Tag Archives: E L James

Fifty Shades of Grey in the Media – April 2013

  By admin | 2013 Awards & Recognition, Director, E L James, Fifty Shades of Grey Movie, Media Articles
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Here is the media’s Fifty Shades of Grey news.  As always, we will write a full post of the bigger or more interesting news stories.

  • Vote for E L James for the Time 100 Poll, the people that are most influential in the world.  Voteing ends on April 12 and the finalized list will be revealed on April 18.
  • WhatCulture has an article about 10 Moments that wont make the movie. While there are some inaccuracies and some of the points are kinda silly (it goes from spelling out how it wont be porn to proposing a PG-13 rating).  There are a few good points in there too.
  • Betty Ford’s family has said that if she was still alive she would have read Fifty Shades of Grey, I thought that was cute. The question is, would she have commented on it publically?
  • FansShare has an article about how Kelly Marcel is taking too long to write the script for Fifty Shades of Grey.  The article claims that recent reports say that the script is months away. It does not mention what reports they are referring to or who made the claim.  In contrast to this, we have heard from Universal/Focus Features that they have started talking to Directors. This story isn’t adding up to me.
  • The Wrap is reporting that Gus Van Sant has made a video/scene from the Fifty Shades of Grey film with Alex Pettyfer. The scene is of when Christian takes Ana’s virginity.  Gus Van Sant’s name has come up as a possible director a couple times and he has done some films for Focus Features. I wouldn’t rule out this rumor just yet. As for Alex Pettyfer, I don’t see it.

Crissy

EL and Team Fifty Split Up!

  By admin | E L James, Fifty Shades of Grey Movie, Team 50
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This was definitely not what i meant when I said I was patiently (sometimes) waiting for Team Fifty to give us some news on who, what, where and when Fifty Shades style.  It seems EL was in LA this past week and between numerous meetings, Audi driving sessions, dinner at De Luca’s, EL and Team Fifty have come to a parting of ways.

The movie is now being reported to be pushed back to at least summer of 2015 as EL and her people start from square one again.

EL my heart goes out to you, I can’t believe the break up happened over a disagreement over keeping the movie R or going for NC-17! Stick to your guns! Go for sex, sex and more sex whenever you can!

That goes for all of you out there.. Sex, sex and more sex is the way to go (always).

BTW- APRIL FOOLS!!!

Laters, baby!!

Mags

E L James’ new Journal to be published – Updated

  By admin | E L James, E L James Interview
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As I was perusing the news this morning, I saw that E L James has a new book coming out.  Many media outlets are reporting it is a writing book or guide.

However, on Twitter she is stating it’s a journal.

Journal

It’s actually a journal with excerpts from the books, her musical play list and room for aspiring writers to take their own notes.  It sounds like something that will be interesting to both aspiring writers and Fifty Shades of Grey fans.

Good luck to Erika with her new journal.

UPDATE – The Journal is available for pre-order on Amazon (and I’m assuming other sellers, but I saw it on Amazon first).

Here is the Press Release:

“I have always maintained that the best person to write for is yourself–and what better place to start than in a journal.”  –E L James

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New York (3/11/13):  Inspired by E L James’ #1 Bestselling trilogy, Fifty Shades of Grey, Vintage Books will release FIFTY SHADES OF GREY:  Inner Goddess (A Journal) this May.  Developed as a creative collaboration between EL James and her US publisher, the bonded-leather soft cover journal will offer readers and aspiring writers a place where they can record their innermost thoughts. The FIFTY SHADES OF GREY: Inner Goddess (A Journal) will be in stores by May 1, 2013, in time for Mother’s Day, with a first printing of 125,000 copies.

FIFTY SHADES OF GREY: Inner Goddess (A Journal) includes a foreword by E L James, excerpts from her FIFTY SHADES novels, writing tips, a writing playlist, and fully-lined pages for readers to express their own “inner goddess.”  The journal pages are divided into sections inspired by her protagonists, Anastasia Steele and Christian Grey.

