Dr. Bob Beltz is a consultant for the owner of Walden Media. He’s now working on bringing another C.S. Lewis classic to the big screen with The Great Divorce. It has the potential to be a fantastic film. It’s got the solid foundation of C.S. Lewis behind it, and if done well, could be a film classic. Dr. Beltz wrote about it on his blog on Examiner.
The Great Divorce: Beloved Pictures is a new independent film company that is developing films that have positive, redemptive stories. They have acquired the rights to develop this C. S. Lewis’ classic. I’ve been brought on as an Executive Producer and creative consultant. If you are not familiar with the book, The Great Divorce is the story of a busload of people from the grey town (a kind of purgatory/hell) that are taken on a trip to heaven. When published in 1946 it was considered by some to be a sequel to Lewis’ Screwtape Letters. The principles at Beloved hope to have a director attached in the next couple of weeks. They currently are in the difficult process of finding investors who believe enough in this kind of film to fund the development and production of the project.
Regarding finding investors who believe enough in this kind of film to fund the development and production of the project…… Who can be contacted regarding this project and what is the minimum amount of investment?
That is a great question Larry, and I don’t know the answer right now, but I’m looking into it, and I’ll reply back just as soon as I get one. I’m sure it won’t be too hard to get that information for you.
Anything by Lewis is worthy of film. I have been trying to get my son to create a movie based on Lewis’ “The Problem of Pain”. Tough one I know, but someone smarter than I will eventually do it!
Sweet!!!! I’m excited for the movie. That’s great that you are also an Executive Producer Paul. 🙂
I’m actually not an executive producer. I wouldn’t mind investing in it, though, if I had the money. Who knows, I might.
Why would it be wierd? I think the book was great, the 1st C.S. Lewis book I ever read and thought the idea was fantastic. Obviously it was not a book for children, but it is a possible fantasy for adults. The idea of not being able to enjoy paradise if you are not meant for it would be great. The book has a lot of visual imagery which, with today’s technology would make the book really come to life. Bravo to anyone who makes it a movie. Thumbs up all the way!!!
If this movie is going to be made, it needs to have a visionary director like; Guillermo del Toro, or Tim Burton. And has to be made with a serious budget… I would hate to see this become cheesy, because it very well could be…. BUT if the right people were put into play, and the art is amazing, this would be a revolutionary film.
And lastly, it would be an awesome 3D movie.
FYI ~ MPower Pictures is handling investors, etc.
Steve McEveety = CEO
Josh Rader = Development Executive
emai: info@mpowerpictures.com
Only serious investors should inquire.
Regards,
Meg Dondero
Beloved Pictures
Am really looking forward to see how this film turns out! I just reread the book to imagine what it would look like translated to screen. You know, the opening scenes remind me in a way of the type of atmosphere present in the ‘Dark City’ film, with a somewhat familiar city setting, but with something otherworldly, not quite right about it. I think that kind of opening for this film would be effective, with the nature of the city and its inhabitants gradually being revealed leading up to and during the bus trip, etc.
The visuals of the Heaven might be a challenge to pull off, but with the right effects I can see how it might be made to look both otherworldly *and* realistic. Don’t want it to look like a bunch of actors were obviously in front of blue screen, though!
Please…no 3D on this one. I agree with Christopher Nolan, Roger Ebert, etc. that 3D has too much of a dimming effect on a film, with the color losing some of the depth it normally has when viewing it in 2D. Inception certainly didn’t need 3D to be excellent and successful, and I hope the studios decide against it for ‘Great Divorce’. IMAX format, on the other hand, if feasible, would be amazing!
I’m afraid most of the more negative comments are from those who have not read the short book, but are assuming it is about Divorce. The book actually has a tremendous potential with all the possible special effects, changes of scenery and twists of plot and message. Of all his books, I think it drives home the message most effectively, that, whether we like it or not, we are each making a decision for or against submitting to God and His will.
I just finished reading the book and to hear that it will be translated onto screen, is incredible. It is a short story, but has a powerful message. A person could learn many lessons from the story. The difficulty would lie with the imagery, but I would be excited to see it on screen.
One of the greatest, most influential book Lewis ever wrote. A life-changer for me.
Paul, have you folks looked into http://www.Kickstarter.com as a source for this. For real projects, I have seen seed investment in the mid six-figures come together pretty quickly.
The Lewis audience is big enough to gain immediate momentum, (including churches and the associated communities).
Best of success,
‘ME
I have definitely seen and used Kickstarter to help out a few projects. Both are film projects, no less. I wish I was more involved and could kick something off like that, but I am not in a position such as that, in the production. Thanks for the idea, though, and I’ll pass it along to folks involved.
Wow; This will be amazing! I’ve read the overview of the book; now I had better get it all read before the movie is released!
I’m excited about it, too, not only because it’s by Lewis and because it’s a great story, but also because it could potentially open up a whole new audience to the works of George MacDonald. Lewis called MacDonald his “master” or mentor, and said he never wrote anything that didn’t have a little MacDonald in it. (I paraphrased.)
Lewis uses MacDonald in the book as a guide for the main character in his tour of heaven.
All of you who like CS Lewis should check out George MacDonald, too. Then, when you get to heaven yourself you and “Jack”, will have a common friend to talk about and with! 🙂