when something terrible occurs we often try to make sense of it we ask why did
this have to happen this is especially true when the tragedy was a result of an
unfortunate twist of fate a natural disaster
Catherine Patterson's novel Bridge to Terabithia is an attempt to make sense
of an inconceivable situation one few of us are ever prepared for writing a story
is about answering a question so that was what Patterson set out to do she
wanted to understand what we're supposed to do in the aftermath of a tragedy what
can we learn after we have suffered a great irreparable loss how can we go on
what she ended up creating was a story they gave the readers a rehearsal for
the pains of life but it wasn't simply Patterson story Bridge to Terabithia was
about her son David as a child when David grew up he adapted his mother's
story his story and the story of his childhood best friend turning it from a
book in literature study class to one of the highest-grossing movies of 2007 a
year that included spider-man three transformers and The Simpsons Movie
lissa Christina Hill was eight years old on August 14th 1974 she was with her
family mother brother and sister at Bethany Beach in Delaware that sunny day
on the horizon a storm was brewing Lisa was sitting at the edge of the water
when a lightning bolt tore through the heavens and struck her in an instant
Lisa David Patterson's best friend was killed since second grade
David and Lisa were close companions David had a lot of trouble adjusting to
the new class it was Lisa that he found solace in' they developed a relationship
that was unusual for children their age where boys tended to hang out with boys
and girls with girls they would spend their time playing
imaginative games behind the house in the forest and feeling comfortable
enough to tell each other their thoughts while the whole community of Takoma Park
Maryland grieved for the loss of Lisa David took the news as well as a boy his
age could his mother remembered him crying knowing there was nothing she or
anyone else could do to bring her son's friend back in the following months
Katherine Paterson wrote bridge to terabithia a story about an artistic
fifth grader Jesse Aaron and his neighbor Leslie Burke an eccentric and
affable tomboy even with an overlay of fiction Bridge to Terabithia was
undoubtedly a story about David and Lisa when she finished writing the book she
read it to her son she wanted his approval because it was ultimately his
story to tell one can only imagine that David was as moved as the millions of
kids that will soon read it a major change that the editors requested was
that Leslie Burke cannot die by a lightning strike this was a case of
where reality is stranger than fiction the editor suggested that the death had
to be caused by a more likely circumstance it needed to be believable
the change was made and spoiler alert Leslie's death would come from
in a creek after swinging from a rope within the kingdom of Terabithia a realm
the two children had created for themselves
the novel was published on October 21st 1977 by Thomas white Coldwell Co it
would win Katherine Paterson her first Newberry Awards an award given to the
most distinguished contribution to American literature for children
Patterson had written Bridge to Terabithia as an attempt to answer a
question but when children started asking her why Leslie had to die she
forced back the urges to cry because she didn't have the answer even though she
was the writer people began to find their own answers or as Patterson puts
it people brought their own lives to the book their own images that creates it
with all the attention Bridge to Terabithia began to receive some
criticisms regarding the moral of the novel becoming one of the most
frequently banned and challenged books in the United States there were
references to witchcraft atheism Satanism and there was an ample amount
of swearing on top of all that many adults didn't want to put their children
through such a heartbreaking story over the years Patterson would hear people
telling her that after facing an emotional experience they would reach
for the pages of Bridge to Terabithia in certain cases people have given the
book to children like David who have experienced the loss of someone they
loved Patterson sadly believes that giving the
book after the tragic event may be too late
Bridge to Terabithia was a book to be read before that it was an emotional
practice it was not meant to upset the children but prepare them for the
sadness and disappointments they have to face ahead while Bridge to Terabithia
faced resistance it also became a tool for English studies in many schools
around the world including Ireland Singapore Australia New Zealand Canada
the Philippines Ecuador the United Kingdom
Costa Rica Panama South Africa and the United States from 1984 to 1992 the Walt
Disney Company and PBS teamed up to produce a made-for-tv anthology based on
critically acclaimed children's books the series was called wonder works and
included such hits as and of Green Gables Chronicles of Narnia and another
of Katherine Patterson's work Jacob have I loved on February 5th 1985 WonderWorks
released the adaptation of Bridge to Terabithia the 57 minute film was shot
in Edmonton Alberta while Patterson got writing credits the script was written
mostly by executive producer Nancy Saget however the main criticism with the
made-for-tv version was that the performance from the young actors were
weak and unconvincing on top of that the dialogue was obviously dubbed over and
gave off the impression of low production value in 2007 David Paterson
spoke about the 1985 WonderWorks version and said that the film is like the crazy
cousin in a mental hospital that nobody talks about neither his mother nor
himself were much involved with the project or even happy with the result at
points David felt guilty that now he was getting famous from the death of his
best friend he graduated from the Catholic University of America in 1989
and pursued a career as a playwright with over two dozen plays published
additionally he holds the record for having three plays premiere on the same
month in New York as a form of healing and honoring Lisa and all the fortunes
she has given him David approached his mother and asked for the right to adapt
