Joe Lansdale on film adaption of novels, trends and comics
Joe Lansdale
on film adaption of novels, trends and comics
He did also work in the the Comic-Field with such titles as JONAH HEX (with Tim Truman), BLOOD & SHADOWS (with Mark A. Nelson) and CONAN (again with Tim Truman). Big success could Joe acclaim with his novels for adolscents like THE BOTTOMS or the wonderful 20th-pastiche SUNSET & SAWDUST.
The last published novels in Germany were SUNSET & SAWDUST and LEATHER MAIDEN by Golkonda.
Thank you, Joe for accepting to answer some questions for us.
: I do own those rights, and have optioned them a number of times, and though they have made me money, they have not made movies. I keep hoping.
: Since the series has been going on awhile, Ive had different actors in mind. Some twenty years or so ago, I saw Jeff Bridges and Sam Jackson, and numerous other actors in the role.
Once it was actually planned with Josh Lucas and Don Cheadle, and then it fell through. Its come close a number of times. Im still hoping.
: I love that film. Bruce was great, and I think it is his best film role to date. I was on the set, and Don was kind enough to try and stay close to the story, but I didnt really have anything to do with the production.
: A lot of me is in Hap, and Leonard. I try and use those characters to show both of my sides, though sometimes neither of them are reflecting my views. But Hap is certainly very close to me.
Only thing is, Im getting older, and I stopped aging him about the time of CAPTAINS OUTRAGEOUS. But, I think Im smarter than Hap about the way I handle my life.
: They all seem to sell about the same, but LOST ECHOES is kind of my lost book. It just sort of fell between the cracks. I wish more people knew about it, and in time, maybe they will.
: Horror seems to be back in here in the states. Not the way it was in the eighties, but there are lots of outlets for it. Short story markets for me have increased, not decreased. I love short stories, and though I love to write novels, I prefer the shorter length, especially for anything horror. But there does seem to be a rise in the market, but not a boom.
: Not consciously, except when I first started out. But when I first started out, that never worked. Partly because I was trying to catch a trend, and I was also at the same time learning my craft. But when I wrote what I wanted, I did all right. But I think a trend can create excitement. I started writing horror in the eighties because it excited me. It was a trend, but it was a trend made for me. I had grown up reading horror short stories, and the now and again novel I could find, watching horror films, so I loved the stuff. When the trend was there and excited me, I moved away from crime and mystery and started writing that. Then I moved back to Western a little, then back to crime more seriously, and then back and forth.
: When I was younger I really liked heroic fantasy, but it doesnt float my boat much these days. I might write a heroic fantasy short story, or novella, but I doubt there will be a novel. But, hey, I never say never. Sometimes I catch fire on something I dont expect. I did write a few sword and sorcery stories early in my career, but I dont think they were very good. I would like to write one good sword and sorcery short story, and may well do that.
: I think my style of writing attracted the editor at DC, and the fact that Tim Truman wanted to work with me. Tim is a great artist, and I loved what he did with Hex. Of course, they own the character, not me. I loved my run on Jonah Hex. It was great fun. I also wrote two animated films about him. One was a Batman episode, and another was an eleven minute short on DC SHOWCASE, which was a series of short animated films about their characters.
: Yes. I dont read any one series, but I tend to keep an ear to the ground, and if something is getting some heat, or friends of mine who have taste similar to mine suggest something, I try to pick it up. I read a lot of the Archives of the old DC comics, as well as the Archives of several series Dark Horse is doing, like say, BROTHERS OF THE SPEAR. I grew up on those so its nostalgia. I recently read THE ROCKETEER, BALTIMORE, a five comic run on that character, and now and again I dip into a Batman collection. I prefer to read them when a run has been collected. I also read David Morrells CAPTAIN AMERICA and loved it.
: I know Garth is aware of my writing and likes it. He told me so. As for which character, there are too many to list. But Im interested now in doing something creator owned. I did that once, BLOOD AND SHADOWS, but by the time the art work was finished, the enthusiasm for the comic had been lost and it got less attention than it deserved.