“As E L James traveled and met with her readers, there was a great curiosity about how she got started writing,” said Vintage/Anchor’s Anne Messitte, the acquiring publisher of the Fifty Shades series. “Her personal story as a writer is inspirational to many women, and journaling has been an important part of her creative process from the start.”

6OpenSpreadPages_v2The journal includes…

*A foreword by E L James

*Excerpts from her Fifty Shades novels

*James’s writing playlist in which she shares the music that inspired her own writing, and the running song counts.

 

 

The journal features…

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*A foil-embossed, bonded-leather cover

*A red-ribbon marker

*Color printing, endpapers, and illustrations throughout

*Lined pages for writing

 

 

The Fifty Shades trilogy was published in paperback and ebook by Vintage Books in spring 2012 and has sold more than 40 million copies in the U.S. and 70 million copies worldwide.

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5YesSir_Interior_v2

Crissy

Focusing on Features

  By admin | E L James, Fifty Shades of Grey Movie, Team 50
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On E L James’ last trip to LA one day she Tweeted she was going to “Focus,” I’m assuming she meant she was spending the morning with her film company, Focus Features.  This prompted a conversation in the office about what type of films  Focus Features makes. I had heard they made “edgier” films.

I’ll start with Focus Features is a NBCUniversal, and here is their own description:

Focus Features and Focus Features International (www.focusfeatures.com) comprise a singular global company. This worldwide studio makes original and daring films that challenge the mainstream to embrace and enjoy voices and visions from around the world that deliver global commercial success. The company operates as Focus Features in North America, and as Focus Features International (FFI) in the rest of the world.

So what films have they made to “challenge the mainstream?”

Brokeback Mountain (gay cowboys), Atonement (accusing your sisters boyfriend of committing a crime he didn’t commit), Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (couple has minds erased after their marriage goes bad), Milk (first gay elected official), Hanna (16 year old raised to be an assassin), and here’s a more complete list with how much money they made.

Yes, there are plenty of “regular” mainstream movies on the list.  BUT, many of them really do go against the grain, or explore some “off the beaten track” topics. What is of note is that there isn’t much in the standard romantic comedy genre, which is good.  Fifty Shades of Grey might be a standard love story, but the BDSM makes this a tough movie to take the the screen.  I think a company like Focus Features has the experience and guts to do that without watering it down too much.

Despite being a smaller entity of Universal, Focus Features has brought in some big actors: Bradley Cooper, Ryan Gosling, Tina Fey, Paul Rudd, Kiera Knightly, Jude Law, Anne Hathaway, Heath Ledger, Sean Penn, Kate Winslet, among others.

Focus Features has also brought in some big name directors who have done some interesting work:

Ang Lee – Brokeback Mountain, Life of Pi, Hulk

Gus Van Sant (whose name has been tied to Fifty Shades of Grey) – Milk, Good Will Hunting, Finding Forester, Psycho

David Cronenberg  - Cosmopolis, The Dead Zone, The Fly, Crash

Roman Polanski – The Pianist, Rosemary’s Baby, Tess

So yes, Focus Features has been able to bring in the big talent, actors, directors, producers to support their original and daring films that challenge the mainstream.

Do you have any thoughts on Focus Features or even just a favorite film?

Crissy

 

E L James Has Left The Country

  By admin | E L James, Fifty Shades of Grey Movie, Producer, Screenwriter, Team 50
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As many of you know, E L James was in Los Angeles last week.  While she did attend an Oscar party it seems the bulk of that trip involved working on the Fifty Shades of Grey movie.  You can read my synopsis of the first half of the trip that I posted last week here, it covers the Oscars and some of the early news.

Here’s what she was working on after Tuesday.  Oh, and in case you are not aware, she’s a TEASE on Twitter, it’s actually kinda amusing in a sick and twisted way.

On Wednesday she was back at Kelly Marcel’s, and I think it’s safe to assume they were working on the script.

