MovieChat Forums > Kristen Stewart Discussion > Kristen's next directorial effort

Kristen's next directorial effort

posted 7 years ago by CKid (3816)
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Just read an article regarding Come Swim over at IndieWire.com, which appeared on the big screen in New York City Wednesday night.
https://www.indiewire.com/2017/08/kristen-stewart-directorial-debut-come-swim-1201871872/

It was interesting to read that Kristen did consider directing herself in the lead role, but the one thing that truly caught my eye was the final paragraph ...

Stewart's passion for filmmaking isn't wavering, either. At Cannes, she told our Anne Thompson that she was continuing to develop material for herself to direct, and at last night's premiere, she shyly told the crowd she's in the process of wooing an author whose work she is eager to adapt into her first feature.

I was a little surprised that Kristen would reveal this before an actual agreement had been reached, and of course, the big question is, 'Who is the author and which book is it???'

Let the speculation start!

[–] LLOwens (983) 7 years ago

And I was led to believe that her next directorial effort would be a short film about gun control. Great to hear she will be directing a feature film, although I must add that adapting what appears to be a novel to the screen will be quite a challenge. Hopefully it's a novel that will lend itself to visuals or she may find such an adaptation difficult. But then again, Kristen appears to be one that will successfully accomplish whatever she sets her mind to.

[–] Ron2011 (907) 7 years ago

As I've felt and said before, it's going to be very interesting the ideas Kristen comes up with as she goes along. She has so much drive and enthusiasm for film making at all levels. She loves her craft and is still young and so still developing new ideas, such as now in directing. I'm also glad that she'll still be acting, taking on roles as she's said in other interviews that she's still very focused on that aspect also.

[–] LLOwens (983) 7 years ago

I hope one day she writes a screenplay for a film which she directs and acts in--now that would be something wouldn't it! Anyhow, like I told Carved, I sure hopes she chooses a novel which is heavy on story arc which can be shown visually and light on dialogue, for I wouldn't want Kristen to direct a talking heads film in her feature film directorial debut--unless it's dialogue is absolutely witty.

Another obstacle she might face in trying to direct an adaptation would be trying to please the preexisting, built-in fanbase of the book, being faithful to the novel and its author, the Hollywood studio which produces the film as well as her vision for the film. It may become impossible to please them all. Case in point: one of my all-time fave directors, Stanley Kubrick, received a lot of flack and vocal disdain from the author of The Shining, Steven King, for Kubrick's screenplay, his vision and the way he directed the film adaptation of King's story. In my opinion, this was the greatest horror film of all time, especially when it comes to its striking visuals.

So perhaps it may be best for Kristen to direct a film based on an original story/screenplay written directly for the screen.

[–] Ron2011 (907) 7 years ago

"I hope one day she writes a screenplay for a film which she directs and acts in--now that would be something wouldn't it!"

That's probably quite likely, as other actors have done who direct a film. As for adapting a book to a movie, she certainly has great experience having been a major force in the Twilight Saga to ensure pleasing fans and remaining as true to the books as possible. But I'd have to think such a project as that would come later in her directing career. That's because I have to think that's a difficult project to do while remaining faithful enough to the books for fans while doing a good job on bringing out the story in the movie. We often see how movies made on books try to do both and fail on one or both aspects.

[–] LLOwens (983) 7 years ago

Speaking of The Twilight Saga, I know this is highly speculative at this point, but could it be that the book and author Carved is referring to in his original post is Life and Death: Twilight Re-imagined written by Stephanie Meyer? Perhaps this novel could be adapted into a film and have Kristen direct it--talk about Kristen's career coming full circle if that were to happen. While I wouldn't want Kristen to reprise her role as Bella Swan, directing a spinoff, or should I say, directing a film based on the gender swapping of the lead character roles in Twilight, (e.g., Beaufort Swan instead of Bella, Edythe Cullen instead of Edward) might work. Or even more of a long shot, the book in question could be Meyer's completed version of Midnight Sun, although I highly doubt that as to my knowledge, the book is on hold, incomplete, with only 12 chapters penned so far.

And speaking of writing experience, again with regard to The Twilight Saga, did you know that Stephanie Meyer had zero professional writing experience before writing Twilight? She hadn't even authored a short story before Twilight. While Meyer won't ever become a recipient of a Pulitzer Prize, her Twilight novels have sold over 100 million copies worldwide which anyone should consider impressive. Another interesting bit of trivia is that Meyer wrote Twilight in only 3 months and never intended to publish it and penned it just for the fun of it. Of course things changed when her sister convinced her to send it to literary agencies and the rest they say is history.