: You never know, because I dont know. I tend to follow my passions. It could happen, and it might not. Well see.
Joe Lansdale: Oh, I dont now about hate, but I just saw MY WEEK WITH MARILYN and TINKER, TAILOR, SOLDIER, SPY and loved both of those.
The last published novels in Germany were SUNSET & SAWDUST and LEATHER MAIDEN by Golkonda.
Thank you, Joe for accepting to answer some questions for us.
: I do own those rights, and have optioned them a number of times, and though they have made me money, they have not made movies. I keep hoping.
: Since the series has been going on awhile, Ive had different actors in mind. Some twenty years or so ago, I saw Jeff Bridges and Sam Jackson, and numerous other actors in the role.
Once it was actually planned with Josh Lucas and Don Cheadle, and then it fell through. Its come close a number of times. Im still hoping.
: I love that film. Bruce was great, and I think it is his best film role to date. I was on the set, and Don was kind enough to try and stay close to the story, but I didnt really have anything to do with the production.
: A lot of me is in Hap, and Leonard. I try and use those characters to show both of my sides, though sometimes neither of them are reflecting my views. But Hap is certainly very close to me.
Only thing is, Im getting older, and I stopped aging him about the time of CAPTAINS OUTRAGEOUS. But, I think Im smarter than Hap about the way I handle my life.
: They all seem to sell about the same, but LOST ECHOES is kind of my lost book. It just sort of fell between the cracks. I wish more people knew about it, and in time, maybe they will.
: Horror seems to be back in here in the states. Not the way it was in the eighties, but there are lots of outlets for it. Short story markets for me have increased, not decreased. I love short stories, and though I love to write novels, I prefer the shorter length, especially for anything horror. But there does seem to be a rise in the market, but not a boom.
: Not consciously, except when I first started out. But when I first started out, that never worked. Partly because I was trying to catch a trend, and I was also at the same time learning my craft. But when I wrote what I wanted, I did all right. But I think a trend can create excitement. I started writing horror in the eighties because it excited me. It was a trend, but it was a trend made for me. I had grown up reading horror short stories, and the now and again novel I could find, watching horror films, so I loved the stuff. When the trend was there and excited me, I moved away from crime and mystery and started writing that. Then I moved back to Western a little, then back to crime more seriously, and then back and forth.
: When I was younger I really liked heroic fantasy, but it doesnt float my boat much these days. I might write a heroic fantasy short story, or novella, but I doubt there will be a novel. But, hey, I never say never. Sometimes I catch fire on something I dont expect. I did write a few sword and sorcery stories early in my career, but I dont think they were very good. I would like to write one good sword and sorcery short story, and may well do that.
: I think my style of writing attracted the editor at DC, and the fact that Tim Truman wanted to work with me. Tim is a great artist, and I loved what he did with Hex. Of course, they own the character, not me. I loved my run on Jonah Hex. It was great fun. I also wrote two animated films about him. One was a Batman episode, and another was an eleven minute short on DC SHOWCASE, which was a series of short animated films about their characters.
: Yes. I dont read any one series, but I tend to keep an ear to the ground, and if something is getting some heat, or friends of mine who have taste similar to mine suggest something, I try to pick it up. I read a lot of the Archives of the old DC comics, as well as the Archives of several series Dark Horse is doing, like say, BROTHERS OF THE SPEAR. I grew up on those so its nostalgia. I recently read THE ROCKETEER, BALTIMORE, a five comic run on that character, and now and again I dip into a Batman collection. I prefer to read them when a run has been collected. I also read David Morrells CAPTAIN AMERICA and loved it.
: I know Garth is aware of my writing and likes it. He told me so. As for which character, there are too many to list. But Im interested now in doing something creator owned. I did that once, BLOOD AND SHADOWS, but by the time the art work was finished, the enthusiasm for the comic had been lost and it got less attention than it deserved.
: You never know, because I dont know. I tend to follow my passions. It could happen, and it might not. Well see.
Joe Lansdale: Oh, I dont now about hate, but I just saw MY WEEK WITH MARILYN and TINKER, TAILOR, SOLDIER, SPY and loved both of those.
