Do I have your attention now? Good.
Okay, so let’s say you were going to talk on the phone tomorrow with the producers of the Uglies movie. What would you most want to tell them?
Don’t get into specific casting suggestions or anything like that, because you are a mere author, and they are powerful and wise in the ways of Hollywood. But what one key thing—big or small—should they never forget while working on the film(s)?
Comment away. You have until 3PM Wednesday, New York time.
Update:
We all get an extension till 3PM Friday. Keep the comments coming!
June 17th, 2009 02:58
Pronunciation of words. And other such details.
June 17th, 2009 03:00
Well, pronunciation of words, IF they don’t already know that. Not that anything in Uglies is particularly difficult to pronounce anyway.
Characterization. Tally’s character NEEDS to be spot-on. And so does Shay’s. If they aren’t I will hunt the producers down.
Sorry for the double-posting.
June 17th, 2009 03:08
Plot. Obviously they have to rewrite the story to fit a two-three hour movie. But make sure that they’re not changing the story into something totally bogus and wierd.
So yah, the script talk about.
and casting characters. get them a little more familiar with shay and tally and david so they know what type a person to look for.
June 17th, 2009 03:15
understand the city. get it right people!!!!!!!
June 17th, 2009 03:19
ask about the plot what are they going to change what arnt they, ask to stay in the loop with the plot and stuff always good
June 17th, 2009 03:24
I’d want them to remember that what makes Tally great is that she is very much a girl; I’d want them to be sure not to just make her Rambo in drag just because it’s going to be a summer blockbuster action movie (and it will be)…make sure the female lead has a range of emotions and can actually act–don’t just go with whoever the hottest young starlet is (and make sure that she isn’t just doing the “act like a guy because it’s an action movie” thing)
June 17th, 2009 03:29
Hmm… Probably casting. Like Allie-wa said, Tally and Shay need to be spot-on. But also the male characters (David esp.).
And SPECIAL EFFECTS!!!! I put that in caps because it is super important. Like the hoverboards and operation stuff.
Yay! Can’t wait for the movie!!!!! Very icy-making.
June 17th, 2009 03:31
I agree with Jasmyne about the plot. Ask what they’re going to change and what they’ll keep. If they try to change something really important, stop them!
Casting wise, I’d ask if they had anyone in mind. I would also suggest that they look for some unknowns (THAT CAN ACT! very important!) to play all the main characters.
That’s really all I can think of.
June 17th, 2009 03:33
AHHH, I FORGOT ABOUT SPECIAL EFFECTS!!!!!!! That is also REALLY important!!! We can’t have a movie based on an awesome book ruined by cheesy effects.
June 17th, 2009 03:43
If I were you I would say that when an author is excited about their movie then the fans are excited and when fans are excited they promote the movie which means more money for them. So please involve the author because happy author = happy fans = happy producers!!!
If I were me I would tell them that Zane should not die but instead is saved by a new character called Connie-la. But hey that is just me
.
June 17th, 2009 03:48
Tally’s city. I have this really concrete idea of how the city looks in my head. I’m really looking forward to the views from Tally’s dorm across the river to New Pretty Town, all the fireworks and the buildings and things. (And also the cat-vomit pink sky). And the big iron bridge.
The Rusty Ruins too, they should be more awe-inspiring then creepy (though they should be plenty creepy too). But New Pretty Town should be kind of creepy too, and overdone and a little, I don’t know, wasteful? I don’t think that’s the word I’m looking for. It should look like the world’s worst frat party, especially when she goes to see Peris.
And then just the vast emptiness when she’s going to the Smoke. And the fields of orchids and…
I think maybe I should stop now. What I think I’m trying to say is for them to not forget the setting amongst all the character stuff. I mean, as much as it would suck for Tally to be too girly or too “action movie-ey” I’d be painful to watch without the stellar backgrounds the books paint.
June 17th, 2009 03:53
Well that is hard…………….. I don’t know lol. K so I got it: They have to of course have to kind of change the movie from the book to make it fit into like two hours so they shouldn’t change the book completely like Eragon and also don’t make the charactors be too different cause again like in the book Eragon Brom was not that mean to Eragon. The charactors have to be spot on!
June 17th, 2009 03:54
tell them to try their best to make the specials look REALLY SCARY and the pretties look REALY PRETTY. movies made from books also tend to put emphasis on the wrong things, or leave out key messages from the book.
June 17th, 2009 03:57
the awesome way they talk and how to pronounce the words and awesome hoverboard scenes shoue not be left out. and keep the major plot. umm… dont let the uglies talk in pretty.
June 17th, 2009 04:00
SOOO agree with special effects. That includes making the New Pretty Town, Ruins, and stuff looking real and futuristic. They can’t be cheesy. :p
June 17th, 2009 04:19
Some great comments already made, especially nikki-wa, I agree, I hope they get the key messages right. I would also be disappointed if as Joseph says Tally comes out looking like some kind of Rambo.
It’s very exciting… I think this film if adapted correctly will be huge in terms of entertainment as well as thought provoking.
June 17th, 2009 04:20
Please, please, PLEASE hold on to the richness of the Tally/Shay relationship! The Uglies series passes the Bechdel Test – it would be a betrayal of the novels for a film version to reduce Tally’s and Shay’s relationship to nothing more than a squabble over boys.
June 17th, 2009 04:21
I agree the special effects neeed to be great,
and the cast is super important. If they get a bunch of people that can’t act and have NO emotion(cough cough Twilight)the movie wont be very good….
June 17th, 2009 04:36
Be as involved as you can. It seems that the more the author is involved, the better the transition from book to movie.
How exciting. Congratulations.
June 17th, 2009 04:36
It’s really important that they capture the teen, techy, rebellious mood and don’t make it a typical trashy drama/2 hour cat fight.
June 17th, 2009 04:46
Book quotes!!!! n details from the book! Id be so pissed if they ruin my favorite book!
June 17th, 2009 04:49
I’d say that the slang the characters use would be the number 1 thing (although this is more important for Pretties).
I also think it’s important to remember that Tally is not a hero at the beginning and that she really wants the operation, buys into the “ugly” thing, and plans to betray the Smoke. It would be very easy for them to forget that, but it’s crucial to the story (in my opinion.)
June 17th, 2009 04:55
So many things to consider. Yet, I think these are the major things to be looked at carefully:
1. The Characters – I believe we should either get experienced actors, or, unknowns that are capable of taking your characters’ roles. It would be horrible if the producers just hired Kristin Stewart (remember, totally emotionless in Twilight) JUST because she is getting more famous. Uglies is an amazing book with complicated characters, like Tally and Shay, so it would be best to find experienced actors/unknowns that can take your characters and make them alive. Also, I think it would be best to make the chosen actors look like your characters. Fans would not like a blond Tally, you know?
2. The Plot – The biggest and most important key parts of the plot should be kept in the movie. Don’t have the producers twisting the story so old fans would find nothing related to the book, or possible new fans not even seeing what Uglies TRULY is.
3. Special Effects – The effects such as the hole in the wall, elevator floors sucking up spilled drinks, or masks perfectly sticking to your face, and even the hover boards and bungee jackets/jumping should really look futuristic, cutting edge, and freaking awesome! It will definitely get people on the edge of their seats.
4. The True Meaning of Uglies – Please, try to convince the producers of the movie to show everyone the real meaning of the series. I think it is, “Beauty is only skin deep,” or, “No matter how you look on the OUTSIDE, you are TRULY BEAUTIFUL on the INSIDE”.
And I know this might seem out of it, but . . .
5. The Environment – Scott showed us how the Rusties destroyed the environment, and how later on humans came to become much more careful of the earth. I think you should at least try to squeeze in how we humans should protect our environment, because really, it’s our only home.
Very sorry for the longness. Totally long-making, I know! =3
Good luck on the movie, Scott-la!
June 17th, 2009 05:02
WAIT! I have a better idea! Maybe, after the Uglies movie, Scott should go and try having . . . an Uglies manga! That would be so cool!!!
June 17th, 2009 05:03
ok definately make sure they build up and make things all exciting where you really want to know what happens (even though we already know) I TOTALLY (hehe thats kinda funny i just noticed its like toTALLY) AGREE WITH THE SPECIAL EFFECTS ARE LIKE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT
June 17th, 2009 05:08
oh and also pls try to make sure its not rated R PG13 would be ok but make sure they dont ruin it by making it a G or PG move idk PG might be ok but it would ruin the whole thing if they made it G there wouldn’t be able to be specials because they’d be too “scary” i know they wouldn’t make it G and its probably not R “material” but kind of keep it where younger (younger being kids about 11+) could still watch it
June 17th, 2009 05:18
Keep the original emotions, don’t end up overdoing the action (in their “brilliance”), keep the movie appropriate, like the books, DON’T ADD YOUR OWN JUNK TO IT, JUST USE THE BOOK!
I just want them to do exactly what you wrote. EXACTLY. I hate movies from books, because it’s not even the same story by the time they’re through with it. Then I get angry and pout. Stay true to the book! 100%! That’s all I want.
June 17th, 2009 05:18
The main thing I would say is just to make sure they dont change things. A lot of the time i read a book and then a while later they make a movie and they change so much of it that it ruins it. Also, i dint like when they cut important parts out… that totally sucks. And i agree with everyone who said special effects…
I hope the movie turns out great Scott-la!!!!
June 17th, 2009 05:25
I’m going to get my annoying casting rant out f the way first:
I DON’T CARE IF YOU’RE NOT TAKING CASTING SUGGESTIONS, YOU NEED TILDA SWINTON AS CABLE!
Alright, now that that’s out of the way…
1. When the rangers rescue Tally, they should be in a Soviet Hind-D helicopter. I’ve always pictured that seen with that specific helicopter, as it goes with the whole autocratic feel.
2. Film on location in Washington, just for that extra canon touch!
June 17th, 2009 05:36
The graphics, because there are hoverboards and a lot of future-istic inventions. So it has to have good graphics. Also, get actors who look like the part, and are really good at what they do, because seriously, I woulnd’t want to watch someone who doesn’t have a clue about acting for more than an hour. That’s all I can think of
June 17th, 2009 05:40
Oh boy…. Find out what they think they might want to edit out, disscuss the points that are important to you to be left in there, the stuff you’d like to see brought to life, keeping the important charicters as they fit their descriptions…. etc.
June 17th, 2009 05:43
The strength of the characters is very important, but what is even bigger – to me, at least – is respecting the journey Tally goes through (and remembering the fact that Shay being badass kickstarted it all). You know this better than I do, being the author, but the emotional changes Tally undergoes are always my favorite parts of the books. Tally transforms from just another city kid to a smart (sometimes), self-assured (kinda), dare I say it, *firebrand*. So basically, I’m thinking that the character arc of Tally’s confidence and intelligence needs to be stressed.
Also, the hoverboards need to kick some serious ass.
June 17th, 2009 05:44
OMGOMGOMG! YES! …..As long as Zane will not…. Never mind :3. Can’t wait!!!
June 17th, 2009 05:54
I want to give more details to what I said earlier. I agree with Katie, I think that the city should be cool, because it is one of the things that draws “Uglies” into becoming pretty. So basically, the set needs to be……..more than related to the book, it needs to BE the book. Ish.
June 17th, 2009 05:57
Keep the action scenes as well as the emotional scenes. Staying true to the book will bring more fans to the movie theatre.
Try not to forget about the Rusties-they’re an important message. Please don’t dumb it down!
Thank you!
June 17th, 2009 06:03
I will spam the producers if the dont get how dramatic tallys first visit to SCHQ is. dont forget the locket!!!!
June 17th, 2009 06:06
Sorry if i repeat other people’s post. These are the main things:
1. SPECIAL EFFECTS: please dont let it be some cheap sucky made movie (cough*Twilight*cough) they have to be right or it will infuriate the mass of fans.
2. PLOT: please no plot changes…NONE!
3. Look: The specials need to make your skin crawl. The pretties need to make you want to love them. The uglies need to be normal.
4. Cities: Can’t be too big! Common mistake. The whole sity will probably need to be built because none of our cities will match the idea of Uglies.
5. Characters: Let the characters have some of the same lines. The right air they have. Like David- must be very confident. Tally- nervous and anticipating at the begining. Like a traitor in the middle.
6. Technology: can’t look like our stuff. But can’t look false either. Needs to be sleek, dark. Not lots of fashy stuff, buttons or controls. I reapeat Not lots of fashy stuff, buttons or controls. Needs to be really sleek. A basic idea of what the tech should be like: style of an ipod touch.
Thats all for now! Thank you for your time.
June 17th, 2009 06:13
I think the movie should have really good effects. The hoverboards and cars should look like they are really flying. Special Circumstances should make your skin crawl, just like Scott Westerfeld made tally feel in the book. It should be wickedly cool.
June 17th, 2009 06:15
The movie is going to be awesome!
For Tally, Shay, and David, make SURE you get the right people
I was thinking someone like Emily Browning ( Tally )
And for Shay, Scout Taylor
This is going to be one awesome movie!
June 17th, 2009 06:24
DO NOT skip on any important stuff i hate it when people do that
good effects it t he futer come on. Get good actors it takes talent to play these charecters
stick some fraises from the book in there so fans watching can can be like hey i know this line and say it with them!
P.S. is it really going to happen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
June 17th, 2009 06:26
*starts hyperventilating with excitement*I would tell them that they need to stay true to the book as much as they can. Like lots of movies I totally understand that they have to cut parts of it(Duh) but when it’s like crazy bad I feel like ripping my hair out. And I agree with EVERYTHING Alex-la said. Everything.
June 17th, 2009 06:37
Ask how much they would like to change it. I love the book it is one of my favorites and I would hate to see the plot, emotions, and important messages changed. The complex emotions, transformations, and personalities of the characters have to be spot on! I think it is so important that the producers understand the characters and pick awesome actors to play their parts.
June 17th, 2009 06:46
Ohhh man, this will be epic.
The prettytime needs not to be set up as villainous right off the bat. I know the point of the books were that there was something wrong with the system, but this is a system that people have lived in for years. And if humanity was able to recover after the Rusty crash from it, then it does have its merits. So many futuristic dystopian movies portray the government in immediate evil. Part of my joy in reading the Uglies books was finding out just how much the system was corrupt and that it was largely Dr. Cable pushing the corruption and not just an overarcing dictatorship.
I also wouldn’t like Tally to be the grungy tomboy next door. With all the blurring of gender rolls of today female characters are either portrayed as sex appeal (Mikaela of Transformers) or buff and butchy tomboys. Like women can’t be girly and feminine, they have to be strong and masculine. And while Tally does have some masculine qualities, in the beginning she’s a girl who wants to party and be pretty and wear pretty dresses all the time. She changes from that, but her core character stays very feminine all throughout the series (well, a bit less so in Extras).
I think everything else that’s been said I agree with. Special effects is a big thing. I for one think that the movie should have something new that the books didn’t have. Same story of course, but if I’m going to see an exact replica of the books I can read the book and then make the movie in my head. So if the movie has something new or does something a bit different (with you’re permission/guidance, of course), it would make the movie a new experience and give the world a whole new light.
June 17th, 2009 06:47
Woooow that ended up being way too long. Sorry for the tl;dr.
June 17th, 2009 06:56
I hope they legit do the books justice. It might be impossible… but we shall see.
Know anything about casting calls Scott-la?
I really want them to do the character development right, especially Tally’s, obviously. She changes so much, in mind and body and it needs to be done right.
Stay true to the genius of Scott Westerfeld please and thank you.
June 17th, 2009 07:00
1. The slang words
2. The characters’ names and personalities
3. The basic plot
4. The gadgets
:]
June 17th, 2009 07:01
And I agree with Julie-wa.
The character development is crucial.
June 17th, 2009 07:06
I would definately stay to the books, it just gets on my nerves when a movie makes a good book look bad because it does not follow the plot! The whole Uglies series was definately thrilling and it would be a total shame to see all the exciting details and the flow of the plot to be changed…besides isn’t the idea of making a movie from a book is to portray the story on the big screen? I would definately be dissapointed to see the plot changed, after all, it was all the details and the story that drew me in as a reader in the first place.
June 17th, 2009 07:07
DEFINETLY, the slang words.
And all the cities [Uglyville, New Pretty Town, the Smoke...yeahh...]
If they get Tally and Shay wrong, I will shoot them in the left foot, then make them hop on said foot, then shoot the right one, and have them do the Cha Cha Slide, then the Cotton Eyed Joe.
Good Day. ;D
June 17th, 2009 07:10
This is definitely going to be an epic movie – I can’t wait!
I’d have to say the most important thing is to work with the producers every step of the way. If you’re working with the producers, they’ll get a sense of your vision of the film and that way the film will probably turn out truer to the book.
Also, make sure you’re careful when you select cast! Don’t pick well known actresses if you can find unknowns that act the roles and fit the characters better. Also, make sure your cast reads the book, or at least knows a lot about their characters.
And lastly, PLEASE stay true to the book. I dislike when movies are completely untrue to the book and the only similarity is the names and places.
June 17th, 2009 07:15
definitely the plot, no skipping important scenes…and definitely no turning all 3 books into one movie
June 17th, 2009 07:21
I think that you need to follow the book and not go away from the story line. I always hate it when a movie is made based on one of my favorite books and they go off the story line and mess it up for all the die-hard fans.
Also, the actors and actress need to represent the characters. If they don’t I personally will lead a LARGE group of icy, angry fan it come after the producers, director, actors/actresses, and anyone else that takes any ownership in casting or encouraging this decision.
The pronunciation also needs to be correct as well as the setting.
IF there are any bogus stunts or effects, my LARGE group of icy, angry fans will come after the right people again!
June 17th, 2009 07:23
I think that you need to follow the book and not go away from the story line. I always hate it when a movie is made based on one of my favorite books and they go off the story line and mess it up for all the die-hard fans.
Also, the actors and actress need to represent the characters. If they don’t I personally will lead a LARGE group of icy, angry fan it come after the producers, director, actors/actresses, and anyone else that takes any ownership in casting or encouraging this decision.
The pronunciation also needs to be correct as well as the setting.
IF there are any bogus stunts or effects, my LARGE group of even angrier and icier fans will come after the right people again!
June 17th, 2009 07:24
Tell them there are a LOT of fans already built into this movie and they are counting on it remaining faithful to the spirit of the book.
“Pretties” cannot just be Megan Fox with makeup on, they’ve got to be prepared to make them look the eerie pretty that the book presents. (there’s got to be a way to do this with green screen CGI now…)
And tell them to have faith in their audience. We are all intelligent readers and we don’t need things spelled out for us to the nth detail. (sorry, just saw “UP” and loved it but was very dismayed by the drivel advertised before it!)
June 17th, 2009 07:24
OMIGOD UGLIES MOVIE. ahhh!! umm…
- Include the little things like when Tally said “I’m tally youngblood…make me pretty” because they’re KEY. I know that the original readers (like me) will be looking for things like that.
- HOVERBOARDS, HOVERBOARDS, HOVERBOARDS. Please don’t change it to a “hovercar” or “motor skateboard” or something. Leave it as it is- A HOVERBOARD.
- Keep the characters UGLY. not too ugly, but no zac efron or gossip girl characters allowed. Please.
- and please please please include a “cat vomit sky” somewhere in the book. It’ll make all of the original uglies fans smile and maybe even cry a little (even though I’ll be doing that anyway. I mean, it’s UGLIES!!!)
And that’s all for now.
Thanks.
June 17th, 2009 07:28
oh- and keep the uglies nicknames (“squint”), scars, and please don’t change tally’s gender or name to something else like Sara or Molly. Same with all the other characters.
June 17th, 2009 07:28
Make the request that they get people who HAVEN’T read the book, (even though everyone needs to!) go through the script to check for holes, as well as people who have. When Twilight came out, people who hadn’t read the books were totally lost. And everyone complained. While this might encourage people to read the books… It wouldn’t be an enjoyable experience for all the people who are dragged along. If it’s more enjoyable, they will read the book of their own accord.
June 17th, 2009 07:28
# 29…..I agree with you 100%…..I was watching that Brad Pitt movie the other day and was like oh shit she looks so much like a special!……blackish eyes and all…..
June 17th, 2009 07:31
http://www.megcabot.com/diary/?p=842
sorry if im not supposed to link to places, but this is basically a summary of everything a reader wants in a movie (originally based on a book, of course. duh.)
June 17th, 2009 07:39
sorry i know this is gonna be insanely long… 0=)
like alex-la said, the gadgets should be really sleek… not the fancy tricked-out stuff that the media imagines as futuristic, but the designs actually the way you described them
also i know you said you can’t actually influence casting but make sure you stress that the uglies can’t be hollywood starlets! they have to just look like your average teenager. plus unknowns would probably be better just so that the movie doesn’t turn into just another generic hollywood film *coughmysister’skeepercough*
definitely make sure that they really showcase tally’s development, and they don’t just make it *ah, i’m a selfish girl, i can’t wait to be pretty* and then FINALLY when she’s in the Smoke *omg i just realized i don’t want to betray my friends! let me throw this tracker in the fire*
and the relationship between tally and shay is super-important! they’re probably going to try to overshadow it with the love triangle but remind them that the book is NOT ACTUALLY ALL ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS and it can’t be a teen romance! don’t play down shay’s reaction to tally’s betrayal or the whole volatile love-hate thing they have between them, since that really overarches throughout the series
and if at all possible, can you find out when they’re planning to announce the final cast and/or release it in theaters?
June 17th, 2009 07:44
They should capture the idea of what the uglies world is like. On the outside it might look fresh, new, exciting and nice. But deep down its dark, gothic and dangerous. Much like what they do in Batman with Gothum City or Harry Potter. Nothing about this world is happy apart from the love that Tally finds in David and Zane. So forest scenes where The Smoke is should be full of life, happy, fresh etc but the city itself should represent the story much more than anything else.
But also characters being kept to their style. Technology! PLEASE NO CRAPPY CGI!! GOOD CGI!!!!
OK, I’m done ranting now!
Good Luck!!
June 17th, 2009 07:56
Stay true to the book, don’t sacrifice plot and central theme for action.
June 17th, 2009 07:56
There needs to be a geat physical difference from uglies, pretties, and specials. I don’t know how they can do that. CGI, I maybe. It is going to take more than casting to separate the three.
David and the Smoke. David has to be very charismatic. Please no pretty boy actor protraying him. David and Tally have to have good chemisrty. The Smoke has to be rugged but fun. A place you would not want to leave. I think it would have to remind of the fun I had going camping as a child.
Pretty Town I think of as too bright and too colorful. Like a Barbie playhouse. Ugly Town is unremarkable. The Rusty Ruin like Ancient Greece but all metal.
June 17th, 2009 07:59
oh also! somebody might have said this, but don’t try to cram all 3 books into one movie, that’s just ridiculous. give enough closure that you could stop with just the one movie, but leave some stuff hanging so that you could make a pretties movie if you wanted to… *ahemhinthint*
June 17th, 2009 08:24
Okay, I was refraining from saying this…but it just HAS to be said. NO FREAKIN POP CRAP DISNEY STARS IN THE CAST. I flippin swear I will go mad and then the person casting them will be at fault for the horrible things that happen once I lose my mind. Nuff said.
June 17th, 2009 08:33
Uglies, (maybe it’s just me) has this feel about it. I mean, it’s futuristic, but It’s also got this awsome…I don’t know how to describe it. Like 1920′s back scene or Mardi-gras feel to it. I think that’s the first thing that pulled me in. Make sure they caprture that. Stuff like the old bridges, the brick buildings, etc…etc…
Maybe I’m just babbling.
June 17th, 2009 08:55
Make sure that they don’t make the Uglies, well… ugly. The point of the Uglies is that they’re not necessarily hideous, but they’re normal looking, they have imperfections. The Pretties in contrast *have* to be perfect. The have to be “pretty” but in a soft way, if that makes sense. The Specials, in contrast, must be sharp pretty. Kind of like an anime villain versus anime good. “Good” female characters are sort of soft and ethereal, whereas a female villain is sharp and harsh, yet beautiful.
June 17th, 2009 08:56
Not sure if this is too late, but I think the Twilight series is a good example here. The screenplay kept important elements of the plot, and the special effect — while not breathtaking — were still decent. There was a balance. More importantly, the movie was called Twilight, was actually about Edward and Bella, and the basic elements stayed the same.
I read somewhere (can’t remember where now) that the makers of Twilight figured it for a small-budget movie, and the fan response is what made it a blockbuster. I think the Uglies trilogy would react similarly. If the movie sticks to original plot elements and doesn’t give in to too much flash, side stories or other problems, the fans will give it a boost in ratings and word-of-mouth will make it a bigger sell.
To make this happen, keeping as much control and input as possible is probably your most important negotiating point, followed closely by plot development and budget (for special effects, etc.). This is merely my humble opinion, but after all, you did ask.
Good luck!
June 17th, 2009 09:06
Please, please, please just keep it as real as possible. Uglies look normal, not like a beautiful person in dirty clothes. Don’t make David look hotter than Peris, just make him look manly and strong – because he is such a hard worker.
They talk about the prettys being perfect, not anerexic. Don’t cast girls who look like they’re 10 years old and dieting.
The specials shouldn’t be flying arround by gracefully using wires for special effects, they are strong and animalistic, make them look as though they are not ashamed of looking too scary. They are a hunter after a prey that keeps getting away. Make them fight hard and dirty.
Also, the hoverboards were a great part of the book, don’t add a lame techno sputtering sound, it will just make them look cheesy and lame.
I can’t wait for the movie, these are some of the best books I’ve ever read!! Rock on Scott Westerfeld!!
June 17th, 2009 09:27
keep the cgi to an absolute minimum. the really phenomenal thing about computers these days is that they can make model work look really fantastic. cgi on the other hand, always looks like cgi.
it’s more important that it look good than look ‘real’ you know? that’s why doctor who is so much better than sci-fi original movies. seriously, i saw them cgi sand pouring out of a bag!
is it too specific casting wise to suggest not stars? movies are also generally better without stars. or at least people who act more than they pose for publicity shots, you know?
don’t add or combine characters for streamlining narrative. work it out.
and most importantly, the pretties have to look preternatural. they really can’t look like what we consider specifically ‘pretty’ people now. because they aren’t natural. and if you cast a ‘pretty’ person in the roles of the pretties, it’s going to cloud what i felt was the whole point of the book. they can’t just be regular attractive people, because in uglies, regular attractive people are uglies!
thanks for considering our input!
June 17th, 2009 09:31
Like everyone else has said: casting, plot, and PRONUNCIATION! None of stuttering and blumbling nonsense like that Kirsten Stewer junk like in Twilight. When I first went to see Twilight in theaters, all I could focus on was the dialouge and how much she STUTTERED! I actually walked out because it was driving me up the wall. Casting is huge. Everyone will be looking for Tally. The actual Tally described in the book. I don’t think anyone wants a tall, skinny, and flawless bleach blonde actress in her mid-twenties playing a 15/16 year old. The last crutial detail that everyone suggests is plot. Playwrights have to kind of use a “cut and paste” method. Not like, Tally gets captured at the Smoke, vows to come back, turns pretty, and then the screen goes black and credits start rolling. As long as the main details are in there, everyone will be satisfied.
June 17th, 2009 09:36
Oh, and hopefully movie producers know this, but, you get what you put in. If no suggestions are acknowledged, and they don’t go with the story, but with some half-brain version, do they really believe they’ll get a return out of it? If it turns out well, ding ding! box office hit! Winner! Winner! Okay, end double post maniac here.
June 17th, 2009 09:51
I don’t want half done hoverboards. Those need to be awesome. No major plot changes. Also it would be awesome if tatoo’s really pulse and things like that. For me it’s those little things that really make things so cool and believable to me. Life is about the little things. Why should a life in a movie be any different?
June 17th, 2009 09:58
1. Do not go overboard with the hoverboards. They’re totally awesome, but giving them extra screen time for that reason detracts from the plot.
