Sunday, May 16, 2010

Bryce and Julie, Sittin' in a Tree...

The Mad Crunch has yielded content! Results! And a request for video clips for the e-book. Video clips? For an e-book? Yeah. But I'm getting ahead of myself, so eeeeeert, back up. First, yes that image on the left is the movie poster. Or the final art for the movie poster, anyway. That gibberish on the bottom is going to have to change, and we know the date's been moved up to August, so I'm sure the "9.17" will, too. But the point is, this is what the poster for the movie will look like, and this will also be the basis for the cover of the movie tie-in edition book. Did Bryce ever get up in the tree with Juli? Uh, no. But the spirit of the image is great, and I like that they made the kids older than they were in the previous art (see blog post from a few weeks ago). I also really like that they used a font so similar to the font on the original book. I think it ties things together nicely. I don't know what that "Heartland Truly Moving Picture Award" is about, but I'd better check it out. Sounds good to me! And, the movie stills for the book came in, too. There will be 8 pages with 2 pictures each in the book, and they're wonderful! So it looks like the deadlines have been met (barely!) and that the book will go to press with a representative cover and a nice set of photographs. Pfew! Which brings us to the e-book. Okay, so I'm not yet a fan of e-books. I like a physical book. E-books also scare me because this is my livelihood (and passion) and I've seen what downloading has done to the music industry. E-book pros and cons are hotly debated and I'm not going to get into it here, but regardless of how I feel about it, there will be an e-book for Flipped, released just prior to the movie. And apparently the new media marketing gurus at Random House asked my editor (Nancy) if we could possibly supply extra "content" for the e-book. Like, maybe a video of me talking about the book-to-movie process. I didn't know they could include video in an e-book. Or that e-books can support songs. And it just so happens that we happen to have 3 complete, professionally recorded songs based on Flipped. Long story short, when I found out Flipped might become a movie, I started writing songs which we hoped would be considered for the movie soundtrack. I know. I know. And I agree--it sounds wacked out crazy, and oh-please, and who-does-she-think-she-is and all of that. Believe me, I get that. But long before books there was music, and there's nothing like hope in your heart to keep you going. So Mark and I recorded these songs, submitted them, and...were told that they liked the songs a lot, but that the movie was going to use songs that were popular in the 50's and 60's. Too bad for us, but at least we gave it our best shot. Nancy knew about the songs, and when she told the e-book team that they existed, apparently they got very excited and wanted to know if we'd allow them to be included in the e-book. Looks like we'll be providing the "soundtrack to the e-book". Now there's something brand new. They also wanted some short video clips of me talking about how the book got turned into a movie, what it was like to visit the location shoot, how I came up with the idea of Flipped, an inside view to recording a song...stuff like that. So this weekend Mark and I did a handful of short videos. I hate the way I look in them, 'cause right now my hair's really short and l look kind of worn [maybe from that 10 miles I ran this morning] and I'm definitely a snarl-lipped, bug-eyed spaz in parts of these videos. Oh, well. That's life. Anyway, my question to you is, if there was something you would want me to discuss regarding Flipped (the movie or the book or, for that matter, the e-book) what would it be? I feel like I've covered all the bases in the video clips, but maybe not! That's all for now. Thanks for caring; thanks for checking in. I appreciate that you do! See you next Sunday, Wendelin

45 comments:

Mark Parsons said...

"and I'm definitely a snarl-lipped, bug-eyed spaz in parts of these videos..."

No you're not - you're cute, like always! (I, on the other hand, look pretty goofy behind the mix board, nodding my head in time to the music like a dog hoping for a biscuit!) :-D

Oh well, it's all good, and it's all big fun...

Mark

Anonymous said...

