Lit to Lens

The guys discuss the film adaptation, SING SING, based on an article published in October 2005 by John H. Richardson.

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The Sing Sing Follies (A maximum security comedy) is a magazine piece that tells the story of a group of inmates in Sing Sing prison who, through the Rehabilitation Through the Arts program, are working to put on a play, called Breakin’ the Mummy’s Code. The play is about six convicts who each write separate plays and then splice them together and includes pirates, gladiators, cowboys, a spy in a tuxedo and even Prince Hamlet of Denmark. Within the article, we get to know a little bit about a number of inmates, the RTA program and the creative process.

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The film adaptation was directed by Greg Kwedar, written by Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar, and stars Oscar-nominee Colman Domingo, Clarence Maclin, Sean San José and Paul Raci.

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Topics of discussion include the differences in adapting an 8-page magazine article from a novel, the creation of new characters, Divine Eye’s backstory, where the term “up the river” comes from, some historical background about the Sing Sing correctional facility, and whether or not Will would live in a prison refurbished into apartments.

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(0:00) From the book

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(2:90) Fast facts, recap, trivia

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(13:48) A word from our sponsor

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(14:21) Studio pitch & novel breakdown

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(36:50) Trailer

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(39:11) Learn you something, differences from the book

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(1:28:50) Coming up next, and outro

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If you would like to get in contact with us about anything regarding the show, feel free to shoot us an e-mail: [email protected]

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The guys discuss the film adaptation of THE OUTSIDERS, which is based on the 1967 novel written by S.E. Hinton.

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THE OUTSIDERS tells the coming-of-age story of Ponyboy Curtis, a greaser living in Oklahoma in the 1960s. After his parents die in an automobile accident, Pony and his two brothers work to survive in a town divided on class lines. Gang and class conflict, friendship, cigarette smoking and paperback versions of Gone with the Wind feature prominently.

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The film adaptation was directed by Francis Ford Coppola, written by Kathleen Rowell, and stars a future all-star cast in C. Thomas Howell, Matt Dillon, Ralph Macchio, Patrick Swayze, Rob Lowe, Diane Lane, Emilio Estevez, Tom Cruise, and Leif Garrett.

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Topics of discussion include the two film versions of the adaptation, the holes in the story, why the book is so popularly taught in English classes across America, and whether or not Francis Ford Coppola fell off after Apocalypse Now.

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(0:00) From the book

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(1:08) Fast facts, recap, trivia

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(17:20) A word from our sponsor

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(17:47) Studio pitch & novel breakdown

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(42:16) Trailer

(43:21) Learn you something, differences from the book

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(1:03:00) Coming up next, and outro

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If you would like to get in contact with us about anything regarding the show, feel free to shoot us an e-mail: [email protected]

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The guys discuss one of the all-time classic film adaptations, THE GODFATHER, which is based on the 1969 best-selling novel written by Mario Puzo.

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THE GODFATHER tells the story of the Corelone family, one of the largest and most powerful crime families operating in the New York City area circa 1946. When Don Vito Corelone refuses an offer to participate in the narcotics trade by a rival family, the decision sets off a mafia war and ultimately a succession crisis for the Corelone family. Themes of legacy, violence, and how to make it in America feature prominently. 

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The film adaptation was directed by Francis Ford Coppola, written by Mario Puzo and Francis Ford Coppola, and stars Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, Robert Duvall, James Caan, and Diane Keaton.

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Topics of discussion include the popularity of the novel, the importance of omertà, how the adaptation stacks up to the source material, and whether or not the film is actually overrated.

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(0:00) From the book…

(1:22) Fast facts, recap, trivia…

(22:24) A word from our sponsor…

(19:58) Studio pitch & novel breakdown…

(53:48) Trailer

(55:43) Learn you something, differences from the book…

(1:25:00) Coming up next, and outro….

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If you would like to get in contact with us about anything regarding the show, feel free to shoot us an e-mail: [email protected]

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The guys discuss the new film from Francis Ford Coppola, APOCALYPSE NOW, which is NOT directly based on any source material such as a novel or play. But, the release of MEGALOPOLIS fits nicely within our season on Francis Ford Coppola, and this may be the last opportunity to witness an opening release for the acclaimed director.

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MEGALOPOLIS tells the story of a conflict between Cesar, a genius artist who seeks to leap into a utopian, idealistic future, and his opposition, Mayor Franklyn Cicero, who remains committed to a regressive status quo, perpetuating greed, special interests, and partisan warfare.

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The film was directed by Francis Ford Coppola, who has directed THE GODFATHER trilogy, THE CONVERSATION, THE OUTSIDERS, and THE RAINMAKER, among many others. The script was written by Francis Ford Coppola, while the film stars Adam Driver, Nathalie Emmanuel, Robert Giancarlo Esposito, Aubrey Plaza, Shia LaBeouf, Jon Voigt, Laurence Fishburne, Kathryn Hunter and Dustin Hoffman.

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Topics of discussion include the chaotic narrative, the lack of clarity and context around the world and actions of characters, where this leaves Francis Ford Coppola as well as the actors involved, and whether or not roundabouts are a more sustainable solution to traffic lights.