2. Shay and Tally cannot be Hollywood glamazons or total dweebs, because, you know. That would defeat the WHOLE POINT. Think middle road. Think Thora Birch and Scarlett Johanssen in Ghost World. Plausible girls. Neither one is ordinary, not by the end. But they need to be real.
3. Remember the Golden Compass movie, when the unhappy ending was castrated for the sake of saccarine goodness and (SPOILER) the death of Roger postponed until the start of the hypothetical-exactly-because-of-this-alteration next installment? Don’t go down that road. Shay needs to end up Pretty. Either make it as a trilogy – or with the intention of making a trilogy, regardless of whether each film is actually produced – or not at all.
4. The language: fast-paced and delivered naturalistically. For some reason, Hollywood nowadays has this awful problem with dialogue being delivered at a normal pace. Remember The Goonies, when the boys spent the whole film talking over the top of each other like actual ten-year-olds, or Serenity, when the Firefly lingo was actually allowed to come across to the big screen? That sort of real. Don’t make it feel novel. Use the language. Properly.
5. Don’t weaken Shay. Tally starts out uncertain, but Shay is always strong. Keep her dangerous and savvy. Otherwise, seeing her made Pretty will have no effect.
And:
6. I know you said no casting requests, but: Tilda Swinton as Dr Cable would be totally freakin’ kickass. I’m just saying!
June 17th, 2009 10:10
They should do open casting calls to get the best person out there, because the perfect person for the roll isn’t always a bigtime movie star.
June 17th, 2009 10:11
That is amazing! I have always wanted to see this book into a movie! Lots and lots of SPECIAL EFFECTS. Also, the uglies should not look ugly.. just imperfect normal people! But the pretties should be perfect, what ever perfect is. The specials should be still pretty, put strong looking, and somewhat scary? Oh and you should film the movie in Vancouver Canada for the out of the city scenes (:
June 17th, 2009 10:33
Do NOT change the ending:
“I’m Tally Youngblood.Make me PRETTY.”
And don’t change the wa-ing and la-ing.
Yay, UGLIES MOVIE TIME!
Totally un-Ziz.
June 17th, 2009 10:34
@ 72: Fallen, absoLUTELY.
Listen to her/him , Scott-la. S/he’s clever…..
June 17th, 2009 10:50
Obviously they need a good cast, with amazing actors who are dedicated.
And the special effects team? It needs to be AMAZING! Because the hoverboards are my favorite part, and it needs to look realisitc.
And I would ask them is they could stick as closely as possible to the clues that Tally recieved in the book. They were perfect, and I love deciephering them with Tally!!
June 17th, 2009 12:45
Most have already said these, but here goes:
1. Author involvement as much as possible (as already said!)
2. Tally & David- they HAVE to get them right, no ifs and or buts about it!!!
3. Other main characters to be as in book (but for sure Tally & David, #2 above!)
4. Slang & quotes from book
5. Storyline
6. Scenes
6. Hoverboard!
So many more, but you said not too many so hope that helps.
Can’t wait for the movie!!!!!!!!!
Good luck Scott!
June 17th, 2009 13:02
OMG YAAAY!!!! /end fangirling
1. An important factor, that I’m sure has been metioned before, but I would like to reinforce it, is the slangs. The slangs are majorly important, it gives credit to the fact that this is a different society.
2. The uglies should really not BE UGLY, just normal looking.
3. Special effects For The Win!
*While the Hollywood people are at it, could you get them to invent real hoverboards, please?*
4. The Evolution of Tally Youngblood. Seriously, Tally has changed so much over the course of the book. Grown up, discovered things, rode hoverboards, sacrificed, made friends, betrayed friends, been ugly and pretty and special. That needs to be shown; how much she has changed needs to be percievable.
5. The fanbase may be YA, but teenagers are not stupid. Please do not let the Hollywood people treat us like idiots. We know you wouldn’t do that to us Scott-la. Don’t dumb things down and say kids will not understand it. We understand it, we read the freaking book and loved it!
6. Dr. Cable has to be seriously prettily creepy. Not lamely scary – like James from Twilight – but like Cruella de Vil (Dalmations), The Evil Queen (Snow White) and Maleficent (Sleeping Beauty) from the classic disney movies kind of scary.
*Tilda Swinton or Meryl Streep please please please*
7. Someone had mentioned it before, but key phrases would be a real treat for the book fans, so that we can laugh/cry/cheer/repeat-the-line-to-the-screen-and-squeal, and leave non-readers wondering what is going on and wanting to pick up the book.
- end of very long post -
June 17th, 2009 13:15
I think my heart just stopped. Congratulations Scott!!
I agree with Trisha-la on most of her terms. I think it would be good if there were some scenes of the Rusty Downfall though, perhaps as an opening. People love a good apocalypse, no? Oh, and a racially balanced cast. I think you mentioned once that everyone is sort of mixed…or that could have been a fanfic…anyway.
Also, maybe there should be an unknown cast as Tally, and bigger actors in the smaller roles. Hmmm. If it was animated, showing the differing looks would be so much easier!
It would be great if they used actors from different countries for the different er…phases of surgery, and the Smoke. I always imagined that the Smokies drawled a bit more, like in almost Australian accents, while the Specials use clipped tones, and the Pretties like, talk…OMG, like really California fresh! Like, lol!
Slang keep-in is a must. Seriously. The slang gives Uglies just a bit more edge.
Oh, and don’t forget to grab yourself a cameo! I really hope the movie is just how you pictured. Good luck.
June 17th, 2009 13:36
I would say that plot is probably the most important thing, it should follow the book as closely as possible and not leave out any key events or change them around too much. Correct casting is also really important, it should be as close to how they’re described in the book as possible-looks, the way they talk, and of course acting skill. Setting, special effects, and the technology is also very important. Everything should look futuristic but not fake or impossible. No new technologies or gadgets should be added but all of the ones from the book should be included and be accurate as far as the way they look and function. Overall, all the little details really count and are what make the movie. Nothing should be ignored, changed, or left out if it isn’t necessary and corners shouldn’t be cut. All aspects are important but staying close to the book in all ways possible is the biggest thing.
June 17th, 2009 13:47
I really think that they SHOULD NOT try and over romanticize the Tally and David moment (after she finds out the true meaning of being pretty) because often in movies they make things very sentimental, and they would try and make that a hugely romantic moment (with music, spanning camera etc.) but I think what is so beautiful about that moment is how unconventional, and movies like making everything into a conventional romantic movie moment.
and make sure they don’t leave anything out, because what they perceive as a small thing could be a really important moment in the books!
also, they must pick good music for the whole movie (i think about these things a lot because music and reading are like, my passion!)
June 17th, 2009 14:45
Yeah, what should the score primarily be – instrumental or like, already released songs? It would be really cool to have a mix of say, Joe Hiasashi and rock music. Not enough movies have genre mixes like that.
June 17th, 2009 15:17
First of all, thanks SOOO much for making this a movie!! Just don’t ruin it by screwing around with the story or the characters. Stick to the book we know.Make the cast really true to the heart and realistic. Don’t put people in just because they’re hot or pretty. Put people in that have TALENT!!!! Hear me? T-A-L-E-N-T!!! (Twilight, you should be ashamed!) Also,make the Specials wolf-like and the pretties, well, pretty. Yeah, don’t cast a blue- eyed blondie for tally.Be realistic, because no fan wants to see a blonde tally. brown hair brown eyes pale skin=believable.
PLEEEEEEZE make the special effects as awesome as you can!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Also, remember:location, location, location!!!!
Thanks for reading! This is going to be totally bubbly-making!!!!!! =)
June 17th, 2009 15:21
Tally makes A LOT of stupid decisions and the audience needs to remain caring and sympathetic to the character or else all is lost. If Tally cannot remain lovable, the story is dead before it starts. Shay too, for that matter. We need to be able to see the guilt Tally feels towards Shay, and what motivates her to make the change. It is a delicate transition for the character from book to film that could make or break the franchise. Get Tally (and Shay) right, from the get-go!
Heavy on the special effects, easy on the visual effects and CGI. If it can be done before post, do it.
Also, constant spoilers really propelled Twilight, so tell them to let a few leaks through on the first one.
Good luck!
June 17th, 2009 16:05
The most important thing when a good book is made into a movie is that the plot is kept to- thats why the book was good, thats what people WANT TO SEE!!
Screen adaptions that change timelines and TRY to make it appealing usually just spoil a good story.
June 17th, 2009 16:30
Staying as true to the story as possible.
we all fell in love with this book for whats already written.
We do not want another Twilight or Harry Potter incident.
also hover boards and the other technology in the books need to look like it really takes place in the future not in some 90′s children’s movie.
Will you have any say in what goes into the script? I hope you will. What better than the writers participation in the movie?
June 17th, 2009 17:01
I’d point out three main points:
1) GET THE PLOT RIGHT!! I don’t care if a movie chops out specific scenes from the book, but if you mess with the characters and the overall plot, no fan is going to be all that happy. I mean, look at how many people come to this site! That is the minimum number of people that would be unhappy.
2) Special effects. New Pretty Town and the hoverboards need to look awesome. Period, no exeptions, no excuses.
3) At least make the characters look like themselves. I am going to be mad if they don’t give David his scar.
June 17th, 2009 17:23
this is the kind of story that i hope gets into the hands of a director who will make a subjective visual experience–that happens to be a great adventure.
so often when movies are made of books they kind of forget they are visual.
movies like joe wright’s pride and predjudice used music, color and lighting to make the world change. It was expressionistic. it was not documentary like the BBC version but reflected Elizabeth’s senses. Whether or not it was successful is a whole other arguement but one character in a tangible to them world building is so important with sci-fi.
think the 3rd HP verses the 1st. Think the art direction of Karyn Kusama’s Aeon Flux-shot on location but made new.
Please resist all Blade Runner tendencies. Make something NEW.
June 17th, 2009 17:26
THE PRETTIES HAVE TO BE PRETTY:
I mean really pretty. There have been numerous posts on this website that have shown different effects on photography and body alterations that are showing a uncanny likeness towards pretty trends.
Maybe it’s impossible to get the money to do this for a new movie, but I’ve always imagined pretties as having symmetrical faces which was also mentioned in the books. Huge, manga-like eyes are also another trait that I think all pretties should have. Crazzy CGI work, I know. And crazzy CGI work costs mucho dollars
THE LANDSCAPES HAVE TO BE SPOT-ON:
I should hope that Scott will most definitely be involved in the designing of all of Tally’s world. It has to look almost manufactured in the city, and totally deserted in the Ruins and outside the city. New Pretty Town has to be neon and flourescent and pulsing, exploding with life and music. The dorms have to have a drab feeling to them even though their technology is lightyears ahead of ours.
CHARACTERS:
I think it goes without saying that we all care about these characters, whether villain or hero. And their interaction and relationships. One thing: Please don’t screw them up
EN GENERALE:
Please just stay true to the story. All us fans understand that you have to alter different things in order to fit into a movie time frame, but no Indiana Jones aliens, please
June 17th, 2009 17:27
keep the plot very close to the book….. and make the characters real! real people, not known big hollywood actors!!
so the main thing i want to see in this movie are people who pretty much havent been in a flm before….. and as they are meant to be ‘ugly’….. they should be, not pretties
June 17th, 2009 17:28
Sorry for the double comment, but i totally agree with #90 alissa.
A director who will make this a visual experience. Definitely.
June 17th, 2009 17:32
i love the books and it would make a wonderfull movie and i hope it does!!!!!
June 17th, 2009 17:49
Oh, yes, I must agree with joey-la and Nikiwa321. Good music score makes everything awesome. E.g. Even though I was disappointed with the Angels and Demons movie due to lack of “parachute” jump and saying that antimatter combust (seriously, that is like the wrongest thing I’ve ever heard), I had an awesome soundtrack to listen to.
Get Hans Zimmerman on board, please.
It would also be really nice if you could do a cameo Scott-la.
June 17th, 2009 18:35
Don’t go cheesy in the hoverboards!!!!
June 17th, 2009 18:52
Don’t overdo the romance. It shouldn’t be a tween romance movie- it should portray the world in the future as both fantastical and chilling. The dystopian theme should remain at the heart of the movie.
Soundtrack: E.S. Posthumus.
Don’t need to read this –>(In the event of a sequel, a casting suggestion would be to use a set of triplets. I know this sounds crazy, but it would be awesome.)
June 17th, 2009 18:55
Let Scott be involved as much as possible, so they won’t do an Eragon and kill the book. (I still swear no-one on the production team read that book). Also, lots of budget for eyekicking, yet real effects. The atmosphere of the whole thing has to be fantastic and futuristic, yet still real, like it could actually work. This applies to the characters too- please, no Kirsten Stewart or Zack Efron. Get someone who can actually act, AND who looks real. Also, squee!
June 17th, 2009 19:04
don’t go cheesy on the hoverboards!:)
June 17th, 2009 19:11
How are they going to actually do the Pretties? I mean, perfectly symmetrical faces, right? Can you fake that with makeup and CGI these days?
They need to be actual Pretties, inhumanly perfect and gorgeous. Not just 2009 teen heartthrob “pretty”. Otherwise, don’t do it at all. Wait five years until they _can_ do it. This could be completely ruined very easily by doing the “oh look, a bit of makeup and a new hairstyle and suddenly she’s gorgeous” teen ugly duckling cliche.
Other most important thing? Tally is not perfect. She makes mistakes. Bad mistakes with bad consequences. Don’t let them retcon the story such that nothing is ever really her fault, she’s always an innocent victim.
June 17th, 2009 19:30
Please tell them not to make the Pretties extremely weird, just to make them look really pretty, not all alien-like.
June 17th, 2009 19:48
The most important thing to me about the books was Tally’s journey to realizing that beauty wasn’t all that important. That’s crucial to me, beyond the special effects and other plot (which are also important). That can’t be phony or melodramatic or wind up seeming cliche. Also included in that is the importance of her relationship with David – again, it can’t be phony or go farther than it does in the book. Casting the two of them and Shay will be crucial for this.
June 17th, 2009 19:58
I just had a random thought. The very first time I picked up Uglies, I looked at the cover and thought, “Wow, that girl is really cool-looking.” Later on, I was attempting to explain the plot to my mom and was spasmodically waving the book around in attempt to convey the general fabulosity/badassery. She took one look at the cover and said, “That girl must be one of the Pretties, right?” And I was like, “Um…no. She’s ugly.”
What would really strike me in the movie is if they nail the whole brain-washing part. Tally was never ugly; she was perceived as ugly. And if somehow, at the beginning of the movie, they explain the whole allure of pretty-faces and show a close-up of Tally, the entire audience might think, “Oh, so *this* is a Pretty!” But then – BAM! – they show a *real* Pretty, and your brain immediately marks the contrast and you look at Tally again, compared against the Pretty…that would be awesome. Because you’re falling for the DNA-deep trick that the entire civilization is built upon. (Apart from the, you know, lesions…)
Anyway. I had a point in there somewhere. I think I lost it. In fact, I’m quite sure that it’s floating around somewhere in the region of, um, the Bermuda Triangle. Or maybe Alaska. Maybe Sarah Palin stole it. I don’t know.
But.
It *would* be epic.
June 17th, 2009 20:10
I swear that my heart totally STOP when I saw the title of this post.
Agree with comment number 3,8,9,11,16,17,18,19,22,23(Totally right on!) etc!
Alright, back to the question. I am sorry that I can’t keep it to one key thing though. A single thing done wrongly can even make the greatest movie a flop.
The storyline. I would like them to keep as close to the storyline as possible. The essence of the story must be there! It’s ok to delete several small less important parts but don’t get carried away with it! I watched Jumper and read the book only to found out that only the first few minutes of the movie is the same as the book. The book is so much better with content and depth! So stick to the storyline!
CG! They need to really invest in the CG and fool my brain into thinking that such a place exist. I hate it when I can tell clearly which part is real and which part is not.
Cast. I am not going to demand some actor or actress to be some character from the book. Instead, I don’t care if the actor/actress is popular or not. I don’t mind at all if they use some new talent if he/she is able to act! He/she needs to be able to ACT and not have the same expression pasted on in every single scene.
Characters. The personalities, the way how they grow after going through all that stuff. There’s depth in this and they should showcase it.
Tons of things have been mentioned so I wouldn’t just repeat over and over again.
In my opinion, they shouldn’t get too explosion happy. There are action scenes but don’t just center on the explosion part. This is not about the cat fight either. Make them understand why the story is built this way. Explain to them…after all, this is a thought provoking book and should be a thought provoking movie as well, behind all the action, friendship, love etc. The essence of the book which I love SHOULD remain.
I hate it if this is made into a movie like some typical Hollywood movie that’s mostly built on the catfight, explosion etc.
I think that’s all.
Please try your best to explain to them what all this is about, Mr Westerfeld.
Good luck!
I hope that it will be a good movie and not to be remembered for it’s explosion part.
June 17th, 2009 20:12
I just read Anna’s comment, number 104, and I totally with it!
They should keep this in mind! =D
June 17th, 2009 20:15
Also, I had forgotten to mention this but the relationships SHOULD NOT go any further than the book did. Not every time it’s all about sex. That would have totally ruin the meaning of the book and become something totally typical Hollywood.
June 17th, 2009 20:30
OMG I haven’t been on here in forever, it seems! I’ve been kinda busy, I guess… well, since there’s over 100 comments, I’m sure that everything is covered! I just hope that they don’t forget that the story is in the future, and that the Pretties are, well, pretty, obviously, and the Specials are cruel pretties, you know? It would be bad if they did a crappy job with those. And the uglies are just normal people, nothing more, nothing less, so don’t put all kinds of makeup on the people that will be playing the uglies! They are just normal, everyday people! So, that is all I need to say, I guess… they’d better make it like the book. Because if they trash it like they did to Harry Potter 6 and Twilight, I’m going to get VERY mad…
June 17th, 2009 20:32
listen to numbers 1 through 107
and every comment under this
fans and viewers know best
=D
June 17th, 2009 20:32
Wow! This is so totally bubbly-making! xD
Really, this is great! I think that the main thing with casting is that you *cannot* have a bigshot actress or actor for any of the characters. The concept of having a well-known actress for Tally and/or Shay just draws away from the true…What do I want to say?…I guess just from the true *story* of Uglies. It would cause a distraction I think and it would pull away from what the making of this movie really means.
Like a lot of others said; the set is extremely important!!! You’ve described so well what Tally’s world looks like and that picture, I think, is etched in all of our minds when we think of Uglyville, or New Pretty Town, etc. Just as long as you (I am talking to Scott, right? LOL!!) are there and overseeing what work the directors, designers, etc. are doing, it should be okay.
OH!! And David!! HAS to have a scar, okay??? HAS to, or I refuse to watch it! LOL!! JK! But really, just make sure casting directors get it right on okay?
(PS~ I have 30 pages to go in Peeps! This ending had *better* not tick me off! ROFL!!)
June 17th, 2009 20:34
Oh, wow.
I would tell them that direct lines from the book is never a bad thing!
And they should NOT stray from the book. At all. Like Miko Kogame said, they can’t add all these relationships that don’t exist. -__-
I completely agree with Anna (comment 104)! That would be amazing. If they didn’t do something like that, the movie couldn’t be all that great.
I am extremely interested in where this is going! (very excited)
June 17th, 2009 20:37
Wow, when i read the title i was like ‘zomg, finally!!’
but i guess im kinda too late for my ideas anyway …… oh no wait! it says new york time ….. what time is it in new york ? um … google ….. 12:03 pm.
cool so i still have time, even though i dont have any ideas …..
oh well, at least i have the oppotunity.
but yeah, i like Anna’s idea.
and ZOMGG did anyone else see that woman in the news with the tatoo on her face ??!!!
(if you didnt, she wanted 3 stars on her face and she fell asleep and the guy did 56)
when i looked at the picture i was like “OMG she looks SPECIAL !!”
then everyone stared, but still.
anyway, ive written too much nonsence for now.
x
June 17th, 2009 20:39
Oh and also, i think that when you do the casting, you should come to london too
cause we have loads of cool people.
June 17th, 2009 20:45
I know that in a lot of book to film transitions, the film-makers add base humor and stupidity to the movie to make it funnier/more appealing to younger audiences. Please try to keep the essence of the books. It needs a serious take on it, one that’s not trying so hard to please, or possibly get a lesser rating. Then again, don’t let them add things to it that would garner a higher rating that it needs either.
I agree about the special effects needing to be well done. Again, it’s a part of the movie process that can either turn out cheesy, or dang cool.
Casting is huge too. I think if you just ask that they stay true to the characters, that the right people will be cast to play them.
I know that the book to film transition is hard, and it won’t be exactly the same, but just try to preserve the feel of the book, and the world you’ve created. Either way, I know that there will be at least one person going out to see it to support you no matter how it’s made. ^_^
June 17th, 2009 20:49
Oh please , i beg you , don’t pick some famous actors . And the guy that you’re gonna talk on phone with , is he familiar with the sci-fi genre or whatever uglies is ?
I am really excited !! I hope that this movie will be a bit like matrix you know , it makes you think about it later . And then you can’t concentrate on real life because you’re so …confused ?
Oh and SPECIAL EFFECTS very very importantz
bye good luck
June 17th, 2009 20:51
Okay, I totally agree with Kay-la, don’t use big-time actors, because it really does take away the whole point of the book. If you use smaller or undiscovered actors, you have a better chance of connecting with the story.
Also, you really need to make sure you don’t leave anything out! Several movies decide to leave out important information, or they rush the movie. For instance, in the movie Twilight, by Catherine Hardwick, I felt that she rushed it way too much. There is one scene in the book when Edward takes Bella to a meadow, and that isn’t supposed to happen until like over half of the book is over. Also, the movie left out a lot of imformation that I felt was very important. I still enjoyed the movie, but I felt annoyed that things were so different. So, don’t leave anything out!!!!!!
Kay-la is right on another thing too, make sure you get the set and characters right. If things are all wrong, it screws up the whole story!
This is just my opinion, so please please take it under consideration!!! Thank you! =]
June 17th, 2009 21:19
Well we all obviously love this series… so just pick the right director that has your vision… or the one you had for the book. We will probably all be heartbroken if he screws it all up.
We love the books for a reason and we dont want them to put there own crap into the movies. NO. we want a live version of the books.
Your work is beautiful, so dont let them make you change things, because those little details are what make it so wonderful (i.e.- the set, the plot, the appearances of the characters, and so on.)
thanks.
June 17th, 2009 21:37
Keep with the original darkcreepy themes of the book—don’t make a Fun Science Fiction Movie For Teens. The special effects shouldn’t take precedent over the tone.
June 17th, 2009 21:37
hmm! there is soo much to say! but one thing is that i think that the movies should be seperate, not just one trilogy movie. i also think that Tally should really change at these points:
as an ugly
when she turns pretty
when shhe is un-bubbleheaded
when she is a special(before meeting zane again)
when she is a special(post-zane)
special(post zane’s death)
\and i think that shay should change like that as well. i think that as a special, shay should be the one that is the leader, that does all the cool stuff, not tally. and dr. cable really has to be the right person.
oh, and PLEASE, I REPEAT PLEASE! do not make it into a lovey-dovey twilight!!!!! really capture the essence of the charachters, especially the evil traitorness of tally, and shay and dr cable.
June 17th, 2009 21:41
oh, and the hoverboards really need to be awesome! and PLEASE do NOT use any of the twilight actors!
June 17th, 2009 21:44
Scott-la:
I agree with many previous suggestions: I want the story stuck to, or someone’s head will roll. Not yours, because yours is too full of ingenious ideas anyhow, but some big-shot Hollywood producer. I mean, I have a curious obsession with the guillotine already, and I’m not afraid to use it.
It’s understandable that some things will have to be cut out or shortened to fit into a movie, but they don’t have a right to screw with it entirely. Which is exactly what happened to The Golden Compass movie, which I happened to see before I read the books and now incidentally I’m glad because I thought the movie the first time was at least decent; now I can’t watch it without wanting to bash my head into something.
I would love to see someone bring Shay to life. Please don’t let them make her dull and drab and already close to perfect when her character is purposely anything but. Stupid Hollywood casting decisions.
But yes, plot. Keep it chronological. It should be easy to fit the movie into a matter of hours, say, if certain conversations as with Tally and her parents were cut out, or Tally’s time in the wild was sped through a little, since people would tend to get bored while literally watching someone go through the wild for days and days at a time. Short attention spans are a sad but true factor.
Mmm…and hoverboards. Did I mention hoverboards? I want my hoverboards, Scott-la. I’ll be making music videos galore to this movie when it comes out on DVD, so I need epic badass footage. -clears throat- xD Not that I have a say or anything, but I like to pretend I do sometimes.
Well, considering the book itself is near flawless in every way, hopefully there’s not much to worry about by way of movie, except for them screwing it up, not you. Just try and get them to preserve the point of the thing, and all should go well.
Good luck with the casting in the big, bad claws of Hollywood binding contracts and decisions! (Please, no Disney Channel stars if you can help it, Scott. MY head will roll if I get one more person cramming them down my throat.)
- Hope
June 17th, 2009 21:44
ooh! and use cool music!!!!!! wait, i just talked about specials thw whole time! oh well…… just don’t use steve martin! wow, i am really having isseus following direxctions today!
June 17th, 2009 21:47
first of all how could you possible know if they messed HP #6 up if it hasn’t come out….if you made a mistake and ment #5 I agree with you…it was horrible.
2. #76….Yes!….I live in Vancouver!……that would be so kool…
but ya the place the choose to shoot the movie at is important. I always imagined New Zeland because of all the trees
but Canada would do well to just because of all the trees and the cities.
If it was in Vancouver they would really need to stay away from the bad streets(there are many)
June 17th, 2009 21:48
dessometrics: i agree with u on the disney stuff, but i think that zac efron would be a good zane. but then, he is so good at comedy that they may try to make it into a comedy movie.
June 17th, 2009 21:49
i would think canada becuz that is where it really was, but then australia would be good because it’s enviornmant is sooo diverse.
June 17th, 2009 21:52
I would mention that the technology incorporated in the book, and therefore the movie, is a really important aspect of the story.
It will make or break the movie because your techie fans crave that stuff, and it could quite possibly make the pictures in their head during the books into a reality. No pressure or anything…
Is the movie going to be just about Uglies? Or is it going to be one of those compressed films with all three of the books together?
I think you should make this movie solely for Uglies, and then let your fans sit in shock and awe for a little bit while you make Pretties even better.
I am so beyond excited.
June 17th, 2009 21:54
Reconsidering that…like Lili Wilkinson so wonderfully put it in Mind-Rain, the vocabulary, slang, and even accents the actors/actresses will use will have a HUGE impact on the entire feel of the movie.
I’m sure however it’s done, it will be amazing. Scott wouldn’t let us down.
June 17th, 2009 21:56
oh my HECK! that makes me so excited. they need to stick to the book! i know they don’t do that often but they should. it’s perfect how it is.
June 17th, 2009 22:22
OMg im so excited but the thing i think you should do is how afew of you guy and gals were talking about RAMBO~ness well my mom read the books she said they were “OK SOMETHING I WOULDNT HAVE READ IF YOU WOULDNT HAVE RECAMENDED THEM” (i know she sucks dosnt she jk lol) i want the movie to have some adult humor so i can take my non~uglie mother to see because in the books it seem there always so stuffy well at lest tally but in the movie they should pop some adult humor in because they are at that age when fart jokes and retard jokes are funny (mabye thats just me) but like in some of the pixar movies there is adult humore in them so that adults dont want an ice pick in there eyes insted of watching. Thats what i think (wow this was a long message)
June 17th, 2009 22:24
F~A~R~T!!!!!! LOL
June 17th, 2009 22:33
make sure to have some sick affects and all the towns all high tech too!