Hahahhah! Perfect timing for the blog title. I just posted a(n) (SK) fanfic today and the "one lined summary" was "Sammy and Casey sitting on a swing..." (it went with the story, okay? Dont make fun!). Anywho, I'm probably not going to buy the e-book, so I wont see the video, but if I were going to see it, then... Hmm. I honestly do not know. Sorry about my fabulous advice. You must have loved it. *sarcasm
Also, I don't think it's crazy that you wrote songs for your movie. Are you kidding? I'd probably write songs for my movie, too! Maybe I wouldn't record them with *my band, though, because I'd want a girl to sing them, yes? And my band's lead singer is not a girl? Yepp. If I sang in it, we'd name ourselves Nails On A Chalkboard or something, thats how much my singing skills suck. xP
Oh, do you sing in the Sammy Keyes song? Just a thought/question.
What else.... I really do wish you could read the FF's. You'd be quite disturbed by a few (some people can be violent? Hahaha). Maybe it's a good thing for the FFers? So they dont have to worry about what the author will think of their stories? Hmmmm. I dont know.
Since I will not buy the e-book and not hear the songs, would you be able to post the lyrics? I'd love to see them. (:
I may be music obsessed. You think? AALLL my FFs are based off songs. Probably mostly 3OH!3 or Ke$ha, but I don't onllyyy like the scene bands/artists, I also love others. I wasnt happy at all when Michael Jackson died. Of COURSE. :( But I love Green Day and the Sex Pistols and The Beatles and stuff like that. It all makes me so happy. John Lennon is my role model. <3
This is very random. Adieu adieu...err
¡adios!
Okay...
--Stephaniee!

Pooja Dimba said...

That sounds really cool. And I'm pretty sure you don't look like a snarl lipped bug eyed spaz in the videos.
For some reason that description reminds me of the guy in Sammy Keyes and the Wild Things. ... the bird stuffer or something...
Nice post! :)

N3WYORKD3VIL said...

I'm getting the e-book! But first, I would have to get an e-reader. Hmmm. I think I'll get the nook from Barnes and Noble. I prefer the actual book but when me and my family go on vacation, I'm not allowed to bring ANY books. At all. It's a cruel, cruel world. So if I get an e-reader, I would be able to bring aaaalllll of my favorit books with me. Songs for the movie? I wonder if I could get them off iTunes soon...I WISH I could post FF stories soo badly. But sadly, I have no Microsoft because my computer is oh so new. But it's MINE! And there's INTERNET! So I'm happy. But I still want Word. My dad can't find the cd and he dosen't want to give Bill Gates more money than he already has. Plus, my dad would take it out of MY allowance and I'm desperate for money. I'm flat broke right now. I need to save enough money so I could buy Sammy Keyes and the Wedding Crasher. I need MICROSOFT!

Jinnyd said...

REAL books are much wonderfuller, in their own way. And yes, there's a whole truckload of pros and cons for ebooks. But maybe, if you believe that ebooks are physical books, they'll become physical books in their heart of hearts? The Velveteen Rabbit, anyone?

How many videos did you do? Will they be compatible with all kinds of ebooks, or just the popular ones, like Kindle and nook?

Anyway, this is on a TOTALLY different note, but I just read Confessions of a Serial Kisser and it was great! I especially love the ending, when Evangeline gets everything figured out.

Keep on rockin'!

Wendelin Van Draanen said...

I love how some of you just randomly talk to me. It's very sweet. Like we're friends :-)

Anyway, XXCLxx: yes, I would totally see you writing your own soundtrack. Yes, that's me singing the SK song. We saw Green Day last summer. It was an awesome show.

PD, just you wait and see my bug-eyed, snarl-lipped self! I sent in the clips today. What a weekend!

FxR: That is hilarious how you're not allowed to bring books on vacation! Most parents would give their, what? minivan? to have a son or daughter who loved to read so much. It's an indicator of success in school, you know. But they're your parents and they probably just want to interact with you!

Jinnyd: Glad you liked Kisser! I love the whole guitar redemption thing. Nothing like a power chord to put boys in perspective!

Everybody: Do NOT go out and buy an e-reader because of my post. The songs will be available on iTunes after a (brief) exclusive period for the e-book. If you have one anyway, fine. But do not get one because of this!

All for now! Thanks for your comments.

Flipped219 said...

It's nice to see that everything is coming along nicely. It's very exciting! I do have one question about Flipped. I'm not sure if this this line is used in the movie, but I always wondered where the inspiration for "Some of us get dipped in flat, some in satin, some in gloss...But every once in a while you find someone iridescent, and when you do, nothing will ever compare." Is it just another bit of well-versed writing or is an inspiration or story behind it?

Thanks!

Wendelin Van Draanen said...

I didn't get the idea for that description from anywhere. It just came out as I was writing. I'm glad you like it. Yes, it's delivered by Chet (John Mahoney) in the movie. :-)

Norma said...

I am absolutely excited about the Flipped movie. How cool is it that the release date's been pushed up?! Right now, it's another thing to look forward to, though the new Sammy Keyes is what I'm really looking forwarc to!