But Thursday Erika went to Focus and did some sort of photo or video shoot:

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I wonder what that’s for and when we’ll see it?  I’m happy to hear some of your theories.

But her day didn’t end there, she was also spending time with Kelly and then a team dinner.  Team50?  I hope so!

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On Friday it was tea and and burning the evidence.  As in burning their drafts of the script…

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How do I know it’s the script?  Well, I don’t, but E L James wants us to think it is and that’s enough for me.  But apparently one page has survived the week:

Screen Shot 2013-03-02 at 12.09.20 PM

Gahhhh!

Sadly, she headed home on Saturday.  But at least we know things are moving along! I wonder when she’s coming back?  I mean, I hope she had a safe trip home and some quality time with the family after her busy week.

Crissy

What is E L James up to in LA?

  By admin | Casting, Director, E L James, E L James Events, E L James Interview, Producer, Screenwriter, Team 50
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With E L James in Los Angeles since this weekend there has been a lot of buzz about what she’s been doing. Most of it is speculation regarding what she’s been tweeting.  Here is a review:

Erika came in to LA on Friday and didn’t waste any time seeing Kelly Marcel (screenwriter) and perhaps picking up some interesting reading material.  She’s also been out with the producers Dana Brunetti and Michael De Luca, even got to ride is Dana’s Tesla!

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So, the band is back together, what fabulous news.  But the question is what are they discussing.  The only thing tweeted about her seeing Dana Brunetti and Michael De Luca has been regarding social events.  While I’m sure Fifty probably came up, I doubt they were discussing the script, actors or directors in public.  Dana Brunetti also flew out of LA over the weekend and hasn’t said he’s back.  But he did tweet about meeting Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails.  Hmm, maybe he’s working on the soundtrack.  JOKING!

Back to EL James, on Tuesday she spent he day with Kelly Marcel and burned the evidence.

Screen Shot 2013-02-27 at 3.16.48 AM

I guess the script isn’t done yet, but it’s getting there… While the timing of this trip may have been about the Oscars, this is definitely a working trip too.

As for the Oscars, apparently Erika was chatty at the Vanity Faire party.  As Mags mentioned on Tuesday, she said her next book will be less raunchy and she’ll be using a pseudonym.  WHAT? That’s just crazy!  But she also said that she has a few actors in mind (old news) and that she thinks we’ll be surprised by her choices.

Hmmm, does that mean we should give up on Matt Bomer, Ian Somerhalder or whoever the “favorite” is each day?  I’m not going that far, but I’m sticking with my idea of not getting too attached to anyone.  But several months ago I did predict that Ryan Gosling would get the role and his name has not come up as a “favorite” in a while…  As for Ana, I think it will be a relatively unknown.  Now that would be a surprise name to everyone.

Now that I’ve laid my predictions regarding Christian and Ana onto the internet, we still need the director to be named before we find out who will play Christian and Ana.  We know that Universal/Team50 has been talking with some directors, so it’s likely we’re not looking at a long list anymore, but how short is the list?  At this point I wouldn’t be surprised if they announced the director as E L James gets on a plane back home.  But I think another month or two is more realistic.

Finally Erika ended her day with some Twilight:

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Crissy

EL James Next Book to be Written Under a Pseudonym!

  By admin | E L James, Media Articles
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la–et–fifty–shadesAccording to Daily Mail UK online EL James has said that while she has a number of ideas for her next book, it will not be as intense as the Fifty Shades Series and most likely will be written under another name.

According to the article, E.L. – real name Erika Leonard – told MailOnline of her struggle with her sudden fame, saying: “My sons are proud of me, although they’re still embarrassed – but I’m embarrassed too!”

Read the full article here!

What do you think EL will wind up writing about for her next book?  What will her pseudonym be?

Mags

When will this movie come out already!