June 17th, 2009 22:37
Mainly that they should try to keep the book and movie similar even though they have to work with a time frame…oh, and that the special effects shouldn’t look corny…make them look like they really come form the future far far away…
~Good Luck!
June 17th, 2009 22:47
Stay true to the characters.
The relationships are key in this book, very key.
Also, find the right actress. Most likely unknown.
And the lighting has to be right.
I imagined darker in the uglyville, very plain and flat, while everything is vivid in the wilderness, everything chaotic in newprettyville
Remeber, this is a big fan basis movie. Dont screw it up.
June 17th, 2009 22:50
I would tell them that special effects can be a good thing, and that I know some things will have to be animated…but if this movie ends up looking like spongebob I don’t know that I’ll bother seeing it. I mean, I probably would just because it’s my favorite book…but i would hate it. and so would everyone else..
June 17th, 2009 22:54
Just putting it out there: Joss Whedon is amazing at creating beautiful work on a small budget.
One thing I’d like to repeat about the Pretties: they can’t be thin. It was eluded to several times in the book and stated in Bogus to Bubbly that the right amount of fat on a pretty is more than what society today considers acceptable. Like Amber Benson or Jewel Staite.
Also, Shloopy at 98, I freaking love you for knowing E.S. Posthumus.
June 17th, 2009 23:14
Okay. So I read what everyone had to say so far. I completely agree with so many of the comments.
- The characters cannot be brushed off. Tally and Shay are beautiful teenagers. They are normal. They aren’t deformed. But Pretties need to be very symmetrical with that famous clueless, hollow look. Specials need to be vicious pretty. Wow. I suck at explaining. Others have already expressed my idea on this anyway.
- The Rusties and the Rusty Ruins. I LOVE this part of the book. There’s something so eerily beautiful about how I envisioned the town that Shay and Tally go to play in at night and wait for David. I have a friend who is afraid of old rusting farm equipment. When she first told me this, I laughed so hard. But it’s not so hard to believe. When I read the book last summer, the Ruins really sent chills down my back. It’s night time, it’s filled with death and the teens think that a disaster can only happen to the Rusties. It obviously can happen to any generation. For this scene when (from what I remember) Shay is explaining to Tally that YES, this is what they were learning in history class – I think a little FLASHBACK of how the Rusties lived is needed… and make sure to incorporate a clip of 2009/10/11 L.A. traffic (because it is set in L.A., right?) and then put in the dialogue lines from the girls saying how unbelievably STUPID Rusties were to depend on one item. I think that is a MAJOR key of the book that CANNOT be lost.
- The casting issue has surfaced more than once. I think people who are *passionate* about these books should be the cast. I just don’t want some people to be picked because it sounds like a cool series. They should be picked because they GET the importance of the books.
Everyone else already mentioned most of the other stuff. Good luck. T- 10 minutes.
And I love the idea of a Scott cameo. Maybe as David’s dead father. That can be a flashback scene. That scene is very helpful to the understanding of the books, too. It’s a very touching scene because that’s when Tally’s character changes.
I’m a professional writing/English graduate from Kutztown University. You have no idea how much I want to have written these books. I still would love to be a part of the movie production, but like.. that would ever happen.
I can’t wait for the final product.
P.S. –> I think music would be very interesting to choose for this. I mean, to pick something contemporary would be ideal, but whenever I think of the Uglies book, I think of the first track of Pink Floyd’s A Momentary Lapse of Reason album which was released in my birth year – 1987! The song is called “Signs of Life.” Listen to it and tell me you don’t think it fits.
June 17th, 2009 23:29
KEEP THE DIALOGUE!! THAT’S SO IMPORTANT YOU EVEN SAID SO IN MIND RAIN!! (i only have two minutes hence the shouting) I WOULD SUGGEST CGI BUT KEEP TO THE PLOT AND THE LANGUAGE!! THE LANGUAGE MAKES THE BOOK!
June 17th, 2009 23:46
It’d be really cool if they consider people from different countries to play characters, not just Americans like most Hollywood movies. I always got the feeling from the books that everyone is less culturally divided (apart from the whole Diego loves weird thing lol
) I reckon accents, skin colour, etc. shouldn’t be an issue for people who want to be a part of the movie, as long as they really *are* the characters.
June 17th, 2009 23:50
Don’t change a lot. Keep as close to the story line as possible! Looks arent SUPER important but still important. No super skinny freaks though. And make sure to KEEP THE DIALOUGE AND LANGUAGE!!!! Like jay-wa said. oh and DO NOT. i repeat DO NOT exclude ANY characters. DONT do what they do to most movies. keep EVERYTHING. i would sit and watch a five hour (or more) movie as long it is the same. IM AM SOO SIKED!
June 18th, 2009 00:00
They’ll need actors that can actually act. They especially need a perfect Tally, Shay and David. My life would be complete if they made the movie and made Tally, Shay and David perfect. Even if the rest of the movie was a total wreck.
I’m really excited, so don’t let them screw up the movie.
June 18th, 2009 00:03
The dialog is super important. Like faith-la said, DO NOT exclude and characters. I’d prefer if you made sure that ever single detail was there. I’m pretty sure that 9-hour movies are the new trend.
June 18th, 2009 00:04
AH! yay! awesome
something really important is to make there be a very clear difference between pretties, specials, uglies, and then people in the smoke
–PRETTIES need to be beautiful and innocent
–SPECIALS need to be beautiful and scary
–UGLIES need to be normal but trying to be cool, like into fashion and wearing make-up
–people in the smoke need to be normal but don’t really care about their appearance and are very natural looking
I’M SO EXCITED NOW! I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS FOR YEARS
June 18th, 2009 00:06
Whoa. Duh. Learn to read FRIDAY. der-da-der.
The non-short version:
(pretty much I’m going to say everything everyone else said, just differently)
I think you (they, it, whatever) should try to keep the filming in the same region as you set it in the books. (washington state area)
ummm pretty much EVERYTHING Sam said…then someone also said that pretties shouldn’t be fat, so there’s that…NO ZAC EFRON (vomits) (seriously) it has to have totally great music! Whenever I think of Prettyville, I expect them to be blaring ‘The world is full of beautiful things, beautiful peooooople’ even though it’s old. That ultraviolet sound song Alex-wa posted previously (brainwashed) And scott-la totally should be David’s dad (Insert like, 80 !! here) or if they go with CGI (which i’m doubting right now but that’s okay) they need (forgot what I was going to say because I was calling everyone I know who has read uglies) Faith just said she’d watch a five hour movie, and at our movie theatre there are some CUTE ushers so yeah I would
YOU NEED TO SELL SHIRTS like in stores like Hot Topic or somewhere less scary and cooler. *ponders* because a lot of people don’t like to order stuff offline (that’s kind of unrelated)
-David should be Ugly but cute ugly, you know?
-Between Each section (turning pretty,The smoke, into the fire) you should keep the quotes somehow like, get a close up of the locket burning and be like ‘beauty is medusas head…’ cause that’s kind of what defines the sections (i thought)
-Keep the main scenes (like tally sneaking to New Pretty town and jumping cause that’s how she meets shay!)
-Show them making the morphos because that shows how their society is so beauty-centric and how shay is different
-Keep her journey the same. The life-risking-ness and everything because that shows how important turning pretty is to her.
-make the specials beautiful and horrifying
Pretty much everything everyone else said.
Keep it real, you know? Don’t screw it up! The script is the book, man.
June 18th, 2009 00:12
I would watch a 9-hour movie if it was fun and had action. Those are the best movies, the ones that seem to go by super fast because they were like awesomeness multiplied to the Extreme. Keep the characters! The cat vomit sky! Uglies aren’t freaks! they’re you and me just with low self-esteem! Don’t make them into the sea monsters no one wants to see! Ugly dorm uniforms need to be ugly too.
Peace
June 18th, 2009 00:15
I wonder if the movie if live-action or animated. Both could look so wonderful.
- Please no high profile names for the job just for attention. Get real actors who are real people. Getting gorgeous people kind of defeats the whole purpose of the book.
- Have Scott Westerfeld never leave the set so the important details are right. (Wishful thinking, I know.)
- Stay true to the book. I understand that changes have to made but it doesn’t mean that the movie should completely ignore the essence of what Uglies is about.
- Don’t F-up on the hoverboards! Us Bubbleheads will be paying close attention. Bogus To Bubbly is a perfect thing to keep handy.
- Our Biggest Advice: Do you remember that vampire flick Twilight? Yea, make it NOTHING like that. Please. Please. Please!
Good luck in making the movie totally bubbly!
June 18th, 2009 00:15
The movie should have easter eggs in it. You know, like putting “This is silly text. Evil silly text!” on the back of the SpagBol. Make them small but so the people that watch very carefully, almost stalker-ish in fact (jay-wa), will notice it.
June 18th, 2009 00:19
I agree. What you clearly should do is watch Twilight a few (dozen) times and then make sure that Uglies turns out completely different from that. Oh, and clichés are so last year, so…No clichés.
June 18th, 2009 00:19
-The part where Tally went to see Peris in pretty-ville and she jumped off the building with the bungee jacket.
-that HAS to be good.
-If the begining and the end is good, more people will want to watch it.
-oh and the uglies ARENT super ugly to us. They are just like everyone else.
-Tally’s characteristics need to be good. Keep her the same. Dont try to make he like any different. Keep how risky she is. Keep her sense in wanting to change the world the same.
-Like Jay-wa said. David needs to be like us, but cute. AND KEEP HIS SCAR!
-HOVERBOARDS. nuff said.
-Dr. Cable needs to be beautiful, but scary beautiful. She needs to be in control, slightly crazy but AMAZING!
-My main thing is dont forget anything. big or small.
Dont screw it up. there are a ton of people who are excited for this. Dont break their hearts.
June 18th, 2009 00:26
It pains me to say it…But take your time with the filming. The last thing we need is a lower quality movie soon. We can wait for a movie as long as it’s amazing…well most of us at least (cough jay-wa cough).
June 18th, 2009 00:27
Get the story as close as possible and make all the technology look realistic…please don’t make it as bad as twilight was with the story line.
June 18th, 2009 00:29
Clearly the movie needs to have pointless 3-D action scenes.
June 18th, 2009 00:36
I know it’s too late, but the movie will be completely frustrating if they don’t include at least a few key scenes (or, at the very least, incorperate the ideas of them):
1. Dr. Cable’s threat to Tally. They have to make it come across clearly that she wasn’t exactly being vain or selfish in going to capture her friend, but in her society being ugly truely isn’t accepted.
2. Tally’s trip through the wild. Obviously, it would be cut way short, but that was when she started to realise that there was more to lfie and to the world than what she grew up knowing about.
3. Tally’s talk to David’s parents, as well as to David afterwards. That would be the major *GASP* moment.
4. Breaking into Special Circumstances–’nuff said.
5. If they plan on making more than one movie, the writing of Tally’s note to herself.
June 18th, 2009 00:38
I totally agree with what Jay-wa said about the morphos. That needs to be in there.
I also think it would be cool if they included the roller coaster scene. As long as they don’t give it more screen time than it deserves. I mean, it’s awesome and all, but they don’t need to dwell on it just because it’s cool. They shouldn’t cut out plot just to lengthen scenes like that.
I do think they should include the part in the beginning of the book where Tally talks to Peris. She shouldn’t just see him – she needs to meet him. It’s one thing to have David’s parents tell her about the lesions, and another to see their effects for herself.
They do not need to cut out characters. Shay, David, Tally, and Peris especially. And Croy. Croy needs to be there, and so does the librarian from the Smoke. It would be nice if they included the magazines, too, but it’s probably gonna happen. But when it comes down to it, there are probably more important parts to the story that they could include.
They don’t need to add any scenes. I think it’s so lame when producers cut stuff out of books to add stuff that wasn’t in it. I heard that in HP6, they’re adding a scene where Bellatrix attacks the Burrow. That’s not needed. They need to stay true to the books. You knew what you were doing when you wrote it. They don’t need to change it!
June 18th, 2009 00:38
*not going to happen. I meant that.
June 18th, 2009 00:42
ahhh but there is something different about Uglies and Twilight…..and that would be: Uglies has a good story to begine with.
June 18th, 2009 00:45
Oh, and another thing: if they aren’t going to make sequels, do not, repeat, DO NOT, give it a happy-everything-is-good-in-the-world Disney ending! (If you heard about the Hannah Montana movie, you know what i’m talking about). The book is supposed to have DEPTH! Something like that would make me, and anyone else who read and loved the books, (or maybe just me…) annoyed.
June 18th, 2009 00:48
Name-la: It’s not too late! It ends friday!! HOORAY!! And I agree with all your numbers!!
Nate-la: I can wait!! *gets into one of those freezer things sets the time to 2011* *quickly gets out and sets it to october 6 09 instead* *wonders where she got this freezer thing from, thinks about Futurama*
June 18th, 2009 00:59
- The city needs to be easily understood, along with the other locations. I remember that things were fleshed out as the books went on, but if the people get only one chance to watch this (I find movies not as easy to rewatch as it is to reread books), make sure they can understand what the city is like, why there is a need to get away from it, and what makes life in the Smoke so different.
-Characters. I can’t comment much on people, because I’m no expert on them. But I think that if you can let them know that the people need to seem real, that would be fine enough for me. As for famous actors, I’m going to say it doesn’t matter. If someone so perfectly fits the part and have some rudimentary acting skills, I don’t care who they are.
-Tech. This needs to be convincingly real. We don’t need to understand it totally, just look good. Hoverboards are a must, obviously. And please, no fake looking stuff.
-Tone. This can not be changed. I’m not willing to negotiate.
-Plot…well, changing this would change the movie. So either its the movie I want to see, or its not, and then I can’t complain about any other changes they make.
But the one key thing? Scott, your books aren’t that simple that stopping one change would save the movie. Still, they can’t forget anything you tell them. You know what? just link them to this page to see for themselves what the movie needs.
June 18th, 2009 01:04
you should definitely include the spagbol!! just as sort of an inside joke for the people who really know the books
and also, like Mimi-La said, make sure the audience can be sympathetic to tally and what she’s going through. but at the same time, you have to be able to see that tally’s being selfish and making bad decisions at first, so she changes gradually
June 18th, 2009 01:06
Kristina-la: Hahahahaha yeah wow.
Allie-wa: Croy is totally important! How else would Tally get grippy shoes? And so is the Boss. I think the magazines should show how scary we got but…you’re probably right
Name-la: Yes! Hallmark endings are bogus! They lie!
I can’t stop using exclamation marks!
GoodBye!
June 18th, 2009 01:10
I’m going to agree with every single comment right now. And like what CJ said, maybe not give them a link but warn the producers. We are a massive fan base, know how to make things (picket signs) and (personally) I’m good at finding things (like addresses to mail strongly worded letters)!
June 18th, 2009 01:23
I think the Uglies movie needs to be super close to the book in terms of characters and plot, that goes with out saying. but i think the details need to be in it too, esp if they are super easy to incorporate. also, dont be afraid to go crazy with the special effects and make-up, this is a society in the future with gorgeous ppl in it!
June 18th, 2009 01:41
Oh yeah, i dont care how freaking long the movie is as long as it rocks and stays true to the book. im one of the people who was pissed that the 5th hp movie was the shortest of the set so far, yet was the longest book
June 18th, 2009 01:45
all the important scenes and details need to be kept!!!(which is everything) and they cannot add stuff of their own that takes away from the original plot or adds a new element to the plot.
please don’t let them ruin any of the important quotes as has happened in other movies.
the actors need to understand the characters so they can properly play them and they need to resemble them as much as possible or else the audience will be dissappointed when they see something completely different from what they envisioned.
the special effects need to be perfect because of all the futuristic stuff in the book. this is one of the most IMPORTANT things cause no one wants to see cheesy effects ruin this movie.
just keep to the book and please don’t ruin it. i’m really looking forward to it!!!:)
June 18th, 2009 01:54
Get the facts straight! Don’t change the plot. Make the Specials really scary and the Pretties really pretty, and find the right settings for the city, the wild, and the Smoke.
June 18th, 2009 01:55
P.S.
I uber can’t wait!!!
June 18th, 2009 02:03
I think the small, specific things are the most important! For instance, the slang of the Uglies-era is a must! And the scar on David’s eyebrow, your true fans would definetley notice that in the movie! And the note that Shay gives Tally, I think is something the directors, screenwriters, and producers need to leave be, and not try changing it! I think the journey to the smoke is a BIG part of the book and it shouldn’t be messed with. And as I’m writing this, I’m also reading part of the comment above me, and I totally agree that great/crappy effects can make or break a movie. Either way, I can’t wait to see it! I’m probably going to point out every detail that wasn’t in the book, driving the people around me crazy, but seriously, I can’t wait to see it “)
June 18th, 2009 02:17
Out of curiosity- this is pretty unrelated to the question getting asked by Scott- is a movie in the talks, or is this a hypothetical question? I super hope it’s being considered, anyway, though a lot of movies get dropped long before they make it into production.
Anyway, I’d have to agree with the people who say that getting the overall “feel’ of the books is important, and to do that they need to stay strong to the characterization/tech/world. It’d be easy for Tally and Shay to switch roles in the beginning of Uglies- for Tally to be the one resisting the Pretty surgery and for Shay to the follower, and easier for the audience to identify with and distinguishes her as the hero, maybe, but it’s equally important that Tally’s characterization be kept intact. I don’t think that storyline is as important, so long as Scott approves changes that are made, because the kinds of things that your mind can come up with when you read will always outmatch what you see on the silver screen- and trying to compress a book or series into two or three hours while keeping every scene intact is always a bad idea. So long as the changes make sense and contribute to a stronger movie, they don’t so much matter.
Just my two cents (or whole dollar, jeez that was really tl;dr).
June 18th, 2009 02:46
Try to have everything as true to the book as you can- of course I understand that some things need to be cut out for time, but I don’t want to watch some movie that has sort of the same plot line and character names that just happens to be called uglies. *coughtwilightcough* You’ve created this amazing world with these books, and I wouldn’t want to see that get lost. Colorfulness is a must for me- Tally’s in the wild for most of the book- sunsets, deserts, oceans- all of them create so many possiblities. Basicly, color is a huge thing for me. I can’t picture shay without extremly long hair, but tally could be long or short. Dr. Cable always reminds me of the Mona Lisa, her little “I know something you don’t know!” smile, the secret she’s protecting.
Please keep us posted on the movie!
June 18th, 2009 02:58
They need to keep good details of the book. Little things like the locket. Like, do NOT change it to a watch! Get the right settings, and special effects. Put LOTS of make-up on the pretties. DO NOT CHANGE THE PLOT! And the hoverboards. At least TRY to make them look… hoverboard-ish.
June 18th, 2009 02:58
You really need to make sure that, yes the characters are spot on and yes the action is good, but that the true meaning of the series is still there. I would hate to see Uglies turned into a throw away action flick. The series has such a strong and prevalent message that NEEDS to be included. Now that isn’t to say that the whole movie should be a morality thing, but true meaning and purpose of the books should be included. Excluding such an important aspect of the series would do more damage than having Miley Cyrus play Tally and Paris Hilton play Shay. Just saying
June 18th, 2009 03:07
ohhh I would just die if they did that xO
June 18th, 2009 03:10
same here- like, I wouldn’t even go see the movie- and scott-la, I really want to see the movie- so don’t do that
June 18th, 2009 03:58
Try not to dumb it down too much. Uglies is a smart book, with characters who are smart (but hormonal), and it would suck if they didn’t show that in the film. They might attract more people by dumbing it down, but I think it would ruin the integrity of it all.
June 18th, 2009 04:04
cast actors who are not pretty to play the uglies. how believable is it for Tally to long for her operation, to betray her best friend in order to become pretty, if the actress playing her is already beautiful?
June 18th, 2009 04:05
Well….
First off explain your vision of the organization of Tally’s town and how everything in it looks. Buildings, Gadgets, anything.
Then threaten them that they had better get perfect of the Uglies Community will kill them.
Describe in detail what the characters look like.
Once agian tell them that it has to be perfect.
Or they’ll die.
tell them you want to oversee the process and make sure it turns out right.
End your phone call with Best Wishes.
June 18th, 2009 04:12
They need to keep the original spirit of the story. Surprise us, but let us know that the story is still there. It doesn’t have to be completely accurate, but don’t sanitize the story for us or make it “everything works out in the end”. Think Bridge to Terabithia. Think the first three Harry Potter movies.
June 18th, 2009 04:22
I don’t really like it when books are made into movies, but it will be awesome to actually watch Uglies on screen.
June 18th, 2009 04:34
they absolutely HAVE to get the transformation from ugly-pretty-special RIGHT!!!!!!!!!!! i mean, it has to be a noticeable difference, but the characters also have to be recognizable…does that make sense?????
also, make sure they DON’T cut out key characters, or people/subplots that become IMPORTANT LATER ON IN THE BOOKS!!!!!!!!!! you know in the eragon movie?? they cut out so many characters and subplots that IT’S IMPOSSIBLE TO MAKE A MOVIE OUT OF ELDEST!!!!!!! so get real, don’t cut out peris or shay or dr. cable or maddy or az or any unfool thing like that…
i can’t wait till the movie comes out!!!!!!! it should be sooooo good (provided they don’t mess it up *cough cough* eragon *cough cough*)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
June 18th, 2009 04:36
oh yeah and DON’T cast famous people already–you should go for undiscovered people who can develop to the personality of the character…like, in twilight, having the same guy who played cedric diggory in harry potter can sorta destroy the whole magical immortal predatorial vegetarian vampire who’s desperately in love with and wants to suck the blood of an innocent girl who lives in forks…unknowns always do better for this kind of book!!!!
June 18th, 2009 04:51
@ # 123 Kristina-la:
I still think canada would be awesome (:
*coughcoughB.C.coughcough*
& the interior would be great for the out-of-city scenes!
Its beautiful !!
June 18th, 2009 04:59
These days, it seems like instead of *actors*, movies are filled with people pretending to be a character; there’s an awfully big difference there.
If anything out of the Uglies movie, I want believable characters. If someone says, “Bubbly” or “The Smoke”, I want it to seem completely natural to them, as if we when we say “Wow, that was awesome!” or “Disney World; everyone’s heard of it.”
I cringe at the thought of some random girl on screen going, “Ohmygosh, that’s so bubbly!” as though she’s trying to start a new trend. The thing that always got me about the books was just how natural it was, when you first open the page and *this* is the world now.
Please don’t take away that effect.
June 18th, 2009 04:59
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES! Me and my friend Anea-la made one but of course we couldn’t make the special effects right. I’ve always wanted an Uglies movie! Just if they make these things different I will freak out!
1. They have to keep the locket and keep it a locket! They have to keep that!
2. They need to keep the roller coster scene! That is like the most awsome thing ever!
3. They need to keep the scene where Tally sneaks to Peris’s place. That was so cool!
4. David and Tally kissing and then her throwing the locket in the fire.
5. The last part! They have to keep it! She has to say. “I’m Tally Youngblood, make me pretty”
Also I aggree wiith Riderchilde-wa! Make someone normal the stars! Well thats all I can think of. If an Uglies movie comes out I’ll toattaly be there opening day! Jaeda-la
June 18th, 2009 05:02
Glad there’s an extension, I’d like to give this more careful thought, but here’s my off the cuff feedback.
Who holds the movies rights is my first question. It provides a lot of insight into the caliber/mindset of those involved and whether they licensed the rights for the built-in market or the story. Summit Entertainment for example is hit or miss, and I’d hate to see Uglies end up like Twilight. Also, are we talking about just Uglies or the whole series? If they are making just Uglies the story is small enough they could expound on a lot, otherwise I’m afraid they may not flesh out the universe enough. The converse is also a concern, that they expound too much and the character driven story is lost.
I think putting big stars in it I think will ruin it because then the production would be less about the book/story and more about it being a vehicle with some other ends in mind. Not to feed your ego but the books were well written and well paced and translating them as literally as possible would be doable. And for the record I’m an adult (39) who works in Hollywood, so I know what to expect from most of these people. They need to recognize it for what it is and try to appreciate that value and deliver on it rather than taking liberties with the source material which may depreciate it’s value. If they decide to take liberties, they should run it all by you to see if you think their expounding adds to or takes away from the heart of your creation. I think the books could have expounded more, but they were perfect for your target audience and made it easy to become engaged but not overwhelmed. Remind them that good sci-fi is all about ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances.
Some things I liked about the books that should not be lost in the movie: Throughout the first three I felt like I was growing up with Tally and learning about the universe with/through her. Basically the universe was revealed through her and that should not be lost. That to me is what made it a roller coaster ride where you didn’t know how sharp the next turn is or how steep the drop would be when you got to the top of the hill. It really bound me to her character and the meaning/significance of all the tech and social structure in the universe was relevant because of what it meant to and how it impacted her. Because of this when she returned in Extras not only did I see her as this strong learned person, but I really felt like I had a history with her and knew that despite her superhero like presence she was not an invulnerable or infallible super girl. She felt real to me, and I felt like a father seeing his daughter after she returned from studying abroad and was a new person – her own person – and even though I was there to see the foundation laid for this identity (books 1-3) I didn’t get to see the end result until book 4.
Also, I would like to see the movies have a social impact. The sub-text fed my soul and I would like to see the film(s) provide fodder for social commentary the way the books have. All the great works do this, and the essays and commentaries generated by the books are only a glimpse of what should result from a film. You clearly have a handle on how the pop-culture machine works (So Yesterday) and how people are slaves to The Powers That Be and the popular systems they put in place. What I also really liked about Uglies is you put all of those elements into the story without calling them out as literally as you did in So Yesterday. It became and eye-opening experience from the perspective of Tally. If they make the movie right it should be eye-opening to people about their role in society and culture at large as well as a compelling roller coaster ride. If they are making the whole series then don’t lose any of the dark elements like the cutting/cutters but make sure they don’t go overboard or off on a tangent with anything either. Less is more, and always leave them satisfied but wanting more. You did this quite well with the books.
FYI I learned about you because I was doing research on innovation and exactly what it is which led me to discover So Yesterday, which made me read Peeps, which made me read Uglies, and then Midnighters. I’ve read several of your other works too but I like your young adult novels most. It’s deep stuff while being light enough to become easily engaged. And once your sucked in of course, you just can’t get enough. I must have read all of those books inside a month. I can’t think of any other writer that has made me want to read everything else they’ve written like that and been consistent in quality. Keep up the good work.
June 18th, 2009 05:08
I just thought of something! They can’t combine all the books live they did in A Series of nfortunate Events! That would toatly ruin it! They have to make tham all seprate! Also I know the movie no matter what is not (probably) going to meat my expectations. Well ok… now I think thats all I have to say. Jaeda-la
June 18th, 2009 05:12
The opening line. It must be the same as the book, or I’ll cry.
June 18th, 2009 05:32
Another thing: Show the struggle of what’s happening inside of the characters. I want to see Tally’s uncertainty and Shay’s rage. Don’t gloss over the details.
Above all, I think that the movie should be truly terrifying in the future world it presents to the viewer. It needs to get a message across, yet not over or under-do it. A balance of scary and foreboding would be perfect.
Ally-wa @ 135: I freaking love you because you know about Joss Whedon.
June 18th, 2009 06:06
Dont try too hard on the backrounds…. we are not making a less-cartoonish futurama… its UGLIES we are talking about here!!! make it right!!!
