Aaron Sorkin's TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD Adaptation to premiere on Broadway December 13, 2018

[zainmax]

HogansHero said: "and with its end now clearly in sight."

What'll be the end? Settlement or cancellation?

 

[HogansHero]

zainmax said: "HogansHero said: "and with its end now clearly in sight."

What'll be the end? Settlement or cancellation?"

I think the latter, because my sense is there is too much intransigence on both sides. And that is Rudin's style.

[Kad]

Rudin is, after all, the one who chose an in-front-of-the-curtain, largely unknown song from Hello, Dolly that did not feature the headlining star to represent the show at the Tonys after not getting his way on having a broadcast live from the Shubert.

[IdinaBellFoster]

I really do hope this is resolved in favor of the production. I'm interested to hear Sorkin's script, and the cast was impressive. 

[Call_me_jorge]

Ummmmm... https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Federal-Judge-in-Harper-Lee-Lawsuit-Gives-Scott-Rudin-15-Days-to-Film-Broadway-Bound-MOCKINGBIRD-20180430

[willrolandsframes]

"Lawyers for Rudinplay suggested that the cast schedules, including film and stage star, Jeff Daniels, wouldn't be able to accomodate the short time frame, but the judge insisted that it could be done.

According to the report, the Lee estate and its representatives will not have access to the filming of the play, but retain the right to object if the material seems to differ from the initial adaptation. An artistic expert working with the Lee estate will also study the Sorkin's adaptation to ensure that the story and characters remain true to the spirit of Lee's novel."

I don't get it. What would a visual version of the production do to help compare two pieces of writing? It sounds like the Lee Estate is simply doing everything in their power to shut this down, and the court is letting them have their way.

I hate Rudin as much as the next guy, but I'm gonna feel real bad for the man if this gets shut down.

[BrodyFosse123]

They haven’t even had their first workshop and rehearsals with the actual cast are weeks away and they’re supposed to whip this puppy together and film it for presentation within 15 days?   Unless he gets substitute actors for this last-minute filming, Rudin is phucked.   

[adamgreer]

I’m not a lawyer or legal expert, so perhaps someone could explain to me why they would need a filmed production? Wouldn’t a copy of the script suffice for comparison’s sake?

[Call_me_jorge]

Scott should just get the cast of carousel to do it.

[SomethingPeculiar]

willrolandsframes said: "I don't get it. What would a visual version of the production do to help compare two pieces of writing? It sounds like the Lee Estate is simply doing everything in their power to shut this down, and the court is letting them have their way.

I hate Rudin as much as the next guy, but I'm gonna feel real bad for the man if this gets shut down."

 

Wasn't Rudin the one who originally offered to stage a reading of the play for the court, and now the judge has countered back with requesting a filmed version? It seems like he's the one who got his production into this situation.

[dramamama611]

A reading is a lot less expensive than having to produce a film. Twice as many people to hire, and equipment to arrange.

[dramamama611]

A reading is a lot less expensive than having to produce a film. Twice as many people to hire, and equipment to arrange.

[KathyNYC2]

SomethingPeculiar said: "willrolandsframes said: "I don't get it. What would a visual version of the production do to help compare two pieces of writing? It sounds like the Lee Estate is simply doing everything in their power to shut this down, and the court is letting them have their way.

I hate Rudin as much as the next guy, but I'm gonna feel real bad for the man if this gets shut down."



Wasn't Rudin the one who originally offered to stage a reading of the play for the court, and now the judge has countered back with requesting a filmed version? It seems like he's the one who got his production into this situation."'

Yes he absolutely did offere to stage a reading. A filmed version is just more permanent.  I am sure the judge doesn't care if it's the same actors, etc and complete with full scenery. But he wants to hear how it's going to play out...as what's on the page is not always the entire story. I think the 15 days is a bit short but hey, you want to change a classic, be prepared to defend it or drop the whole thing.

 

[RippedMan]

Do we know what's being changed because I'd probably side with the Lee Estate. If you want to change the story, write a new play. It's like they took A Dolly's Story and twisted it, they wrote a sequel that spoke to the source material. 

