Jay Bell's Blog, page 8

Ready for the next entry in the Something Like… series? It’s nearly here! What’s it called? Who’s it about? What’s the cover look like? You’ll have to head over to Boy Meets Boy Reviews for the answers. I’m helping them celebrate a birthday, and get this—you can win a paperback copy of the book before it comes out! Seriously! Get on over there, then come back for another announcement.

Back already? Good. A new audio book is here! Prepare to have Lightning blast your ears! Actually, that sounds painful. Uh, anyway, I don’t know if you guys are aware of this, but I listen to each of the audio books before release, trying to catch any last minute errors. It’s only natural with so many hours that a few slip through, but they always get corrected. This process can be a little tedious for me. Once a book is published, I generally don’t enjoy rereading it again. So when I listen to the audios, I do so grudgingly, although Kevin R. Free’s performance always makes the experience much more pleasurable. Listening to Lightning was unusual because it made me realize a few things about the story I hadn’t before. Perhaps because of the way Kevin brings the characters to life. Kelly is kind of a brat, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. His biggest problem, it occurred to me while listening, was being paired up with the wrong guy. I won’t give anything away, but Kelly’s character remains consistent throughout. For much of the story, he seems to make everything worse by being who he is. And yet, in other parts, the opposite is true.

I think this reflects real life too. Compatibility is everything. Ever had a friend that you adore, or maybe someone that you were dating, that your friends and family couldn’t stand? For you, the friend or whoever was awesome and you always had a good time, but for the others in your life, this person rubbed them the wrong way. I think Kelly is like that. I love the guy, I really do, so it’s almost painful watching him struggle in the wrong environment. In those moments where he finds his rightful place, it’s such a relief, because you can see how fun and charming his brashness can be. So Lightning is very much a story about finding where you belong, and how that can make everything right. In theory, anyway. There’s more to this story. So much I couldn’t cram it into one book, but never fear! Something Like Thunder should be out in about a week. If you want to know exactly when it comes out, please subscribe to my newsletter and I’ll send you a reminder. In the meantime, please be patient with my boy Kelly. He’s got a good heart. He just needs to find the right home for it. You can buy Lightning from Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. Or get started for free below!

Primary shooting on the Something Like Summer movie has been completed. As you might already know, I was on set to witness a fair amount of filming. It’s high time I report back to you, my loyal readers, so that you can draw your own conclusions. Where to begin though? I found the entire experience overwhelming, although in the best way possible. I suppose I should tackle the questions I hear most often. Sound good? Let’s begin!

What did you think of the actors?

In the comfort of our own homes, most of us have reacted to the casting choices by focusing on the most immediate impression; appearance. While it’s only natural to compare the actors to the descriptions in the book or the images in our own minds, what really matters is how talented these people are and how capable they are at bringing the characters to life. In that regard, the casting choices are absolutely inspired! Grant Davis is emotional and loves passionately, just like Ben. Davi Santos has the soul of an artist and is ridiculously handsome, much like Tim. Ben Baur is quirky, cool, and impossible not to adore, making him the perfect Jace. And hey, let’s not forgot Allison, the ultimate best friend, who is performed with perfection by Ajiona Alexus. These actors aren’t the actual characters—their personalities more complex than my brief descriptions—but they are fairly close to the source material. Enough that I often found the line blurring between reality and fantasy. This is ideal, since each actor has the necessary experience to draw on to portray their character realistically. And if you’re worried about acting ability, don’t be. Each of them is more than capable!

What about the script?

It’s different. If you approach this movie expecting it to be exactly like the book, you’ll be disappointed. That seems to be what upsets most people when a book they love is adapted to film. While I’ve had that same reaction, it’s not a fair one. My favorite example is the very end of the book, which mostly takes place in Ben’s head. Dialog is part of this, yes, but the bulk is spent in Ben’s thoughts—his longing, his doubt, a tide of memories and a surge of emotion. Sure, an actor can relay these things with body language or whatever, but it would be pretty silly for Grant Davis to stand there and make a bunch of different faces before finally kissing Davi. There are plenty of examples like this in the book, not to mention budget and time constraints. No matter how much we might wish otherwise, it’s simply not possible for the movie to be exactly like the book. That having been said, they’ve kept as much as possible intact. They’ve also made some changes, which means you’ve got a few surprises in store for you. What struck me most about watching scenes being filmed is how different they were when finally realized. What seemed fine in the script was made awesome by a mixture of cinematography and performance. Post production will polish the material even further.

