I Write Because...III

8/20/09 Everyone Should - Write Because… By M. Asinoff

I write because I can’t stop! I wouldn’t if I could because it’s a profound blessing. It makes me feel so alive! And heightens my sense of being as thoughts flow from the inner most recesses of my mind, down my fingers, & onto to a simple sheet of paper. or computer screen! It’s a healthy passion, addiction & obsession! Writing’s not just what you do. Like any artist it’s who you are. My dentist, Peter Hertello has M.S. in Psychology & said, “It’s part of your nature!” You don’t choose it. It chooses you, if you’re lucky!

That importance of writing skills goes double for non Math people like me. I met two psychologists & a lawyer who consider passing H.S. Geometry…with a D the greatest accomplishments-of their careers.

I told my Algebra Professor X = anything you want…if I can go. You don’t have to prove anything. Why would you lie? You have a very honest face and a beard like Lincoln. If you say X=3 I believe you. Can I go? He and- the- class LOL. But he didn’t let me go.
I learned patience, purpose and control which equal a valuable tool: focus. Sometimes I’m so engrossed I “fight” hunger, thirst, and bathroom urges.

In college I wrote many essays and term papers. I didn't mind because I realized a big part of education- is developing good communication skills. My counselor, Thea Custiss, RIP, said something I’ll never-forget. ”If-you can’t get your ideas across in a clear, concise, manner they’re lost. It doesn’t matter how brilliant they are!”

This was “driven home” when Professor Paul Broer & I were blessed: I took his Freshman English class in-Fall, 1991. He helped change my life: I was a Graphic- Arts major. He helped me redirect my passion for talk radio into one for writing. Most of my essays had political themes and I soon discovered we often disagreed. Despite that he granted me the latitude & encouragement to express myself to the best of my ability. I never, ever would have become a writer, teacher & professor without his influence.

He said something I’ll always recall: “Writing’s hard enough; you shouldn’t have to read my mind as to what I want.” I was inspired when he said something paradoxically very profound, yet so simple: “You write because you have something to say.” Isn’t that why people text? He later added, “Writings are frozen in time like a statue or piece of music.”

By the end of the term we became friends. We never imagined his inspiration would motivate & inspire me to develop a three-page, doubled–spaced essay I wrote for him in November, 1991 into a 190-page, single-spaced, outline for a book. He jokes it's the essay that won't die & I'm the student, who won’t leave because I took literature courses with him after that. I kid him about having the only “BB: Bachelor’s in Broer”.

In Journalism College I learned how much fun it is to write a sit com. Professor Mancini, my mentor & “Uncle” Tony, made me realize the joy of Feature Writing. And my passion for writing is so strong that if I’m never published, much less become a Shakespeare or Hemingway, I’ll be happy as it’s so gratifying! I vent like talking without the fear whomever I confide in can’t, or won’t keep my secrets. Plus, I decide what, when & with whom I share.

Importance of Language

Words don’t just represent thoughts and feelings: they have the power to evoke the full range of human emotion. Many have sued for and won millions in slander, libel and defamation of character lawsuits.

Words have led to many deaths as it did “on July 11, 1804: Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr dueled. Hamilton was killed b because in 1800, Burr published, ‘The Public Conduct and Character of John Adams, Esq., President- of- the- United States.’ It -was highly critical of Adams, a Federalist (political party then). Hamilton, its author, had intended it for private circulation. Its publication proved highly embarrassing to Hamilton and helped widen rifts in the Federalist Party…

“…in 1804…Dr. Charles D. Cooper, attended a dinner party at which Alexander Hamilton spoke forcefully and eloquently against Burr. Cooper later wrote a letter to Philip Schuyler in which he made reference to a particularly ‘despicable opinion’ Hamilton expressed about Burr. The letter was published in… the ‘Albany Register…” (The American Experience)

Writing’s also an analytical tool: half the battle of problem solving is the stress, anxiety and frustration emanating from the inability to identify and focus on the problem. It enables me to collect, condense, coordinate and clarify my thoughts. And “aim-for-the-bulls-eye”: resolution!
Anne Frank said, “Paper is more ‘patient’ than people”. A profound- thought for a writer of her tender-years. It must be the foundation for her famous diary.