June 18th, 2009 06:09
i think you should try to keep as much things from the book as possible. like not only keep just the must have sceens but also the ones that made us realy get to know the characters and love them, and things that just made the book awsome.(make it better than the tilight movie im sorry but i really didnt like the movie as much as i would have if they had left in my fave sceens and diidnt add crapp that made no scense according to the book) the movie is soposed to define the book not the other way arround. and last please keep the special effects the way there suposed to be and not cookie cutter crap right out of a cartoon make it look realistic. ok wow isaid alot. sorry
June 18th, 2009 06:23
oh an one more ting make it so we can like hear wat tally is thinking in in the time shes by herself in the wilderness looking for shay it would be awful if it was like twenty min. of me trying to explain wat tallys thinking to my mom. and make it so shes a good actress not barbie come to life make her have emotions so we dont have to geuss thu the whole movie wats realy happening
June 18th, 2009 06:27
oh an i want see shay kick some but when the specials come not just here about it
June 18th, 2009 06:34
Oh my gosh, a MOVIE excitement-making! Okay, remember all the comments on here before about how (one of) the messages is how beauty is only skin deep. I am sooooooooooo glad everyone gets it. AND no bad actors, don’t ruin the book, so many other movies have been ruined (TWILIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!)
June 18th, 2009 06:53
lol I love how the simple mention of “Uglies Movie” makes us all post more then we ever have before. 192 posts in less then 2 days…wow
June 18th, 2009 06:56
My biggest request is that the uglies should be truly normal-looking, as in what one my friends or me would look like, or your average sort of pretty but sort of ungainly teen girl, and age-appropriate, not the usual twenty-something could-be-a-model actress they have to portray “average girl” in movies. No Rachel Leigh Cook with glasses and frizzy hair please! For precedent of what I’m talking about, think of the TV shows like Degrassi or Everwood. I also agree with whoever said that a racial mix would be a plus, especially since it keeps with the world of the books.
Remember the shades of gray to Tally’s character. Keep her sympathetic, but still responsible for her mistakes. And Shay- please, please, please don’t let Shay become just another “scheming bitch” stereotype (She should be cold and kind of scary, but not ditzy or truly evil.). The same depth should go for David and, in there are sequels, for Zane. The tensions between these characters and their struggles within themselves are what make the series dramatic, more so than the action sequences or cool futuristic effects.
The movie doesn’t have to follow the books in exact plot, but there should be some sense of versilimitude, that this future could really happen, that the characters are actual people. Underneath the slick, plastic fakeness of the world Tally inhabits, there should be a real girl we can relate to.
June 18th, 2009 08:00
ooOOoooohh a movie! very icy! i want to say that the biggest thing that bug me are the details and the quotes, especially the quotes! dont mess those up! and make sure they got those scars! details, details, details! haha! enjoy scott-la!
p.s. dont forget shays nail biting habit
thanks
June 18th, 2009 08:02
OMG! I can’t believe it! UGLIES IS FINALLY GONNA BE A MOVIE!
June 18th, 2009 08:26
ya the quotes!…..if they dont put in…” Its what you do and the way you think that makes you beautiful” Im gonna cry…..if they do put that in I would probably cry then too. as many quotes as they can and I’ll be happy. Thats what I really like about uglies. The quotes are amazing memerable.
June 18th, 2009 09:09
I think they should think
about the location like the setting
where they’re going to make the
movie. THE main pont is the “future”
so they should think about places
that are good for the movie. (=
OMG IM SO EXCITED!! I <3 UGLIES
June 18th, 2009 09:42
Hey, I hope I’m not too late; I have no idea what 3:00PM New York time is where I live.
Anyway, I wanted to know if there was ANY way that I could audition for a part. I’m not just a huge fangirl asking this (though I AM an enormous fan of the series!!!), but I CAN act, and am willing to put in as much work as is necessary. I seriously think that I could play a part really well. I’ve been googling information on this for the past few weeks, trying to find a way to contact someone about this. I’m fourteen years old (which means I’ll be fifteen/sixteen in 2011!), and just want a chance at this. I’ll understand if you’re too busy to reply to this, or even to read it, but if you do, PLEASE let me know.
In case my e-mail doesn’t show up, it’s molly.witten@gmail.com.
Thanks!
June 18th, 2009 09:55
I can’t really suggest anything as I’m not sure if they’re smushing more than one book into the movie… which actually I would suggest not happen. Let them beef Uglies up with more action to draw a crowd but don’t ruin the intertwining yet individual plots of each book.
hollywood has a way of destroying all things good, and i really REALLY don’t want this to one of them. I’m used to the extreme changes from book to screen and I’m expecting them but please make them keep your original ideas and plots.
in anycase, youll get my money when it hits theatres! And ill be sending my resume to the producers >=}
ive GOT to help make this movie happen~ Ive been waiting for it to long.
<3
June 18th, 2009 10:56
hitchhock-Scott-la camoe!
and…
“And then just the vast emptiness when she’s going to the Smoke. And the fields of orchids and…
I think maybe I should stop now. What I think I’m trying to say is for them to not forget the setting amongst all the character stuff. I mean, as much as it would suck for Tally to be too girly or too “action movie-ey†I’d be painful to watch without the stellar backgrounds the books paint.”
Definitely. Motion carried!
201!
June 18th, 2009 11:00
I think it would be important to make sure the Uglies slang and such isn’t emphasized too much to make it stand out. (I have no idea to word what’s in my head) Make sure the actors let it flow?
Plot of course >.> Do no let them kill it.
June 18th, 2009 11:03
id say stink to the book and make it as cool looking as transformers was
lol jk. Thats a hard one. I know personally id emphasize the importance of stinking to the book as close as possible, but i think its the little things that count. Im not sure what little things im talking about, (i havent thought that far yet), but i do know if they got a group of ugliescrazy fans, (like the ones that camp on this blog, not that its a bad thing, im just saying), i dont think they could go wrong.
June 18th, 2009 11:05
bleh!! Im doing this on my touch so my previous post looks retarded and i kept putting stinkin instead of another word which i dont remember… Oh sticking, sorry. In other words, dont mind my first post, ive gone brain-missing again. SORRY!!
June 18th, 2009 14:18
GASP! yay
Do the hoverboarding justice
June 18th, 2009 15:00
Make sure that the movie could be understood by people who have read the book, no crappy special effects, no making a hoverboard just look like a flying surfboard, and make sure that Tally looks like an actual real person, not a super pretty starlet, cause that’s what she is. Yeah.
June 18th, 2009 15:00
sorry, in my post I meant people who HAVEN’T read the book, not people who have…
June 18th, 2009 17:07
No leaving out ‘minor’ characters, such as Andrew Simpson Smith!
June 18th, 2009 17:17
Some one said this before, but you have to keep the first line in there somehow. I believe (coughknowcough) you did a post on first lines, so…you know the importance.
Pretty much everything Jake Lockely said…and everything everyone else said.
*wonders if scott-la is going to read all the comments*
*Imagines Sir Scott printing out all the important comments and slapping down the packet on a confrence table*
I think music would be important to it (we watched this old movie in english and my friend was like ‘that was crappy’ and I was like ‘yeah but I can’t seem to see why…’ and she was like ‘no music’ also we were at the theatre and she was like ‘this movie is going to suck’ and I asked ‘why’ and she was like ‘they don’t have any music in the background yet’) and maybe music that makes you think of it or the dramatic music. I don’t really know.
I guess that’s it.
good luck!
June 18th, 2009 17:26
also, I’m sure a lot of us would make great background extras (cough*laughter*cough) *talks silently while using hand-movements*
I’ll stop wasting space on here now. : D
Also, that song Brainwashed by Ultraviolet Sound (found by Alex-wa) would be great during action scenes *jams repeatedly to song*
Peace!
June 18th, 2009 18:05
if they don’t put the quotes like ‘I don’t want to hurt you but we will if we have to.’ If they don’t they are just making all the fans mad.
June 18th, 2009 18:23
Wow, is Brainwashed NOT the perfect song for Uglies? They MUST include that song some point in the movie. I can imagine them playing that song, say, for part of Tally’s journey through the wild. Or at least in the credits.
Thanks for finding that song, Alex-wa!
June 18th, 2009 18:23
OMG AN UGLIES MOVIE.
Okay, this is the most exciting thing
But they can’t screw up like they did with Twilight -.-
I want them to remember details. Like, if something happens in New Pretty Town, then that’s where it should happen.
)
They should also make sure the characters look right.
I don’t want a blonde Tally or anything -.-
And even though the pretties need to be mega pretty, I don’t want them to look too airbrushed or CGI or anything =/
I think Scout Taylor makes a good Shay :]
And Adam Gregory as Zane. I know he’s not in this particular movie but he’d suit the character. (He’s Ty from 90210 for all you other girls
Basically, Scott, you should co-direct. Try to keep it as close to the books as you can. And we don’t care if it’s a long movie, all your dedicated fans will appreciate it
And make sure the key characters understand they’re part. Maybe ask them to read the book? I don’t want a really happy-go-lucky Tally who’s overly girly and annoying. She is a strong character who is so naive but has some really tough decisions to make and we need to see her mature over the small time of Uglies.
Casting is key, and keeping to the story basically :] No lame improvising from the movie people!
Sorry for the length :]
Also, I suggest music by Xerxes called ‘My favourite kind of silence’. It totally fits with the movie :]
Am so freakin’ happy right now!
Alisha-la xoxo.
June 18th, 2009 18:27
Make sure that there is a discernable difference between the different stages of people (Uglies are definitely uglier than Pretties, and Specials are scary beautiful).
One of the things that made me the angriest about the Twilight movie (besides the lack of acting skills and the sum total of zero emotion), was that there was hardly any difference between the vampires (who were supposed to be the most gorgeous creatures to walk the earth) and the normal humans (they just weren’t as pale.)
Please please please make the Uglies look like awkward still-barely-children, the Pretties look like every person’s fantasy, and the Specials look terrifying in their beauty.
June 18th, 2009 19:09
Alright, sorry about the name, but it seems to be a bit of a convention now.
And sorry, this is going to be long.
Actors- nothing aside from what people have already said.
Uglies need to be normal people. Make up required for pretties
NO tween appeal stars.
They need to be actually GOOD actors
Plot – don’t mess with it. Period.
Maybe shorten the travel scenes a bit.
However, i need to see Tally get sick to death of one flavor of instant meal
Dont screw around with character development.
As prescribed.
They already ruined The Sword of Truth series for me
(legend of the seeker, look it up, absolute butchery)
Tally and Shay need that perfect tension.
Visuals – I want grand landscapes for the traveling/the smoke
And a cramped feel for cities.
As for the rusty ruins, i imagined a city that still was.
Rusted husks of cars in a traffic jam.
Frames of metal girders with walls still in tact in places.
The score? –
Pretty town i always imagined as just constant noise.
Except for the pleasure gardens.
Even then i imagined fountains and things.
So maybe just ambiance for the pretty town, party noise.
One moment you’ll hear distant dance music blasting, then just the fountain in the garden.
Special circumstances i always thought of as like a hospital.
Linoleum floors, peoples shoes clacking as they carried an armful of important files, an air con unit (maybe not with the air con, being the future and all).
As for hoverboard scenes IN the city, some kind of rocky techno.
More rock then techno though.
WAY more rock.
I’m almost thinking some classical, grand, sweeping pieces for outside the city
Special effects – The sneak suits. By god the sneak suits need to be done properly. Especially if they do Specials as a movie.
I always imagined the bit where tally goes out of disguise into armor mode.
Hundreds of little diamonds raise slightly and change to black in a ripple across her.
Forgive me if its not quite how its described, its been a year or two (my sister just started reading them, so im revisiting them) and this is just how i remember it.
Hover boards, i KNOW they can be done.
Think Back to the Future 2.
They seemed to manage them ok.
Think how far we’ve come since the 80′s.
There’s not really much else that needs saying for effects, except for the eye stuff, like the infrared screen on the eye and the like.
And the talking between the cutters over the skintenna network.
Im really hoping they do pick this up for a movie.
So many books ive read and loved and thought they should.
This is my second favourite series of ALL TIME.
(sorry guys, but the sword of truth was just truly epic)
They already ruined the Legend of the Seeker, this is my last chance to see a very much loved series become a movie.
And they better do it right.
Or horrible things will happen to the producers.
And their children.
And their children’s children.
For three months.
June 18th, 2009 19:43
If they make a Pretties movei which if they make and Uglies movie and not Pretties and Specials I’d cry but if they make a Pretties movie they should put the song Breakaway in it when Tally is taking the pills with Zane. Also they just they can’t like mess the good parts up. When Tally and David kiss I want to see Tallys uncertinty and Davids love! Also don’t forget Shays pigtails! And make the scene where Shay is running away good. They can’t just skip that part! It would toattly ruin it. Also in school we had to make movie posters based off a book. Of course I make mine Uglies. But I think you shuld do what I did. Make them in different sizes and the locket hanging off one of the letters. They have to make this movie right! Bad things have already happened to other book series. As soon as I read this series it shot up to number 1 on my list and I’d love to see it as a movie, and good movie that is. Jaeda-la
June 18th, 2009 20:01
Needs to stay true to the book. Most definatly needs to stay true to the book. Needs to have good special effects and things need to be RIGHT! lol. Don’t skip favorite parts, and get the hoverboards RIGHT! As long as the hoverboard scenes are done well, I think everything can be okay.
June 18th, 2009 20:05
Just a few thoughts to add on. Perhaps it has been said by the others, but still, it never hurt to add on, to let them know that a lot of us have this way of thinking too.
It’s perfectly ok to use lines directly from the book itself. Perhaps it will be even better to be done so as it will be more faithful to the original work.
Make a single movie for each book. It’s hard to adapt a book into a movie. Let alone putting all four books, if you are counting Extra, into a movie. Too much precious scenes will be lost and the movie will seemed to be incomplete in some parts. That’s not good indeed.
The way of how they perceive beauty is different in that book. Normal is ugly. Pretties are not stick thin people, or the people
whom we see on the magazines, the people that we perceive as pretty, beautiful people. Specials are scary beauty. Get everything right!
I know that they want to keep in mind on the box office, if they will get tons of returns. Money is all the talk. Nevertheless, I hate to see it become another so called blockbuster, with lots of actions etc, and nothing more. Nothing underneath it if you peel away all the attractive packaging for the movie. For goodness sake, though I had said this many times, let the message behind the book remain.
Don’t rush. No need rushing through production and everything just to get it out in time, before the craze for this had burned out. I would rather wait a little longer and watch a splendid, perfectly well done movie than a crappy one, that was released sooner.
If possible, though I know that this seems like Mission Impossible, get the producers, directors, and whoever important people on this adaption of book to movie to actually read the books. Understand why everything is written that way themselves. Perhaps they might actually comprehend why we, fans, are so concerned on how the movie will turn out right, and if the movie will be like how the book make an impact on us.
June 18th, 2009 20:14
As an ugly, Tally isn’t hideous obviously, but she shouldn’t look like Miley Cyrus! She should look normal and relatable (sp?) so viewers can see her and think “But she’s pretty! She looks like anybody! How is that ugly??” It’ll really drive the point home. And the pretties have to be creepy/gorgeous.
Also they shouldn’t be trying to make it appeal to TEENS in particular. It’s just a great story that happens to be about teens, and they shouldn’t go out of their way to make it appeal to their idea of what the typical American teen enjoys. Just stick to the book and it will be bubbly.
June 18th, 2009 20:18
Oh! And no obvious makeup on the Uglies! Or styled hair, or trendy outfits. Interestingly, Uglies are so apathetic about taking care of their appearance until they’re Pretties, then it’s totally centric.
Oh and Adam Gregory as Zane is brilliance–just saying.
June 18th, 2009 20:21
I agree with jkatz! Don’t let them turn Shay into some shallow mega-bitch out of High School Musical. Make the movie dudes read Mind Rain….
June 18th, 2009 20:25
so right Zayas, so right. Uglies just have to be people. Just like random pulled in off the street people. No you should get the people who post o your blog as oeople in the movie. Just normal people. Oh and dont forget the flash tatoos.
June 18th, 2009 20:26
You need to have someone down to earth to play Tally. She needs to be beautiful (cuz remember in the book david called her beautiful), but she can’t match pretty standards. Also to make her look the most like an ugly, she shouldn’t wear makeup in the movie. But everyone’s right, NO CHEESY SPECIAL EFFECTS!!! The uglies should look just like regular people, except without makeup, cuz u know that most people just CAKE ON the makeup. The pretties should look like little kids and adults at the same time (cuz i think that looks sooo pretty!!!). By the way, Congrats Scott!!! I can’t wait til this comes out!:)
P.S. I can’t wait til Pretties and Specials comes out as movies! I’ve read both of those 3 times and I’m still not bored of them!!!!!!!
June 18th, 2009 20:26
And I know I already said ths but don’t put all th books together in one movie. That woukd be toatty sad-making.
June 18th, 2009 20:27
Specials is my favorit. “Hi Ping-la!”
June 18th, 2009 20:28
I luved the Specials! btu my friends don’t agree w/ me cuz they stopped reading it!
June 18th, 2009 20:28
Oh and keep those awsome quotes like “I don’t want to hurt you but I will if Ihave to.” and “I’m Tally Youngblood make me pretty.” those awsome quotes! So toattly bubbly.
June 18th, 2009 20:29
I forced my friends to reaad it. They loved it just like I said they woukd!
June 18th, 2009 20:32
Oh snap.
Jeada-la, good point.
Flash tats would be hell to animate properly.
Are they quite necessary?
I seem to recall them responding to emotions, so they were used by the cutters to monitor icyness. Or was it bubblyness?
Either way, they were used some how.
June 18th, 2009 20:34
In my opinion, Tally should have makeup as Uglies. They will put on makeup for her anyway the basic makeup, little foundation etc. Because no matter how beautiful she is in our eyes, with makeup, photoshop and everything, she wouldn’t be able to match Pretties standard AT ALL in that world of perfection. That’s the point I think.
June 18th, 2009 20:34
Also make sure its PG-13 cuz if it’s R I can’t see it and if it’s PG then it can’t be as awesome as i know it will be if it’s PG-13
June 18th, 2009 20:36
Just to add, i LOVED Specials.
Tally as a cutter just seemed to kick ass.
Having her ramped up like that just made the book for me.
So i can imagine the movie being a bit darker to reflect this.
And a lot more action packed.
Actually, all the movies seem like they should be a bit dark to me.
Pretties especially.
It would contrast to the lifestyle of the Pretties perfectly.
June 18th, 2009 20:41
The characters acting is very important so make sure they understand their character. They shoudl do a good job on special effects. Don’t cut the important tuff out and don’t change the important scenes. Use alot of real lines from the book.
June 18th, 2009 20:43
I’ve attempted to get people to read it….but they read the first line…say what the heck are u trying to get me to read and give it back. They have no creativity or bubblyness. My cousin was reading it, but is so wrapped up in Twilight that she can’t see how much better Uglies is.(oh well at least she knows Harry Potter is better then that trash)
June 18th, 2009 20:50
My sister is an absolute twilight nut.
I was so happy when she announced to me that she was FINALLY ready Uglies.
Its only taken her a year to decide that, yes, it looked like a good book.
After much prompting by me.
Peeps muchly> Twilight
Bugs me when people decide to rate things, especially books that we already know are good, against the standard of twilight.
And then decide that they’re crap in comparison.
June 18th, 2009 20:54
And before i go to bed (wooo for gmt + 10)
Id just like to say:
Scott, if you read this.
Your my all time favourite author.
You do UST (unresolved sexual tension) so perfectly.
Thank you so much for the great books.
June 18th, 2009 20:54
As a young reader of Uglies, I read it when I was 10. I’m 11 now, I’d like it not rated R or I will cry. PG-13 would be fine but I’d have to see it wih my dad.
June 18th, 2009 20:55
Yes no killing the awsomeness or I will have to turn Special on someone!
June 18th, 2009 20:57
Oh and if they have to make the movie 6 hours long to be as good as the book, who cares? I’d still toattly wath it!
June 18th, 2009 21:15
Hey no haters for twilight! i read both uglies trilogy and Twilight saga. They’re both good in their own way. They’re are completely different except the fact that they are both made-up and have for books in the series. Anyway, the movie would also be good if they don’t add things in there. They should also not make the uglies too pretty because when we see pretties we want to see that they are so pretty that they can’t even compare to the uglies. I have been waiting for this movie for so long! Finished extras recently except i don’t know how they’re going to do the special effects like i said make sure they make it how you see the hoverboards were and how you saw crash bracelets. You have to stay true to the book! Man this message is long!
June 18th, 2009 21:21
im so glad yall are making this movie!! its a dream come true!! make the movie as much like the book as you can, cause then it will ruin it. good luck!!!!!
June 18th, 2009 22:13
@Andy-la: There have to be flash tattoos!! That was like, a major part of the Crim clique. It was how they could see how bubbly they were. And in Specials, the tattoos sort of branded the Cutters to each other and showed how icy they were. And they show how awesomely complex surgery is in Tally’s time.
June 18th, 2009 22:15
The characters also have to look like the have had the proper surges. The makeup and hair also have to look right. For example, Tally has to look remotely the same throughout her different surges. The voices and other aspects of the different stages of surges also should be correct.
June 18th, 2009 22:18
Sorry for posting another one, but the gadgets also need to look right. They can’t look crappy. Neither can the stunts and fights! Thanks for listening to my many request!
June 18th, 2009 22:22
I’d just like to say that I agree with everyone who said the pretty speak needs to seem normal and that dialoge needs to be fast paced. My drama teacher is always reminding us of that. I don’t know anyone who lets people always finish the entire sentence especially if their mad. It can not be as slow as twilight.
June 18th, 2009 22:37
and please please no 3d…I would cry
June 18th, 2009 22:43
don’t over play the romance and don’t screw up the hoverboards
June 18th, 2009 22:52
Everyone has pretty much said everything, just don’t get the cast screwed up, like picking a reallly pretty person for tally. She’s ugly at the start. and the hoverboards have to be perfect, so does the rusty ruins. But it’s not really a romance story, so tell them to try and lay off the romance, kay?
June 18th, 2009 23:12
Don’t ruin the movie. Thats my request. Stick with the plot, PLEASE!!!!!!!!!! The books awesome and I want the movie to be awesome too!
June 18th, 2009 23:27
Stick to the story. I’m so sick of watching a movie that was based off a book, and having it turn out nothing like it. If you change a few dialogue things, then fans won’t throw a fit; but don’t cut scenes or change a character’s personality.
Make sure that all the main actors and actresses, as well as the director and screenwriter, have read and liked the series. That way, they’ll be more likely to stick as carefully as possible to the book.
What I always thought would be cool is if the fans of a certain series would be allowed in on the casting process and such (like maybe with the auditions, video tape them, choose the ones you like best, then put them up for the fans to vote for the best one.), that way, there’s no way people can complain about bad actors like they do in other movies (*cough*Twilight*cough*).
If they want it to be really amazing, find the most dynamic quotes in the book and MAKE SURE that they make it into the movie. Fans will go nuts.
I CAN’T WAIT FOR THE MOVIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
June 18th, 2009 23:32
I’d like to see the actual emotions! How uncertian Tally was, how David and Tally just went to gether like pb&J! How mad Shay was at Tally! Oh and don’t cut out the part where Croy has almost figured out Tally had so much food and stuff! Thats a big part! Also don’t screw with the note, keep it the same. Both notes I guess, Tallys and Shays. Well I’ll have more to say later, bye!
June 18th, 2009 23:37
I’ve actually thought about this topic myself for a very long time, being an aspiring novelist and actress, but I can’t come up with a clear answer for your question. Obviously, you don’t really know how movie production or creation or anything goes, so you don’t know what to ask for and what your limits are. I say to just try and talk about being as involved as possible. It was your book, it was your vision, and it will never turn out correctly if you aren’t involved in the production. Be wary of it losing the essence that it had in book form, because I’m sure we’ve all seen at least one book-turned-movie that sorely disappointed us (mine would happen to be Eragon). So let them know your worries about it not turning out like you have envisioned it, and again, ask if you can be as involved as possible. The worst thing you can do is sit back and watch it happen.
Good luck. I’m super stoked:D
Also, if you ever find out anything about open auditions, let us know!!!
June 18th, 2009 23:55
Two things
1. please don’t make the movie alll green screens use the real world people!
and 2. Please don’t make the movie suck
June 19th, 2009 00:12
Maybe don’t make Tally (shay, uglies in general) ugly, just their faces kind of disjointed or whatever. (’cause when you get sick your face gets asymmetrical…like mentioned in Uglies)
And I was watching Star Trek (the movie) and in the beginning the alien-nurse-lady had weird shaped eyes, SO you could probably alter the pretties’ eyes to make them doe-shaped and innocent.
And like what Jaeda-la said, when Croy does the math play ominous music!
Don’t get into specific casting suggestions or anything like that cough hahaha
June 19th, 2009 00:18
*Screams at the top of lungs!* This is so exciting-making! Ok first i’d like to say that as a young author, i’m inspired by scott and if you’re reading this you are the best author ever!!!!!!
Ok here are some suggestions:
1) Make sure everything stays real. No fake stuff!!!! I’m talking about things like hoverboards, wallscreens, and the buildings in New Pretty Town. Of course none of these things are real (at least not yet) but you don’t everything to look fake, do you?
2) Let’s talk actor and actress wise. When someone is an ugly make them really look ugly(but of course the uglies are just regular people). When they are pretty they should be drop-dead gorgeous, like just out of the operation. And when they are a special they ought to be beautiful scary. And don’t forget about the attitudes: the obbsessed with looks, dumb pretties, fierce, stuck-up specials. And when they make the changes it has to be noticeable. That means good actors!!!!
3) Lastly, STICK TO THE BOOKS!!!! I HATE it when movies are nothing like the book and its disappointing and frankly, frustrating. You don’t want that , do you?
June 19th, 2009 00:35
Don’t change the story to make it fit a certain movie type, audience, or rating.
Keep the special effects cool… none of the stuff that happened in Twilight, thank you.
NO CHEESY ON LINERS!!!! Especially when it comes to the romance stuff, I beg of you.
It shouldn’t be cutesy, it needs to mimic the tone of the book.
At least one really amazing hoverbaord riding scene!
The setting should be realistic-ly futuristic. Nothing you would find on the SciFi channel.
This is exciting!
June 19th, 2009 00:37
No bogus special effects (hoverboards have to be awesome).
Keep the right emphasis on the right parts. Don’t let them focus on a small part of Uglies and turn that into the whole movie (for example, Shay and Tally fighting over David is not the central focus so that should be included but not take up most of the movie just to make it more dramatic).
There has to be a dramatic difference between uglies and pretties. It can’t be like now she’s blonde and wears eyeliner. I hate that. They really have to change and have the feel of empty-head robots.
June 19th, 2009 00:56
yeah, they have to bassicly stick to the descriptions in the book! Ad also please please please please don’t change the atitudes of everyone! That would taottly ruin it!
June 19th, 2009 00:59
Also you have to FEEL the emotions! You can;t just be like Shay was mad. Tally was uncertian. David was tough. I mean how boring is that?! I hope this movie happens!
June 19th, 2009 01:07
keep to the book! dont add expra stuff just for nothing. make sure ppl can see the basic i deaz! try to get ppl that look like the carachterz!
June 19th, 2009 01:30
I think our time is up right?…..live on the west so its only 2 here but its like 4 there right??
June 19th, 2009 01:51
* Don’t talk down to the audience!
–just because the book is YA, and the movie will probably be targeted at teens doesn’t mean it should be cheesy
* Keep true to Tally’s character
* David and Tally’s connection is important, but not in a cheesy “teen love” kind of way. It’s more than that.
* The difference btwn The Smoke and how David was raised v. how Tally and her experience with adults in her cities are important
* Tally’s a smart, independent, and brave girl.
But she IS a girl. Don’t change her into a hollywood stereotype of that, like a Miley Cyrus or into a buffed up tom-boy
June 19th, 2009 02:14
And I know you said not to say anything specific about casting suggestions, but I suggest unknowns for the roles. It’s a fresh movie with a fresh idea, and the whole thing just screams the need for some fresh faces:D
Except for Cable. She should be someone famous. Don’t know why, but she should be. And maybe David.