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(0:00) Trailer

(2:08) MEGALOPOLIS discussion

(55:00) Coming up next, and outro….

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If you would like to get in contact with us about anything regarding the show, feel free to shoot us an e-mail: [email protected]

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The guys discuss one of the all-time classic film adaptations, APOCALYPSE NOW, which is based on the century-old (also) classic British novella, HEART OF DARKNESS.

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HEART OF DARKNESS tells a story within a story, following Charlie Marlow, who recounts his adventure to a group of men onboard an anchored ship. Although his job was to transport ivory downriver, Charlie develops an interest in investing an ivory procurement agent, Kurtz, who is employed by the government. Preceded by his reputation as a brilliant emissary of progress, Kurtz has now established himself as a god among the natives in “one of the darkest places on earth.” Marlow suspects something else of Kurtz: he has gone mad.

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APOCALYPSE NOW tells the story of Captain Benjamin Willard, a troubled soldier sent on a dangerous mission at the height of the Vietnam War, ordered to terminate the mysterious Green Beret Colonel Walter Kurtz. It is suspected that Kurtz has gone deep into the Vietnamese jungle, recruited his own personal army, and taken the war into his own hands.

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The film adaptation was directed by Francis Ford Coppola, who has directed THE GODFATHER trilogy, THE CONVERSATION, THE OUTSIDERS, THE RAINMAKER, and the upcoming film MEGALOPOLIS (in theaters September 27). The script was written by John Milieus and Francis Ford Coppola, while the film stars Marlon Brando, Martin Sheen, Robert Duvall, Larry Fishburne, Dennis Hopper and Harrison Ford.

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Topics of discussion include the loose nature of the adaptation and thematic fit for the Vietnam War, a literary criticism of HEART OF DARKNESS by Chinua Achebe (author of THINGS FALL APART), the controversy and lore behind the filmmaking process, how the adaptation stacks up to the source material, and whether or not a water buffalo was actually slaughtered on film.

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(0:00) From the book…

(1:20) Fast facts, recap, trivia…

(22:24) A word from our sponsor…

(22:57) Studio pitch & novel breakdown…

(49:55) Trailer

(51:36) Learn you something, differences from the book…

(1:58:04) Coming up next, and outro….

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If you would like to get in contact with us about anything regarding the show, feel free to shoot us an e-mail: [email protected]

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Or reach out on social media:

twitter.com/littolens

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The guys discuss the new MAX series THE SYMPATHIZER, directed by Park Chan-wook based on the Pulitzer Prize winning debut novel by Viet Thanh Nguyen.

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THE SYMPATHIZER tells the story of The Captain, a North Vietnamese mole working undercover for the South Vietnamese army. The story traces his escape from Vietnam after the fall of Saigon, his acclimation to Los Angeles and working in Hollywood, to his grappling with the competing ideologies of his friends and foes, and the moral lines he must cross to save his life and those of the ones he loves.

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The series adaptation was directed by Park Chan-wook, who has directed acclaimed films such as OLDBOY and DECISION TO LEAVE. The series, streaming on MAX (formerly HBO) stars How Xuande, Robert Downey, Jr., Toan Le, Fred Nguyen Khan, Day Nguyen, Vy Le, Ky Duyen, Phanxinê, Kieu Chinh, Alan Trong, Sandra Oh, with special appearances by John Cho and David Duchovny.

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Topics of discussion include how the book felt like homework, the minor changes made to the show, a history lesson on Operation Frequent Wind and why maybe this series didn’t gain more traction with audiences.

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(0:00) From the book…

(1:56) Fast facts, recap, trivia…

(18:03) A word from our sponsor…

(18:26) Studio pitch & novel breakdown…

(40:34) Trailer

(42:50) Learn you something, differences from the book…

(1:38:53) Music outro

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If you would like to get in contact with us about anything regarding the show, feel free to shoot us an e-mail: [email protected]

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Or reach out on social media:

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The guys discuss the film THE ZONE OF INTEREST, the Jonathan Glazer adaptation from the Martin Amis novel of the same name.

THE ZONE OF INTEREST, the fourteenth novel from British writer Martin Amis, is set among a group of German commanders at an unnamed concentration camp, taken to be Auschwitz. The story traces the fall of the Third Reich from three interweaving perspectives: Angelus Thomsen, an officer at the camp; Paul Doll, his commandant; and Szmul Zacharias, a Jewish death camp prisoner. The stories and characters intersect due to the nature of their work and Thomsen’s attempts to attract Paul’s wife, Hannah. Themes of the power of memory, survivors guilt, navigating right and wrong, and society building feature prominently. The novel was shortlisted for the Walker Scott Prize in 2015.

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The film adaptation was written and directed by Jonathan Glazer and stars Christian Friedl and Sandra Hüller. It made its premier on May 19, 2023 at the Cannes Film Festival where it won the Grand Prix and the FIPRESCI Prize. It was released in the US on December 15, 2023 and has been nominated for five Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best International; Feature Film and Best Sound.