her story of Jesse Aaron's and Leslie Burke her mother granted his wish not
because it was his story but because of his abilities as a playwright with the
confidence and blessing of his mother David went off to translate the
emotional story from age to screen having already seen how it
could turn out the adaptation became a project that would consume him for 17
years he wanted to do right staying as true to his mother's story as possible
David didn't have the easiest time writing or selling the screenplay and
many points he found that the story was too close to him he approached
screenwriter Jeff Stockwell to co-write the script as he could offer an outsider
perspective what was most important to David was the spirit of the story and
adapting a novel that spent so much time in a character's head was not easy
selling the script posed another hurdle many production companies had a problem
with Leslie's death in some cases the executives even suggested to David that
perhaps she didn't have to die and that Leslie can simply fall into a like coma
and then she'll wake up David took the role as a co-producer to ensure such a
change would not happen at any stage of the process but it was the president of
Walden Media Carrie Garnett that suggested Gabbar crucible to direct a
movie if you don't know Gabbar Chris bow as a director or a musician then you
would most likely know him as the co-creator of Nickelodeon's Rugrats
and animator of hanna-barbera Cousteau had an interesting career but he had yet
to direct a live-action movie this was not a concern for Garnett who saw the
little kid inside crucible and knew that he would have the perfect approach
according to producer Lorne Levine crucible was inspired by the opportunity
to create Terabithia he wanted to approach it in a Tim Burton or Terry
Gilliam type way going for a creative representation that went beyond the
usual clichés of an imaginary environment this got everyone very
excited casting however was a difficult process and required compromise crucible
didn't have any particular actors in mind when he set out on the search so
that opened the doors to discover new talents annasophia robb had been a fan
of the story and wrote a letter to Cuzco and other decision makers
film expressing her love for the book and the character of Leslie before
casting began Rob met with Levine to discuss the role in that meeting Levine
was convinced that Rob would be perfect she had the enthusiasm and the magical
presence the spark that was Leslie coos beau was on board and annasophia robb
was the first to be cast in the movie finding the perfect Jesse was more of a
challenge it was difficult finding a young actor that could go through the
transformation of an isolated introvert to someone who exhibits courage and
leadership along with the imaginative whimsy needed josh hutcherson was not
the first choice but won the job because of his chemistry with Rob the leads and
the character in the movie were a few years older than the characters in the
novel but couth both said that the change was perhaps advantageous as the
story borders on the idea of an innocent first love and upping the age allowed
that theme to rise to the surface a bit more the movie began production on
February 20th 2006 with a budget of twenty to twenty five million dollars in
60 days they completed principal photography Bridge to Terabithia was the
last film for cinematographer Michael Chapman who had been behind the camera
for such classics as taxi driver the fugitive and spacejam Chapman said he
wanted this movie to be his last because he wanted to end his career with a happy
experience post-production took 10 weeks to complete and Cousteau made every
effort to keep the special effects minimal working with wetted digital
Peter Jackson's company famous for producing the special effects for the
Lord of the Ring trilogy crucible had a hundred team members working on the
project with many of them on set during production to help create the unique
creatures of Terabithia perhaps the special effects got too much of a
spotlight this was a criticism during the marketing phase of the movie as you
may know a trailer for a movie is often created by a separate organization that
take clips here and there from movie the trailer for Bridge to
Terabithia was laden with special effects moment to a point where many
consider it to be false marketing if you have read the book the majority of the
story takes place in the real world and is mainly a relationship between two
preteens many who were loyal to the book were appalled by how the story they've
loved was being presented on the screen it was a gross attempt at trying to sell
computer-generated effects as opposed to the unpretentious story of loss when
Katherine Paterson saw the film she cried in fact she cries every time she
sees it she sang praises to the cast and was impressed that such a movie was
possible within the indie movie budget she also spoke about the sacrifices and
changes necessary in the film none of which spoiled her taste for it she
regarded her son for standing his ground and keeping the movie as loyal to the
novel as he could many writers can't stand to watch the
adaptation of their novels because it feels so far removed from what they have
created beside the age of the characters and the physical appearance of Leslie
perhaps the most notable change from the book was the time period as the movie
took place in a more modern era where internet and cell phones exists Bridge
to Terabithia was released on February 16 2007 and earned a total domestic
gross of over 82 million dollars 137 million worldwide the movie cemented
annasophia robb and Josh Hutcherson as young stars in household names
additionally it brought the novel back on to the New York Times bestsellers
list which Katherine Paterson commented on a misnomer that when you sell your
film rights no one would buy the book again lastly the movie brought closure
for David Paterson who's always thinking in the back of his mind about his friend
Lisa and how death lies behind every beautiful moment
every adaptation has a unique story if there's a book to a movie that you're
interested in learning more about let me know in the comments below for more
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