So Kristen actually has more experience than Meyer had before she decided to take the plunge to become a professional writer, with one completed short film already under her belt. I believe her acting experience will aid her in becoming a successful full-length feature film screenwriter and director as well. And lastly, Kristen has the relentless drive to accomplish whatever she sets out to do.

[–] Ron2011 (907) 7 years ago

Yeah, that would be interesting if Kristen were to direct a Twilight film based on a new book. I've always said I'd like to see Stephanie Meyer flesh out that world a bit more. The original saga was more focused on the romance, but a book focused on the world of vampires, wolves and the other wilder wolves that even Aro and his group fear could be interesting.

I think I did know that Meyer wasn't a big writer prior to Twilight. I remember her saying something like how she learned a lot as she wrote the books.

Kristen has been dabbling in writing for a while now. We haven't really seen too much of her work in that regard, but her new film "Come Swim" is her writing. We will certainly see more of her writing and with larger projects in the future, as it seems she's ambitious about branching out. That all has to be very exciting and interesting work, artistic and energizing.

[–] LLOwens (983) 7 years ago

I think I did know that Meyer wasn't a big writer prior to Twilight. I remember her saying something like how she learned a lot as she wrote the books.

And what about J.K. Rowling who wrote and sold over 500 million copies of her Harry Potter books and who, according to Forbes, in the process became the first person to become a billionaire from writing books? Yet Rowling accomplished this despite not majoring in English in college. Heck, her parents insisted she study French, which she begrudgingly failed to honor their wishes by doing just enough school work to get by. It is also well known that Rowling was on the verge of chronic homelessness, living off of welfare in order to survive before her Harry Potter books were published.

And how about the bestselling author alive, Danielle Steel, who has sold over 800 million copies of her 80 published novels? While Steel admits that she has always loved writing, she too never spent time in college studying writing or majoring in English but instead majored in Fashion Design.

French, fashion, Twilight and writing. Hmm. These are the things Kristen is interested in as well. In the case of Meyer, Rowling and Steel, their undying passion for writing stories seems to be the common thread that led them all to phenomenal success. Hopefully this likewise becomes true in Kristen's case as well.

[–] Ron2011 (907) 7 years ago

"French, fashion, Twilight and writing. Hmm. These are the things Kristen is interested in as well. In the case of Meyer, Rowling and Steel, their undying passion for writing stories seems to be the common thread that led them all to phenomenal success. Hopefully this likewise becomes true in Kristen's case as well. "

Agreed. She's ambitious, artistic, hard working and savvy in her craft. Always wanting to learn more and to do more, so she should be able to have a lot to show for it over her career. I just wonder what projects she'll be working on in the next ten or twenty years. My thinking is that she'll be acting and directing in the types of film roles she enjoys now, which tend towards the more in depth, interesting and challenging character stories.

[–] LLOwens (983) 7 years ago

I just wonder what projects she'll be working on in the next ten or twenty years. My thinking is that she'll be acting and directing in the types of film roles she enjoys now, which tend towards the more in depth, interesting and challenging character stories.

I believe you got that right Ron, since from her earliest feature film roles such as The Safety of Objects, Panic Room, Cold Creek Manor and Speak to her most recent roles such as Lizzie, JT Leroy, Underwater, Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk and Personal Shopper, Kristen has a penchant for choosing challenging roles, so I too doubt this will change and I sure hope not since I love seeing her portray gritty, riveting and wrenching roles.

[–] Ron2011 (907) 7 years ago

Yep, she's had some good, interesting roles, along with a few fluff type roles like in Zathura. But even in her early films I feel she's shown strong poise and maturity even at a young age.

I meant to respond earlier but having some computer problems. My system needs some fixes. :)

[–] CKid (3816) 7 years ago

OK, I'm baaack.

Power was finally restored last night following our macabre dance with that bitch Irma.

Looking forward to watching some football this weekend despite the fact that the University of Miami at Florida State game that was originally scheduled for tomorrow has been postponed until October 7th.

Man, what with last week's 'Canes game at Arkansas State being cancelled, tomorrow's 'Cane/FSU game being postponed and the Dolphins/Buccaneers opening game last week being postponed until November 19th, it just seems that the football season has not really begun.

And speaking of hurricanes, when Kristen's film Underwater finally opens, I wonder whether people will think that it's a film about Hurricane Harvey inundating Houston with 50 inches of rain. Uh, you think I have hurricanes on my mind???