But that’s just my opinion:P
June 19th, 2009 02:55
Oh yeah, and another thing: don’t make this into some chick-flick. I know the title might sound like it, but put the emphasis on WHY she wants to be pretty, not just that she wants to be pretty, ’cause that’ll just make her sound like any other teenage girl. I know I’m rambling, but j ust don’t loose the sci-fi/action genre in an attempt to give it a wider audience.
June 19th, 2009 02:58
They should try to keep the characters and events as close to the novel as possible. That’s the main reason why the book was so good! Also, they should cast unknowns for the entire movie instead of having people trying to steal the spotlight from each other.
One more thing…it shouldn’t be cheesy. Okay, well, too cheesy.
June 19th, 2009 03:06
The plot is a definite! I am always dissapointed with how the producers change the plot. I understand that it has to be changed to fit int a certain amount of time and all, but usually when it’s changed, it ruins the movie entirely! They take out the good stuff and replace it with their own ideas that aren’t always great.
Examples of great books ruined by the movie: Eragon, Twilight, Harry Potter. I think that HP was the closest to the books, but they took so long, it lost it’s hype. So they should film it back to back!
Then there are the characters… Casting can be hard to do, but I think that if they cast a few unknowns (with talent of course) it would really add depth to the movie!
Can’t wait for the movie!!!
June 19th, 2009 03:20
Movie!!! =)
-no clichés please
-good special effects
-and i agree with San, it shouldn’t be cheesy
-and Name-la’s right, it shouldn’t be a chick-flick
-stick to the book
-needs to have good hoverboard scenes
-the actors should show real emotion
June 19th, 2009 03:54
I agree out of all the book movies Harry Potter turned out the best……well before the 5th one anyway. Whoever did the casting for that movie should do the casting for Uglies…because they did a finominal job.
June 19th, 2009 04:15
AN UGLIES MOVIE!? gr. i guess its true then. movies always screw up books!
June 19th, 2009 04:36
acting is far more important than special effects and sexy actors, please please communicate that!
June 19th, 2009 05:05
oh yeah. KEEP ZANE’S DEATH. it is part of what changes tally, helps her cure herself. make it dramatic, but remember, TALLY CAN’T CRY. if she cries, then i will scream and walk right out of the movie theater and slap the director in the face. i am only mentioning specials becuz i heard that they wanted to make it a trilogy movie…. and PLEASE do not make it like what they did to”the dark is rising”. i LOVED the series, but they completely ruined the movie! they didn’t even call it the dark is rising! they called it :”The Seeker:The dark is rising.” I HATE MOVIE PPLZ!
June 19th, 2009 05:08
ANDY-LA: i totally agree with u about specials! i LOVED that book the most out of all of them. Tally really needs to change. and don’t 4get the skintennas. and they HAVE to make a computer game!!!!*sniffs like a computer geek* im sry i get like this sumtimez. well, u can’t blame me, tmrw is the LAST DAY OF SCHOOL!!!
June 19th, 2009 05:13
Pony-la,
A game would be awesome.
Running around kicking ass as tally would just be so good.
Then again, she doesn’t really kick ass till Specials.
At least not in the literal sense anyway.
June 19th, 2009 05:14
I HAVE OFFICIALLY LOST ALL MY OTHER COMMENTS!
June 19th, 2009 05:14
*pouts becuz i wanna read all of the comments but is too tired to*
June 19th, 2009 05:28
ok, so as far as casting goes, I agree with everyone here that’s saying to cast unknowns with talent- if you already know the girl playing tally, it could ruin the opinion of everything before the movie’s even out. I think you should have at least a few open calls (and keep us posted! not trying to sound like an annoying fangirl here, I swear!) all over the place, because you never know when-or where- you’ll find the perfect actor!
okayy… I think I’m done rambling…. althought I’m sure I’m not, give me a moment XD
June 19th, 2009 05:48
agreed, unknown talents should be casted
June 19th, 2009 06:00
Good acting, special effects, understanding of the city interface, and character looks.
June 19th, 2009 06:01
I think that It would probably be about…..Well how they were going to do certain parts of the series. like for instance, the crims ballooning escape, how would they do that? How would they make it look real, and other parts. like flash tattoos. Are they going to be in the movie? And the clock eye thing. Is that going to be in it? There is many questions, and many answers that most authors are going to ask to make sure their book can be made as real as possible on the big screen. I am actually working on a book, If you want to hear about it (and I’d love it if you did) just go to TheLastOneStanding.piczo.com I am a very young writer and have many pieces. This is the one I have to write constantly about, (I even dream about it, I am sooo obsessed!) So please stop by and read it. Its awesomely bubbly!
June 19th, 2009 06:12
OOPS!! Thats the wrong link its actually: TheLastOneStandingOfficalSite.piczo.com Sorry! enjoy!
June 19th, 2009 06:19
Sorry misspelled official
June 19th, 2009 06:20
So again its TheLastOneStandingOfficialSite.piczo.com
June 19th, 2009 06:27
I think you need to make sure that the characters get the right amount of emphasis- for example, make sure that they don’t give Peris fifty extra scenes just because someone famous is playing him. the characters should get the same amount of room as they do in the book. Also, no made for the movie side-kicks (for example, Coraline got a sidekick in the movie that never existed in the book). I think the movie should start out with a little background info- sort of showing what happened to the Rusties, etc. That way people who haven’t read the book won’t be confused. As for dialogue, stay as close to the book as humanly possible.
June 19th, 2009 06:27
In addition to all that’s listed above, of course.
June 19th, 2009 06:31
No copy writing my story. My lawyer will be in touch if you do. (I am dead serious, not joking)
June 19th, 2009 06:52
I agree on keeping the flash tattoos! It’s incredibly cool!
The characters are very real. Keep their personality etc. Tally is not a perfect girl. She makes mistakes. Keep that. Don’t make her out to be perfect. Still, make the audience understand why she do everything that way so she’s not hated.
I am really worried on how this movie is headed and yet excited at the same time. I hope that it will turn out great, just like the book. ^0^
June 19th, 2009 06:52
@Lauren-wa
I cant actually find anything on that site of yours.
Are you sure you’ve actually put anything on that site?
June 19th, 2009 06:56
Ann-la:
I totally agree with you.
=D
June 19th, 2009 07:12
Ok, I’ve been very disappointed with the way books are made into films (ahem Twilight and Eragon) and I’ll get my suggestions from what they did wrong.
1. You have to include the Rusties! It’s majorly important to know how the world like it did.
2.Please don’t make the focal point how David came in between their friendship, or even the conspiracy [though that is totally important of course] but I think the plot is mainly about:
-The relationship between Tally and Shay, How even though they both new what they wanted and were on completely different paths it turned out that in Tally trying to follow her own path ends up leading into shay’s and they become enemies.
-Tally’s journey from simply wanting to be like everyone else to realizing there’s more to life than parties. Also, the way Choices and Changes are forced on Tally without her even really asking for it, now that I think about it, the way she’s being controlled reminds me of Greek mythology and how the heroes where being controlled by the gods….. oh, anyways, I think the way she conforms to society really reflects on our culture.
-The Pretties and how they’re almost zombie like in the way they live their life. They really do need to be beautiful [maybe some models? O.O] and maybe have a part that shows the process the Uglies go through to become Pretty. Really try to get people that instill the emotions that they were supposed to in the book! [adults are supposed to be reassuring and calming]
-The Setting! I picture Tally’s city being a little like Tokyo, but don’t make the movie all dark, and stuff because that’d make it seem more like the Matrix.
***Please don’t make it a cryptic movie!
-Technology, It shouldn’t look overly done, more like..wait I just thought of a video I saw on some cellphone…
here it is:
I hope that shows up..if not the URL is:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IX-gTobCJHs
but the point is, make the tech smooth and sleek but not too much like a spy movie or something, maybe have different colors so the people can use it as an accessory or add their individual touches…
-THE AUTHOR MUST HAVE A SAY IN WHAT STAYS OR GOES! AND CASTING!!! WHO KNOWS THE CHARACTERS BETTER THAN THE AUTHOR??
I’m hoping that they’ll find some unknown because that’d be more interesting than seeing a familiar face, but make sure they can ACT! especially Tally! I picture her as being kinda gawky and eager to fit in, but eventually starts coming into her own. *don’t make her too tomboyish! or too girly have an even mix of someone that can dress up but also get down and dirty*
well I think that’s pretty much it, I can’t stress how necessary it is to have the author be present.
oh and PLEASE! STAY AWAY FROM ANY AND I MEAN ANY! OF THE TWILIGHT CAST!!! NO ROBERT PATTERSON NO KIRSTEN STEWART!!! just because they’re getting a lot of publicity because of horny teen girls out there does not mean they can ACT!
I felt cheated out of my money when I walked out of the movie theater. >_<**
June 19th, 2009 07:15
oh yeah, and please don’t let them rush! take time adding the details, getting the action from the book right, and I agree with the others that hearing lines of the book would make the movie better.
[though some are too awful for that to help...cough *Twilight* cough]
this is gonna be a series of movies right? there not gonna cram everything into 2 maybe 3 hours? I hope not O.O
June 19th, 2009 07:24
okok this is my last post!
sorry for writing so much =/
but I really love the series and i’d be out for blood if they screwed this series up.
ooh i just read a post that said you should post up the hopefuls and let the fans vote! that’d be great! and if none of that is possible, just try to be really included in everything and make sure the cast reads the books so they get a feel for the characters!
June 19th, 2009 07:25
Definitely the script. Make sure they weren’t leaving any major, important to the plot points out. Be sure that they aren’t changing the story line into some complete bogus crap that has nothing to do with anything.
June 19th, 2009 07:27
Extremely sorry for any offense caused by this,
but i almost feel dirty that i enjoy this book along with a lot of twilight fans.
There was just so much wrong with it.
Its honestly just a mills and boon pulp romance with vampires.
And crap vamps at that.
I mean, what the hell, they sparkle in daylight? Honestly…
Uglies however is just so brilliantly written.
The whole relationship between Tally and Shay is just perfect.
I would walk out of the movie and write a VERY angry letter to the producers if they turned it into some crappy summer tween romance.
It HAS to be a dramatic action with a sci-fi backdrop.
June 19th, 2009 07:35
okokokok this is my last!!!
think more Harry Potter! the author was involved and the cast read the books…and they pretty much stuck to the book. and don’t have just one race maybe make it multi cultural because in the future we’ll probably have banded together more than we are now since we’re all connected….ok i’m done and i’m going to sleep so i don’t keep posting things.
Good luck Scott!
June 19th, 2009 07:38
Andy-la:
I will write an angry letter to the company too if they made Uglies into another typical Hollywood movie. Those teen romance, cat fight etc.
I hope that I wouldn’t feel that I was cheated of my money after watching the Uglies movie.
I seriously hope that they wouldn’t ruin it and that it will turn out to be brilliant. >.<
+-+miko kagome+-+
June 19th, 2009 07:56
1. NEVER use disney stars like zac efron and miley cyrus and people like that!!!!! then all the little kids are going to come just cuz those actors are in the movie. plus a lot of disney stars annoy me a little bit.
2. Don’t change much from the book. Scott-la did a good job writing it so I think the producers should do it exactly like the book.
June 19th, 2009 08:14
yes think Harry Potter
June 19th, 2009 08:26
1. CHARACTERS! Everyone already loves the characters and their emotions that you have already set up. Don’t go making them something totally different. That defeats the purpose.
2. PLOT! If the producers are going to change the plot all that much, they shouldn’t call it Uglies. Name it something else, and many fangirls would be happy.
3. SETTING! I think New Zealand would be AWESOME for the outdoors scenes. Just saying. But keep with the feel. The wild just needs to be completly overwhelming. Like, oh my gosh, what just happened overwhelming.
4.TECHNOLOGY! Have all the producers and the CGI dudes read Bogus to Bubbly. That should help them get the feel for the tech stuff. (SIDE NOTE: Have everybody else read this book. It teaches much about the story.)
June 19th, 2009 08:34
+-+miko kagome+-+ : Well, of course Tally would wear basic foundation ’cause she’s on camera. But no OBVIOUS makeup, because Tally the character wouldn’t wear lipgloss or mascara. She thinks she’s actually ugly and putting makeup on wouldn’t change her mind.
Oh, Scott-la….please don’t let them turn Uglies into the trash that the Harry Potter movies are…or worse the Eragon movie. *shudders*
June 19th, 2009 08:38
Zayas:
I agree with you. =D
June 19th, 2009 08:53
hey give Harry Potter some credit. If we ignore the 5th movie I think we can all agree that they are pretty decent movies considering they are book movies(face it book movies are never really good because they have fantastic books to live up to.)
Most turn out horrible….well except The Princes Bride……..I think Harry Potter is more on the good side of the scale.
June 19th, 2009 08:55
the sky is the colour of cat vomit right now(where I live)
June 19th, 2009 08:56
sorrey to post again that we have now posted more the the peeps blog up at the top….thats kinda sad if you think about…..that post has a good 2 years or so on it….this post has 3 days at the most
June 19th, 2009 09:49
the words have to be pronounced right
the city has 2 look rite
June 19th, 2009 09:54
-) I know it’s a Sci-Fi book, but don’t make the special effects look too Sci-Fi [ish]. As in those nerdy movie where the effects look really FAKE! I know the Uglies’ world is 99.9% fake, but it doesn’t have to LOOK that way.
-) Something you don’t see in the majority of movies that are based books (except for the Harry Potter ones) is minor details that somehow the fans think important, but the producers don’t. A perfect example is the cat vomit pink sky (I believe someone before me mentioned this). Or the way the Special’s have a cruel but beautiful face [...that also means you're going to have to get one awesome cast to play these people, 'cause not everyone can pull them off].
Ps: I’m re-reading the series
and it’s just as good as the first time!!
**Ohh and I think the Smoke part of the movie should be filmed in Costa Rica
just something to think about.
June 19th, 2009 10:04
Stay as true to the books as possible. Keep the story relatively the same and make sure the actors can portray the characters accurately. Also, I (the author) would want to be involved with the movie and be able to give my opinions and ideas to help keep the movie and book in sync.
June 19th, 2009 10:33
I (the author) would probably have to talk with the casting director to make sure that the characters were up to my standards, since I personally know the characters, having been their Creator. But that is beside the point. I think that the uglies need to have a sort of glint in their eye, so to speak. Like you can feel the curiosity radiating off of their eyes. But when they transform into pretties, they should lose that fleck of hope and their eyes should somewhat gray. Then as they once more change, this time into a wolf like being, their eyes should have a hint of hatred seeping out of them.
I could say so much more. But alas, I’d write the entire script.
Oh, one last thing. When Shane is cutting herself, make sure that their is some tribal beat going on and that it acts as a shield to all that is going on, and makes it go into slow motion and have no other sound to Tally when she sees it.
June 19th, 2009 10:34
sorry, I wrote Shane instead of Shay. I’m sorry!
June 19th, 2009 16:32
Mkay I think we all agree you can’t screw this movie up or Uglies fans across the world will start a riot! So some things to remember-
*Good special effects
*Good hoverboarding
*Don’t cut out little scenes that make a big part in the end
*Show real emotions
*Don’t use big stars
Anything I frgot peoples?
June 19th, 2009 17:39
I think the main theme/point of this book is about Tally’s struggle between challenging and conforming with society (Special Circumstances, the world she grew up in, etc….). That is a big theme that a lot of kids Tally and Shay’s ages struggle with in our own world! If Hollywood could reproduce this book to reflect that, I think a lot of kids would relate to the movie, having read the book or not. It’s a powerful theme that I think shouldn’t be overlooked or merely just “touched” upon.
June 19th, 2009 17:47
Please let them remember that “perfection” in beauty is supposed to be a BAD thing, which means Tally and David should *not* look like beautiful actors! They should be “real-looking” with their only “flaws” being perceived ones — no cleaning-up transformations ala Princess Diaries or Nanny McFee. Tally was taught that she was Ugly, not that she actually *is*.
The hyper-beautiful people should begin as enviable and end as despicable; not because THEY change at all, but because the audience’s (and Tally’s) perspective of them shifts.
June 19th, 2009 17:57
Yes yes yes you forgot things my gppd friend Jaeda-la! If your wondering why we both have the same e-mail we are having a sleepover. But anyway you forgot
* Important quotes must be kept
*details can not be just rubbed by or whatever
*and it has to be like the book!
Well yeah thats all I can think of. Everyone have a bubbly day Anea-la
June 19th, 2009 18:04
Music plays a big part in this movie too! I mean, c’mon, you can’t have a great movie without a great score! “Requiem for a Dream ( at least thats what i thnk the name of it is) would be sweet for the opening; and when Tally is crashing Peris’s party, you should totally use Untouched by the Veronicas. Hmmmmm…. Oh yeah, it would be nice to use a little music with lyrics, and a little without, depending on whatever is happening at that time. If you can, please tell them to make it PG-13, so the little kids can’t get in, but it won’t be rated R. Lol, to make it extra-icy, release it in December or September, or inbetween. =) Make sure you, the genius behind the series, are involved. Scott-la, this is gonna be a blockbuster, and you know it
If anybody was wondering,yes, I am the same Lexi-wa on comment 86. =)
June 19th, 2009 19:04
It should definitely stick to the book as much as possible. I hate it when a great book gets made into a movie but the movie is nothing like the book – just like what happened to Eragon.
Make sure they get the right actor/actress for each character: Don’t mess up like Twilight did!!
And make sure New Prettie Town is like one big them park but worse ^^ I mean, parties all day, hang overs in the morning – It should be as ridiculous as it is futuristic
But really, you just need to make sure your as involved in the movie as possible. Make sure you have a say in what’s going on
Best of luck!
June 19th, 2009 19:28
Don’t make the actors mad they might qiut on you!!!!!!!!
June 19th, 2009 19:46
Make sure the producers read the book!! They leave out the best parts in the movie!! Get every detail right from the book, its the foundation! And one more thing, make sure the actors read the book so they know that its not about acting its about BEING the character. And if the movies not good….well, just stick to the tips please!!
June 19th, 2009 19:52
Don’t leave out important parts of the book.
)
:)P)
Dont totally screw it up **cough** twilight **cough**
Get actors that can ACT. (preferabley from london :L
and do the special effects properly
June 19th, 2009 20:25
Hoverboards must kick some SERIOUS ass.
Fan Art! For Fan Art Friday! By me! Even though it’s crappy!
http://cheezburger.com/view.aspx?ciid=4459335&vk=2yZ%2fQidCJNqonYv4tFFx8PIR1wBhlZQF9EMMWQ0E8esxkC7LQ4Q3%2fcPg2b6nsReX
June 19th, 2009 20:41
i think they should have more unknown actors than known ones
June 19th, 2009 21:01
lol I think It is obvious that we all thought that the Twilight movie was horrible(not that it had something good to go on anyway)so dont make it like that.
If they dont put it the fireworks and the rollercoaster I will be very upset.
June 19th, 2009 21:35
avoid the Hollywood style way of getting over a “message” in a film…usually it’s a subtle as a brick
Keep it cool and allow for the audience’s intelligence please
June 19th, 2009 21:50
I would ask if they could make a midnighters movie too please!
June 19th, 2009 21:55
They need to get the storyline right. Sometimes, they try to take the most “important” scenes and shove them all together, thinking people will get the storyline, and it just ruins the effect.
They simply can’t cut corners in the special effects area. There still needs to be all of the gadgets and technology that are in the book. And it is very important that the pretties are done right. Just finding some models that can’t act and thinking that will work is wrong.
Also, the soundtrack will be important. there are hundreds of emotion and events in the book that will need to have fitting music with them.
June 19th, 2009 22:24
Scott-la, when you’re on the phone, remember all the parts you felt honoured to write (because they were memorable or were how you felt about something) and include those too! This is your movie, and your chance to spread the glorious-ness of Uglies. Good Luck! And don’t be nervous! ;P
June 19th, 2009 22:37
Well, they CAN’T make things look modern. New Pretty Town can’t just look like a mini-NYC or something, because this is hundreds of years into the future. Architecture must have changed in some way. That’s my main thing- don’t let them change the time period because then Uglies will just be another book-turned-movie that strayed from its original beauty and conformed into what the audiences most want to see.
Remember what was important to YOU when you were writing, and make sure the movie is what YOU want it to be. Because it that happens, all your fans will love it, too.
And tell them to YouTube “Uglies movie trailer” and watch the first video. It’s titled “Uglies Teaser Trailer” and I’ve seen you post it on this blog. If they can get any inspiration from that… Then the movie won’t be half bad. :]
I’m SOOOO excited! (and I just can’t hide it!)
Good luck, Scott!
June 19th, 2009 22:48
Tell them I said Hi and that My future happiness is in their hands. And send them a muffin basket. It’ll soften em up, then you can bend them to do your will. Muahaha.
June 19th, 2009 22:59
I think I’ll explain what I said on twitter a little more.
When a book is made into a movie the integrity of the story must be preserved.
Here are few examples:
The first example is Eragon. The story line in the movie was way different from the book. The storyline was so messed with that there is no way to do the sequels correctly. In my opinion the adaptation was awful. For anyone who had read the book, the movie was awful.
The second example is Twilight. The movie wasn’t exactly word for word from the book but the main story line was still intact. The events seemed a little rushed, & some of the lines from the book seemed forced in the movie. The sparkle graphic would have been better if it didn’t make sound. Overall, it was fairly decent adaptation.
Another example is Harry Potter. In the Sorcerer’s Stone there were only a few things different in the movie from the book. It was probably the closest adaptation, some thought it was too close.
I guess my point is if you can have any control over the adaptation & graphics to make sure they don’t screw it up. The adaptation doesn’t have to be an exact replica of the book but it has to be close enough to be the same story. With as much technology as there is in the books, the graphics are important.
Sorry for this being so long, I hope it makes sense.
June 19th, 2009 23:07
I think the most important things is for their to be an obvious difference in the looks of the Uglies and Pretties. No casting that makes the uglies look like supermodels. We need a big difference. Also, no cheesy special effects or major plot changes. I know movies need to be cut down, but I hate when I watch a movie based on a book and it seems like the producers/film director/script writer/whoever didn’t even read the book. Or the sequels. You should make sure they know which things need to stay in because they are important at a later time. Make sure you are assertive (in a nice way) with what was important to you in your writing, and what is important to the fans.
And good luck!
June 19th, 2009 23:17
Well said 324 Jay-wa.
And with that. It’s nearly 3 p.m. EST. Good luck.
June 20th, 2009 00:28
Okay I know it’s past three but oh well.
The director and producer of the movie should definately remember that you are the author. Not JUST the author but THE AUTHOR. Being the author of the book a movie is being based on is way more important than anything else. Without you there is no book so no movie. Also the more famous the author the more influence they have over the movie. J.K. Rowling for instance had almost no influence over her first movie and now she’s probably like a second director.
Tell the director she/he must do a good job with the set, the casting and everything else or they’ll have angry fans to mess with. High tech is good in this case. Also the heartbreak with Shay, David and Tally is important.
GOOD LUCK MR. WESTERFELD!!!!
Lizie
June 20th, 2009 00:42
So, how’d it go? It’s 3 here, which means it’s 4 there in NYC!
June 20th, 2009 01:18
WHATS THE NEWS!!!! WHATS THE NEWS!!!! wHATS THE NEWS!!!! THY BETER STILL BE MACKING THE MOVIE!!!LOL
June 20th, 2009 01:19
OH MY GOSH!!! I’M SOOOO EXCITED! I CAN’T EVEN TELL YOUUUUUU!
I hope it’s good.!! I hope David is cute! lol I hope Zane is gorgeous! I hope Tally’s not stupid like Kristin Stewert…
June 20th, 2009 01:22
um.. one more thing please please please make the movie like the book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(yes, it’s 2:51 Mountain time)
June 20th, 2009 01:35
Andy-la Its down cuz I am remodeling it.
June 20th, 2009 01:39
scenery! scenery, scenery, scenery! i know it’s past time, but I don’t care!
June 20th, 2009 02:03
lol wow 336 comments and we managed to stay on topic the whole time. I think thats a big accomplishment for us
June 20th, 2009 02:31
I know your call is long over and I’ve already posted, but I thought of another EXTREMELY important thing you need to tell the producers:
The Pretty operation happens on your 16th birthday. Please, no 25-year-olds playing Tally and Shay. They need to at least be under 20, AT LEAST. I hate it when actors are cast for roles with a dramatically different age gap. They are still kids, so it’d be great if they looked like kids.
I hope the call went super well! If it didn’t, well, we all know producers are sooo 11:59 anyways.
June 20th, 2009 03:31
is there a call?….or did Scott just want to know our thoughts?
June 20th, 2009 03:40
If he just wanted to know our thoughts, 99% of the people who posted here will be disappointed.
June 20th, 2009 03:44
Scott-la?! Whats the story?
June 20th, 2009 03:47
Yes Scott-la? Is there a movie or what?
June 20th, 2009 04:38
yay for the uglies! [=
this is just in time for me to (shamelessly) promote my uglies rp.
haha.
June 20th, 2009 05:02
If there isn’t a movie, we will all die of disappointment, Scott-la. =( We’re warning you now.
June 20th, 2009 06:24
Scott-la…..
we are so excited!
June 20th, 2009 06:27
This is just in case you guys didn’t see the Twitter posts:
ScottWesterfeld: Uglies movie call is almost here. Thanks for your suggestions and wish me luck. Fave fan demand: “Just don’t use Steve Martin!” Um, okay.
ScottWesterfeld: Bubbly Fact Learned in Uglies Movie Call: Michael Lynton, Chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures Entertainment, often speaks in Pretty talk.
ScottWesterfeld: Laughter at @epdesign saying, “Did you call him Michael-wa?” He wasn’t on the call, so I have no proof. (But he DOES have a teen daughter.)
ScottWesterfeld: More later on the call. Gym now.
The first was at about three, the others at about four. SQUEAL.
June 20th, 2009 06:34
Oopsies. I skipped one.
Scott Westerfeld: T-minus 2 hours until the Uglies movie conference call. Last chance to tell me what to say. Here or http://scottwesterfeld.com/...
(at, methinks about one)
June 20th, 2009 06:41
uuhhmm. definatly have tally lok like the girl on the cover. and shay should be asian. idk thats how i imagine her. (:
June 20th, 2009 06:43
I think that Tally should look EXACTLY like the girl on the cover. And all of the uglies, should be ”ugly” they should be normal. And Shay should be asian. That’s how I imagine her.
June 20th, 2009 07:03
I hope the movie is at LEAST one third as good as the book. But lets face it; The movie will NEVER compare to the book. He wrote it to well. It would be hard to create and capture the greatness of the book, It’s not gonna have everyone’s favorite scenes. Even though they can’t I think we all agree that we wish that the book could made into the movie word for word. Visit my site to read my book. The Last One Standing At TheLastOneStandingOfficialSite.piczo.com
No copy writing. My Lawyer will be in touch if you do. I’m dead serious. Please comment on the book. Thanks!!!!
Lauren-Wa
June 20th, 2009 07:09
I am new to your world, Paul. I chuckled at your “Why no adult fiction” response because I am an adult (Just turned 30? I don’t feel so adult but most of these posters are probably like “ECH! OLD!) who read a cool book and even though it was YA (one of my best friends is a High School English teacher and has broken that barrier for me. I actually turned HER on to you!) and googled the author to learn more about him. And now I’m writing to tell him how much I liked it.
Anyway – i know that I am past deadline but seriously – the casting of Tallie is everything. (Did I spell that right? I’ve been listening to audiobooks) If they cast Vanessa Hudgens or Miley Cyrus or even Dakota Fanning and then try and wink at the irony of calling these girls “Ugly” I will just be disgusted. I will not see your movie! Yes, the actress needs to be pretty to laugh at the idiots who think she is ugly. But not a Hollywood pretty, okay? They can cast Vanessa or Miley or Dakota in the sequal. MAYBE Anna Sophia Rob, but even SHE is getting a little Hollywood.
But you get my point, right? I’m sure you’ve already thought of it.
