what made you think of her

[pen21]

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dhaupt wrote:

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pen21 wrote:

I am not very good at this and usually just read this thread. But I was thinking of Demi Moore as Gillian. That is the picture in my mind.

pen21

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Hmm pen, I never pictured Demi for Gillian, what made you think of her

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I was thinking of her characters in the Charlie's Angels or Disclosure movie. I hope I have the right movies here. Demi does good playing a character with a bad side.

[Corinne-Demas]

Gillian on my mind--sounds like a song title!

What sort of theme music would you score for her?

--Corinne

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GuzziAlfa wrote:

Having Gillian on my mind, I can't see Michelle Pfeiffer.  Personally, I see Christina Cole or Melissa George.

Bernard - Peter Wingfield

Rachel - Lauren Graham

Sorry - just really wanted to get the Gillian character out there having Gillian on my mind and all.

John S.

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[EiLvReedn]

Someone earlier said Gillian should be Glen Close. I would agree. Maybe when she was a bit younger though. She does do a good villian. For Paul I was thinking of the kid in the movie "Second Hand Lions"