And now back to the subject of this thread --
Ron, you almost made me puke at the thought of Kristen "wooing" Stephenie Meyer into letting her direct a film that has anything to do with Twilight. I can't imagine Kristen wanting to do that at all. I just see her wanting to direct a film based on an actual piece of quality literature rather than something based on some teenage crap.

Oh yeah, speaking of another thread, I also saw Kristen's 'Chanel ad' on TV while I was staying at my brother's house up in Boynton Beach. That was the first time I saw Kristen in a TV ad since she originally appeared in that, "Dad, I missed the bus" Porsche commercial so many years ago.
She looks a bit different now. ;-)

Anyway, that's it for now. Time to go and clean up more debris, in the never-ending battle for truth, justice and the hurricane way.

P.S. Anyone see 'It'? Obviously, I haven't due to Irma, but it is a film that intrigues me, so I was wondering if you guys liked it.

[–] Ron2011 (907) 7 years ago

Carved, glad to see you made it through Irma intact. I hope your home didn't suffer bad damage, or homes of family.

I remember Kristen's Porsche commercial. Heh, yes she looks a bit different now. In fact, given how she looked even at age twelve and thirteen in her movies, I feel her looks changed a lot as a young/mid teen to how I wouldn't have expected.

As for Twilight spin off, I mostly have to agree with you that it could be a step backwards for Kristen. I think on the other hand that it might do well with teens and those older now who were big fans of the Saga. That said, I don't see it as being a literary or artistic success like you point out.

[–] LLOwens (983) 7 years ago

Good to hear you're doing okay Carved. Many of us who live in Hawaii were keenly interested in Irma because we're all too familiar with hurricanes as of late. One of my workmates has family that also lives in Miami, so we were relieved when we got the news that Irma was downgraded to Category 1, although it still wreaked much havoc across Florida regardless as you can attest to. A few years back, in 2015, fifteen hurricanes/tropical cyclones, the most on record, got near the Hawaiian islands. Thankfully none of them got close enough to inflict catastrophic damage other than causing a bit of heavy rain and flooding in inundation zones and strong winds from tropical storms--if almost felt as if we were dodging bullets left and right like Neo from The Matrix".

And how can I ever forget about how cute and adorable Kristen was in that Porsche commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RzcUg_FudA

[–] Ron2011 (907) 7 years ago

My brother and sister-in-law have a small place in Port Charlotte they spend winters at. They were worried but apparently got no damage according to friends who live there.

Hehe, cute Porsche commercial. I often wonder when watching commercials, whether with kids or adults, if a new star will be born from the ads. :)

[–] LLOwens (983) 7 years ago

I often wonder when watching commercials, whether with kids or adults, if a new star will be born from the ads. :)

Kristen's costar in The Runaways Dakota Fanning also began acting at a very young age, in her case as a five-year-old budding star in a Tide commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNSo76_m5H8

It sure seems these two were natural born actors.

[–] Ron2011 (907) 7 years ago

Hehe, I had to chuckle as I watched that ad with a very young Dakota in it! :)

[–] CKid (3816) 7 years ago

Wanna see someone else starting out at a very young age?

Here's Kristen's Panic Room mom, Jodie Foster, in a Coppertone commercial ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwKvoOmO0mk

Yup, that was the first thing Jodie was ever filmed at.

[–] Ron2011 (907) 7 years ago

Cute ad, thanks Carved. A star is born there! ;)

[–] LLOwens (983) 7 years ago

I read somewhere that Jodie was just three at the time.

And here's an actress who would eventually portray a world famous vampiress like Kristen did, Sarah Michelle Gellar who became a household name after staring as Buffy in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but several years prior she made her television debut as a five-year-old blossoming entertainer in a Burger King commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ss7_5PSnyA

Talk about out of the mouth of babes! As amazing and articulate as she was at such a young age, the most unbelievable thing relating to this commercial was that McDonald's sued Burger King for comparing their burgers unfavorably in this TV ad and even named Gellar in the lawsuit, which included banning her from eating there.

After getting wind of this I decided on boycotting Mickey D's--well actually I don't frequent this place like I used to primarily for health reasons, especially since watching the documentary "Super Size Me"--although I must admit their Filet-O-Fish is the greatest fast food invention of all time and will continue eating this delectable sandwich--ironic since as a child it was my least fave item on their menu.

[–] [deleted] 7 years ago

a litany of bad movies