Zoners! Let’s continue the discussion, get down to the nitty-gritty, and enjoy.
1. There have been talks/ridiculously high fan hopes of turning Wigfield into a movie. How do you imagine that *really cool* possibility? Are there any other actors or actresses you picture in these roles?
2. Wigfield is a pretty biting satire on the idea of small towns. Are there any other satires or works similar to Wigfield that you enjoy?
3. Finally, there are little lines in Wigfield that do have some nice bits of wisdom like Cinnamon’s “Keep on, keepin’ on,” even when followed by something like “even if it kills you.” What did you take away from the book past all the funny?
As always, keep in mind the rules of the club.
Thanks all for your participation. See you Saturday for I Like You.
1) A movie would be awesome. I think Stephen would have to play Hokes, and Paul and Amy would need roles. I think Jane Fonda could play a Cinnamon.
2)There is a segment of The Daily Show that I believe inspired Wigfield *looks up*.
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It’s “Downtown”, from January 2001, about Jefferson, WV. There’s even a Raven.
“Folks in Jefferson don’t lock their doors — they dead bolt them, then jam a chair under the door knob and sleep with one eye open.”
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Stealing my thunder? I was watching it as you commented, only a minute from posting it.
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Doh! Sorry!
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The line that I use as a bit of a guide to my life is uttered by Raven: “If you don’t put it out there, they won’t put it in there.” In other words, you really have to bare yourself, show your true self or you will never reap the rewards. Of course, I’ve never, you know, danced for the money and had people tuck it in my G-string, but it’s pretty profound, nonetheless.
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I have no idea who would which characters, but I think that a “Wigfield” movie would be absolutely hilarious! I think Stephen would have to play Russell Hoakes, though – who else could?!
It’s probably not the best advice to take away from anything, but “Wigfield” teaches me, each time I listen to it, how easily it is to pad a piece of work. Russell’s pursuit of 50,000 words is frighteningly reminiscent of National Novel Writing Month, where you try to reach that magic 50K mark. And I’m sure lots of people have padded their manuscripts with similes and overly descriptive passages like Russell. So, yeah…if Russell Hoakes could make it to 50K words, anyone can. :P
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A movie would be great and I agree that Stephen would have to be Hokes (but if we are talking big name actors I would say that Robert Downy Jr. could be funny in that role)
There is another Daily Show clip that I have a feeling inspired the book a little bit. Stephen talks to a taxidermist who’s store was broken into by an actual deer. The things the guy says are very reminiscent to Lenare Degroat.
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If not Russell Hoakes, I’d like to see Stephen as Donnie Larson, and definitely Paul as Lenare. I’m not sure about Amy, and as for other actors… I really don’t know! I can’t help but picture all the characters as Stephen, Paul, or Amy.
It’s hard to say how well Wigfield would translate to screen, though, or even how they would translate it. I mean, the obvious thing would be to make a movie about a writer, but seeing as the book itself is about the experience of the man writing it, I think you could make a case for changing Hoakes’ medium to a TV report or a documentary. A mockumentary would work really well.
As for taking something away from Wigfield other than the gags, I find that difficult given the characters’ motivations. I’m always struck, thought by the part near the end where Hoakes laments that he just wants his road-painting job back because it made him happy. Who knows what he goes on to do after he actually finishes the book, but that moment just has such untwisted honesty in it. The writing job has the potential for wealth, but the job is just not for him and made him miserable. And in Hoakes case, even if he sees success from the book, you know he’s just going to blow all the money and be back where he started.
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