Good morning, afternoon, evening, or whenever you may be reading this. I am Grant Atchley. You may know me from reading my other articles on Way Back Wednesday, or the other solo articles I have written. This is Awake, the new solo segment I will be writing under. The solo articles I have already written perfectly describe what I intend for the Awake segments. In “Actions Speak Louder than Words,” I discussed the thought concerning comic books and how many consider them less than “real” literature when there is actually a lot to learn from them. I wrote about how they are just a different way of learning and offer much from the world of art, arguably as much as classic literature might. In “Age is Just a Number,” I talked about how people see watching cartoons, or liking Lego, as “childish.” On the contrary, people who “never leave the inner child behind,” are often incredibly kindhearted and see the world in a different, more complete and less cynical manner. This is the gist of what this segment is all about. I am excited to share my outlook on the things I love here on Awake.
Countless fans have at least at one point wondered what a favorite videogame or comic book would look like brought to life in a tv series, or big screen film. This might beg the question, “Why make a videogame into a film when it is already an interactive storytelling medium?” Let me explain. I know from experience that it is because of the attachment and love for the story that they tell. For example, The Last of Us was recently awarded the chance at a tv series, bringing the story into live action, and allowing its viewers to experience it in a new way. In any game or comic brought to life by film, the players and readers are given the chance to watch the character they once controlled live out the story once experienced through them. Even though the story is the same, the experience is new.
Sometimes making a movie or television series breathes new life into a franchise, by taking the source material and building a story on a story, or on no story at all. The Super Mario Bros Movie perfectly accomplishes this. It incorporates nostalgic references faithful fans grew up with, but still welcomes new viewers to the franchise by not making it solely marketed to longtime fans. Admittedly, these attempts do not always work; however, more often than not, it prompts nostalgia in longtime fans who then return to those games they grew up playing.
There is a fine line that should not be crossed when building on a franchise, whether it be an adaptation of a film or based on a toy line. An adaptation has crossed this line when a story or character is changed to serve a purpose or to accomplish a goal. Any views should be brought to light through original stories specific to whatever point they are trying to make. There are examples of this going on in today’s film industry. The upcoming live action Snow White film is the perfect example. They are changing the characters and established story to fit a personal vendetta.
Originality is the key to any medium. That is why films are made about books, movies, or video games. People are invited to take a spin on a thing they love. They bring originality to a loving fanbase. The line is only crossed when someone comes in changing a long-established story only to get attention that often feeds negativity. Originality is key to any art form. That is what makes art a sacred practice.