Writing helps shut out the chaos of the world. So I can focus. It also offers a drug free, escape from life's pressures. Plus, it can be a retreat into my own fantasy world because the limits are that of the imagination". As so aptly phrased by the- late, great, Rod Serling, writer & host of the famous TV- show, “The Twilight Zone”. Imagination can provide the ultimate escape. Isn’t that why women read romances & men science fiction, westerns & spy adventures & best sellers are made into movies?

Paradoxically, despite living in an era of super computers, the only hardware actually required never changes: a writing instrument and paper! The only software required is to desire to express your self. It transcends time, age, race, religion, lifestyle, etc.

I also love “playing” with words: rephrasing & rearranging them. I challenge myself & offer my readers’ a chance to grow in their vocabulary. Writers are artists & “wordsmiths”: words are our “paint”. The- shades-of meaning equal shades of colors to painters. A blank- sheet- of paper or computer screen is our canvas.

The value of good writing skills is the most important thing I learned in college. Interestingly, I learned this accidentally when taking Psychology with Dr. Steve Alden in July, 1991: during- the midterm, a classmate griped about essays. His response was something so profound I can't believe I didn’t realize or hear it before: "Life is not multiple-choice! Like it, or not, everywhere you go & whatever you do for a living you must be able to write. If you're a supervisor, manager, secretary or a business person you must be able to write letters, memos & reports! Life is not multiple-choice!"

That day I quickly learned that if you can’t write, you have a big problem. This was validated by Nick, a supervising engineer who holds a master's degree in his field. He said, "I write more since becoming a boss than I did in college…It gives me an edge over my coworkers. If they can't write & someone’s let go, it‘ll be him.”

"Professor Alice Richardson’s my friend, a writer & said, "Writers wage a war with words on paper!" This struggle isn't just timeless, it transcends barriers, race, creed, color, age, religion, social & financial status, time & place of birth, etc.

In the current economic climate employees are disposable “appliances” V. assets to nurture thus making good writing skills more invaluable than ever. They can help advance careers and bring all the money, power, prestige, etc. you desire with it. My “Uncle” Bing didn’t- dream a B.A. in Journalism would help him to- become a college president over a- generation later.

Most politicians are attorneys and wrote a lot to get where they- are. President Clinton wrote his own first inauguration speech in 1992. California Senator Barbara Boxer was a journalist & writes her own speeches.

Shows, Movies & Plays

Larry Gelbart, the comedy writer developed Dr. Richard Hooker's best selling, novel M*A*S**H* into the hit movie & TV show. He described it as "the endless rearranging of 26- letters." Professor Alice Richardson’s a writer too & said, "Writers wage a war with words on paper!" This struggle isn't just timeless, it transcends barriers, race, creed, color, age, religion, social & financial status, time & place of birth, etc. J.K. Rowling was on welfare & wrote the first Harry Potter book while her baby slept. Who knew what she’d create?

Many books such as “Lord of the Flies” & ”Clockwork Orange” were made into movies.
The recent TV writers’ strike cost networks billions. Reality shows, including pro wrestling are scripted.

The Law and Order franchises are very successful because they are story “driven”. It also enables the producers to “invite” actors such as Chris Noth to leave at raise time. The producers write most of the episodes. So they pay themselves instead of writers.

Many movies and TV shows such as “Gilligan’s Island” and “Lost in Space” and the new drama “Crusoe” were based upon Daniel Defoe’s 1709 novel, “Robinson Crusoe”

Sherlock Holmes

The stories of S.Holmes were very popular as adaptations for the stage, and later film, and still later television. The Universal S, Holmes (1995) by Ronald B. DeWaal lists over 25,000 Holmes-related productions and products


Johhny Dep’s latest film Public Enemies is based upon the book by Public Enemies: America's Greatest Crime Wave and the Birth of the FBI, 1933-34.

Time Traveler’s Wife a new movie is based upon Audrey Niffenegger's debut novel.

Stage

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle penned --- S. Holmes books. From xxxx – xxxx Many plays, a musical & a ballet have been written around Holmes. He’s the single most frequently filmed fictional character with almost 200 film appearances to date. Only Count Dracula comes close to matching his record.