June 20th, 2009 07:21
Ok, i have seen a lot of uglies fan trailers and they always do one thing… the cast is wearing makeup and is wearing cute cloths nothing like a dorm uniform. Most famous people are cute,hot,pretty, whatever you call it. I think that they should find someone normal… someone who is not popular… not a loser, not beautiful, just someone normal. Or maybe you can find the girl who is on the cover of uglies. and if they make pretties a movie too they use the same girl on pretties and same goes for specials and extras.
June 20th, 2009 07:27
as long as they don’t rush the sets and details, it’ll all be good
June 20th, 2009 07:30
oh, and they cant cast tally as anyone who already has a big name for themselves. there’s nothing worse them thinking ‘ now thats the chick from Hannah Montanan or twilight’ for the whole movie
June 20th, 2009 07:44
PS
I forgot to tell you…
I think Tally should look like the girl on the cover.
Shay should have dark hair ( if it has to be blond at least make it dirty blond).
David should have the same color of hair as tally but a bit darker and if the makeup artist forgets the scar on his eyebrow i am going to have to hurt someone!!
Maddy and Az have to look a bit like david because he is there son after all.
Peris should have blonde hair ( not a dark blond ) and blue eyes.
Tally’s Parents can’t look like her to show people what the operation does to you.
Croy should have brown hair.
And for all uglies they have to have no makeup whatsoever! And all pretties need makeup, i understand that, but don’t make it look too obvious, same goes for specials.
June 20th, 2009 07:50
Heh heh – Paul? Don’t know where that came from! It’s late, I’ve ahd a few beers and I told you I was new! I was scouting BAM last Christmas for books to give my daughter, who is a bit young for your stuff, and came across Uglies, etc. packaged together as a set. It was on the YA table and it alarmed me a bit – but I didn’t bite. Didn’t want to know but it brought up all the mass media, cultural conntations and visceral thoughts you were no doubt, going for.
Now it is summer, I was at the library this time, and our branch puts all graphic novels that aren’t Dave McKean or Alan Moore in the YA section. My daughter was looking for the Warriers Mangas and they were right next to the YA audio books. I saw Uglies, remembered the bookstore experiance, and decided to actually risk finding out what it was about. Whew. You had me scared. Sounded cool so I checked it out.
I am on Pretties now – thanks a lot dude above who SPOILED A MAJOR PLOT POINT for me – but anyway. I have already bought the set for my daughter to read once she is interested, which will probably be a few years.
Good luck with the movie – you have created a truely original ‘verse – i’m sure it will do well. At the very least it will bring in some new readers who might not have found you otherwise.
June 20th, 2009 09:26
GET ACTORS THAT ARE THE AGE OF TALLY AND ALL THE CHARACTERS AND not(!) ACTORS THAT ARE THE AGE OF 24 TRYING TO ACT LIKE THEY’RE 16. GET REALISTIC!
June 20th, 2009 09:30
i want actors that are the age of tally,shay and david and the rest..not actors that are 25 years old trying to act as teenagers! PLEASE
TRYING NOT TO CHANGE THE MAIN THINGS IN THE BOOK
CAUSE THE BOOKS ARE A PART OF WHAT GOT ME INTO READING!
I CAN’T EXPLAIN IN WORDS HOW GOOD, THE UGLIES TRILOGY IS..BUT I” TRY
AMAZING,BRILLIANT, ASTONISHING, REMARKABLE, UNBELEVIABLE!
true?!
plus if they made it into a movie,i’d be there first day, and all the rest of the days it’s on the cinemas!
June 20th, 2009 10:31
yea the characters need to be the same age. I liked in Harry Potter how the characters all grew up with the movies rather then them already being grown up. Do that with Uglies and you’ve got a hit
June 20th, 2009 10:40
two words:
AWESOME. CINEMATOGRAPHY.
June 20th, 2009 10:50
Most of the moments I had really specific visions for were in Pretties. But I think that first scene with Peris in Uglies when he tells her they’ll be best friends forever in three months needs to be done in a certain way. The actor who plays Peris will really need to show that rejection and “I’m better than you because I’m all pretty and what-not” bs.
I’m particularly interested in how they’d show the Pretties and the Specials. People in movies are already gorgeous, so… will they just make the Uglies particularly ugly? Or just normal? Like, tone down the makeup and air brushing.
June 20th, 2009 10:52
p.s.
I think we’re all dying to know if this is fer sure or not…………
June 20th, 2009 11:22
I would tell them to make sur to balnce the drama in the movie to the awesome graphics theyre gonna need to have to pull this off, but as you have already mentioned they are the movie masters so they probably already know this
June 20th, 2009 18:40
yes..dieing of antpivcitation Scott-la!
June 20th, 2009 20:45
GO UGLIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
June 20th, 2009 21:51
I think what the movie will need most is music that will fit the extraordinary world of the UGLIES, PRETTIES and SPECIALS!
Cinematography and good acting has to come along with it, or it’ll spoil the book’s goodness! It’d probably be best if the actress/actors were not known people that we see everyday. New talent is always a plus, especially people who can become the character without looking like they popped out of the gossip magazine or something.
This is going to be really interesting!
I wish I can be in the production scenes, I have so many ideas they could just explode out of my mind! Anyways, loving the fact that a movie is coming! It’s strange, really, cause the moment I started reading Uglies (which was not long ago, last week I think), I wished it would become a movie! And viola, I find good news! 
June 20th, 2009 22:17
sorry I am really really hyper
June 20th, 2009 22:38
I have my suspicions that Scott-la isn’t blogging about it and telling us yet cuz he wants dramatic suspense. That is just cruel and unusual punishment!!!!
June 20th, 2009 23:27
I think you should make the people who watch the movie fell the same way that readers felt with the book . Uglies taught me to question ALOT of things, about beauty, the nature of people, and the flaws of society in general. it’s also important to focus on gettin the concept of pretty town clear to viewers. i hope your movie is worth an infinite number of mill-helens.
June 20th, 2009 23:27
Scott-la, dramatic suspense is overrated. We want details!! =(
June 20th, 2009 23:28
I think you should make the people who watch the movie fell the same way that readers felt with the book . Uglies taught me to question ALOT of things, about beauty, the nature of people, and the flaws of society in general. it’s also important to focus on gettin the concept of pretty town clear to viewers. i hope your movie is worth an infinite number of mill-helens.
June 20th, 2009 23:28
I think you should make the people who watch the movie fell the same way that readers felt with the book . Uglies taught me to question ALOT of things, about beauty, the nature of people, and the flaws of society in general. it’s also important to focus on gettin the concept of pretty town clear to viewers. i hope your movie is worth an infinite number of milli-helens!
June 20th, 2009 23:37
Yeah I agree! Also Please chck out my site TheLastOneStandingOfficialSite.piczo.com it has my book. do not copy my lawyer will be in touch.
June 20th, 2009 23:37
Yeah I agree! Also Please chck out my site TheLastOneStandingOfficialSite.piczo.com it has my book. do not copy my lawyer will be in touch.
June 21st, 2009 00:03
Scott-la!!!!!!! Your being so annoying-making! Tell us!
June 21st, 2009 00:18
TELL US!!!! PLEASE TELL! UR BEING SOOO ANNOYING!!!!!
TELL US!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
TELL US!!!!
TELL US!!!!
TELL US!!!!
TELL US!!!!
June 21st, 2009 00:44
i would like to say that they better keep it right
cause its the one book in the entire world that i realllyyyyyyy wanna have a dvd to;D
June 21st, 2009 00:48
waiting and wondering about the call…
yes, I am totally bored this Sat…
June 21st, 2009 00:49
oh… it’s Sat here in my time zone anyway…
June 21st, 2009 01:07
Make sure the producers aren’t making this movie just to get some big money because it was such a hit as a book. Try and get peole who really want to send a message by making this movie. Try and work with them as much as you can so they get the true idea of the world you created. Oh and please dont let them cast people just because their famous…try and find people who truly represent the character not only only physically but emotionally too…
oky doky im done! Good luck, and just breathe (cuz if your as excited as i am you probably forgot to!) =)
and p.s. not another blood and chocolate please!!!! it was pitiful
June 21st, 2009 01:11
how sad is it that i just realized its saturday! nvm about everything i just said above… good luck anyway!
June 21st, 2009 01:25
thats ok on Friday it took me half the day to figure out it wasn’t thursday…..and on Thursday I went through the WHOLE day thinking it was only wednesday.
June 21st, 2009 01:29
ok, so i know it said no specific casting recommendations and i’m sure everyone has their own picture of what the characters look like in their minds, but make sure whoever gets cast in the various roles had the right vibe to them. the only person i’ve ever had a CLEAR image of in my head was for shay, but i have a feeling the person i envision as her won’t be cast in the movie. dunno why, i just don’t see it happening, much as i’d like it. (for the record my choice for shay would be allison munn. . . even though she’s like, 35. oh well, i can just see her in that role – so long as she dyes her hair darker)
June 21st, 2009 02:15
Yeah, I don’t care who they cast as long as they look the part and are emotionally ready for it. (no twenty yr olds playing shay or tally) And the way you make the city, it has to look really real. not looking animated or anything. same thing with the rusty ruins.
June 21st, 2009 02:20
Go Tally!!!!!!! Please Scott, announce it soon, or I might die from anticipation! Please!!!!! Thanks, for being a great author, you kinda inspired my book(The Last One Standing) You rock!
:-p :-p :-p
Another thing, what does that even mean at the bottom. (This is silly text. Evil silly text!) Yeah um……What does that mean exactly? for those of you who don’t know what I am talking about, scroll down to the very bottom and look below the comment box and read the small green bar at the bottom.
GO SHAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
June 21st, 2009 03:03
The world and the characterizations. Both are so important to the underlying message of the series, that if they couldn’t get Tally, Shay, Zane, and all the others right–as well as the world they live in–the whole movie would go down in flames! Love the books as much as we do and read them!!
Otherwise, there will be a director going down.
June 21st, 2009 03:04
TELL US!!!!!!!
June 21st, 2009 03:04
Us Uglies fans will start a riot lol!
June 21st, 2009 04:57
Don’t spend too much time on the hoverboard. I have this picture in my head of seeing the movie and watching ten minutes of Tally flying around just for the sake of saying, “HEY!!! LOOK!!! IT’S A HOVERBOARD!!!!!” It is part of the story, but it should look like what it is: an everyday, commonplace vehicle.
June 21st, 2009 05:09
Even though you’ve already had the conference call, make sure they read Bogus to Bubbly.
But I think it’d be really hard to get the uglies/pretties/specials looks right. Because the pretties aren’t what we see as pretty, they’re theoretically pretty, with symmetry. I hope they can use styling and makeup to make them look symmetrically ‘pretty’, but not drop-dead gorgeous. Like in an old sci-fi film, where the aliens who look like humans are totally plastic and superficial, but showing more emotion.
June 21st, 2009 05:49
STAY TRUE TO THE BOOKS!!!!!
June 21st, 2009 07:53
All i have to say is that chace cawford must play zane!!!! Please!!!! I would love that!!
June 21st, 2009 08:18
First of all, there are several things in the book that are quite iconic (the roller coaster in the Rusties town, the fields of white orchids, etc). While the specific events in those places might have to be cut for time, you still need to have them in the movie, if only in the background.
Secondly, the last thing I want to see is a two hour movie with half the plot cut out for time and thirty minutes of Tally getting chased around by the Specials.
June 21st, 2009 09:03
June 21st, 2009 12:45
Since the producers are probably “dying to shoot over” and read the comments posted here, I just want to add on.
Please do let Scott Westerfeld has as much say in the movie as possible. After all, he is the author of the book. I dare say that he is the only person on Earth who understand most about the series. So please do listen to what he is saying, his views etc! =D
I don’t know much about music but please have good music in the movie! =D
June 21st, 2009 13:09
AHHHH!! i really hope this will be made into a movie! i’m going to take everyone i know to watch this movie!!
TWO major things about the moive, that was been said perviously..but
1. AGE!!!! of the actors.. please DON’T put these mid-twenties actors trying to be teenagers.. actors from 16 to 18 (maybe 19) BUT THATS IT!..it makes it more real..
2. CINEMATOGRAPHY as juella.b said.. SHOULD BE AMAZING!
June 21st, 2009 13:14
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PLEASE BE MADE INTO A MOVIE
PLEASE
PLEASE
PLEASE
PLEASE
i think i’m going a little crazy!!
I 100% agree with the RIGHT AGE of the characters like the other posts said how the ACTORS in HARRY POTTER GREW UP in the film and that was sooooo AWESOME and RARE…now the UGLIES MOVIE can UNQUIE like the books(!!) and WAY BETTER
June 21st, 2009 18:12
Make the producers read the Uglies series. And all the actors and actresses! It will just help. Don’t forget Shays pigtails! I know I already said that bu I’m like obsessed with Shays pigtails!
June 21st, 2009 21:25
Get the technical part of the hoverboards right, and the speed right when the distances are taken into account. Even if it takes a lot (a lot!) of work.
Also, like Jenn is saying above, get the symmetrical part of the pretties right. Even if that means it can get a bit too uncanny valley for us.
June 21st, 2009 22:23
wow, this is amazing! I think Tilda Swinton, however you spell her name, would be an amazing Dr. Cable. I think also that you need to get the Characters right. I think you should get an unknown actress for both Tally and Shay. Then they have something in common and it would be easier for them to create an actual friendship on set. I hope you have open auditions, because there are some of us who can act but don’t have all that fancy smancy stuff! I really love the books and think the movie should stay true to the books!!! Not one of those, all-three-movies-in-one crap! i would be pissed. However i am one of the only two people in my school that has read the books… so i don’t have a group of people to help me take down the people who had the stupid idea! Hopefully i won’t have too!!! LOL!!! Anyways, hope you keep us posted about the casting information!
June 21st, 2009 22:26
Don’t forge the scene where Tally jumps off the building!
June 21st, 2009 23:30
Yeah thats important
June 22nd, 2009 00:25
I cannot wait to see this movie but it has to rock the world just like the books. First I think those who are into the books will make great actors/actresses because we know the emotions that need to be shown in certain parts as well we are a step ahead because we already know the plot. Anyone making or being apart of the movie should seriously read the books. Also the special effects have to be like flawless, remember that is where the characters live, they start off there.
Just follow the book and everything should be happy-making.
June 22nd, 2009 03:18
im so super duper extra amazingly excited.
words dont cover how excited i am.
June 22nd, 2009 03:18
They should remember to STICK TO THE STORY.
Divergence from the original genius is blasphemy!
x]
June 22nd, 2009 04:06
First of all let me say that this movie has to have MANY SPECIAL EFFECTS, I mean it’s the FUTURE!!!! Also it would be cool if they explain a little of how the pretties operation came to be and what happened with the rusties, you know, implement a little of the history mentioned in Bogus to Bubbly. The characters have to be well portrayed, and for the part of Tally and Shay look for girls, that if they do the other movies, well, you can see the changes for Pretties and Specials. The Specials have to be beautiful but very cruel and cold, someone famous for Dr. Cable would be cool. The settings and the atmosphere that turns around the book should be taken in great consideration for the movie, because who doesn’t want to see Tally’s city, hoverboarding, the Rusty Ruins and The Smoke. These are very important for the movie because it all mingles well with how the characters are around each other. And specially give a little more romance to David and Tally’s relationship.
Just follow the book and consider the author’s opinion towards anything conserning the story and believe me you will have very happy fans, not like when they ripped off half of HP5.
June 22nd, 2009 04:31
Yeah I agree, Josh-la. it has too have effects. don’t leave too many big scenes, or too many little ones. Please explain about the technology, (like the recycle system, hover boards, air boards, hovercrafts, etc.) It has to look real too, not like the animated junk some movies have. I mean just make it look like you are seeing it yourself. And remember you have the most important say in the movie, don’t let them modify it too much, and give them some pointers, they’re not going to know what it’s going to look like to you so help the writers, directors, and actors, fulfill the full potential of your book, okay Scott? Promise me okay?
June 22nd, 2009 04:47
plz check out my site, and read my books.
TheLastOneStandingOfficialSite.piczo.com
June 22nd, 2009 04:49
June 22nd, 2009 04:50
X-(
June 22nd, 2009 06:39
I think that the same actresses should play Tally and Shay and other characters throughout the entire series, I think it takes away from the meaning of the books if different actresses are cast for the different stages (Ugly/pretty/special)
I also think Tally and Shay should be unknown actresses.
Also, the effects are done well.
June 22nd, 2009 06:43
i totaly agree with andy-la and yes im comentinng again this needs to be heard the first book and all the others dont need a newscritp for the movie the book already has one basicly the book is a movie if they keep it the way it needs to be. ( all im saying is please stick to as much as the book as posible) thank you
June 22nd, 2009 06:46
an i dont agree with kayla-wa the characters go from norrmal to model to bionic woman
June 22nd, 2009 06:49
sorry if im repeating anything….
but PLEASE, if you’re discussing turing Uglies into a movie it BETTER be just as good as the book, if not better (which to me is impossible)…. otherwise it will ruin EVERYTHING
and i agree with what everyone else has said (AND DO US ALL A FAVOR, NO DISNEY ACTORS)
can’t wait <3
June 22nd, 2009 13:04
“I 100% agree with the RIGHT AGE of the characters like the other posts said how the ACTORS in HARRY POTTER GREW UP in the film and that was sooooo AWESOME and RARE…now the UGLIES MOVIE can UNQUIE like the books(!!) and WAY BETTER”
i totally agree with that statement by alexandra
have the actors a good PRACTICAL AGE as the books not some twenty-four year old trying to pass off as a 17year old. like
and please don’t have these really beautiful actors trying to be the uglies..have an average looking kid..if you want to movie to be a hit..be faithful and do justice to this incredible series!
June 22nd, 2009 13:07
Uglies look normal, not like a beautiful person in dirty clothes. Don’t make David look hotter than Peris, just make him look manly and strong – because he is such a hard worker.
Totally agree with the comment above.. the RIGHT AGE AS THE BOOKS.. and I agree with rie pie posted..the statement above..david should be that natural muscle cause he lives in the smoke..not like fully gym guy..and should have that kind of hotter cuter than peris..for sure.
June 22nd, 2009 15:58
please keep Tallys charachter right. Frizzy brown hair all of it. I don’t care if she has to wear color conhtacts. Stick to the book!
June 22nd, 2009 20:04
i agree with everything that has been said esp. stuff about STICKING TO THE BOOK and SPECiAL EFFECTS. the special effects are a huge part of the story and cant be screwed up. also- i agree with Jaeda-la. remember Tally is not a model! she is a normal girl. i also agree with people who said you also cant turn her into some sort of rambo- tally is feminine-remember at the beginning she wants the operation and was prepared to betray shay/the smoke to get it….. also i agree with natalie! no shiny disney actors! an unknown would be better for the main rolls…….. but make sure they can ACT! also the actors need to be expressive not(*cough*kristenstewart*cough*cough*)…. emotion is also a big part of the books dont make it all action stuff but dont make it sappy and sentimental either
i cant wait for the movie!
June 22nd, 2009 20:08
also i agree with people who said someone famous for dr cable (possibly also maddie/az?) would be fine but unknowns for tally/shay
June 22nd, 2009 22:25
definitely make sure that the specials are that definition of “cruel pretty.” they need to be scary as heck! also make sure that the pretties really do look supermodel gorgeous! i know that’s a lot to ask for in a movie, but i think it can happen!
this is so happy-making! its gonna be BUBBLY!
June 23rd, 2009 01:43
I agree with most people no-name actors for the main parts and whoever suits the others. Plus NO twilight acters THEY SUCK!!!! Especially Kristen Stewart and Rob Pattinson. YOU SUCKKKKK!!!
June 23rd, 2009 19:58
Yeah I agree with Emily-Wa
June 23rd, 2009 20:50
stick to the book! too many movies have ruined good books! also, please dont let them CGI the crap out of this movie. of course they will have to but make it look real, not like the whole thing is shot on a green screen. i agree with the no big names for the main characters….and they should sign on to do all of the films….not just the first…just make them stick to the book as much as possible….you would probably have a lot of mad fans if they changed it too much!
June 23rd, 2009 21:03
wow, if you listen to Jaeda-la, then i would be perfect for the role of Tally(lol, ironic)!!!! Also, i was watching fan made Uglies Trailors on youtube and there was one that had this song called 24 by Jem. It is an amazing song, i can’t stop listening to it… might make a good song for when she is infiltrating new pretty town!
June 24th, 2009 00:20
I love ur books I read them all 3 times each. One night after finishing specails and crying over Zane dying and me having to finish the book I thought to myself “hmm…this would be great a movie” and what do u know!? Your already ahead of Mr.west !
Anywho….. When you make Uglies make sure too add “like everyone else said” SPECIAL EFFECTS!!! Go crazy over it man!!!
(when u make specails “if you do” I would tottaly go for cxastings I look like Tally on the cover) I swear we’re pretty much identical!!!!
scary…..
Best wished and good luck to ya ;]]
June 24th, 2009 02:43
oh! i thought of one!
i think EVERYONE involved in the movie (or at least the director, producer, and main main characters such as Tally-wa, Shay-la, David, and Dr. Cable) should be required to read the book. it’s the only way they can know how they’re supposed to act and what the overall feel of the movie should be like.
-Lizzy-wa OUT!
June 24th, 2009 05:00
The key thing is to STICK TO THE BOOK as much as possible .
Make it seem like you’re reading the book ,in movie form o_o
Keep the gadgets simple but badass and make the characters seem as close to the book characters as you can make them even if you have to pick someone that looks like or acts like tally or shay and make THEM do the part [which would be funny as hell xD].
Just make sure you make the pretties look like the people from Gossip Girl or some other show and the Uglies like … normal hormonal teenagers . everything should be realistic and still so AWESOME .
This movie is going to be soo icy-making.
PS : keep the SLANG YO !
Stay bubbleh !
June 24th, 2009 05:01
[the part where i said
even if you have to pick someone that looks like or acts like tally or shay and make THEM do the part
add a ''from the street'' there xD
stay bubbleh !
June 24th, 2009 05:04
To make sure that the characters are right!!!!! and remember to tell them that Tally, Shay, and David are 15!!!!! TEEN!! not like when some directors and producers choose 20 year olds to play teens. TELL THEM TO PICK THE RIGHT ACTORS/ACTRESSES!!!!!!! well, hopefully u get a say in the picking of the actors and whatnot…. I just don’t want them to mess up the movie cuz they do that A LOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
June 24th, 2009 06:33
Alex-wa,
David isn’t 15 he’s 18… because if you remember back to the part where David was showing Tally his hands, she asks him how long it took him to get calluses like that, and he says about 18 years. and then they go on to talking about his parents and how THEY(Maddy and Az) were the runaways, not HIM! Sorry for the multiposting, just had to correct that, or else it would bother me till i did!
June 24th, 2009 18:27
DON’T SCREW IT UP LIKE TWILIGHT!!!
June 24th, 2009 20:49
Remember:
Tally is normal looking
Shay is normal looking and skinny
Dr. Cable should be Scary and Pretty! Not just scary!
Make sure you when you see Pretty-Town its absoulutly stunning! Positivly breath taking and of course Bubly. Make sure the Charecters look like there suposed to and the Tech is all real looking.
If you get that right it will be a good movie.
Can’t wait! Hope it turns alright! I trust you to make sure its true to the book Scott-la!
June 25th, 2009 01:19
I always thought of Angelina Jolie whenever I thought of Dr. Cable.
I know I’m overshooting; it’s too late to do anything anyway.
Was anyone else reminded of her?
June 25th, 2009 03:12
Zoey-wa,
I could see Angelina Jolie as Dr. Cable. Why do you say it’s too late to do anything? Dr. Cable has a minimal part in Uglies, so i doubt it’s too late! She’s Angelina freaking Jolie, if she wants to do a movie, not even Chuck Norris could stop her. She’s freaking tomb raider!
June 25th, 2009 03:26
Zoey-wa and Caitlin Ryser,
I can see Angelina Jolie as Dr. Cable. I can also see Nicole Kidman for some reason, i don’t know but Golden Compass just flashed in my head!
June 25th, 2009 03:30
i am super excited! my friend Matt Long told me they were making a movie about Uglies just now, I am soo excted, can u come to Mo, there are alot of us that want to audition… i can name four right now! Mickinzey Lester, Chasteen Samms, Damien Savio, and Alex Goodwin. They are all gonna probably check out the site too, they are big fans!
June 25th, 2009 03:38
hey,
Mr. Westerfeld. Are you gonna have auditions in Missouri! Like Springfield Missouri! Cause, i know of like 4 people that want to audition, but have work and stuff, so they wouldn’t be able to leave the state, or whatever, so just think about it, yeah?
Damien Savio
June 25th, 2009 03:41
Hey, okay, i know my name seems a little funny. FYI i am not a lesbo. i just know how 2 make an intrance. i also know that u better come 2 mo so i can audition as Shay-la or Tally-wa! Anybody from Missouri on here, can talk to me whenever you want, if you are cute, send me a picture.
Chasteen_samms@hotmail.com
June 25th, 2009 03:43
hey,
Dr. Chasteen Cable,
this site is where serious Uglies fans come to talk about the UGLIES MOVIE, not there latest hook-ups.
June 25th, 2009 03:55
Okay, Caitlin Ryser, i completely understand where you are coming from, Chasteen is the ho of the group. That’s just the way she is, no hard feelings.
Now about the movie…
As many of my friends have already said, could you come to Springfield Missouri? there are alot of places that would let you have auditions there, just to say that they had some part of the movie, people are just selfish like that!
Also, get people who look like what you described in the book, they don’t have to look exactly like them, but they need to look roughly like them with an acting ability. if you try to find identical twins it will take forever and you will never succeed.
if they haven’t read the book! Make them before they come to the set! Also, As some people have already said, get unknowns. They are your best bet, and i am not just saying that because of me, but to make this movie the best it can be, which i know is pretty damn good, you need to have a new face for at least Tally, Shay, and maybe David. Then there can already be bonds forming between these people. something in common in a rough place like hollywood, can often lead to a friendship froming. Trust me, i am majoring in Psycology in my high school/college program.
Location is key, many people have said BC, i have been up there, trust me it’s beautiful! But think about every aspect of what you are trying to accomplish, whether it would be alright to greenscreen a shot, which most likely will happen quite a bit anyways, or whether you want to put a rig up and do it outside! Your choice(well you and the studios, and the director) but make it awesome!
Sorry for it being so long! I tend to be a smarty pants with something that i am passionate about!
June 25th, 2009 04:24
okay, yo, can you like come to missouri, like springfield cause like um i know people who like want to audition and they don’t got nothin fancy so they like you know was wandering if you would come and have some in like sprinfield, cause like they wandering. and they said like you wouldn’t come if not enough people asked so we getting friends and shit to like come and ask, but don’t worry, they all know how ta act.
June 25th, 2009 06:13
I am interested in auditioning for uglies, could you possibly have an audition in Springfield Missouri
June 25th, 2009 06:16
I am interested in auditioning for uglies, could you possibly have an audition in Springfield Missouri…idk
June 25th, 2009 06:55
im wanting to try out you should have tryouts in springfield missouri
June 26th, 2009 01:11
Honestly, I enjoy suspense and drama as much as the next person, but can we please not have a bunch of slow-motion scenes. I think that might just kill the whole ‘futuristic and intense’ vibe. But, that’s just me…I’m sure the director/movie will be great (if a movie does come of this).
June 26th, 2009 01:15
How many comments are from Springfield, Missouri? I’m a little confused…did I miss some Missouri memo? If you do have open auditions (I can imagine the nightmarish lines now) spread them around the country if possible. I’m sure that there are tons of eager fans who would want to try out.