N3WYORKD3VIL said...

Ooooh! They will?! Awesome! I only have..lemme check..188 songs on my iPod. It's my new one. My old one had more but it broke. Technology hates me sometimes. I broke the toaster this morning...I need to pay for it too. And when I go on vacation, its usually to Walt Disney and we DRIVE. It takes two entire days. And we have a minivan and I'm STILL not allowed to take any books. I have nothing to do two days. Of course, there was that last time when I brought my bookbag and stuffed it with Sammy Keyes books. I couldn't fit Sammy Keyes and the Dead Giveaway in my bag so I hid it in my pillowcase along with my favorite notebook. And my binder. And my calender. And that's it.

Anonymous said...

Hahaha- I probably have over 300 songs on my iPod (I'm thinking up updating my touch to an iPhone but I like my phone so naaah).
I think I may go mad waiting for Sammy Keyes and the Wedding Crasher. AND for Flipped. And a bajillion other things. This summer is going to be so different. (Mom's baby due on Saturday! May 22nd, give or take).
Random question (these never seemed to get anwered but I'll let it fly anyway): Will you ever explain to us why Sammy's dad had a catcher's mitt? Well its obviously because he probably played catcher, but I'd like to know the background of it all.. See? I am a psycho. The reason I asked is because it's softball season here, and I don't really play (I play tennis, volleyball, hockey, soccer and I football chearlead in Fall) but in P.E we play softball annnnndd I was playing catcher today (I was in a lazy mood) and thought about it. I'm sort of mad because I actually *enjoy playing softball (unlike basketball and pickleball, gross) but our dumb team decided to give us the dumbes, most vulger name ever. The P.E teachers specifically said "Be appropriate!" and our dumb team namd us the
The Master Batters
And the gym teachers didnt even notice
OMG >:O
Ok I'll stop now, I think that was enough from me....
Besides, I ab-so-lut-elyyyyyyyyyyyyyy caaaaaaannnntttttttttt waaaaiiiiiiittttttt forrrrrrrrr Flipped. If a t shirt is made I'd totally buy it! With a little chick :P Yay <3

N3WYORKD3VIL said...

OMG! That would be sooo awesum! The t-shirt thingy. Gaaaah! I wish I was a publisher. Or editor. Whichever one gets to see your books first. Lucky editor. Hmmm. Do you think Flipped could be released sooner? I guess not. What am I supposed to do until August 27 and October 12? I won't survive! *sigh* Sundays are the best days ever! Except for the part of going back to school the next day. That part is unfair. To be fair, school should be January-June and vacation should be July-December. Aaaaallll of the seasons are in those months and allll the best days eveerrrrr! It's completly fair...sorta.

Elizabeth said...

The artwork is great, and I like your summary of it :) lol. I seriously got goosebumps when you said that Chet will deliver that line, it is one of my favorite moments in the book. I just bought it, btw. I'm kind of buying all of your books slowly but surely. I have them half the time from the library and that isn't fair to other readers... lol. I'm so glad you/they met the deadline!!! I vented to my sister all about how much I hoped it would be met. And I'm insanely excited about the songs you recorded that go along with Flipped!!! That is cool you like Green Day, I loVe their music (and I also like what I've heard from Thing 2 :) Are there any more songs in the works? and will the ones you've already recorded be available for purchase any time soon?..:). I have no suggestions about the videos :/ and I am not a fan of e-books (screens hurt my eyes after a while). The feeling you get when holding a hardcover book, paper covered in ink and bound, yet powerful... a e-book can't compete in my mind, or heart. Though it is great that it will be available for those who DO like e-books! Well, I guess I'm done rambling for now... thanks so much for sharing!

Jinnyd said...

Hmmm. Hearing all of this is practically MAKING me go reread Flipped. Like. Now. ASAP!

On a totally unrelated note, I really like the sound of electric guitars. I don't know why. There's something soothing about the thrashing chords of electric guitars, which seems so counter-intuitive, but I'm strange like that!

Woohoo! Will now go reread Flipped.

Wendelin Van Draanen said...

I think the people who post comments at this blog are wonderful. You're all enthused and positive and that's so nice. I've seen other blogs where the comments just disintegrate into griping and biting and random discussions about nothing, but you guys make this a very uplifting place to be, so thank you.