The first known film featuring him is S, Holmes Baffled, a one-reel film running less than a minute, made…in 1900. Many similar films were made in the early years of the 20th century, most notably the 13 one- & two-reel films produced …between 1908 & 1911. In 1911…a series of 11 short comedies based on the Holmes character was created…
The next significant cycle of Holmes films were produced…in Britan between 1921 & 1923 . A total of 47 two-reelers were made…. A later British series was produced between 1933 & 1936… .

John Barrymore played the role in a 1922 movie entitled S. Holmes…William Powell made his first screen appearance.

Many other films have been comedies & parodies of Holmes, Watson, their relationship & other characters. These have included Billy Wilder’s The Private Life of S. Holmes… the duo as school boys (in this film one of Holmes' early mentors becomes an enemy who, in the final credits…signs his name as Moririty) which Sir Art Conan Doyle did not write.

More serious, non-canonical films were A Study in Terror…& Murder by Decree (with Christopher Plummer & James Mason) both of which involved Holmes & Watson investigating the murders by… Jack the Ripper.

The 1988 film Without a Clue was a comedic twist on the familiar Holmes legend. Dr. John Watson (Ben Kingsley) is a genius crime fighter & successful author. Fans of his novels clamor to see the real S. Holmes & Watson realizes that his audience simply would not accept the fact that Holmes was a fabrication & to reveal himself as the creator & brains behind him would be tantamount to literary suicide. To solve his dilemmas, Watson hires Reginald Kincaid (Michael Cain)… to impersonate Holmes.

Robert Downey, Jr. [1] & Sacha Baron Cohen will both star as Holmes in competing films. [2]The Baron Cohen film is being written by Etan Cohen & will feature will co-star Will Ferrel as Watson. The Downey Jr. film is written & directed by Guy Ritchie & will feature Jude Law as Watson.
Basil Rathbone as Holmes

Rathbone’s career as Holmes began with The Hound of the Baskervilles and The Adventures of S. Holme…& released in 1939–the first Holmes films to be set in Victorian, v. contemporary, times. These were followed by a series of 12 films (& a cameo appearance in the 1943 comedy Crazy House) produced by Universal from 1942-1946, set in the present & frequently pitting Holmes against Nazi agents. Although only the first of Rathbone's films was based directly on material by Conan Doyle, e.g The Spider Woman (1944) was an amalgam of two stories, many fans feel that his portrayal most faithfully captures the Holmes of the original stories, due in part to his resemblance to Sidney Paget's original Strand illustrations…

As well as his film performances, Rathbone has played Holmes in 219 radio performances, on TV & stage. One of these, a record of The Red-Headed League, was sampled 19 years after his death to provide the voice of Holmes for the 1986 Disney animated film, The Great Mouse Detective.[1]

Nigel Bruce played Watson to Rathbone's Holmes, playing the man as a bumbler & somewhat foolish, & in some films as retired, which is contrary to Doyle's depiction (although, as supposed chronicler, it is unlikely Watson would have dwelt over-much on his own deficiencies).
Radio

One famous radio appearance starred Orson Welles as Holmes in an adaptation of one of William Gillette's plays. This was broadcast in September, 1938 as part of the "Mercury Theater on the Air" series on CBS Radio.

Throughout the early 1940s on American Radio, Basil Rathbone & Nigel Bruce performed as Holmes & Watson, respectively, in several series of canonical and original Sherlock Holmes stories on the The New radio show. These broadcasts were loosely based on Doyle's cases. When Rathbone finally departed the role before the 1947 season, Tom Conway played Sherlock Holmes opposite Nigel Bruce for one season. After a change of networks, there were two more pairings: John Stanley as Holmes and Alfred Shirley as Watson in 1947-1948 and John Stanley and Ian Martin in 1948-1949.

John Gielgud played Holmes for BBC radio in the 1950s, with Ralph Richardson as Watson. Gielgud's brother, Val Gielgud, appeared in one of the episodes, perhaps inevitably, as Mycroft Holmes….known American actors also appeared, such as Orson Wellesas Professor Moriarty in The Adventure of Final Problem.

Carleton Hobbs portrayed Holmes in a series of BBC radio broadcasts that ran from 1952 to 1969, with Norman Shelley playing Watson. Of the many actors who have portrayed Holmes and Watson for the BBC, the Hobbs & Shelley duo is the longest running.

