Controlling Interests Should Collaborate Not Clash

Control. It can mean everything in life. Those who have control make decisions affecting those who have none. Meanwhile, the ones who have none have to find other ways of making their feelings and ideas known about certain aspects of the control being governed.

It sounds scientific or political, but it really doesn’t have to be complicated. Control can be a good thing. Take a look at Professor X as an example. He rarely loses control of himself or the “men” he “teaches.” He looks at it as a method of allowing ideas to flow freely thus coming up with the best result.

Where am I going with this? I’ve been wondering lately how the comic book to movie creative process works. More specifically, who has control over the ideas of the story, the characters, and even the actors chosen? Is it a free flow of ideas? Or do big, bad movie execs step in and say, “Here’s your money, now let me destroy your best comic book character?”

Way back in the day (or night) I published my own comic book. I know the work that goes into designing a sweet idea and bringing it to fruition. I know the countless hours that are spent debating the story and how the characters react to the situation. It takes A LOT of work to get the idea perfect. And, once the finished product rolls off the presses, inevitably you will find something you could’ve done better.

Recently Terry Moore had Echo picked up by a movie studio. Kudos to Terry! Now, Terry isn’t a giant corporation like DC Comics or Marvel. I’m sure he’s spent hours, if not days, wondering if he made the right decisions on the nuclear hottie he creates. Then, out of the blue (or maybe it took weeks) a movie exec comes into the fold, throws some money at him, and he’s expected to step aside? Hmmm….

It would be tough to relinquish control over any idea, especially one that is your livelihood. However, I believe it should be a give and take. I’ve mentioned before I think the best comic book movies are the ones where the elemental pieces of the comic show on screen and yet regular movie-goers, who may have never read the comic, seem to enjoy the film just as much. It’s called capturing the spirit of the book and adding a little gravy. I’m pretty sure that’s not an industry term.

Look at it this way, nobody knows comic books better than those who create and read them. Nobody knows movies better than the studios that create them and the people who watch them. In short, it takes both working hard to make the best product possible. Here’s an idea of how I see the creation of a bad comic book to movie being created:

Comic Book Creator: This is my baby, my life work. They need to make sure they don’t kill off the sidekick. He’s important to the spirit of the reader. And don’t change the setting! This is about aspects of my life. It’s personal. Surely they won’t throw out the love interest or cast some overpriced bimbo to play her. Gag me.

Movie Executive: What am I going to do with this guy? He’s pigeon-holed this character into this small setting. We need to expand it. Make it more appealing. The sidekick is boring. We need to make him funnier. Maybe let him wear an inappropriate codpiece or something. The love interest is too real. This is the movies, damn it. She needs bigger tits!

To be fair, here’s how I see a good comic book to movie being made:

Comic Book Creator: You know I’ve always said if I could do this again I would find a way to reach a broader audience. Maybe I could add some depth to the characters by changing the story slightly. Oh, and I’ve always wanted to see my main villain be more physical instead of cerebral. I think it may play better on screen. Man, this is an exciting opportunity.

Movie Executive: I like the choices this book gives to its reader. It’s like we could almost do anything and it wouldn’t stray so far away from the essence of the book. We need to create a bigger dynamic in which the characters can work their magic. This is going to work.

I’m pretty sure the studios have all control over casting. I mean, after all, it’s about who is available for the role as much as who wants to do the role. I think we’re fortunate in this day and age to have so many actors who are of age to play their favorite titles. Besides, I wouldn’t want a movie exec to tell me how to draw a comic book, so I’ll just assume they know the casting process a bit more than me. The only exception is the recent cameos of Stan Lee. Hey, it’s Stan Freaking Lee! He can be in any movie he wants. Even Hollywood knows this!