So you think the movie is going to be good?

I don’t know. That’s not a reflection of any doubts I have. I just lack the experience to objectively say one way or the other. From cast to crew, I never felt like anyone wasn’t trying their best. Everyone seemed to take the project very seriously, wanting to give it their all. I didn’t realize how grueling a film shoot could be either. All I had to do while there was chat with visitors or occasionally drive beautiful and talented people to their next location. For me the set visit was one big vacation, but it was still exhausting because the hours are so extremely long. I have a newfound respect for the sheer amount of effort and determination that goes into creating a movie. Considering this, I could understand people slacking off or not making much of an effort, but that never seemed to be the case. Everyone involved wants this project to be a success. In my mind that’s the most crucial factor, so if I had to guess, I think the Something Like Summer movie is going to be pretty damn cool. I’m certainly very excited to see the final product!

Is your head exploding or what? Seriously. Your book is a movie!

I honestly can’t express what an emotional experience it was seeing the story brought to life in this way. Often I would stand at a distance, suspend my disbelief, and convince myself that I was witnessing Ben and Tim meeting again in college, or that I had somehow stumbled upon Ben and Jace’s wedding while strolling through the park. Much of my time was spent holding back tears, because it was pure magic seeing what often appeared to be the real Ben, Tim, and Jace interact. The actors were supremely patient about me staring slack-jawed at them. Or maybe they’re just used to it, considering how pretty all of them are.

Shut up and tell me when this thing is finally getting released!

Ah. Well there might be a scene or two left to film requiring special circumstances. That needs to be taken care of first. Post production will follow, which is a crucial step. I’m sure you’ve noticed how raw the deleted scenes of movies appear. That demonstrates how much work needs to be done even after the cast and crew has gone home. Once the movie is presentable, it will go to film festivals where it will hopefully win lots of accolades and attract the best possible distributor. That’s important, because this movie isn’t just for us. It’s also for the millions of people out there who have no clue about Benjamin Bentley’s life. The poor bastards! Once all of that is out of the way, you and I can buy tickets to select screenings, have viewing parties in our home, or just sit alone on the couch with a tub of ice cream and a box of Kleenex, so no one can see us cry. So the answer to that question is that we need to be patient a little while longer. Obviously the movie isn’t coming out this year. I don’t know exactly when it will get released. I don’t think anyone does. There is still much work to be done!

In the meantime, I’ll keep the stories about these characters going. I have another book due out before the end of the year, and there are two more audio releases as well. As always, I’m writing more more more, and I hope that makes the wait a little easier. We’ve made it past the hardest part though, so for now, just kick back with a good book and let other people continue to toil on your behalf. Soon enough, we’ll be able to enjoy the fruit of their labors. Just for the record though, I can’t wait either! Hurry up, world! I wanna see this movie! I leave you with my favorite of the Snapchat videos that were posted during filming. In a way, it’s a miniature version of the movie!

See that right there? It’s Tim Wyman’s blue shoes. For real. That’s how they’ll look in the movie. If you followed the advice in my previous post, this is old news to you, as are the photos of Ben and Allison together, or Krista Norman hanging off of Tim’s arm, or Mr. Wyman looking delicious while talking on the phone to Ben. I won’t even get started on the Snap Chat videos, since it would be cruel to tell you about what is already gone. Needless to say, you should be following the Something Like Summer movie on social networking. Again, see the previous post for details. Even if you heeded my words of wisdom, you might have missed out on photos this like this:

That’s Davi Santos and Grant Davis on their day off. Grant took Davi to Chuck E Cheese’s. Echoes of Ben and Jace in Something Like Autumn, eh? How did I come by this image? Not by stalking these poor guys wherever they go. I swear! Instead I remained in the comfort of my own home and followed them on social networking. You can too! Below you’ll find more just a fraction of the people working on the movie and links to their profiles. Start clicking!

Grant Davis (Ben)

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

YouTube

Davi Santos (Tim)

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

YouTube

Ben Baur (Jace)

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

YouTube (forthcoming?)