[Anakela]

The NYT story doesn't mention the filming being definite, and makes no mention of a 15 day deadline for it.
 

The producers offered to put on a courthouse performance of the legal drama in their original filings. That discussion continued Monday with Judge Aaron. One possibility discussed was videotaping a performance, perhaps in advance of a live version to be later put on in court. At one point, Mr. Lembke told the judge that he thought someone from his side should be present to watch any performance being recorded.

Judge Aaron indicated that he was not inclined to grant that request.

[QueenAlice]

A new play about this circus and a company of actors having 15 days to film a play for a courtroom would probably make for a more interesting night at the theatre than Sorkin’s adaptation of the novel.

[newintown]

These are just my personal priorities, but I would think that anyone sane connected with this project would just drop it and move on to something more positive. How about they all get together and create an original play? Maybe a play about trying to wring a play out of a famous novel?

[Ado Annie D'Ysquith]

SR Productions be like...

[bk]

Are people here really not understanding what the judge is asking for?  Seriously?  He is basically taking Mr. Rudin's suggestion of a staged reading and asking him to film it, i.e. put a camera up and shoot the reading - not make an actual film of it, for heaven's sake.  I'm sure the reasoning is that the Lee estate might not like to go and sit at a staged reading where they cannot possibly take notes.  Having a one-camera taped version allows them to to that.

[Elegance101]

bk said: "Are people here really not understanding what the judge is asking for? Seriously? He is basically taking Mr. Rudin's suggestion of a staged reading and asking him to film it, i.e. put a camera up and shoot the reading - not make an actual film of it, for heaven's sake. I'm sure the reasoning is that the Lee estate might not like to go and sit at a staged reading where they cannot possibly take notes. Having a one-camera taped version allows them to to that."

I'm not sure, pretty sure he has 15 days to make a major motion picture remake of To Kill A Mockingbird, just to prove a point.

[RippedMan]

Has there been any mention of WHAT Sorkin has changed? I mean, if he's changing major plot points or characters, I can understand it. 

[KathyNYC2]

RippedMan said: "Has there been any mention of WHAT Sorkin has changed? I mean, if he's changing major plot points or characters, I can understand it."

As mentioned previously, he has changed the character of Atticus who now starts out as a bigot and grows into the character that readers saw when reading TKAM. Lee did show us this character in the more recent "Watchman" book (which was written first but not published until recently) but this is supposed to be a drama based on TKAM, not the complete works of Harper Lee. 

That is too big a change for me so I'm glad the estate is protesting this. 

Being it IS a book about children...especially Scout.. and her growth as a character as she sees her father's views of the times, the idea that Sorkin is taking the focus off the children and unto the growth of the father tells me he's the wrong person for this adaptation. Added to the fact that he once said no one wants to hear children talk for 2 hours supports those feelings. If you don't want to hear children, find another project. 

 

[Tom5]

Two questions. 1. How could someone as smart as Rudin have entered into a contract which left him with such exposure? 2. The judge really doesn't know how to read a script? What is he, a producer?!

[GeorgeandDot]

From what I understand Sorkin's version of Atticus isn't a man entirely free of prejudice and does question what he's doing. It seems like a bit more of a realistic approach to a liberal man of that era. Kind of sounds like an interesting way to look at that character. Basically, Sorkin gave him flaws, upgraded the role of their maid to give the show a bit more of a black viewpoint, and has made it memory play (which the book is as well). Of course I haven't read the script, but I've heard it's a very strong adaption and it's unfortunate that it's under fire and we may never see it.

[amaklo]

Tom5 said: "Two questions. 1. How could someone as smart as Rudin have entered into a contract which left him with such exposure? 2. The judge really doesn't know how to read a script? What is he, a producer?!"

In my career I've negotiated and written a lot of contracts.  I'm speculating here, but sometimes the two sides go back and forth and settle on ambiguous language that neither side is happy with, but agree on to get the deal done. Most times the contract is completed without incident.  Obviously Rudin isn't so fortunate here.

Can't help you with the 2nd question. I don't understand why the judge needs a performance either.