Author: Emma Loggins
Date: 2008-06-30

Interview:


We had the honor of sitting down with Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black the authors of the beloved book series The Spiderwick Chronicles. We talked with them about their feelings on the movie, the casting, and if we can expect to see a sequel at any point in the near future. Here's what they had to say:

As authors, is it emotionally difficult to have your novels adapted for the big screen? Is it upsetting that scenes have to be changed, or that pieces have to be added to or taken away from the original story?

HB: One of the strengths of working with Tony on this series is that we had to learn to collaborate with one another, so I think it was easier for us to work with other people. There were only a few things that I really wanted to be sure made it into the final film - I wanted the character to be true to themselves and I wanted the faeries to be capricious and dangerous. So, I was happy on all counts.

TD: As a big fan of book-turned-film, I knew that changes would be made from our five-book series into a three-act structure. I think there are strengths that each medium offers. For instance, in film it is much easier to show action and emotion through fast-moving visuals and a musical score. In books, the reader is more engaged in the story as they have to visualize and imagine the events as they unfold.

So there was a clear understanding that things would get changed and omitted. What I told Mark (Waters) was that he remain true to the spirit of the stories Hol and I created, and I think he did that.

How involved were you with the translation of the books into The Spiderwick Chronicles?

TD: We were like the "Go-to" team for knowledge of the Spiderwick realm and the folklore, so we were able to offer input on the scripts. Also, I had many conversations with the production designer, Jim Bissell, about thematic motifs (like the leaves and plants that can be found everywhere in the film, from the wallpaper in the house to Mallory's costume) and how best to instill the idea of man's interaction with the spirit of nature... which is always how I have viewed the faerie-folk.

HB: We saw all of the scripts and gave our input on each. For me, my focus was trying to keep the folklore pretty accurate and also to just try to help make the script the best it could be.

The cast is absolutely perfect for the film. Were there any actors that you knew you wanted going into film, or was it something that just happened through casting?

TD: We were asked to submit a wish list, and David Strathairn was our number 1 choice for Arthur Spiderwick. I had been a fan of his since seeing Eight Men Out back in college. He not only looks like our book rendition of that character, he gives off the same aura in his performance.

HB: We definitely thought that, especially with Jared and Simon, that unknown kids would be cast. We had no idea that they would get Freddie and double him through mysterious means. And Sarah was just so amazing as Mallory. Really, the cast was so much more than we could have ever expected.

TD: Of course, Freddie and Sarah were beyond what I imagined for the leads. I was a big fan of their films too, especially Sarah in In America - that's a great film.