Ajiona Alexus (Allison)

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

YouTube

JT Tepnapa (Director)

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

YouTube

Carlos Pedraza (Script Writer/Producer)

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

YouTube

Tom Ly (Producer)

Facebook

Twitter

Also, I have another installment of my Building a Book series ready for you, and boy do I look tired. This job isn’t always easy! I get loose lipped about the name of the next Something Like… book, so if you want to know, here’s your chance.

The time has come! Filming starts tomorrow. I know many of you have been asking with increasing impatience when this would finally happen. Me? I was holding my breath for much of that time, because so much could have gone wrong. Plenty of books are optioned for film. More than we’ll ever know, because the vast majority of those earmarked to go to cinema end up faltering and failing somewhere in the process. Usually that has to do with money and resources. So I was very aware over the last three years (nearly four!) that so much could go wrong before the movie came to be. I knew the production team we chose increased our odds greatly, because I had already watched them bust their butts to get the Judas Kiss movie filmed and released. That same determination has brought us to this stage. Actual filming! I’ll be visiting the set of course, but not until the middle of September. Once I’m there, I plan on playing reporter and will try to bring all sorts of exciting news your way. Luckily you don’t have to rely on me. The movie people have cranked up their presence on social networking, so now you have all sorts of options for following the movie’s progress. Choose your own adventure!

• Instagram — @LikeSummerFilm

• Tumblr — LikeSummerFilm

• Vine — Something Like Summer

• Twitter — @LikeSummerFilm

• Facebook — /SomethingLikeSummerMovie

• Official Website — SomethingLikeSummer.com

And speaking of making stuff, I’m writing a new book, and this time I’ve decided to take you along for the ride! In a series of very casual videos that lack any sort of fancy title screens or editing, I’ll be checking in with you periodically to tell you where I’m at, and what it’s like to write a book. From now until release day, you can be a part of… wait, what’s the title of the new book? Stay tuned to find out! You can watch the first installment of Building a Book right here:

So much is happening! Let’s hop right in! Something Like Fall has been released, and no, I’m not talking about Jace’s story. That was Autumn. I decided to write Fall to help the Something Like Summer movie fundraising efforts, and to give thanks to you guys for pitching in. The story sees the return of Benjamin Bentley, and I’m really pleased with how it turned out. During the fundraising campaign, anyone who contributed was promised Fall, so some of you only had to throw down a dollar, although most of you gave more. That was a limited time offer, but you can still get the novella (around 35,000 words) by purchasing the $25 perk level, which the producers have kept open for latecomers. This also gets you an HD digital copy of the Something Like Summer movie the second it is released to the public. You also get the warm fuzzy feeling that comes from knowing you helped make the movie better with your contribution, because any money raised goes straight into the film budget. If you’re interested, please visit the official movie site for payment details. If you’re completely broke at the moment, I’ll try to find a way of releasing Something Like Fall somewhere down the road. I don’t know how, other than I promised the standalone version would remain exclusive. I definitely don’t know when either. Assuming you’re as impatient as I am, and that you’ll want to own the movie anyway, this seems like a pretty good deal to me.

Speaking of the movie, the contest to create a poster is still ongoing. In fact, the deadline has been extended, which is probably for the best, since Ben looks a little different than he did earlier in the year. Find out more about the contest, the cool prizes, and the adorable YouTube star judges right here.

Let’s keep talking about the movie, or more accurately, let the movie people do the talking. J.T. Tepnapa, the director, and Carlos Pedraza, producer and scriptwriter, were just interviewed by Your Hollywood Pro. As you might recall, I was on that show last week. Together, these interviews give you an excellent behind the scenes understanding of how the Something Like Summer movie came to be, and a hint of what the final product will be like. You can check out both episodes by visiting the Your Hollywood Pro site.

I’m also pleased to announced that I’ve commissioned two new audiobooks. Something Like Lightning and Something Like Thunder will be coming your way this autumn. Those that have read the books know that Lightning ends on a cliffhanger, but audio listeners won’t have to wait long for the conclusion, because Thunder will be out in short succession. Thank you for continuing to make these audiobooks possible by buying them and helping to spread the word. The royalties of each release pays for the next one. I honestly couldn’t afford to keep producing them without your support. If you haven’t listened to any of them yet, I have a free short story and sample chapters available.

