ROTTEN TOMATOES: Neil Gaiman - RT's Dinner and the Movies Interview

Neil Gaiman - RT's Dinner and the Movies Interview

We have an extended chat with the prolific sci-fi and fantasy author.

by Joe Utichi | October 17, 2007

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Neil Gaiman has turned his hand to many things, from journalism to film directing through short stories, comic books and novels - both graphic and regular. He's even been a lyric in a Tori Amos song.

2007 marks a banner year for Gaiman's talents on the big screen, as he's providing the source novel for Matthew Vaughn's Stardust and the screenplay (with Roger Avary) for Robert Zemeckis' Beowulf, while overseeing Henry Selick's translation to screen of his Coraline and preparing to direct the film adaptation of his Death: The High Cost of Living.

His works in print to date include The Sandman, Anansi Boys, Neverwhere and Good Omens. On screen, Neverwhere was adapted from the BBC television series he penned, and in 2005 he wrote MirrorMask with Dave McKean.

And when he's not doing all that he's keeping bees at his Minneapolis home. And, really, you can't go wrong with a beekeeping author.

As part of our ongoing series of Dinner and the Movies conversations - which kicked off with our mammoth chat with Kevin Smith earlier in the year - Rotten Tomatoes took Gaiman for sushi on a recent visit to London and spent ninety minutes in his company learning more about the workings of his mind, and quizzing him on his career past, present and future. Back in June we encouraged you to put your questions to Gaiman, and we represented some of those on your behalf too.

By popular demand we've provided the full version of our chat as an MP3 download for your listening pleasure. For those who prefer your soundbites in text form, we've extracted the juiciest morsels (pardon the pun) which you can find on the pages of this article.

On preparing to see Stardust for the first time:

I was terrified, but I'm always terrified. The first time I was terrified was the first time I got to the set properly while they were shooting. I was on set two weeks before shooting and then first day of shooting I had to go off and go back to being an author. I got back about two months later when most everything had been shot and I was sitting there in the screening room with my daughter absolutely terrified that what I was going to see would be appalling. And I sat there and it was wonderful. I realised I'd been holding my breath for two months.

On his relationship with Hollywood:

Alan Moore is a very, very dear friend of mine and a genius. And, to be honest, I think one of the finest writers of the last fifty years. At least in film I feel like I got to watch Alan walking across the landmine field ahead of me and watching what Alan did definitely got me to the point of thinking, right, I won't do that then.

What Alan did, and did from the word go, was say, "I've created the comics, the comics are the things I care about. Give me the check, go make your movie, it's nothing to do with me."

So I don't do this thing of, "Give me the check, I trust you." What I wanted to do was to find people I liked and trusted to make films, in the understanding that if I wanted the film to be exactly the thing I had in my head, then I should probably direct it myself. If I wanted it to be something else that I would enjoy, my job was to find the right person to do it and let them get on with it.

Read on for more highlights from our chat with Neil Gaiman, or treat your eyes to a break and wrap your ears around the audio, which you can download at the link below.

DOWNLOAD THE MP3 (40.7MB)
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(1-20 of 27 posts) | Reply

witherwings writes:
on Oct 17 2007 08:12 AM

I love that man. What a mind.

(Reply to this)

dracus writes:
on Oct 17 2007 08:40 AM

If Hollywood encourgaged writers like Gaimen instead of relying on remakes, it wouldn't be in the creative mess that it's in now.

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PlanBFromOuterSpace writes:
on Oct 17 2007 10:31 AM

I read an article about comic-related movies that are currently in development hell recently that was pretty interesting, and Gaiman's name popped up quite a bit, as it seems that quite a few of his earlier works resemble other projects that, in the meantime, have already made it to the silver screen. For instance, Books of Magic, at least when described briefly, sounds a little too Harry Potter-ish and more like an imitation than something that had already been around for several years before the Potter books even existed. Apparently, someone else wrote a script that re-worked it a bit, and Gaiman liked it, but suggested that they just call it something else entirely, because it didn't really resemble his original stories at all anymore. He's sort of a victim of bad timing in a way and he's very much a writer first and maybe a filmmaker second (or third...or fourth). Much of his writing isn't very cinematic, and from what I've heard, Mirrormask was just an incredible bore. This was FROM Gaiman fans, about the only audience that wanted to see that movie in the first place. Yes, Neil Gaiman (while not exactly a favorite of mine) is a good writer, and Dave McKean is a good artist, but you can't just throw them in the same room and expect them to put together the most compelling movie ever made. I think the only thing that could really sell on HIS name now would be a Sandman movie, because that's his signature work, the book that got the most mainstream attention (15 years ago, anyway) and would be most likely to draw in a potential audience that has no idea who Gaiman is. At this point, the phrase "from the author of Stardust" doesn't carry the same weight as "from the creator of Sin City and 300" (Frank MIller) or "from the author of V for Vendetta" (Alan Moore), but maybe a Sandman movie, if treated properly, could give other Gaiman projects a jumpstart and more of a chance to succeed based on their association with him.