In many other radio adaptations (over 750 in English), including a more recent BBC Radio …. Together, the two actors completed radio adaptations of every story in the canon between 1989 & 1998. The Further Adventures of S. Holmes, a new series consisting of original stories written exclusively by Bert Coules was then commissioned, but following Williams' death from cancer in 2001, he was replaced by Andrew Sachs. The episodes of The Further Adventures were based on throwaway references in Doyle's short stories & novels. The complete canonical run is available on CD & audio tapes. Four of the five original stories transmitted in 2002 are also available on audio cassette & CD, & four of the five original stories transmitted in 2004 are available on CD.

List of BBC Sherlock Holmes Dramatiusations Starting in 1998…new, original Holmes stories for radio in N. America were made. These are presented within the Imagination Theater program on radio stations & XM satellite radio. The new stories are also broadcast under the banner The Further Adventures of S. Holmes… & a new series based on Conan Doyle's original tales called "The Classic Adventures of S. Holmes." Many episodes are available on CD as well as downloadable from the Imagination Theater website.
Comic strip A short-lived half page S. Holmes comic strip appeared daily & Sunday in the fifties, written by radio scriptwriter Edith Meiser & drawn by Frank Giacoia.
Comic books There have been many S. Holmes comics, notably from Dell & DC. Holmes was also featured prominently in issue thirteen of the DC/WildStorm series Plantary... Howard Webster’ Holmes shows a tougher take on him…..[1]

Television There have been many TV adaptations of the better-known Holmes tales, notably The Hound of the Baskervilles, over the years. Many aficionados consider the Granada TV adaptations screened from 1984 to 1994, The Adventures of S. Holmes, with Jeremy Brett, as the most faithful depiction of the stories ever made. …all but 19 of the Conan Doyle stories were filmed before…1995. Between 1984 & 1994, 36 episodes & five films were produced over six series….many as being at odds with Doyle's descriptions of Holmes as more suave & congenial. Brett & Hardwicke reprised their roles as Holmes & Watson in 1988-89 in a West End stage play, The Secret of S. Holmes, written by Jeremy Paul (the secret being that Holmes had "invented" Moriarty as a challenge to his investigative ability).

One of the earlies tv versions of Holmes & Watson was produced…in 1954… In the 1960s, there was a BBC TV series with….Peter Cushing, who had earlier played the detective in the Hammer version of The Hound of the Baskervilles... It was a 24 part 1980 series…

John Cleese played Holmes in a 1973 episode of "Comedy Playhouse"…. Cleese later starred as Holmes' grandson - Arthur S. Holmes - in the one-off TV special The Strange Case of the End of Civilation as We Know It (1977)… Between 1979 & 1986, Soviet tv made a series of five films at the Lenfilm movie studio, split into 11 episodes… This series was referred to as "the best Holmes screening ever" by the British Queen. Later, a cinematic adaptation was made based on the 1986 episodes. This film was called S. Holmes in the 20th Century. The android Commander Data (Brent Spiner) from Star Trek: The Nex t Generation was interest in visiting the holodeck & playing Holmes…. Would replay & try to solve some of his favorite Holmes stories, or let the computer improvise a new mystery in the style of Doyle's stories….

In the hit TV Show House, M.D. the lead charicter’s home address is Holes. A security company is named Holmes to play upon the famous charicter. The contemporarily-set 1987 television movie "The Return of S. Holmes"… Margaret Colin as Dr. Watson's granddaughter, Jane. Jane, after following directions written by her grandfather years ago… thawed Holmes who had been cryogenically frozen by Dr. Watson for 88 years due to Bobonic Plague. They become a team -- the essential Victorian gentleman & a post-feminist young woman -- to solve a case…
An animated series, S. Holmes in the 22nd Century, brings Holmes into the future… There is also a Japanese animated series called S Holmes featuring animal characters... Another Japanese anime program Case Closed features a main character by the name of Conan, & is based on Holmes.