And finally, if you speak Italian, my Lambda Literary Award winning book Kamikaze Boys is now available in that language. I also have a selection of French, German, and even Chinese books available too, with more languages and titles on the way. You can check them all out here on the foreign editions page.

Lots of news, but with the movie due to begin filming next month, the excitement is just beginning!

Something Like Summer is a story of humble origins. Some guy who—quite frankly—had no idea what he was doing, scribbled the story down while blubbering his eyes out. Then he sent it around, got the cold shoulder, and turned to his husband for help. How the movie came to be isn’t so different. Something Like Summer is in essence a story about an underdog finding his place in the world, so it’s only fitting that both the book and movie have similar beginnings. That’s what I spoke about recently in an audio interview. I normally don’t do such things, preferring to hide behind a keyboard where I can look up all the fancy words I need. Jordan, the host of Your Hollywood Pro, had to chase me down and then coax me out from under the bed with some Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. Only then would I agree to talk to him about the Something Like… series and why a grown man still plays with action figures. If you’d like to find out for yourself, you can listen to the interview here. And hey, if you enjoy yourself, you should check out the other shows in the series because there have been some great guests on Your Hollywood Pro, and you couldn’t ask for a better host!

Chicago. It’s home now.

Hearts on Fire Reviews has very kindly invited me to do an interview on their site, and it struck me that in a way I’m always being interviewed. By you guys! I get a lot of wonderful messages from people who have read my books, many of them asking great questions. Unfortunately, only one person ever sees each answer. So I thought for this interview, you could provide the questions. About what? Anything you want! My books, my personal life, your personal life. Maybe you need some advice. Perhaps you’ve got a beef with me. Is there an unresolved plot thread that’s been driving you crazy? Anything goes!

Ten of the most interesting/ridiculous/infuriating/poignant questions will be selected. Will there be prizes? Uh… Okay. Let’s make it something digital though, since an ocean still separates me from all of my possessions. If your question is selected, I’ll send you a story as an eBook. Already have all my stories? That’s what you think! Questions can be submitted below. Or anywhere really. It’s all good.

I grew up reading fantasy novels. One breed in particular appealed most to me. I loved stories about normal humans who get transported to a mystical land. Maybe they were searching for the back of a mysterious wardrobe, or perhaps they answered a classified ad that listed a magic kingdom for sale. Or maybe they just happened to get on the right roller coaster at the right time. Anyone remember that cartoon from the eighties, Dungeons & Dragons? You know what I really hated about that show and other “whisked away” stories? How the main characters were often desperate to get back home. As the reader, there was nothing I wanted more than to enter a land of fantasy, so it annoyed me to no end that these characters were taking their luck for granted. Hang up those ruby red slippers Dorothy and party with the Munchkins instead!

When the prospect of moving to Germany was first discussed, I felt like I was finally given my chance. I would travel to a strange faraway land where I couldn’t speak the language and where the cultural customs would leave me baffled. Best of all, I would do so in the name of love. As you know, I ended up moving to my fantasy world without a single thought of how I’d ever get back. I won’t pretend that it was nothing but carefree adventures from there on. Sometimes I broke down, or I cried, or I got angry. I too longed to go home, but then I would look again at my surroundings: Berlin! London! Paris! These and so much more at my doorstep! For the most part I loved it all too much to quit. I was not going to be one of those people who hurried back to the real world. Why were those stupid kids in Dungeons & Dragons so eager to trade their magic powers for homework? Idiots.

And yet, here we are. Late last year, Dungeon Master told me he’d found a portal that could return me home again. Well, not exactly, but close enough. An opportunity to return to the U.S. presented itself, and I found myself nearly salivating at the prospect. This hunger caught me off guard, but I couldn’t deny it. I wanted it. Bad. But why? Germany is the better country. I’ve felt that way for over a decade now. The health care system works. People are taken care of. I’ve never seen poverty here like I did in the States. I’m not saying it doesn’t exist, but it’s a lot rarer. People rarely fall through the cracks here. A public transportation system that spans the entire country, a great recycling program, gay rights that—at the time—were years and years ahead of my own country… The political system is superior and even the groceries are cheap! It’s easy to live a good life in Germany, and we did.