I know I don't reply to all the comments, but I always read them and certainly intend to. Life just slips by and things fall through the cracks. Sorry. Some answers for questions that I remember from previous post comments: The whole thing with character names. Wow. I'm so impressed. The Grayson thing was a slap upside the head. I'm like wow! I DID do that. And NO it wasn't on purpose. Sheez! Also the random comments about bands and music is joyful to me. I guess I just relate to that. There's nothing more therapeutic than a distorted power chord. I'm glad girls /women are starting to really play guitar / rock instruments rather than being "eye candy" in the band. The Flipped songs are poppier than the Thing2 stuff, and yes, we've almost finished another song--Girl is Silver--about buying into fads --we'll eventually post it. Nice to be asked, thanks. And what else? All the FF stuff: I am looking forward to reading ALL of it when I'm done with the series, which means you have to hang in there with me (and keep it available). Yes, I sing the Sammy Keyes song. Funny story behind that song and I wish I could come to each of your schools and tell it. The Sisters of Mercy title came to me as a song (in my sleep) and it built up from there. I got so excited when I hit on the lyric rhyming Borsch and Porsche. Laughed my head off. I love Green Day, too. I think I told you that. Great rock songs and what a beautiful voice BJA has. The catcher's mitt: What you do in book one you live with your whole series. Yes, it's significant, but not in the way Sammy thinks. Sammy news Sunday. You'll be excited.

And there. Free flow of random thoughts and answers. I know I missed stuff, but at least this is something.

Motivated by wanting to tell you that I like you guys.

A lot.

Anonymous said...

Yay, more Sammy news! <3
My mom's due date was yesterday but the baby didn't come, so maybe today? Hmm?
Anywayyyy. I was reading CHC yesterday night for like the 987654th time and I realized that some books I can read like 70000 times (cough,Twilight,cough) but then I get sick of them... but SK I've read like over 6000000 times (You know, I've memorized most of the parts in the books. When I write, lines come in my head and then I think, "Ohno! I'm reading SK in my head again?" haha) and I'm still not sick of SK. Hmmm..
Okay, well for starters, the romance in Twilight is gag-worthy. It was sweet at the beginning but I've come to realize that Edward Cullen is a creeper and a stalker, in many ways. That is all. I do not like the books or even the movies anymore, New Moon was so disappointing and I can't bear the watch it ever again.
:P Hehe.
Excited for the news tomorrow! ;)
And yeah I also thought that Grayson thing was a mistake too. It happens to me all the time, I think of a name and it just sticks to me, even though I may have used it before. Bahaha. xD
That is all, bye!
xox

Anonymous said...

Oh and about the music thing... this may sound strange but I fall asleep to music. I can't without it. Then in the middle of the night I wake up and my iPod is blasting next to me so I turn it off and put it on charge and go back to sleep. It happened last night, actually, so some Avril Lavigne song. Haha :) I'm weird I know...

Anonymous said...

Ok ok I'm so sorry for posting again but I just went to the sk website and OMG THE MYSTERY THINGIE
CHBDJZJAILAHBCIWHYDJANKDLE
OKAY KAYTHANKSBYE I will go do it nowwwwwwwwww. (:

Anonymous said...

I think there is like technical difficulties because when I click download the page comes to random house's site and says page not found.... :/

Millers said...

Cool I wanna hear the songs!
Yay! Sammy news next Sunday!!!!

Millers said...

Woot! It's code-cracking time!

Wendelin Van Draanen said...

Dang! I can't believe the link to the story segments isn't working. I've e-mailed Random House about it, but it's the weekend. Aaaaagh!

N3WYORKD3VIL said...

Hmmm. Yes, I see how that could be a problem. Attack! I really have no idea where that came from.

Wendelin Van Draanen said...

But I agree! Attack!! :-) (Of the killer tomatoes?) Frustration!

N3WYORKD3VIL said...

Tomatoes. Hmm. Good point. But now I want mac n' salsa. Tomatoes are in salsa and I want mac n' salsa. We attack at dawn!

Anonymous said...

Attack of the tomatoes? I come back to see tomatoes attacking this blog? Maybe its the Sammy-Keyes-mini-story-link-breaking-nazis throwing the tomatoes. Well hopefully they'll get the email by Monday and fix the problem. Don't worry I'll be patient, you worry too much about me, its okay. ;P
Just kidding of course. Hopefully it'll all be fixed soon though. :)

Wendelin Van Draanen said...