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Topics of discussion include the stripping of the book’s characters and narrative structure, the film’s refocusing of the story on banality of evil and its emphasis on sound, what the Cosmic Ice Theory is all about, and whether or not we need anymore movies about the Holocaust.

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Listen to the episode to find out how the series stacks up to the book.

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(0:00) From the book…

(1:00) Fast facts, recap, trivia…

(12:09) A word from our sponsor…

(12:47) Studio pitch & novel breakdown…

(34:08) Trailer

(35:24) Learn you something, differences from the book…

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If you would like to get in contact with us about anything regarding the show, feel free to shoot us an e-mail: [email protected]

…

Or reach out on social media:

twitter.com/littolens

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The guys discuss the film AMERICAN FICTION, the Cord Jefferson adaptation from the Percival Everett novel ERASURE.

AMERICAN FICTION, follows Thelonious "Monk" Ellison, a frustrated novelist of general fiction, who decides to write a “Black” book full of tired and offensive tropes to profit off the publishing industry’s possibly misguided demand for those stories. He uses a pen name to write an outlandish Black book of his own, which rockets up the bestseller list and into the madness of the book publishing world. At the same time, there is also a gripping family drama threatening to overwhelm the Ellison household.

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The film adaptation stars Jeffrey Wright, Trace Ellis Ross, Issa Rae, Sterling K. Brown, John Ortiz, Adam Brody, and Keith David. The film was released on December 15, 2023 and was written and directed by Cord Jefferson in his debut film.

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Topics of discussion include the origin of Monk’s pseudonym Stagg R. Leigh, the experimental structure of the novel with its embedded narratives, the unfortunate news of BARBIE getting moved into the Best Adapted Screenplay category for the Academy Awards, and whether or not Brad Pitt liked Adam Brody’s 2003 film, GRIND.

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Listen to the episode to find out how the series stacks up to the book.

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(0:00) From the book…

(0:55) Fast facts, recap, trivia…

(12:45) A word from our sponsor…

(13:30) Studio pitch & novel breakdown…

(32:36) Trailer

(35:09) Learn you something, differences from the book…

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Our next episode will be on the adaptation of the Matin Amis novel, THE ZONE OF INTEREST, which was directed by Jonathan Glazer and stars Christian Friedl and Sandra Hüller. The film’s wide release is set for January 19, 2024.

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If you would like to get in contact with us about anything regarding the show, feel free to shoot us an e-mail: [email protected]

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Or reach out on social media:

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In an adapted recap of 2023, the guys discuss their favorites from the past year of cinema, literature, and (self-indulgently) themselves.

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Top 3 films we saw this past year (that were also released in 2023)

Top 3 books we read this past year (can be released before 2023)

And our favorite Lit to Lens episode from this past year

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Happy New Year! We are looking forward to a big 2024, and we hope you are too!

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Our next episode will be on the adaptation of the Percival Everett novel, ERASURE, which has been adapted for the screen as AMERICAN FICTION and directed by Cord Jefferson and stars Jeffrey Wright, Tracee Ellis Ross, Issa Rae, and Sterling K. Brown. The film is not in theaters.

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If you would like to get in contact with us about anything regarding the show, feel free to shoot us an e-mail: [email protected]

…

Or reach out on social media:

twitter.com/littolens

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The guys discuss the film adaptation of POOR THINGS, the Yorgos Lanthimos adaptation from the Alasdair Gray novel of the same name.

The book follows the account of Archie McCandless, a Scottish public health officer, who falls in love with a strange woman named Bella Baxter, created by his medical friend Godwin Baxter by implanting her unborn child's brain into her lifeless body. Bella is animated by a desire to see and experience the world, and all of the book is related second hand whether through letters to Archie which are printed in his narrative, Bella’s own postscript to whoever is reading this decades later, and the author’s own notes on both narratives.

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The film adaptation stars Emma Stone, Mark Ruffalo, Willem Dafoe, Ray Youssef, Christopher Abbott, Jerrod Carmichael and Margaret Qualley. The film was released on December 15, 2023 and was directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, with the screenplay written by Tony McNamara.

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Topics of discussion include the shift away from the book’s story within a story structure, the focusing on Bella Baxter, the Greek Weird Wave, some films that were inspirations for the crew, and whether or not the guys can pull off a Scottish accent.

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Listen to the episode to find out how the series stacks up to the book.

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(0:00) From the book…

(1:31) Fast facts, recap, trivia…

(16:36) A word from our sponsor…

(17:14) Studio pitch & novel breakdown…

(36:06) Trailer

(36:28) Learn you something, differences from the book…

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Our next episode will be on the adaptation of the Perceival Everett novel, ERASURE, which has been adapted for the screen as AMERICAN FICTION and directed by Cord Jefferson and stars Jeffrey Wright, Tracee Ellis Ross, Issa Rae, and Sterling K. Brown. The film’s release date is set for December 15, 2023.

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If you would like to get in contact with us about anything regarding the show, feel free to shoot us an e-mail: [email protected]

…

Or reach out on social media:

twitter.com/littolens

instagram.com/littolens