FAQs about the Looking for Alaska Movie

Before we get to the day's proper blogging, My dear friend Dean has recently taken a break from constantly complaining that I don't link to his web site often enough to begin improving this Web site in various ways. For instance, I now apparently have an RSS and/or Atom feed, whatever those are. More exciting improvements forthcoming.

Also: Tuesday is the last day for you to enter the Contest Contest, wherein the person who suggests the best idea for a Contest to give away copies of "An Abundance of Katherines" will themselves win a free autographed advanced copy of "An Abundance of Katherines"

But about that movie: Lately I have gotten a lot of questions about the "Looking for Alaska" movie, and so I thought I would answer some.

Q. Is "Looking for Alaska" being made into a movie?
A. That depends on what your definition of is is. About a year ago, the movie rights for "Alaska" were sold to Paramount, with Josh Schwartz (who created The O.C.) agreeing to write and direct the movie. The producers are also really great. Things are moving forward, but it will be quite a while before a movie starts shooting, so don't start standing in line outside your local theater just quite yet. (Incidentally, did you know that famous author Cecil Castellucci stood in line for like four months for Star Wars: Episode I?)

Q. How do you feel about the idea of "Alaska" being a movie?
A. Good. I think Josh is a very good writer, which helps keep me from worrying. But regardless, you can't worry too much about these things. To me, a book and the movie it is "based" on are only tangentially related. I've never been worried about the movie being an accurate adaptation of the book--partly because I'd rather have the movie be good than faithful, and partly because I don't think it's possible to make an adaptation that's "true" to a book. There's no way Alaska will look on screen like she looks in your head, is what I'm saying. And that's okay.

Q. Who is going to play Alaska? Pudge? Takumi? Do you think they'll cast the movie with people from The O.C.? Will Mischa Barton play Alaska? Etc.
A. I have no idea who will play anyone, but I rather doubt the cast of The O.C. will be featured in "Alaska."

Q. Have you met Josh Schwartz?
A. I have.

Q. Is he really really hot?
A. He's a nicely put together fellow.

Q. Is he hotter than Seth Cohen? Does he look like Seth Cohen?
A. Let's talk about issues of substance. (Also, this is not really one of my areas of expertise.)

Q. Will there be any open casting calls?
A. I don't know. But if there are, I will certainly let you know via this very blog.

Q. Do you know what's going to happen next year on The O.C.?
A. No. Honestly I don't even know exactly what happened this year on The OC, because we're always busy on Thursdays and so I wait for the DVDs to come out.

Q. Marissa dies.
A. Thanks, jerkface.

Q. Everyone says that Hollywood is dirty and horrible. Do you agree?
A. I don't know. It has its dirty and horrible parts. And I would never move there on account of how it seems to work out poorly for people in my family. But some of the writers I like the most live and work in Hollywood, and through the "Alaska" movie project I've met some people who I really admire. My experience has been very, very positive.

Q. So far.
A. Right. So far. You're quite pessimistic, aren't you?

Q. It's my nature.
A. Fair enough. Any other questions?

Q. I think that's it.
A. Okay. Well if anyone else has any questions, they should feel free to leave them in comments.