June 26th, 2009 01:37
Because these books are so loved, please try your best to make the film into a work of art. There will be many details that will have to be overlooked (obviously, because it’s a movie) but please, try to remember that there are tons of fans who will embrace the movie no matter the lost details as long as the cast, crew, and director put their hearts into it. In other words, don’t make it ‘just another book-turned-movie, try your best to make it work and all of us (the fans
) will love it!
June 26th, 2009 01:46
Well… Most importantly the characters. They should be new. They should have the auditions in New York… haha that way I can go… I live in Danbury, CT!
June 26th, 2009 02:54
My perfect Tally has always been, and always will be Canadian singer Skye Sweetnam, but she’s 23 now and I’m not sure if they’d want someone that old playing a 16 year old. If not her then a new actress.
The most important thing for me is that they don’t make it one of those “look at me – I’m a sci-fi film” that seems far, far too star trek for me. Uglies was what I call a “warm” sci-fi, because it wasn’t devoid of emotion and heart like so many other sci-fi books/movies are. Focus on the characters’ relationships and have the technology walk alongside that. Also, there needs to be color, not all stainless steel, real color. Shooting outside would add a lot of light and warmth to the movie. Sunshine kicks stage light’s butt.
CGI is going to be a must, but please, please try to bring in as much natural beauty as possible. Think about how wonderful the scene with the rangers and the flower field would be if you found a large patch of real flowers that matched the ones in the book closely enough then used a computer to create an area of white flowers that aren’t all CGI.
Costume wise you need to find someone with an eye for the future, as well as an eye for what, umm I don’t know, looks like something a teenager would accually wear. Once more, look at Skye Sweetnam, or some of Lady Gaga’s clothes and you’ll see what I mean.
As for music, I say bring on the synthes, the aquatic drum beats, and some punky back-up vocals. “Rebel” is the key word.
I think that’s it from me, other than stay true to the book. Sorry to be so long-winded.
June 26th, 2009 03:38
The people working on this movie should remember that Tally isn’t a girly girl and she isn’t one of those sexy Megan Fox types either. Tally is a truly unique person. Even when she is a Prettie! So, think about that when you are casting Tally.
June 26th, 2009 04:40
This can’t be some crappily done B-movie type thing. It’s a sci-fi movie, people! That means friggin’ awesome special effects. That’s really the main thing, special effects. I wanna feel like I’m there, with the bungie jackets and hole in the wall and Tally zooming around on her hoverboard. As a secondary point, the Pretties have to be gorgeous beyond belief. In Twilight, they screwed up MAJORLY when they had average looking actors play the vamps (ie Rosalie). I don’t care if they have put them in a ton of makeup, do some special trick with the lighting, airbrush them, I don’t care, as long as we don’t have another Twilight fiasco. And the Specials have be beautiful yet otherworldly. I want us to flinch when we see them on the screen. I want us to have the same reactions to Pretties and Specials that the characters do in the book. It really is a visual book, and the movie should be an experience.
June 26th, 2009 04:41
Oh, and techno music. Stuff by Basshunter would bring that alien, sort of futuristic feel. sorry for the double post
June 26th, 2009 04:59
I know this is late and way past the time of the call….but I wanted to say a few things.
I think they should get actors that will throw themselves into the role, and as other people have said get fresh faces for the lead roles….that can act. Get people that aren’t afraid to be asociated with this movie*sorry for spelling, maybe*.
Please have a open casting, you can find really good actors in those.
Things in the movie should be real life, like The Dark Knight. People should be left with a feeling that the movie has changed the way they think, forever *if you get what I’m saying*. People’s brains should feel numb after they see the movie….because it should be that awesome.
June 26th, 2009 05:11
I actually do agree that Skye Sweetnam is a good Tally… Visually, anyway.
June 26th, 2009 05:15
You know what I noticed in the book..?
That everyone had the ending ‘-la’ except Tally, who had ‘-wa,’ and she was kind of the leader of the group(s.)
June 26th, 2009 05:39
Brynn-la,
you didn’t miss a Springfield, Missouri memo. There are just alot of people who are wanting to try out, but often times cant because of location.
June 26th, 2009 09:00
Scott! I SO want to be in your movie!
This is insane because I was just looking up stuff for the movie I knew would happen eventually but…
WHERE ARE TRYOUTS?!?!
June 26th, 2009 13:38
A REALLY GOOD MUSIC IN THE MOVIE!
ACTORS THAT ARE THE CHARACTERS NAME
THE SLANG
SCENEARY
!!!
June 27th, 2009 00:21
THE GLAMOUR OF THE PRETTY WORLD!!!!! CHAMPAGNE!PARTYS! FRIENDS!POPULARITY!!! that needs to be captured right so everyones like omfg its perfect!
June 27th, 2009 01:57
well i am sorry but i do have 1 casting suggestion for Dr.Cable…. i would like her role to be played by Angelina Jolie. She has all of the cruel features that I would expect a special to have. She also has that pretty glow to her and she is already pale wich makes for the lesser use of face powder! Please take my suggestions into consideration.
June 27th, 2009 02:03
PLEASE don’t ruin it like what happened to Twilight!
I actually LOVE this series
June 27th, 2009 02:35
i agree that Angalina Jolie would make a perfect Dr. Cable also zane has to be perfect (for the Pretties movie) for 2 resons, 1. my nickname is zane (yes im a girl but, i love him!) and 2. i always imganed him as my crush. lastly i love these books so much i am a bit scared that they will be produced badly and turn into a joke because, nothing can replace these books!
June 27th, 2009 06:49
†WHAT YOU DO, THE WAY YOU THINK, MAKES YOU BEAUTIFUL†-DAVID.
this HAS to be said to tally in the movie. the end.
June 27th, 2009 06:52
ACTORS SAME AGE AS THE CHARACTERS IN THE BOOK.
Some key things that has to be in the moive.
1The sky needs to look like salmon colored cat vomit when Tally sneaks of to see Peris. Because that first sentence automaticly makes you read the book.
2. Two words: pig mask
3. the roller coaster/hoverboard ride.
4. Shay’s crudely written note
and above all that quote above!!
WHAT YOU DO, THE WAY YOU THINK, MAKES YOU BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
June 27th, 2009 07:01
WHAT YOU DO, THE WAY YOU THINK, MAKES YOU BEAUTIFUL
oh my gosh oh my gosh i love love love love this quote!
also
totally agree with DAN
“THE GLAMOUR OF THE PRETTY WORLD!!!!! CHAMPAGNE!PARTYS! FRIENDS!POPULARITY!!! that needs to be captured right so everyones like omfg its perfect!”
the pig mask for sure! and the way shay wrote the note and actors that suit the look and age of the characters.
June 28th, 2009 11:48
WHAT YOU DO, THE WAY YOU THINK, MAKES YOU BEAUTIFUL
I’M TALLY YOUNGBLOOG,MAKE ME PRETTY
An, Deex, Sussy in the sparklers of “The smoke lives!â€
WHAT YOU DO, THE WAY YOU THINK, MAKES YOU BEAUTIFUL
I’M TALLY YOUNGBLOOG,MAKE ME PRETTY
An, Deex, Sussy in the sparklers of “The smoke lives!â€
WHAT YOU DO, THE WAY YOU THINK, MAKES YOU BEAUTIFUL
I’M TALLY YOUNGBLOOG,MAKE ME PRETTY
An, Deex, Sussy in the sparklers of “The smoke lives!â€
WHAT YOU DO, THE WAY YOU THINK, MAKES YOU BEAUTIFUL
I’M TALLY YOUNGBLOOG,MAKE ME PRETTY
An, Deex, Sussy in the sparklers of “The smoke lives!â€
June 28th, 2009 11:48
An, Deex, Sussy in the sparklers of “The smoke lives!â€
An, Deex, Sussy in the sparklers of “The smoke lives!â€
An, Deex, Sussy in the sparklers of “The smoke lives!â€
An, Deex, Sussy in the sparklers of “The smoke lives!â€
i reckon this a really significant part, the whole meaning behind it and everything, like their still striving and alive. i SHOULD be in the movie.
June 29th, 2009 08:32
ok i know many people have been saying stuff similar to this but i HAVE to make this one comment.. :
PLEASE don’t make the “uglies” abnormal looking. the books makes it clear that normal looking people are considered “uglie” just because there is something higher and better then them… this was a WAY important theme in the book( i think)… PLEASE don’t RUIN IT!!!
thxs and try hard to not mess this up!!
June 29th, 2009 09:57
Hey, look i love the book, so please try to make it good, but please alot of futuristic movies look alot like SiFi movies. please make it good and please I ask you too, dont make the uglie abnormal. But make Zane look GOOD!
June 29th, 2009 17:10
Dont leave anything out please!!!! Well, some words or passages maybe, but no changing endings or plots like that My Sisters Keeper crap. The story worked out perfectly and the characters were well developed. And bring in masters of horror film makeup to complete the Specials look.
And not to say anything about casting but *couch* Nicole Kidman as Dr. Cable *cough*
Remember the sign offs? Still trying to come up with a better one.
June 29th, 2009 19:38
WHo do you guys thin should play david?
June 29th, 2009 20:02
I think david should be a(n) undiscovered talent. Like I htink it would be kewl if my friend rachel-wa and I played Tally and Shay, but We will never be discovered, we live in a very small suburb outside of fort worth, and though I could travel anywhere for any shooting she couldn’t and Thta wouldn’t work. Okay that waz really off subject, so anyways, KEEP THE MOVIE ON THE TOPIC OF THE BOOK!!!!!! DON’T LET THEM ADD NEW SCENES IN LESS IT IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY!
June 29th, 2009 20:39
all I’m gonna say is that they really need to stay with the plot of the book. When i go to the movie I really want to see the book really come to life.
June 29th, 2009 20:45
oh, and the special effects are scary important!!! And i was reading the other comments and wondering… Are the gonna do the 4th book?? cuz I a few people are sayin they’re only doing the first 3. I really hope they do Extras cuz who wouldn’t want to see Frizz and his radical honesty on the big screen … and find out what a mag-lev train looks like!!!
June 29th, 2009 20:55
I agree with most of the people here they NEED to be the right age. Example:City of Ember was an awesome book but the characters were supposed to be like 11 or 12 and the actors looked like 18!! and they skipped a lot of scenes in that movie to and they didn’t explain anything that they explained in the book…. Poor,Poor City of Ember =(
June 29th, 2009 23:23
Dear Lauren-wa
Fort-worth in Texas?
June 29th, 2009 23:42
i think the little things are important like why tally is called squint b/c she squints shay is skinny AND HAS PIGTAILS at least until shes pretty/special
Shay’s eye surge with the emeralds that tell time and the flash tattoos (lol good luck cging that) but all in all, has so much potential like SOOOOOOOOO much potential -.- and if its ruined “I don’t want to hurt you but I will if i have to. =P
June 29th, 2009 23:59
and to all the hollywood peoples that are considering the book for a movie. You would have millions of die hard uglies fans shooting baby unicorns if needed to get to the theatre to see the movie =)
June 30th, 2009 01:13
Okay for once I totally agree with what he mentioned that you guys said wow! okay anyways here’s just some things I would like to see:
1. Unknown actors for Tally,Shay, & David (in all the movies)
2. Please don’t use uber amounts of make-up to make them “ugly†PLEASE!
3. Please make the hoverboards look authentic
4.Instead of a set use the real outdoors for The Smoke and on her journey
5. Small time actors for Az and Maddy
6. I think using fans as the extras and as Croy and Astrix and Ryde would apeal more to the fans
Thats all I can think of now so yea I know I just put my little 2sense in every now and then but hey I’m busy!
June 30th, 2009 01:15
Also please I beg you stick to the story as much as you possibly can don’t add or delete scenes from the book it would only piss off the fans!
June 30th, 2009 01:23
Okay, so here’s the dillema: for some unknown reason, movie people hace to make all there characters amazingly beautiful, even wh3en the circumstances do not require it. Which, by the way, is totally bogus for the Uglies movie. I personally think there should be a stark contrast between pretties and uglies, lest the whole theme be nullified.
Other than that… just please, PLEASE do NOT use a Big Face for Tally-wa. Oh, and more on the stark-contrast front: there has to be a major difference between the smokies and specials. They have to be pale, inhuman and move with a sinuous, feral grace that makes them as different from uglies as hawks from field mice. If they’re too human… well, what’s the fun in that? I REALLY hope the producers take that into account. If they don’t and focus instead on beautifying them, then they’ll be just as bad as pretties, all soft and un-predatory. Okay, that sounded weird. You get the picture.
June 30th, 2009 02:06
Yeah Fort Worth in TX,I live in A little suburb outside of it called Benbrook
June 30th, 2009 03:38
Sci-fi Girl: The reason you see this age problem in movies is beacuse there are more laws about working hours and payment and child labor for minors. Its way easier to just get an 18 year old and dumb him/her down to look younger.
And to everyone doubting the special effects of Hollywood: dont. If the people who make an Uglies movie mess it up so badly you want to tear their eyeballs out, they will at the very least get the pretties, specials, and technology effects right.
Hm, nope dont have anything yet
June 30th, 2009 08:19
okay i get that it’s easier to get someone who’s over eighteen..well then get a eighteen year old or a nineteen year old NOT some mid-twenties person.
June 30th, 2009 09:50
They need to remember the setting. The book mentions Death Valley. That means California. Also, I noticed in Bogus to Bubbly that the oceans have moved in on the land so the continent is smaller than it is in modern day. I would also be heart-broken if there were any changes to Shay’s note to Tally or if David didn’t have a crooked smile.
June 30th, 2009 10:35
Don’t forget the SpagBol. I can taste it already.
June 30th, 2009 20:31
Two words… Special effects. If they mess them up it will ruin the entire movie no matter how great they do the plot. And please please please have the characters look relatively close to how they are described in your book. It is an amazing series and I really hope they don’t destroy the movie. Good luck and thank you for the great stories.
June 30th, 2009 20:56
I agree with Rachel (way up there) and grace (SPAGBOL!!). Ooo and also everyone who says characters are important because they REALLY are. I don’t really cared all that much about special effects; characters are definitley most important to me. I LOVE UGLIES!
June 30th, 2009 20:57
oh and I also agree with cryssy j that they NEED to not change Shay’s note to Tally.
June 30th, 2009 23:14
Make sure that you get unknowns that are the same age as the people in the books.
Make sure that your script stays true to the book, and that it doesn’t stray!
Keep the same person through out all of them, lots of people are making it seem like you are gonna change the actor between stages. Keep the same person. Even when Tally was pretty and special, David could still tell that it was her, and the audiance should be able to tell to.
Also, i think you should have an audition in about every state. Just so you don’t possibly miss someone that would make an amazing actor for this person.
Make sure that the actors have read the books, especially bogus to bubbly, even if they have to buy it off the internet, that is eccential!!!
Don’t go to far with the special effects, like the hoverboards and the cities, we need to gasp when we first see it one the theature screen!
June 30th, 2009 23:17
Also, sorry for double posting but you really need to get people who are the same age, i know that would be a tad bit of a problem due to the child labor laws. Even if i took more time, your fans would understand, this book is amazing and it’s going to take time to get the movie as good as or better than the book. I would understand if it took longer, and they would too. Take your time!
June 30th, 2009 23:24
okay, sorry for triple posting, but i think that you should let a few of us fans be extras for anything, like in the smoke, and in Uglieville, and in New Pretty Town!
June 30th, 2009 23:28
I love Uglies and I’m happy there thinking about making a movie out of it, but at the same time I’m worried that it’s not going to be as good as the book, or that it will be rushed too fast. (So some of the important parts would be left out.) Also, make sure your cast DOESN’T include any of the high school musical cast.
Once again I love the books, and I hope you go far and get your dreams answered.
June 30th, 2009 23:48
Sorry to double post, but one more thing, please, please, please, please, PLEASE don’t let them choose Vanessa Hudgens or Hilary Duff or someone like that to play any of the characters. I think it would be better if you chose someone who wasn’t a crazy fan, or totally famous.
I loved the book Twilight, but the movie (and I’m sorry) but the movie was just horrible compared to the book, I think it was too rushed.
So please, just take a deep breath, don’t rush, think, and remember that this book was loved by so many people before it was ever even considered to be a movie.
July 1st, 2009 00:39
I really think that casting is the biggest thing that bugs me about movies made out of books, so the casting has to be spot on. especialy with, Tally, Shay, and David.
July 1st, 2009 01:18
Gabi, I totally agree
July 1st, 2009 04:32
hmmmmmm something they NEED to put in the movie is ME as tally or Shay or anyone! haha
July 2nd, 2009 05:53
The Specials have to be really beautiful but really terrifying at the same time. Please only choose really talented people for the roles, not the people who pay you the most to make them the star or the really famous person who isn’t really talented. Casting directors always think that this will make the movie sell more, but it won’t. It never does. Even unknown people who are extremely talented will sell really well if the movie is done well. In fact, it would be interesting if unknowns played roles such as Tally, Shay and David, because that would fit the characters and the setting in some ways.
July 2nd, 2009 09:36
let me try sum of what should be included in the movie..
1.pick actors that are talented and as close as possible to a realistic age of the characters..the actors should be unknown or an actor that is not overly famous…
2.important quotes should be in the movie..
3. important events.. that even includes small detailed things..
4.the glamour of the pretty world..the nature of the smoke..the specials are as equally beautiful as terrifying.
5. the slang..bogus, bubbly, world-wrecking..
6. hoverboards look authentic
7. the scenary
July 2nd, 2009 09:39
i was thinking it would be awesome that before the movie starts like when the credits are begining to roll and such..tally should be talking like a voiceover… explaining the Rusties and the downfall of the human race..and the rise of a new begining of the cities and the pretty communties..and should end in a question..like questioning something.. like a summary..but a way better verison than that of course…the the movie starts..
what are you’ll you’re opinions?
I’m not demanding or saying that’s how it should start..but was just thinking about it and was wondering of all of you’s think?
July 2nd, 2009 16:20
You should do open auditions in England aswell to get more of a variety of people. Robert Pattinson is English however they found him in L.A but i think you should do OPEN AUDITIONS in LONDON
from me
July 2nd, 2009 21:02
Introducing new people to the uglies film will help people relate more to the characters. Seeing people that come and go on movies are still seen as those characters,say perhaps Elijah wood (frodo). Staying as close as possible to the story line ,even though its not the same for a 2hr movie, will be the best also:enviorment and costums are also crucial. For the producers and directors though using the high-tech special effects will be excellent and make the movie a total wonder and excitement.
P.S. I totally love these books
July 3rd, 2009 11:35
So I started the series a week ago and I just finished it. I loooved it! The weird thing is, I had Uglies and Pretties on my shelf for almost two years and I never read them! Insane… I know… But then I bought the last two, totally happy-making. I’ve always been really critical about the making-books-into-movies thing. I can’t stand it when a great book is ruined cause of a poorly made movie. So…
1. I agree with everyone on casting unknown actors to play Tally, Shay, and David. And hopefully they’ll get the ages right. It’s weird to have 23 yr olds play 16 yr olds.
2. Angelina Jolie would be icy enough to play Dr. Cable. She’s gorgeous, but looks cold and terrifying.
3. The special effects have to be SPECIAL! Everything must look real!
4. Try and have open auditions in as many places as possible, you never know if the perfect Tally or Shay is somewhere other than California. Major cities! Houston, TX maybe? Just a suggestion. ;]
July 3rd, 2009 11:41
I forgot something! It wouldn’t be right to have some super beautiful girl play Tally. Get someone average so the transitions are more clear to the audience. The change from an ugly to a pretty has to be drastic, and the same with changing a pretty to a bad arse special.
July 3rd, 2009 12:26
I’m sorry for a 3rd comment in a row, but I don’t know what it means when it asks for ‘website’ when you leave a reply… I’m so confused!… and sleepy. -_-
July 4th, 2009 00:15
I think You should go as many places as you could for auditions..Maybe just a few mayjor citys such as rochester minnesota. But i think making a movie will be a brillent idea thare are alot of people these days that dont read books inless its a movie. But if you make the movie try to make it to the book thay change alot when you go from book to movie…Love the books.
July 5th, 2009 05:08
ok the most important things are getting the script and plot right. and the characters. maybe to find the right person is just by going to diff states for auditions. and the movie should be close to the book or else you’ll end up with some pretty mad fans…. i pray it wont be screwed up so please really look for the right things.luv these books so dont screw this up or i will hunt u guys down for messing it up…
July 5th, 2009 08:36
“I forgot something! It wouldn’t be right to have some super beautiful girl play Tally. Get someone average so the transitions are more clear to the audience. The change from an ugly to a pretty has to be drastic, and the same with changing a pretty to a bad arse special.”
I 100% agree!!!
July 5th, 2009 09:33
Yay! The prospect of an ‘Uglies’ movie is so exciting. I agree with a lot of the suggestions here, too.
The uglies should look like normal teenagers, not like airbrushed celebrities. The pretties should look as ‘perfect’ as possible without looking completely CGI and fake.
The creation of the world they live in is just as important as the characters. I would be very disappointed if it just felt like a normal city. Plus, I can’t wait to see hoverboards (It’s the next best thing to having one).
I would much rather have the main characters be someone new or unknown. Hollywood uses the same people over and over again. It gets boring. I know there are plenty of talented people out there, and I want to see fresh faces. Plus, something about using the most popular and famous ‘pretties’ in our society seems to go against the themes of the series.
Lastly, please try to promote the movie properly once it is released (yes, I know I’m thinking way too far ahead). I’ve seen way too many movies that were based on books do poorly in the box office (Eragon, The Golden Compass, etc.), and then no sequels are made. I think part of the problem is that the actors don’t do enough interviews and only the most loyal fans know about it and go see the movies. I’d hate to see that happen to yet another wonderful book/movie.
July 6th, 2009 02:06
No blonde Tally…plz…it just doesn’t fit her character.
July 7th, 2009 03:29
i think that tally should have dark dirty blond hair.
but thats just my opinion!
July 7th, 2009 14:05
i always picture tally with light brown hair like the book cover
July 7th, 2009 14:07
NO BLONDE TALLY!!
i always picture her having brown hair maybe with a red-tinge but brown hair!
July 7th, 2009 20:36
ping to zanetallydavidshay and UgliesPrettiesSpecialsExtras
i thought on the cover that she had dark dirty blonde hair and that’s where i got the idea from but now i does kinda look like a light brown
July 7th, 2009 20:58
my list of what the movie needs!
1. Tally, Shay, and David HAVE TO BE unknown actors/actresses. NO hollywood glamour girls!!!!! I’ll be soooo mad!!!!
2. The actors/actresses should be almost the exact same age as the role that they are playing! NO 25 OR 30 year olds playing a 16 year old girl! that just ruins th movie!!!
3. Hoverboards, flash tattoos, and all that stuff HAS TO LOOK REAL!!!!!
July 7th, 2009 21:17
sry i accidently clicked send b4 i was done so i will just do it again.
my list of what the movie needs!
1. Tally, Shay, and David HAVE TO BE unknown actors/actresses. NO hollywood glamour girls!!!!! I’ll be soooo mad!!!!
2. The actors/actresses should be almost the exact same age as the role that they are playing! NO 25 OR 30 year olds playing a 16 year old girl! that just ruins th movie!!!
3. Hoverboards, flash tattoos, and all that stuff HAS TO LOOK REAL!!!!!
4. Tally HAS to wear the pig mask when crashing the party that peris was at in the beginning!
5. The sky NEEDS to be cat vomit pink in the beginning.
6. DO NOT and i repeat do not make all the books into 1 movie!!!
7. The hoverboard ride when Shay and Tally went on the rollercoaster whit the big gap.
8. When Tally jumps off the cliff in specials!
9.PLEASE do NOT ruin this movie like eragon was no where near as good as the book ( thats what i heard) and get better casting people than in twilight!!
10. Script writer and directors and actors HAVE to read the books so that they know what their character is like!!!
Thanks!
NOTE TO PEOPLE MAKING MOVIE (if they read it):
Please don’t mess up this movie! Don’t over do it! and please please please look at our comments and see what we have to say about the movie.
July 8th, 2009 07:38
Alrighty, where do I start? Things that are important to me:
Tally, David, and Shay, (Zane if they make a pretties movie), need to be unknown actors, and pretty darned good ones. At least. They have to be perfect. Don’t make David all cool-guy-ish, he just needs to be sweet and lovable. Keep in mind, he’ll be the one who girls will be going gaga over and having posters of him in their rooms (because obviously if all is right in the world, Uglies will be just as, even more popular than twilight).
Try to use as much of the already existing dialogue as possible! None of that shortening-it-up crap. She has to have her scar. Shay needs pigtails. but those are the minor details
keep in mind when casting rolls, that shay needs to be able to be sooooo moody. Like screaming and crying one minute, and calm, serene (and drunk) the next.
by the way, by UNKNOWN ACTORS i dont mean DANIEL RADCLIFFES. he was just chosen out of the audience, and lets face it, he’s not a wonderful actor.
If the entire movie has to be shortened and squeezed (which i pray it wont be) at least do the ‘what you do, the way you think, makes you beautiful’ scene right.
Try not to get people with British accents, because you can clearly hear Rob Pattinson struggling to maintain his ‘american vampire’ image.
i hate to compare and contrast to twilight, but we can use their mistakes to our advantage!!!!!
sorry, its a while up, but Pony-la said “keep zane’s death” and like i just wanted to say, was it even an option NOT to keep Zane’s death? its one of the most defining points in the WHOLE SERIES!!!!!!
oh and one thing they did in Inkheart was make it happy at the end so that it could or could not be a sequel. i dont even see how they would even do that for uglies!!! if the movie doesnt end with, “I’m Tally Youngblood. Make me pretty.” *screen goes black* I WILL RIP MY HAIR OUT!!!!!
the city has to be IMPECCABLE. it has to give me a chill just looking at it. i have to see it, and say, “It’s perfect.” I need it to take my breathe away.
IMPORTANT QUOTES:
‘I’m Tally Youngblood. Make me pretty.’
‘What you do, the way you think, makes you beautiful.’
‘This is a special circumstance.’
‘We don’t want to hurt you, but we will if we have to.’
‘Hard work’s a good distraction.’
SEMI-IMPORTANT QUOTES (I hate that word. Semi. What does it even mean? Haha.)
‘You can die ugly, for all I care.’
‘Anything but SpagBol.’
‘I guess when everyone in the world is ugly, being pretty is like your job.’ There ARE more
I just REALLY REALLY like the part where Croy leaves her all the shoes cause he sees her barefoot.
Don’t make it EXTREMELY obvious that its the future by using their clothes in the oddest ways. Like dumb ‘futuristic’ gear with odd hats and whatnot. NOT pretty-making.
Oh Scott Westerfeld has to be SUCH a good writer and make me want EVERY LITTLE DETAIL in the movie. I give him MAJOR helens.
HOPE I HELPED!
~MEGAN-LA <3
July 8th, 2009 14:03
THE CAST SHOULD HAVE:
- TALENT!!!! TALENT!!! TALENT!!!! TALENT!!! TALENT!! TALENT!!
- THE AGE OF THE CHARACTERS
- TALLY HAVING BROWN HAIR
- NORMAL/ PLAIN/AVERAGE-LOOKING UGLIES
-DAVID SHOULD HAVE NATURAL LOOKING MUSCLES AS HE LIVES IN THE SMOKE..AND NOT A FULL ON GYM SIX-PACK
- TALLY AND DAVID NEED TO HAVE CHEMISTRY
- DR.CABLE NEEDS TO BEAUTIFULLY CRUEL
July 8th, 2009 14:09
Ping to Megan-la: zane death should even be an option it’s MUST!
and if the movie doesn’t end
” I’m Tally Youngblood.Make me pretty”
i’m going to start a riot haha Srsly!!
An, Deex, Sussy in the sparklers of “The smoke lives!†– this is really an important statement!!!!!!!!
THE GLAMOUR OF THE PRETTY WORLD!!!!! CHAMPAGNE!PARTYS! FRIENDS!POPULARITY!!!