The children's TV Series Wishbone featured Holmes and Watson in two episodes: "The Slobbery Hound" (based on The Hond of the Baskerville) and "A Dogged Exposé" (A Scandal in Bohemia).
In the series, Holmes the Golden Years (1991-1992 TV films), he’s (played by Christopher Lee & Watson played by Patrick Macnee are older adults continue investigating the cases - two files: Incident at Victoria Falls (1991 TV ?film) & S. Holmes & the Leading Lady (1192 ‘TV Movie).
In 2000 the TV movie Murder Room featured Ian Richardson as Dr. Joseph Bell, who solved (fictional) crimes with the aid of his young pupil Arthur Conan Doyle. Four more telemovies followed in 2001. The series was subtitled "The Dark Origins of S. Holmes" for US syndication.
2002 saw a new version of The Hound of the Baskerville…then …the 2004 BBC airing of S. Holmes & the Case of the Silk Stalking, alternatively billed as "The Return of S. Holmes". An original screenplay "based on the character created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle"….
2002 film made for tv cable, Cae of Evil about 20-something Holmes…who worked as early practitioner of autopsies are on the case of Holmes' archenemy, Professor Moriarty….
In 2007, the BBC released S. Hoilmes, a children's series focussing on the Baker Street Irregulars & starring Jonathan Pryce as Holmes. Board Game S. Holmes & his world are on board & video games too.
On the World Wide Web

In Jan 04, the BBC posted five new Holmes short stories on their "Cult" website, along with RealAudio files of the stories…. The audio productions were done in association with BBC 7, but are no longer available. The texts of all five short stories are still posted, with accompanying illustrations and illustration galleries, as well as an edited transcript of an interview with Bert Coules. The short story texts can also be downloaded as eBooks in three different formats.
Women's Murder Club is an American police procedural & legal drama set in San Francisco, California. The series stars Angie Harmon & is based on the series of novels written by James Patterson. The TV series ”Gossip Girl” climbed to the top of the NY Times Best-Sellers list in 2002 and adapted fot TV in 2007. The spin-off, TheA Girl, made the list in 2005.
The Constance Billard School for Girls, the Gossip Girl characters' elite single sex, is based upon Cecily's all-girls private prep school, Nightingale -Bamford. As well, events from the book are based on her extremely wealthy friends who had "those parents" & "those lives", & Cecily's own life as being a gossip.[5]

8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter’s based on the book by columnist W. Bruce Cameron. It won a Primetime Emmy & another 8 wins & 12 nominations. John Ritter won an Emmy posthumously.

The late Earl Stanley Gardner was a California lawyer for decades & created the famous “Perry Mason”: a fictional defense lawyer who originally appeared in detective fiction. The first novel is The Case of the Velvet Claws, 1933. Mason appeared in over 80 novels & short stories, most involved his client on trial for murder. Typically, he showed his client's innocence by proving another character’s guilt.

Gardner was one of the all–time, best-selling authors & had "135 million copies of his books in print in America alone in the year he died." (1969). Mason’s also well-known from many appearances in film & TV, including "TV's most successful & longest-running lawyer series" from 1957-1966, another series in 1973-74, & over 25 made-for-TV movies from 1985 - 93.
The new WPIX TV series “Legend of the Seeker” is based upon the series of books entitles “The Sword of Truth” by Terry Goodkind.

Charles Shulz created “The Peanuts” gang. On October 2 1950, they debuts in seven newspapers. Since then they continue to earn millions since his passing in 2000. They were many TV specials & are still a $ machine in merchandising.

“Sex & the City” & "Cashmere Mafia", are based on books by Candes Bushel. “Dexter” is based on the novel, “Darkly Dreamy Dexter” by Jeff Lindsay.

Edward Stratemeyer invented a character with a timeless quality. In the beginning years, Nancy Drew books were published at an astounding rate of one per month. Today, Simon & Schuster continue to match that output. As of 1993, Nancy Drew book sales reached 80 million copies & were printed in 14 languages. As demonstrated by the series' longevity, Nancy Drew continues to be a favorite among loyal fans of all ages. In October, 1912 All-Story magazine’s cover might have caught your eye: a barbarously clad man sits astride a rampaging lion, his knife raised for the kill, as another man (probably the lion's intended dinner) looks on in horror. The title was as exotic as the illustration: "Tarzan of the Apes~ A Romance of the Jungle." It was written by Edgar Rice Borrows. Fifteen cents would have gotten you a copy.

