Singapore Writer's Fesival 2009
by Leigh K Cunninghamin Events
2 Nov 2009 | 15 Comments
|
The Singapore Writer's Festival is over after an incredible ten days featuring more than 100 writers of various genres including horror, children's literature, and works based on forgotten histories and narratives of Asia. I was fortunate enough to be involved in this year's festival as Artist Liaison for John Boyne (Ireland) and John Ajvide Lindqvist (Sweden) who, along with Neil Gaiman, led an all-star cast of critically acclaimed international writers. A highlight of the festival for me was the screening of the Swedish film based on the hugely successful debut novel, Let the Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist. I had not read the book since I am not a fan of vampires. I realize it is socially inept to admit to this at this Twilight obsessed juncture, however a childhood fear still has some influence. When I was twelve, I somehow managed to see Dracula on television and it scared me witless. I was convinced that vampires were real, and recall scrounging through our vegetable keeper in search of garlic to hang over my bedroom doors and windows. This was to no avail and resulted in many sleepless, fear-filled nights on guard. I now cook with garlic on a daily basis. What I particularly liked about the film, was that it made the notion of a vampire very real by abandoning the stereotype, for example, there were no fangs, coffins or black capes with red silk lining. As a result, Eli, the vampire ‘child', was believable, and since the movie focused on the relationship between Eli and Oskar, it was easy to forget that it was in fact a story about a vampire. Another highlight of the festival was the Meet the Author session with John Boyne, author of the global bestseller, The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas (or pajamas depending on your continent). The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is about nine-year-old German boy, Bruno, who lives at Auschwitz. He befriends a Jewish boy, Shmuel, who lives on the other side of the fence in the concentration camp. The book has been the centre of some controvery so I found it interesting to hear John address this in his own words. As he says, The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is a work of fiction and subtitled A Fable and, as is the function of a fable, Boyne is merely using Bruno to reveal flaws in our society, and this he achieves in the guise of a tale of friendship between two innocents. As it turned out, this was a common theme in both The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas and Let the Right One In albeit one is about vampires and one is based on the holocaust. Regards Photos from the 2009 Singapore Writer's Festival (more to follow)
|
Other Writer Blogs |
Comments (15)
Actually, both JB & JAL were very pleased with the movies based on their respective books. Obviously JAL wrote the script for his, so he had a lot of control over what was included in the movie, but JB was also kept involved in the Disney movie. I would expect it would help movie promotion if the author liked the outcome so perhaps this is the key, so long as the author doesn't attempt to take over the direction/production!
3 Nov 2009, Leigh K Cunningham, www.leighkcunningham.com
I've read a lot about authors not being too happy with the movie versions of their book. What about JAL - what did he think of the Swedish movie based on his book?
3 Nov 2009, Molly Hardwick
Just noticed John Boyne's The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is still on the NYT Bestseller list after 46 weeks. Just goes to show a little bit of controversy, and movie version, can really help an author!
3 Nov 2009, Katherine Charles
Unfortunately, no. His session clashed with our but I did catch a glimpse of him signing books for a huge crowd. Black is preferred for clothes in Singapore (don't know why) but it was really something else to see a mass of it in one confined space. Also did not realize there were so many Goth and horror fans here.
3 Nov 2009, Leigh K Cunningham, www.leighkcunningham.com
Did you get to meet Neil Gaiman?
3 Nov 2009, Todd Jaynes
Oh wow - the life of an Artist's Liaison! Can you sign me up for the next festival, so long as you can guarantee a thunderstorm with JAL running through the rain shirtless :)
2 Nov 2009, Debbie Vaughan
Seriously no, it all went very smoothly, except for last night I guess. John AL had an hour break between sessions and walked back to hotel for a rest. In the meantime, I massive thunderstorm came through so I was waiting anxiously for him to get back before his session. I looked up and there he was completely drenched. He was less bothered than I was, with just 3 mins to dry off before session began. Lucky he was smart enough to remove his shirt which he scrunched into his pocket so at least he had something dry to put on.
2 Nov 2009, Leigh K Cunningham, www.leighkcunningham.com
Any dramas to report? Come on, don't hold back!
Cynthia
2 Nov 2009, Cynthia Crowley
Most interesting? Ah, possibly the fact that they both clearly enjoyed those sessions that had the most interaction with their fans. In the case of John Boyne, it was his session with his younger fans in the Play Den, and with John Ajvide Lindqvist, it was the Q&A session last night, which interestingly was held during a severe thunderstorm which added to the atmosphere. Completely unscripted :)
2 Nov 2009, Leigh K Cunningham, www.leighkcunningham.com
What was most interesting bit about spending time with the two Johns?
2 Nov 2009, Laney T from OH
Haven't seen movie, but have read Let The Right One In. Will be interesting to see what Hollywood does with the English version of book. Expect it will be entirely different from Swedish production.
2 Nov 2009, Louisa Carrington
I'm not actually into horror myself, but I did get to see the Swedis movie (with English subtitles) for Let the Right One In and agree, it really was a brillilant take on the story. Probably helped that the author wrote the screenplay.
2 Nov 2009, Kat Walsh
For the most part, Artist Liason means getting your author to where he/she has to be at any given time whether it is a session, or media interview or other gathering, and of course airport pick-ups/drop-offs. Thoroughly enjoyable way to spend some time.
2 Nov 2009, Leigh K Cunningham, www.leighkcunningham.com
What a fabulous opportunity. So what exactly does an Artist's Liason do?
2 Nov 2009, Sandra Williamson
Okay, okay - suitably impressed! John Boyne AND John Ajvide Lindqvist!!
2 Nov 2009, Lucy Wilson-Browne