I threw in the tomatoes. My fault. We actually have target practice with overripe tomatoes--it's a little fort down the hill. I've got a pretty good arm. And good aim. Not that I'm implying anything here. Really.

Anonymous said...

Hahaha, I would totally do that. Target practice. What is it for, actually? Just practice...? Or what? (:

Anonymous said...

Oh wait I totally missed out. It was KILLER tomatoes. That makes more sense. ;D

Cammycrazygirl said...

Hehe, I can't wait for the next book or the movie. And, to xxcammyloverxx, I do like Twilight, and I still would if my school wasn't totally obsessed and won't shut up. I mean, I don't hate it excactly, and I'm fine with the books, but SK is sooo much better, and the next person who talks about how hot Edward Cullen is life will be in some serious danger from a non-vampire cammy obsessed girl.

Anonymous said...

Hahaha yeah. :)
Right now my mom is giving me this whole game plan on what to do tomorrow cuz she's most likely leaving to the hospital tonight for the baby. She says: "If it is a school night, aunt ____ will come to take care of Paige (my little sister) and you and Siera go off to school like normal," etc.
I am online studying right now. Six more days of school, yo. :)

Anonymous said...

And yeah! its like the oppsite at our school. Everyone loves Jacob. UGH I hate it. This girl named Charlotte was obsessed with him then she got a boyfriend and is all, "Ew I hate Jacob I love my boyfriend Brett" and when they broke up she was all Jacob Black-y again. Ugh, just pick one, people: A real relationship or a Twilight-fantasy relationship. Haha ;P I picked real I guess... No, but I also have an SK-fantasy relationship, although I'm not sure Nate would appreciate that? By the way, Nate keeps on hinting me things about my SK blog. Cammycrazygirl, did you tell him to do crazy things again? Yesterday he forced my laptop into my lap,
"I. Just. Wanna. See. The. Blog! UPDATE." I was frightened. :O

Anonymous said...

I love how ur blog goes from 15 to 30 posts in a day. lol its cool =)

FAN said...

Wow cool blog :D

Millers said...

I missed killer tomatoes!?
Where?!

Cammycrazygirl said...

Yeah, I told Nate to update. Tell him thank you :D

Anonymous said...

You have to check out my Cammy blog, I took one of my FFsand translated it to spanish: all of it. It's hilarious. Unless youre super fluent in Spanish and you understand every word, then dont.. :P

Anonymous said...

Agh never mind, i accidentally posted it on my regular personal blog, I'll transfer it sometime later this week. It's befre my recent psycho path post... :P

Optimistic4ever said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

Any idea when there will be a trailer for Flipped, or photos ... movies from November are getting trailers now, and there's NOTHING on Flipped! So sad :(

Rose Sellman said...

flipped is so going to rock the movie theaters!!! and i think it is so cool when you reply to posts!

Anonymous said...

Iknow this is a little old but can u make a book 2? And Happy Independance Day!! Hope u read this!!!!

Wendelin Van Draanen said...

Andrew: Hi, Thanks for the request...you are not alone in this, so, no it's not odd. And I don't make myself very popular by saying that I have no plans for a Book 2, sorry! Lots of reasons for this, but in a nutshell, often Book 2s mess with the magic of Book 1s...and I'm not into messing with magic :-). Plus I really do like the realistic yet hopeful way Flipped ends, even if I'm the only one!

firaachan said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
firaachan said...

Hello, first of all I'm your biggest fan and I loved your book, FLIPPED so much. and I know you've adressed these kind of comments so many times already (and I'm really sorry for repeating the question), but I'll say it again anyway. Would you please make a sequel to Flipped? I understand perfectly about your reasoning why you don't want to make a sequel to the beautiful first book but I still hope you'd still do it, at least for the sake of fans and lovers of Flipped's! it's such a good story and *sigh* I really do want to know what happens next between Juli & Bryce since the ending was so vague! Vague endings of awesome books are like, wickedest tortures! or maybe you could write an alternate story? related stories or anything. and I'd love it if you'd write another romantic comedy story in the future too. once again, I'm sorry for blabbering & bothering you (i just happened to re-read the book because i missed its brilliance & fluffy-ness and in the end I fell in love with Flipped all over again, that's why) hope you're doing well. Best regards (:

*corrected some mistakes hence the double post*