The books sold worldwide (even in the Soviet Union, where such tales were not well regarded by the Communist government), and the nearby community of Hollywood was busy cranking out Tarzan movies. Borrows named the character for his dog. He bought a ranch in Southern California and named ii Tarzana. The town later adopted the name as well.

A few Tarzan & other Burroughs books were reissued in paperback in 1963 … soon virtually all of Burroughs' books were back in print, accounting for 10’% of paperbacks sales. Merchandising & many radio & TV Shows, plays, comic strips, movies & cartoons were inspired by the novels. And now, at the beginning of a new millennium another generation has rediscovered Burroughs through Disney's animated classic "Tarzan." Carol Burnet did a “Tarzan” call: for the audience before her hit variety TV Show in the 1970’s. J.K. Rowling was on welfare & wrote the first Harry Potter book while her baby slept. Who knew what she’d create?

Many best selling authors are reprinted in many languages. John Grisham & David Baldacci are- attorneys, too. Baldacci’s-novel “Stone Cold” was a movie starring Clint Eastwood. “Jurassic Park” are- books by Michael Crichton, the author of “The Andromeda Strain” & creator of the hit TV show “E.R.” Bruce Porter’s book “Blow” was a hit movie starring Johnny Dep & Penelope Cruz. Steven King novels “It”, “Tommy Knockers”, “Carrie” are movies. The “Dead Zone” was a TV series, too. Truman Capote’s “In Cold Blood” was a movie & helped launch Robert Blake’s career. “The Six Million Dollar Man” is based upon the book “Cyborg” by the late, Martin Caidin.

“Little House on the Prairie” ran for a decade & was inspired by Laura Ingalls Wilder’s series of “Little House” novels & were–reprinted in- over-40-languages.

Super hero movies are based upon comic book characters. “Dick Tracy” & “Annie” were comic strips long before movies & plays.

Black Hawk Down is a 2001 war film by Ridley Scott based on the book by the same name by Mark Bowden. It depicts the Battle of Mogadishu, which was part of the U.S. military's 1993 campaign to capture Somal warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid. The film won four awards & was nominated for 15 others.

David E. Kelly is an attorney too. He created the hit TV series “Ally McBeal”, “The Practice”, “L.A. Law”, “Picket Fences”, “Boston Public”, “Chicago Hope”, “Civil Wars”, & “Boston Legal” & the movie, “To Gillian on her 39th Birthday.”

The famous Godfather movies remembered for Marlinj Brando’s performance are based on Mario Puzzo’s book.Edward Stratemeyer, RIP was a mystery writer who created many characters. The most know are the Hardy Boys. They were concieved in 1926 with the creation of plot outlines that became the first volume of the series.

Goodfellas (also spelled GoodFellas) is an Academy Award winning 1990 crime drama film directed by Martim Scorcese, based on the book Wiseguy by Nicholas Pileggi, the true story of mob informer Henry Hill.

Various “ghost” writers were employed, under contract of secrecy, to pen the actual stories. The first author was Leslie McFarlane, whose writing defined the literary style of the series, as well as the personalities and nuances of its characters. McFarlane authored volumes 1–16 and 22–24. It was a hit TV Series in the late 1970’s and launched Shaun Cassidy’s acting and singing careers.

In 1930 Stratemeyer invented a character with a timeless quality: Nancy drew. In the early years, the books were published at an astounding rate of one per month for a total of 56 before his death that year. Today, Simon & Schuster continue that output. As of 1993, Nancy Drew book sales reached 80 million copies and were printed in 14 languages. It led to numerous movies, merchandising, numerous- other books by his daughters, Edna and Harriet, and a 1970’s TV Show that launched Pamela Sue Martin’s career.

The late, Loraine Viuian Hansberry wrote “A Rain in the Sun.” It remiered on Broadway on 3/11/9 to rave reviews. The NY Drama Critics Circle named it the best play of 1959, & it ran for nearly two years & was produced on tour. In 1960 It was nominated for four Tony Awards: Best Play - Written by Lorainne Hansberry;…Sidney Poitier Best Actress in a Play… It’s been revived in print, on stage & screen many times. I read it in Broer’s American Litt. class & saw a superb round table discussion of it by several English Professors & the v.p. the next term. It’s rare that a movie does the book it’s based upon justice as this one does.