(Reply to this)

artdude102 writes:
on Oct 17 2007 10:58 AM

In reply to this comment (#1197623)
100% agreement here! I'm currently listening to the audio version of Stardust read by Gaiman himself and it's the most lyrical work I've heard since Phillip Pullman read his own "His Dark materials" trilogy. I wish production companies would take note and STOP with the endless wave of rotten remakes and TV inspired shlock (Bewitched anyone!?)

(Reply to this)

artdude102 writes:
on Oct 17 2007 11:02 AM

In reply to this comment (#1197623)
100% agreement here! I'm currently listening to the audio version of Stardust read by Gaiman himself and it's the most lyrical work I've heard since Phillip Pullman read his own "His Dark materials" trilogy. I wish production companies would take note and STOP with the endless wave of rotten remakes and TV inspired shlock (Bewitched anyone!?)

(Reply to this)

crudebob writes:
on Oct 17 2007 12:38 PM

In reply to this comment (#1197623)
Dracus, you hit the nail right on the head. I think the problem with Hollywood is that it's a lot easier for them to dust of on a old story and remake a movie than it is take a chance on a new writer and bring him or her along.

(Reply to this)

I Am Remote writes:
on Oct 17 2007 03:41 PM

Anyone here dislike Gaiman? Anyone? No?

Alright I'll leave.

(Reply to this)

pinkincide writes:
on Oct 17 2007 04:27 PM

I liked Stardust, but I think you have to give as much credit to the screenwriters as to Gaiman. Gaiman's version was rather lightweight and vague and would have made a similar move had they followed it directly. Nearly everything the screenwriters changed--including the entire ending--was a huge improvement. Most of the comedy was a product of the screenplay also.

But I don't want to knock Gaiman too much, because the original vision was his, and I'm for whatever it takes to get an original movie made rather than unending remakes and sequels. So if he supplies the raw materials and good screenwriters polish it we've got a good formula.

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Timber writes:
on Oct 17 2007 05:14 PM

I loved the "Neverwhere" novel, and think it would make a great and quite unique film if done by the right person (Guillermo del Toro would be nice), and with a decent budget.

I've resisted watching the BBC adaptation mostly because I assumed that the hackneyed TV special effects would ruin it for me. If anyone has seen it and has an opinion, tell me what you thought.

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Cmedic79 writes:
on Oct 17 2007 07:31 PM

Sandman will be a tremendous task to adapt it to the screen. Gaiman's visions are very complex and his stories combine so much. I want a sandman movie very much but am more than nervous about it's transition. And for the record I did enjoy mirromask.

(Reply to this)

fox3run writes:
on Oct 18 2007 09:33 AM

Alan Moore wannabe...nuff said

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Ahimaaz writes:
on Oct 18 2007 02:23 PM

The Sandman is Gaiman's masterstroke. Forget Stardust, it may or may not turn out a winner for him, since he isn't even writing for the screen. I look forward to Death: The High Cost of Living, for which he's gonna sit on the director's throne. If other Sandman series likewise adapted to screen by a director like Guillermo del Toro with him assisting, you never know it can turn out to be a unique film experience like Sin City made by Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller.

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ThunderMammoth writes:
on Oct 18 2007 02:49 PM

In reply to this comment (#1199851)
I've seen the BBC Neverwhere, and i honestly loved it. i bought it later as well. but then, this is coming from someone who grew up liking the Tom Baker Dr Who series, and much prefers the BBC version of Hitchikers Guide than the film done recently. so, take that advice for what you will. LOL...

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FuzzyWhisper writes:
on Oct 19 2007 07:13 AM

Gaiman is brilliant. I'm beside myself with anticipation for Death. I know that Neil will get the casting exactly right.

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remyrem12 writes:
on Oct 19 2007 10:27 AM

In reply to this comment (#1199851)
You can watch Neverwhere on youtube if you want.Just search 'neverwhere' and it should come up.

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Sprizmo writes:
on Oct 19 2007 01:59 PM

Man oh man, If they have anyone direct a Sandman trilogy (and it should at the very least be a trilogy) it should be Guillermo Del Toro. With a Pan's Labyrinth visual and dramatic sensibility it could only be a cinematic triumph.

For the guy who says Gaiman's an Alan Moore wannabe, I'm sure Moore himself would disagree.

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adb89 writes:
on Oct 19 2007 02:12 PM

I'd love an American Gods movie... if they got it right. As for a Sandman movie, thats a little iffy IMO. I really look forward to seeing who plays Death.

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Travis27 writes:
on Oct 20 2007 11:56 PM

Peter Jackson should direct American Gods or Good Omens

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notbri writes:
on Oct 21 2007 10:33 PM

In reply to this comment (#1199851)
The Neverwhere miniseries wasn't that bad if you don't have incredible expectations going in. I mean, if you're a huge Gaiman fan, then watch it just because it's a part of the "canon," just don't expect it to be on par with the book. He wrote the book because he didn't get to do everything with the miniseries he'd hoped to do, so...

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Kudama writes:
on Oct 22 2007 07:53 AM

A lot of love here for del Torro. I'm in good company. He's been my favorite living director since Cronos.
Chalk me up as a person that very much enjoyed Mirror Mask. I liked it head and shoulders above anything else Henson Studios has been involved with. And I'll never forget the story of the exiled old Chinese dude that was saved by a kitten in Sandman (drawn by one of my favorites-Jon J. Muth). Good stuff.

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