That’s what I’ve decided to use as an operating title for my film. Now, I can refer to it as “Project Echo” instead of the more generic and abstract “My Screenplay” or “My Film” or “My Movie Thing I’m Making.” And, as with many ideas, the inspiration came from somebody else.
One of the friends I made during my stint as a film critic (which I still do from time to time) was Daniel Getahun, a talented and prolific writer who holds court at Getafilm. Back in September of last year, he started a new series of articles called “Reel Life,” in which he collected links to real life stories that he thought would make good films. One of his links was to an article about a woman who can’t forget - literally. Her brain is flooded with decades of memories, and if you ask her what she did on August 1st, 1977, she’ll be able to tell you in fine detail. She’s also written a book, appropriately titled “The Woman Who Can’t Forget.”
Reading that article planted a seed in my brain that has continued to grow over the past 7 months. While my current vision for the film bears no resemblance whatsoever to this particular woman or her story, the concept of a person who is perpetually plagued by their past memories remains the core of Project Echo (which refers to how the main character experiences the flood of his past memories).
So Daniel, if you’re reading this, I’m totally giving you an Executive Producer credit or something, seeing as you gave me the idea for it in the first place.
15/06/2009 at 11:12 pm Permalink
Wow.
Can’t really describe the grin on my face right now.
This whole thing is fantastic, Evan. I hope the production of Project Echo is as easy as my reading of the news. And to think, success on only my first installment of that feature - and the first article in the first installment, no less! In other words, if the idea for this one doesn’t blossom for some reason, feel free to move on to other 30 or so currently waiting to be produced.
We’ll negotiate my credit and percentages in due time.
(And if you’re wondering how I got here, it was a roundabout way from Kristena’s comment on your Dark Knight review, which I pulled up as soon as I came across the movie on TV.)
15/06/2009 at 11:30 pm Permalink
Alright this is a little freaky. I just went back to that first Reel Life post and reread my thoughts on it.
Then I read further I and discovered this little exchange at the end of the comments:
Evan Derrick September 18, 2008 10:47 AM
I like it too, Daniel. Great idea for a column. If I ever get my filmmaking career off of the ground, I’ll be stealing some of your ideas.
Daniel G. September 18, 2008 11:21 AM
Thanks, Evan. Keep in mind all of these are in the public domain - that is, until I identify them in this way. Then it would be stealing…but don’t worry, taking things from friends isn’t stealing. Is it?
Evan Derrick September 18, 2008 4:11 PM
I’ll be sure to ask pretty please first.
Daniel G. September 18, 2008 4:35 PM
Actually if you end up making a movie, I’ll probably be kissing up to you.
16/06/2009 at 4:02 pm Permalink
Daniel, that is strikingly ironic. I had forgotten all about those comments.
I’m so glad you found your way over here, although I was expecting it would be through the trackback, and not through a review to my wife’s site and then to here.
See, you totally inspired me with your post. Keep those suckers coming.