Victor Hugo worked on LES MISERABLES for 16 years. It was published it in 1884 & one of the best-known novels of the 19th Century. Later it was enlivened by a videotape of songs from the musical-which throughout Europe, the US & Japan has been one of the most popular musicals ever produced. It’s the third longest-running show in Broadway history & will, on 10/ 8, pass the 21 year old record of Cats in London to become the longest–running musical ever on the W. End or Broadway with 8372 performances; a run nearly three years longer than Broadway’s record holder: The Phantom of the Opera…It’s been seen by over 54 Million in 38 countries & 21 languages since its first London performance in 10/85. The original Broadway production opened on 3/12/87 at the Broadway Theatre, winning seven Tony Awards that season, including best Musical. The show went on to play a total of 6,680 performances... It was also a successful movie.

British “Old Passions book of Practical Cats” by the famous poet T.S. Elliott.
Charles Dickens was a journalist and novelist in the early to mid 19th century. His stories “Nicholas Nickleby” -1838, “Oliver Twist”-1839, “A Christmas Carol” - 1843, “David Copperfield” -1849, etc. all live on in the hearts & minds of generations. And have been seen by millions many times on film.

The same goes for Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain). He wrote over 25 books. “Tom Sawyer” – 1876, “Huckleberry Finn” -1884 are still required reading in many school curriculums. They along with “The Prince & the Pauper” 1882, have been made into films long ago & will continue to be enjoyed for generations.

Some years ago Hal Holbrook did a very good impression in “Mark Twain Tonight.” Three’s a show in Missouri called breakfast with Mark Twain. A live impersonator performs impressions of- Twain. He was also known for his candor & wit: “the rumors of my death have been grossly exaggerated.”

In the summer of 1816, 19-year-old Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin, later to marry poet Percy Shelley wrote Frankenstein. It was inspired by a nightmare. All the subsequent movies & 1960’s TV Show “The Munsters” were based upon it. Frankenberry cereal has made General Mills millions over the years. Mel Brooks made a parody movie based upon the story entitled “Young Frankenstein.” It was also revived as a play.

Dracula ‘s a novel published on May 18, 1897 by Irish author Bram Stoker featuring as its primary antogonist the vampire. The various movies stasrring Bela Lagosi & Christopher Lee were based upon the novel. Count Chocula cereal’s based upon the charicter. And made General Mills millions over the decades.

Ken Kesey’s cult novel, “One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest” was a novel. It was madeinto a movie starring Jack Nicholson and Louise Fletcher. And swept the 1975 Oscars including Best Picture. Having read the book first I was highly dissapointed by the movie. They rarely do movies do the book justice.

“In the Name of the Father”: a 1993 film directed by Jim Sheridan based on the life story of the Guilford Four, four people falsely convicted of the IRA's Guildford Pub bombing which killed four off-duty British Soldiers & a civilian. The screenplay was adapted by Terry George & Jim Sheridan from the autobiography Proved Innocent by Gerry Conlon.

The Color Purple is an acclaimed 1983 eistolary novel by American author Alice Walker. It received National Book Award Award..It received the 1983 Putlitzer Prize for Fiction and the National Book Award. It was later adapted into a film and musical of the same name.
The novel was adapted into a film of the same name in 1985. I t was directed by Speilberg
Whoopi Goldberg as Celie, Danny Glover as "Mr. ___", and Oprah Winfrey as Sofia. Though nominated for 11 Academy Awards.

On December 1, 2005, a musical adaption of the novel opened at the Broadway Theater in NY. The show was produced by Oprah Winfrey and garnered five 2006 Outer Critics Circle Award nominations, including Outstanding Broadway Musical and Outstanding New Score. That same year, the show was nominated for eleven Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Original Score Written for the Theater, and Best Leading Actress in a Musical (La Chanze). LaChanze did win the Tony Award, though the show itself won no other awards. LaChanze's win was attributed to the variety of roles for which she had garnered positive attention, as well as for a powerful backstory. In April 2007 American Idol winner Fantasia Barrino was cast for the role of Celie. The Broadway production ended its run on February 24, 2008..

