Philip Pullman | |
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Philip Pullman is the writer of His Dark Materials. He is an outspoken lover of books and stories and aside from His Dark Materials has written many other books, including the Sally Lockhart series. Some time ago Mr Pullman sold the film rights of his masterpiece His Dark Materials to New Line. Mr Pullman has said that he trusts New Line, and the script writer/director Chris Weitz. He does not wish to get involved in the making of the film very much, as his business is with writing words and not making films. He says that Chris Weitz's script is excellent (see here). Indeed, he has said that if someone doesn't like the idea of a His Dark Materials film then we should not watch it. Indeed, he has said that he doesn't share the Society's views when it comes to the film. |  |
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However, I would like to say my piece when it comes to Philip Pullman, his views, the film and what I make of it all. Philip Pullman has been outspoken in his environmental views. In his latest newsletters, Mr Pullman has talked in detail about his disgust about the current environmental situation, about the lack of real action taken by world leaders to deal with it and also about the damage air-travel does to the environment. He has sworn off using aeroplanes as a mode of transport. This, to me, seems a little odd considering the type of company he has sold the film to. It's no secret that New Line will be heavily merchandising the film. Just imagine - "Get a free Lyra, Will or Iorek toy with every Happy Meal!" and "collect every HDM card, from Iorek, to Lee, Serafina and Ruta...and don't forget the shinies!" These are the companies that do the most damage to the environment. It's consumer society, the need to have everything and then throw it away and replace it which has caused the current situation. We're running out of resources, and Philip Pullman sells his film rights to a company that does so much harm, and then he tells us not to fly because it's bad for the environment? Mr Pullman is no fool, he knows what will happen when the big-budget film is made. And he knows he can't do anything about it, too. He's sold the rights and now he has no legal say in what happens to the film. Don't get us wrong. This doesn't mean no films should be made. Films can be wonderful, exciting, beautiful things. And they should be made. But they should not be a means purely to make rich people richer. No art form should. | |