  By admin | Director, E L James, Fifty Shades of Grey Movie, Team 50
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This week The Hollywood Reporter published an interview with Universal Chairman Adam Fogelson.  The interview covers a lot of different material, so I’ll just give you the Fifty Shades bit:

THR: Give us an update on the Fifty Shades movie. Some think you aren’t moving quickly enough to capitalize on the buzz.

Fogelson: I certainly understand why some people might take that point of view. But I don’t believe that [author EL James] had any interest in going to a studio where rushing it into production was the vision. I don’t believe that the second or third film would have benefited from that strategy. And I think that there are totally legitimate questions about what this book is as a movie. I will tell you that it is an absolute priority for us. It’s conceivable that we could be ready to release it as early as next summer.

Me: WHAT, summer to 2014?  Ok, there had been some rumblings recently that it was going to be a 2014 release. With no Director or cast at this point, a 2013 release is pretty much impossible anyway.  Especially if you want a quality film and I think most of us don’t want them to rush and make a crap film, Christian and Ana deserve better then that.

THR: Is it true you asked Angelina Jolie to direct?

Fogelson: No. We’re involved in a different project [the World War II drama Unbroken] with her. But we have had really, really interesting, great conversations with talented, serious filmmakers.

Unbroken

Me: I’m not a big Angelina Jolie (the actress) fan, but I know a lot of people would like to see her direct this film.  But she’s directing Unbroken, holy cow! How did I not know this?    If you haven’t read Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand, who also wrote Seabiscuit, it’s a great story that is about as far from Fifty Shades of Grey as you can get.

Without giving much away about the book, Olympic runner joins Air Force in WWII, plane gets shot down, drifts in the Pacific Ocean until he ends up in Japan and is a POW to a man who make Mrs. Robinson seem nurturing. It also happens to be a true story.  If you ever thought your life sucked, read this book, you’ll never think it again.

I thought this was an interesting development because Angelina has been linked to Fifty Shades of Grey as a possible director.  Although it’s just speculation, I wouldn’t be surprised to hear her name announced as the director of Fifty Shades of Grey.  With the hit that Unbroken could be the potential for this big.  Unbroken, as a New York Times Best Selling book, whose authors last movie adaptation was nominated for Oscars and the type of story that could bring more Oscars…

The other thing is Fogelson’s comment is that they have been talking to directors.  I’ll infer two things from this.  Even if the 1st draft of the script isn’t done, there must have been a lot of progress.  Second, the director list is getting trimmed, if not short.  But, Angelina may not be on it.  Fogelson says they didn’t discuss Fifty Shades (but have discussed it with others) and she’s now tied up with another big film so she may not be available to make Fifty Shade of Grey too.

Yes, that is totally contradictory to what I just said before, just think of me typing this as I brainstorm the possibilities.

Crissy

My E L James Authorgraph

  By admin | E L James, E L James Events
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A couple weeks ago on Twitter I saw someone mention an Authorgraph, curious I visited the website and ordered my own Authorgraph. 

The site only provides the basic information you need to get an Authorgraph, and no more.  Choose a book, give your email address and name and hit send.  Beyond that we have no information on the process.  It took a few weeks for me to receive my Authorgraph, but it was worth it.  You can create a document out of it and print it or post it to your blog. 

FreedAuthorgraphI choose to get the Authorgraph of Fifty Shades Freed because I already got Fifty Shades of Grey and Fifty Shades Darker autographed at other book signings.  I thought this would be a great addition to my collection.  But if you live somewhere that E L Jame has not been, it would be a great subsitute.  

Of course you can get other books authorgraphed too, or if you’re an Author you can submit your own books to the site. 

Crissy

Prequel Ideas

  By admin | Characters, Fourth Fifty Shades of Grey novel
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No, no word on E L James writing another book in the Fifty Shades of Grey series.  But that doesn’t mean we don’t like to speculate and brainstorm ideas, in case Erika runs out of her own.  Last month we did a little poll on which prequel you would rather see.

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I guess you would rather read about Susannah or Leila over Elena?  Hmmm, both would be quite interesting.

Crissy