Perhaps that’s the problem. Everything here is so damn reasonable. I’m not saying Germany is perfect. History’s greatest example of humans losing their sanity took place in this country. But when it comes to the wacky and weird, those news headlines that are impossibly ridiculous, then it’s hard to beat the good ol’ U S of A. It’s not difficult to believe that anything is possible there. The United States is a dream factory. A fantasy land. Maybe I’ve gotten the story wrong this entire time. Maybe, twelve years ago, I traded one magical world for another. Only one way to find out. Today I say goodbye to Germany. I’ll miss it dearly, especially the people, but I’m certain about this decision. I’m tired of being a stranger in a strange land. I miss the days when I was dating a goofy foreigner, and not the other way around. I’m going home. To where exactly? We’ll talk about that some other time. For now, let’s play Where’s Waldo? Keep your eyes peeled next time you’re in public, my fellow Americans. Maybe you’ll see me, walking down the street and staring at everything with newfound wonder.

Ladies and gentlemen, are you ready to meet the actor who will play Ben in the Something Like Summer movie? If you thought the lead role was already taken, it was, but that’s the movie business for you. Eric Stolz was originally cast to play Marty McFly in Back to the Future. Can you imagine that trilogy without Michael J. Fox? I sure can’t. Or how about Indiana Jones, a role that was originally given to Tom Selleck. Seriously, look it up. If I’m honest, I feel we’re in a similar situation here. After the role of Ben was originally cast, I happened to see an audition video of a different actor. The way that person read the lines, the energy he gave Ben, really clicked with me. I felt he understood the tone I was going for in the book. But hey, the dice had already bounced across the felt and settled. Hadn’t they?

Apparently not, because after a twist of fate, here we are. Grant Davis, the young man who impressed me late last year, will be playing Benjamin Bentley. Best of all, this wasn’t my decision. Grant was put through the paces just like the other six hundred hopefuls who were competing for the role. Grant came out on top because he’s driven, talented, and if you ask me, he’s simply right for the role. Once the movie is filmed and we get to see him in character, I suspect that you’ll agree with me. Perhaps most importantly, he’s passionate about this role, and I have no doubt that he’ll dedicate himself to it completely. Interested to see more of him and hear him sing? Well, I just happen to have a video for you. Consider it my book report on Mr. Davis. I hope it gives you a glimpse of his potential. With the movie set to begin filming in just a few months, Grant has his work cut out for him, so please help me welcome him to the Something Like… family and offer him your support.

Stuff is happening! First and foremost, just in case you haven’t heard, Something Like Thunder is now out. Many thanks to everyone who has written reviews. I’m flattered that so many of you have enjoyed the story! For those who haven’t read Thunder yet, you can find purchase links on the right, or free chapters on the product page.

Thanks also to everyone who participated in the trivia contest. If you missed out you can still play along for fun by watching the daily videos in previous posts. I’m particularly fond of the one for day five, since Andreas joined me on camera. The video for the finale is also uh… interesting. If you like seeing me make an ass out of myself, there’s plenty of fodder on my new Instagram account.

Movie news! Many new cast members have been revealed. The Bentleys, the Wymans, that guy Allison dated in high school, that girl Tim dated in high school, a bully, and a (super adorable!) homewrecker. Many of these roles are small, but they sure make the world of the movie universe feel a lot more real. You can check them all out here.

If you have artistic inclinations, then this poster contest is for you! The producers of the Something Like Summer movie are welcoming submissions for eye-catching art to represent the film during production. The winning entry will be featured on IMBD and you’ll get a copy of the poster sighed by cast and crew. Chances are it’ll be hanging up in my home too, so please make sure it looks nice. You’ll also get a free HD copy of the movie. None other than Will and RJ of YouTube fame will be deciding on the winning entry. Neat, eh? Find more details here including how to enter.

What does the future hold? A novella called Something Like Fall. Financial supporters of the movie will get first crack at it this summer. The potential of a wider release is still being explored, so stay tuned. You might have also heard a rumor that Andreas and I are moving. It’s true! I’ll talk specifics at a later date. We have a very big journey ahead of us, but it should be business as usual, aside from me being able to ship things out. If you want a set of autographed art cards, please order them soon, because there will be many months where they—and pretty much everything else I own—will be slowly crossing the ocean. Life’s about to get crazy, my friends! I can count on you to be my anchor, right? My rock in stormy seas? I thought so. You’re the best!