The Wizard of Oz is a 1939 American musical fantasty film mainly directed by Victor Flemingh & based on the 1900 children’s novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum. Doctor Dolittle is a 1967 musical, based on the series of books by Hugh Lofting.

James Bond 007’s a fictional charicter created in 1952 by Ian Fleming, who featured him in 12 novels. The character has also been used in the longest running & second most successful film franchise to date, starting in 1962 with “Dr. No”. There have been 21 films to date, with the 22nd, “Quantum of Solace', due Nov.08. Apart from movies, TV & radio, Bond has also been adapted for many other media, including comics & video games.

Robert Louis Stevens was very prolific. Although he wrote many things only two attained immortality: “Dr. Jeklyl & Mr. Hyde–1886. It’s been performed over 100 times on stage & film He also wrote “Treasure Island”-1884. It’o has been enjoyed my millions for generations in print & on film. .

Gulliver's Travels (1726, amended 1735), officially Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World, in Four Parts. By Lemuel Gulliver, First a Surgeon, and then a Captain of several Ships, is a novel by Jonathanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_Swift Sweift that is both a satire on human nature and a parody of the "travellers' tales" literary sub-genre. It is Swift's best known full-length work, and a classic of English Literature.

The book became tremendously popular as soon as it was published (John Gay) said in a 1726 letter to Swift that "it is universally read, from the cabinet council to the nursery" [1] ), and it is likely that it has never been out of print since then.

Many famous authors’ homes are turned into museums after they pass. Most of the episodes of the 1950’s series “Alfred Hitchcock Hour” were based upon books.

I rented a DVD of the hit series “The Sopranos”. On the narration David Chase, the creator said he intentionally set up one stationary camera for the therapy sessions between Tony & Dr.

Jennifer Melfi because he wanted the audience to focus on the dialogue.
Since I’m a writer I pondered that & realized when various cameras switch between actors things move more rapidly. So words are just one of many components driving things. By having just one stationary camera things are much slower & language becomes much more important. As a result of the slower speed of the scene their impact’s much greater

Children’s Books
Many chuildren’s books such as Pinocchio were made into movies, He first appeared in 1883, in The Adventures of Pinochio by Carlo Colldoi. It’s still going strong entertaining children. And making millions annually in merchandising. I bet Colldoi had no clue Pinochio would take on a life of its own & become “immortal.” Madelyn was another. C urious George is a cartoon series.
Many biographies & auto biographies were written about famous people. Famous & infamous events such as JFK’s assasination were the subject of several books. The best known is probably “Cased Closed” by
Biblical Stories
The Ten Commandments, “Jesus Christ, Superstar” & “The Last Temptation of Christ” among many other Biblical stories are movies & plays. “Cats” the long – running Broadway musical is based upon the 1939, British “Old Passions book of Practical Cats” by the famous poet T.S. Elliott. The recent TV writers’ strike cost networks billions. Reality shows, including pro wrestling are scripted.
Inspirational Books & Documents
Words, like fire are a tool that can be misused. Hitler’s “Miein Kampf” helped the Nazis rise to power. Karl Marx’s “Communist Manifesto” was the basis for Socialism in the 20th Century. Some atheists still believe Charles Darwin’s “Theory of Evolution.” Betty Friedman founded the National Organization for Women with her 1966 book “The Feminine Mystique.” Reverend M. L. King’s famous “I have a dream” speech lives on decades after him. And will no doubt continue to do so in the annals of history. Americans know Lincoln’s famous “Gettysburg Address.”

Unfortunately, many students are not as fortunate as I am & don’t appreciate how vital good writing skills until they enter the job world. They erroneously think teachers are doing them a favor by giving multiple-choice exams. I once heard it said that “Writing is to the mind what weight lifting is to the body.”

The British Magna Carta & US Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights & Constitution are “immortal.”
Educators
The truth is that teachers who give essay exams and term papers are doing students a huge favor while making their own job much harder! I came to realize all of this while earning a Bachelor's in Journalism and aspiring to become a writer and English Teacher like Steven King. Who knows, maybe-one- day I’ll be famous, too. Stranger things have happened. I can dream, can’t I? Unlike Lotto it won’t -even cost- a- buck.