Pajiba

NEWS FOR STEPHEN KING/FRANK DARABONT FOLLOWERS:

On Netflix Instant Watch there's a documentary called 'Tales From the Script', featuring TV and film writers, directors and others discussing what it's like to be a screenwriter in the movie/TV business.

It's a great film so far, but there was about a 25-second quote from Frank Darabont regarding his adaptation of King's 'The Mist' that made me stop and re-print it here before I could finish.

I remember a few 'jibans, myself included, who were really pissed off at the ending of this movie that Darabont directed and wrote the screenplay for. Since 'The Mist' is the only Stephen King story, long or short, that I've ever read, those comments stayed in my memory.

Darabont's statement comes right in the middle, it's not really an explanation at all, and there's no further reference as to exactly what the context of his quote was trying to convey;
however..

I spent about 45 friggin' minutes writing this down from pausing the movie, specifically because I wanted to keep you guys informed, so at least you can appreciate the effort, dammit!

"I had one producer, with his own source of funding-- fought (sic) for me, like a 30 million dollar budget, conditional upon my changing that ending.

"He said, 'I will write you a check for 30 million bucks, you go make your movie. Before you leave the office-' I had to pay him-- he literally had his pen poised.

And I said, 'What ending would you like me to have, what is your suggestion for that?' He said, 'I don't know'. I said, 'I don't know either.' (aside) This is the ending I've been thinking about for - you know, 20 years now- 'if you have an alternative to suggest, just by all means suggest away. I may love it, I may hate it, I might laugh in your face, but I'll certainly listen to it.' (shrugs)

He didn't have that, so I shook his hand and walked out the office door without the 30 million dollar check in my hand and went off and made the movie with Bob Weinstein instead."

Make of that what you will - personally, I'm clueless. But for anyone who has the Netflix and follows this site, you should check this out.