July 8th, 2009 18:05
I think the casting should have a major impact on the movie. I think in “Uglies”, the point you were trying to get through is that its okay to be normal. The directors shouldnt cast perfectly thin, stereotypical “pretties”, they should have characters that fit descriptions to your book. I think it would be best to hold open- auditions just to get a variety of actors and actresses. Also if they dont get the special effects right on, it could ruin the whole movie.
P.S Although maybe doubtful, I think Nicole Kidman would be a great actress to portray Dr. Cable.
July 8th, 2009 20:01
I can see then cutting some scenes all together but others scenes they can make even better. Example would be spong blog. It can show her getting dirty and dirtier as the days pass but show how her supply of food even though excited at first does not dwindle as it should. a great promo would be to have spong blog at the concession stands for sale.
Everyone is correct about the effect of what the cities look like. If done correctly at the right location it could be fantastic.
Some where in the mountains for Smoke
A city with a river and great skyline on only one side like Jacksonville and the other side not so great or high rise like. Jacksonville has great bridges as well.
Make a big deal about casting. I know a ton of my student would be thrilled just to be a stand in.
for the main characters i suggest the older ones (David, his parents) be better known actors, the main character has to be someone less well know. Someone who can be molded int he character like harry potter was.
The whole movie can start with Tally in history class learning why the would is the way it is now with the gas and follow her to her room to daydream about the pretty side you can see off in the distance. Then the movie can really start without a lot of explain left to do.
July 9th, 2009 02:19
They had better make the movie good! Uglies is 1 of my favorite books! Make the Specials creepy, make the pretties pretty, make hoverboarding look real! Please!
July 10th, 2009 09:47
Make a massive difference between the Uglies and the Pretties. And make sure that none of the Pretties look like they have something under their head. Make them all superficially beautiful.
And the Specials be like cats, clawing at the characters.
July 10th, 2009 19:37
ping to Taz what do you mean by something under their heads???????
July 11th, 2009 03:32
There’s something that i think is MAJORLY important. Well, actually a few things. First is that I think that the uglies should NOT wear makeup. The whole point is to make them look repulsive comparred to the pretties. They shouldn’t be all hollywood plastic and then have people talk about how hideous they are without actually seeing all their imperfections. Play up the not-so-glamourus side a little, that’s the whole point of the story.
Next thing is that the hoverboards HAVE TO BE PERFECT!!! Please don’t make it so obvious that its green screen. The physics have to be perfect, the looks have to be perfect, and the feeling has to be like the audience is right on the Boards with Tally and Shay.
Lastly, pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaase make the movie in 3D, but no cheap tricks. Being that its setting is the future and the scenery needs to be so immense, 3D will only make people want to see it even more and make the movie 200% kick ass worthy, that no other movie could even touch it.
Also, Scott, I think that you, or the producers, should do all you can to make it win Best Picture, Best Visual Effects, and Best Actor/Actress to add more to the movie magic. That would be soo icy.
July 11th, 2009 03:53
don’t do it in 3d that wuld ruin i think
July 11th, 2009 04:13
OOOOH. One more thing;
Narrator for verry verry beginning
AWESOME musical score. (I suggest Klause Bandelt, who wrote it for the First Pirates of the Carribean movie. His work on that was awesome)
Big sweeping scenes of the scenery when they travel, like to the Smoke or the Rusty Ruins.
Have some pop/rock songs in the backround during scenes with less dialouge, like trying to escape from the specials with the Boss
One thing that every movie/game that I love is that you should add a couple of jokes poking fun at other books that were turned into epic movies like this one. Like, tease Twilight, Harry Potter, or Lord of the Rings verry subtly. I just think that always adds a little more when there’s a little bit of hidden humor.
Okay, i know that wasn’t just one more thing, but I think that these things are important since I was going to be the one that was going to make this movie. Note to those Producers reading this, if you don’t get one billion percent right, I will personally come to your house and kick your butts. Not to mention I will remake the movie(s) the way they should be. Please, Mr. Scott-la Sir, don’t make any more of your books movies untill I’m out of directing/producing college. Then your free to do what ever you want to do with your books. LOL
July 11th, 2009 22:38
ok, i agree with most things other people have said, such as special effects, ugly uglies, and so on. but i think the uglies shouldn’t be TOO ugly, and no 3-D. my only requirement to absolutely LOVE the movie, like i know i will, is that you make it ACCURATE. like, don’t leave too much out. at. all. i HATE it when movies like twilight and harry potter do that. its like, ill watch the movie over and over, and everytime ill just notice more and more mistakes. that would be sooooo brain-missing of you people to do that. i also think it IS pretty funny when things make references to other things. i just really want this movie to make the book come alive. i want to be able to have the book replayed in my head. i hope the movie plan goes through!!!! ping us when you have more updates!!!!
July 11th, 2009 22:41
Also, David needs character, too.
July 11th, 2009 23:43
ping to moorguhn-la i agree w/ u. iv never seen moorguhn spelled like that, it’s cool, i like it!
July 12th, 2009 03:27
Note: the following comment has nothing to do with the topic.
I am new here and just noticed there already is an alice-wa. Therefore, in a valiant effort not to be a name stealer, i will change my. Tis a great sacrifice.
July 12th, 2009 03:29
see? all better ( drastic times call for drastic measures/asterixs ).
July 12th, 2009 03:30
ping to new Alice-wa u don’t hav to change it just make ur name somethin like this:
Alice~WA
or
alice-wa
or
ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
ummmmmmmmmmmmmmm
that’s all i got! haha! bye!
July 12th, 2009 03:30
haha! u posted like rite when i was writing!
July 12th, 2009 10:16
first of all i think the most important thing is not to make all the characters look like major celebs, it kinda ruins it when u have a big time star in a movie this monumental.**cough twilight cough**.get good actors and people get in their heads about the picture on the book. they think that that’s what the character should look like. so don’t get like, a blond shiny haired hayden pana tiere type to play tally. and shae, same thing. and it cant be a cheap production. like twilight. make it big. youll get more support and it wont be like twilight. (your all psyched at the theater then next week you hate it. make it good. like harry potter. something people will want to watch over and over. i love the books by the way.
deva-wa
July 13th, 2009 05:02
I think it would be an awesome idea to have open casting. but if not I think Andrew Seeley would make an amazing David.
July 13th, 2009 08:41
This would be SO icy if Uglies actually became a movie…
I just hope that they get good actors/actresses, ‘cuz that’s the most important part. I reaaaally want a clearer picture of Tally & Shay in my head, and I hope they find actresses that can pull it off!
Ooohh, & if Pretties ever became a movie..How bubbly would it be to see Zane-la? He’s a major hottie in my mind. <3 Yesss.
July 13th, 2009 09:55
think the uglies shouldn’t be extremely ugly either..they are just plain average looking people..and in society’s eyes that is ugly.
July 17th, 2009 05:42
there should deff NOT be an Uglies movie!!! They would never do it right! Some movies just can’t do books justice, and Uglies is one of them. It’s too unrealistic to even pretend that it would be good. unless they used high dollar equipment like star wars or some shit, but let’s face it. Uglies isn’t as well known as star wars, so they would never use the money needed to make the Uglies movie correctly. Movie= BAD IDEA.
July 19th, 2009 02:40
YA!!!!!! Um, sorry Beth-la but thats very negitave!!! Anyway I think Emily Browning should be Tally and that lady from Narnia Dr. Cable…… but thats it. And hope its special effects arent like Twilight….or they change it at ALL!!!!!! Otherwise… YEEEEAAAAHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
July 20th, 2009 07:02
OKay, so i understand that you have barely started the movie making process. My dad is a screenwriter so i know how long and how hectic it is for someone to write a script. I also know that there is an amazing looking girl in Niangua Missouri, she acted in a couple of our speech tournaments… i even think she has a sister in here. But her name is Caitlin Ryser, and when i read the Series, i saw her one day in the hall with the books, and she is just amazing! She looks just like Tally Youngblood is described in the book. The only problem with her is that she has glasses. But they could fix that!
July 20th, 2009 07:06
OMG!!! I was just going through here and OMG!!! She’s on here!!! Caitlin Ryser is on here!
To Caitlin Ryser: YOU completely rocked Edgar Allen Poes Tell-tale-heart at the Branson Speach tournament!!! Sorry you didn’t place.
July 21st, 2009 09:41
Alexa Vega would make a good Tally I think, if she dyed her hair back from blond, to auburn.
July 21st, 2009 20:00
I think that the song “You found me” by the fays would work perfectly in the movie besides the part in the begining were they say I found god since no one believes in god in Uglies but still it is totally perfect!
July 22nd, 2009 00:41
Okay, there’s just one scene from the books that I have a solid idea of what it looks like, and that’s from Specials when Tally is being ambushed by the Smokies and she catches the arrows in mid-air. I totally hope they keep that scene and do it right. Tally has to be standing on the hoverboard and David has to say “Tally, what did they do to you?”
One other thing, I noticed that people put songs on here and one I think that would be good (Maybe not excellent) is “A Little Bit Longer” by the Jonas Brothers. I know that there are bound to be some haters on this site, but if you just listened to the lyrics, they’re perfect.
It goes all with the part of Uglies where Tally just came back from Special Circumstances and is trying to figure out if she should go to the Smoke or not.
Even for those haters, just look up the lyrics and see for yourself that that is PERFECT. (Okay all caps was a little overkill, but I made my piont)
July 22nd, 2009 07:08
OMFG i love your books!
July 22nd, 2009 07:11
yo Mr Westerfeld!!!,
i soooo totally LOVE your books!!! David is my hero even if he is not a real person!!!
thx!!! hope u mite write more bout tally!!
July 22nd, 2009 11:36
Even if the lyrics are “perfect” as you say
we can’t be having the Jonus brothers associated with Uglies
that would be shameful and I would be embarrased to go to it
July 22nd, 2009 21:24
ping to Beth-La: if u think that there shuldn’t be and Uglies movie then ur crazy!! plz no cussing! keep it clean cuz i am the queen!(of being clean, that is!) well bye! blog u in a week people!
July 23rd, 2009 22:00
Hey
I’m just another one of your fans crazy about Uglies. But I have to say this. I just found out you might make uglies into a movie. Yes i live under a rock jk. Anyway I think it would be so cool. Hope it works out. Although most people say books are better than movies I agree with that person that said Uglies is already a movie. It is so true. Of course you probably know all of that. Anyway good luck. I hope you get to have a real say in the movie if they decide to go through with it. You know with casting and stuff.
PS I hope you don’t use different actors when the characters undergo surgery and stuff.
July 24th, 2009 01:17
the characters should be not famous. like not in alot of movies, or not in any at all. favid, tally, & shay should be brunette. the movie’s gotta end in ” I’m Tally Youngblood, make me pretty.” the uglies gotta be normal looking, not hollywood gorgeouss, but obviously not hideous. they’re called uglies, i know, but that just means normal. use different actors after operations, but some who look somewhat like the uglies, so you can relate them to the actors before the operationn. (: no 3D please,
July 24th, 2009 10:41
I REALLY like the UGLIES series. I am a HUGE fan!!!
( me and my friends sometimes even call each other asia-wa, and virginia-la. haha. )
and I’m super excited that its turning into a movie. The one thing that scares me is I’m afraid that it will ruin my view of the book. SO…most of my thoughts basically agree with dory-la, but I have some extra advice:
While Watching trailers that ppl made of how they think it should be on YOUTUBE like: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebMPjXd0VB0, It made me think of how they might make it. I think you should not let them change a lot. Keep most of it the same, most of the lines, you have to change, obvioulsy, to make it shorter. But try to keep it REAL.
keep the same feel going throughout the movie that there was in the book…x
Its hard to explain my view.
I did the best I can!
(MOST OF MY THOUGHTS AGREE WITH DAR-LA)
July 25th, 2009 12:30
All I ask for is that what everyone else said,
but you cant miss one thing, if you miss one tiny aspect like one bad character then it will make the movie suck. Im sorry but your the one who made the book so freaking amazing and if its off by a little the whole world will be upset and I agree with terrece , cast tilda swinton as cable!
July 26th, 2009 07:51
Tally&Zane, i sooooo agree,and i should say that i really hope you know that they are actually figuring out how to make actual hover boards:]so i think that if they can get a hold on one by time they make the movie(which they better or there will be some heavily hurt serious bubble-heads!)they could use it in the hover boarding scenes.one more thing,the old man from the library has to be really old and able to act!peace to my fellow bubble heads or special heads^_^
July 26th, 2009 07:53
oooooooooooooooppppppppppppppppppppppps i meant they bettter make the movie not get a hover board!soorrrrrrrrry
July 26th, 2009 21:05
Everyone is talking about how uglies,pretties,and specials should look but i want to know what everyone thinks the middle and late pretties will look. I know its a little of subject i just need to know!
July 27th, 2009 03:32
oH My goodness. i loooooooooooove this book so much and is soo glad to see that it is becoming a movie.
what i imagined the book like is how i think the book should be:
i think:
charactors:
they should all look futuristic [ except the smokies ]
uglies should be normal looking as portrayed in the book [ duh ]
pretties should be really pretty people but i agree with the whole nonpopular acorts thing.
specials should have a lot of makeup wich will make them look creepy
smokies should look dirty and kind of grungee but should still look a little like everyday people today.
littlies should just be like regular little kids
middle pretties should look relaxed since they are done partying but should look like they have a lot of plastic surgery as if they are trying to maintain their pretty look.
sets:
the ugliesville should look like a lot of cities that are all white with like one or two trees like its some kind of sico prison. [ since they are trying to brain wash the kids and make ugliesville look dull to them so they will want to become pretty. ]
prettiesville should have all black and silver builings so it will look all shiny and you will be drawn into it. all the bulidings should have balconies with pools and stuff so it looks like a fun envirenmont.
the smoke should look like a camp out with a lot of camp fires randomly in the trees and old rusty buildings with random piles of junk so it will look abandoned. and az’s house should be in the mountains. the smokies houses should look like old cabons.
the special circumstances shouldnt look like a hospital it should look all cement grey with prison fence around it and a whole bunch of creepy looking security guards.
individuals:
tally:
before surgery: like they girl on the cover with light golden brown hair with bangs and almond eyes.
after surgery:red hair all glittery and tall with scar on eye after she falls.
shay:
before surgery: black short bobish hair and adventurish look to her like shes not afriad of anything.
after surgery: long brown curls really tall with glossy eyes and a moving tattoo.
david:
dirty looking boy with short black hair blue eyes kind of short with his little leather jacket!
adventurish looking too but kind of shy looking.
peris:
tall, a little muscular but really skinny with brown spikish hair and green eyes. he should look like he thinks he looks really great and better than everyone else!
croy:
skinny with blonde hair.
zane:
brownish hair kind of like the guy on the pretties cover.
for scott westerfeild
DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO MAKE THE MOVIE NO MATTER WHAT BECAUSE I LOOOOOVE UGLIES AND YOUR A GREAT WRITTER! DONT EVER CHANGE!
and dont change anything about the book for the movie no matter what!!!
love
team zane:)
July 27th, 2009 21:09
ping to TEAMxZANE i agree, if they change the story to fit the big screen, I WILL DIE!!!!!!! I DON’T CARE IF THE MOVIE HAS TO BE 4 HOURS LONG TO GET THE STORY RIGHT!
July 28th, 2009 06:41
Yea, I agree. Even if it is four hours long, as long as it matches the book it will be totally bubbly. You should also make sure you choose characters that look exactly like the book describes the characters. Also, don’t make it all about Tally and Davids love thing because at the begining there is alot of cool adventure!!!!!!!! Please Please please, just remember to not change the plot or anything!
July 28th, 2009 16:39
Music is pretty important. I think you should use the likes of Infected Mushrooms for when Tally is learning how to use the hoverboard. Tehcno. Maybe you could play that song “Deeply Disturbed” (Don’t let the title fool you) by them. Another good song is “The Way (Pretty Girl)” by Sugarcult. It has a good mood to it.
I agree with Alex. Don’t make the whole thing about romance. The romance is only a fifth of it.
To draw in the teen audiance, I guess you should put in the usual little puns in there, similiar to those which are in harry potter, but please, not AS much? Maybe just the same amount as were used in the book. Cause that was perfect
Don’t make charactors bigger then they are. Like Peris. I have a feeling that because he’s the first hot guy coming up on there, they’ll make him into this big deal. Maybe he was a big deal for Tally, but make sure to make it clear that he IS NOT a love interest. And don’t include him in too many parts in the movie. Seriously.
That part when Shay goes to Smoke and leaves Tally all alone should be well portrayed. She’s waiting to be freed of the terrible sullenness of uglyville. It’s got to be a shock when finally she’s taken there and she suddenly has to go to Smoke as a spy. AND make her unwilling and biting back at Dr. Cable’s request. Because Tally’s strong-willed. But also make her a bit unsure of herself as well. And maybe a bit self-concious. We need her to be a role-model, but not too out of our reach, ya know? She has to be REAL.
Also: Have her have squinty, small eyes. And have her have that kind of pushed down nose, maybe similiar to that of emily browning.
And Shay has to be almost a pretty, remember? Skinny (maybe a bit too much) and full lips.
Make sure the actor Zane is up to being sick later in the films. That needs to be done well.
And as you know… please, do NOT put the usual disney charactors in there. This is a movie for teenagers. Not pre-teens.
And please make the hover boards look real. They’re so wicked
Uglies need to all kind of not care what they look like, so they should have NO make-up, and have dirty maybe even messy and greasy hair, and pimpley faces. And they should fight a lot. (In the backrounds? At the dorm?) And be unhappy. That’;s what the book portrays uglies and being, right?
But then… when they go out to do their tricks they let themselves free.
I think the movie should start out with the screen blank, and Tally explains some stuff.
And it shows her looking out her window to Pretty Town. Then she gets a determined face, and sets out. Make the scene pointedly look at the cat-throw-up sky, since that is kind of trademark for being the first sentence in the series to us fans.
And make sure to include the major gadgets. And don’t use too much computer imagery, will you? please? this needs to look real, because of its superb realness in the books.
And get Smoke right too! exactly how it was in the book.
Over-all, I agree with the majority of the people on here.
I think you should write the script.
Or just be there on the set and behind the scenes with them THE WHOLE TIME.
I’m happy you’re getting all this done, finally! I hope it’ll be good! I have faith in youuuu
You’re an awsome author, my favorite actually, and I’m really excited for all this. Thanks for reading my post i hope it wasn’t too long 
July 28th, 2009 16:59
I disagree with a lot of what TEAMxZANE about what people should look like. It’s like she/he missed the point of what people look like in the book.
Here are some things that should be corrected:
Tally: should have squinty eyes (hence the nickname) and NOT have red hair when she turns pretty. I think it should just get this really daaaarrrker, much darker chocolaty brown after. MAYBE. Or it could just be bronz and awsome.
Shay: PIGTAILS! NO BOBBED HAIR WTF!
There should also be a clear contrast between her being ugly, and then when she gets the operation. Adventerous, spontaneous, outgoing, quick..ect., before, then just plain ditzy and the popular-girl type after. I agree on the rest of her.
Peris: I disagree on him. I dunno how else he should look like though. Hot, but not all movie-star looking.
Just have the scenery exactly as you invisioned it in the book and we’ll be happy(: and pick your own pretties, since it is YOUR vision on what kind of pretty is acceptable there. No one else’s opinion will fit accept yours, nor will nothing else be O.K. with everyone unless it’s yours. So there (:
Annddd… okay, well, Zane should look a big like Jared Padalecki, but that’s just my opinion (: Maybe he should have more portruding cheeckbones…. or maybe he could be david?
MAKE SURE DAVID AND TALLY HAVE CHEMISTRY!!
And make sure the movie isn’t girly. Seriously. Please. Those type of things would just kill it. And, if it isn’t girly, you’d get a bigger audience, yes?
“DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO MAKE THE MOVIE NO MATTER WHAT BECAUSE I LOOOOOVE UGLIES AND YOUR A GREAT WRITTER! DONT EVER CHANGE!
and dont change anything about the book for the movie no matter what!!!”
^Ditto to that ALLLLL the WAAAAYYY.
PS the song “Dream Theater” by infected mushrooms (yeah, i know, again) could also play in the backround for when Tally gets into the building at pretty town. Then again, everything was semi-formal, so maybe not….
July 28th, 2009 17:06
***OH BUT OTHERWISE THE CHARACTORS SHOULD NOT BE FAMOUS AT. ALLLLLLLLLLLLL. he could look like that guy, is all.
The charactors should all start off a new. It would be perfect. Maybe the side charactors like Maddie and Dr. Cable and maybe even Peris could be famous, to draw in the people who don’t know what Uglies is more.
DR. CABLE SHOULD NOT BE ANGELINA JOLIE! The image is just WRONG.
I think that that kind of almost “famous” natural-pretty, i forgot what her name was and what they were called, ya know, the really rare ones born pretty? Well, the rich one.. the one the guys like and stuff…I think her name was victoria or something… well. I think she should be Megan Fox. Am I right? She fits the image.
July 28th, 2009 18:58
I would ask can i be in the movie it has always been my dream to be in a movie.
that’s what i would ask
I think Dr.cable should be played by some one famous.
and i think Tally should be played by some one unknown some one not famous.
July 28th, 2009 19:02
i also think you should shot the movie in Pennsylvania because there is a lot of forest out there and it would be realy good for the uglies movie not the prettied though unless you shot that in Pittsburgh pa
July 29th, 2009 19:14
PING to teamxzane the way you said how tally should look……
tally:
before surgery: like they girl on the cover with light golden brown hair with bangs and almond eyes
I have golden brown but i don’t have bands (i cold always get bangs though)
and i have almond eyes……I am not kidding ether
July 30th, 2009 01:18
pkayy uglies was an amazing series. i could not put the books down! and yes i think for uglies shay and tally should be unknown and dr. cable should be popular then david… i could really see him as taylor lautner. pleasee keep the updates coming because i know plenty of people i could get to come and see this movie!
July 30th, 2009 01:19
ohh and p.s. you are and ahh-mazing writer!
July 30th, 2009 01:37
Mike It EHXACTLY like the book!
July 30th, 2009 06:36
GET THE SLANG RIGHT!! DON’T BE BOGUS!!
August 3rd, 2009 13:52
I know the deadline is gone, but just incase you still look here, here goes:
It is 3:00 AM so if there are any typos, I’m sorry.
Lets Start With The FUNDAMENTALS
Uglies is obviously going to be a high budget film. If it isn’t, you’ll never be able to get the amazing graphics and sets etc. Whoever is getting the rights to the film, make sure that they are willing to spend. Like say, Warner Brothers, or Paramount. Not Summit. After they mangled twilight, based on bad publicity alone, handing the rights to them wouldn’t be a good idea. Many people would just see “Summit Entertainment” in the trailor and decide that the movie won’t be good.
CAST
I Know you said that you don’t want any casting suggestions, but this isnt a suggestion, but maybe a guideline?
They have to be normal. Pretty by our standards, but ugly by theirs (The Citizens of Tally’s City), I don’t know how you want them to look, thats your decision. Make sure that you choose people who can handle the roles. Alot of movies choose 18 year olds to act as 15 year olds etc. choose an actual 15 year old. Make all the Actors the same age as the characters. That will make it seem more real, rather than the run-of-the-mill hllywood blockbuster with plastic actors. You can choose whomever you want for the role, famous or unknown, i don’t mind, as long as the actor portrays the character well.
THE RUSTIES
The Rusties are a key part of the book, and I’d hate to see them downplayed. The Rusty Crash Should probably be one of the most epic ation scenes in the movie. Everyone likes a good Armageddon (lol). This is my vision of the whole Rusty Phenomena (In movie style)
There are some scientists developing this bacteria for war, but then something goes horribly wrong and their facility explodes. the spores are flying all over the place in the smoke, and and the camera zooms in to microscopic size and shows the individual spores and how they chemically change the oil. Then the scene swithches to a normal family. They see the smoke, but just think its a normal fire, someone goes to star their car, and then BOOM it explodes. Then the scene switches to many different parts of the earth and shows the destruction and calamity, and the speed between scenes increases, and then come to a striking halt at the end result. The Rusty Ruins. Then A short sequence showing how they re-pieced themselves and built the city. This whole thing may or may not be narrated. Then the scenes of them building the city slowly fade into a classroom in Tally’s history class. At this moment, the tension is high, so a funny scene would do well right here. Just something really out of place and/or random that leaves the audiance cracking up.
I think the Ruins should be just like now, except that the streets are deserted, and there are ALOT of plants. Weeds overgrowing through everything! Windows cracked open and whatnot. I think, to get a really good perspective of what i’m saying you should watch this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rh-lqtxZisA (The first part of the video especially. Its basically a part of a Nat.Geo documentary called “Aftermath: Population Zero” that shows what would happen to the earth if all humans just disappeared. Well that basically covers it.
THE CITY AND THE TECHNOLOGY
—Uglyville—
I never imagined it to be a prison, I always thought it was like a technologically advanced boarding school, with nice facilities: basically a place any “Rusty” child would be perfectly fine with living. But it just seems bad to the Uglies, in comparison with New Pretty Town. Painted in normal colours the rooms normal, not drab like, everything in gray or white, but just basically normal (by our standards). Cause we don’t really hear much about the uglies complaining about where they live, so it can’t be ALL that bad. Well, thats up to you. The river separating the two places must be there. as it is REALLY important, but u must know that, seeing as how you’re the genious behind the series.
—New Pretty Town—
Alot of times, Hollywood percieves future and high-tech to be silver mettallic and blue lights. I don’t think it has to be like that. Nor does it have to be all outragously bright and colourful like in say, Xenon. And the people don’t have to wear clothes that look like foil paper lol. But thats your vision. I think the city should have sleek technology, like everything should be thin and trendy looking, it has to look like something someone living now would want. It has to look realistic. Here’s an example of what I DON’T want it to look like:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsuari9zdjo
This is what it should look like:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCIeyBq1HFY&feature=related
There are some really good ones in that, you should be able to pick them out, like 0:26 and 0:59. or maybe even http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qexcujC3F9s&feature=related
but 0:41-3 only
The Technology should be sleek and simple design. like really simple. less is more. like an ipod touch for example: One screen, and one button.
No flashing lights or buttons lol
NOTE: I always envisioned hoverboards to be like Surfboards, but shorter, like a foot longer than a boogie board.
August 11th, 2009 06:31
the effects and tech
August 12th, 2009 09:21
Now i realize that this is late, but still. Uglies can’t be ruined the way most movies made from book series are (i.e. Twilight, Harry Potter) it’s just too important for that. The script has to be written as a series, or else things will be missing that may prove to be important later on if movies are made for Pretties and Specials and even Extras.
Being someone who likes to keep the movies close to the books i have to say, all the actors should be no names, brand new, except people who can actually act instead of people who just look the part, you have make-up artists for that. It says in Uglies while Shay and Tally are looking at the magazines that Hollywood actors and actresses are not “pretties” or even “uglies” because they are just too thin. I would suggest open casting. And stick true to the book no matter what, no major changes, even you think its for the best, think it through one more time.
August 12th, 2009 12:10
I just want to stress the idea of not screwing up this movie…I would be happy if they stayed true to the book as much as possible! And I know you don’t want us to talk about casting, but as I’ve heard a lot, they should cast someone totally new to the acting world for Tally and Shay, not some big movie-star already with a big name. Music – soundtracks tend to make or break a movie, so please pick the perfect songs for this movie. I’m very excited to see one of my favorite books being made into a movie, but as with Twilight, I was disappointed…it’s very nervous-making seeing this being made into a movie. All I can think to say right now is stress the transitions Tally goes through. How she dreams about being a pretty until Dr. Cable threatens to not give her the surgery which shows that she’ll do anything to become Pretty, and how the Smoke changes her and how she basically becomes her own person and finds out that beauty isn’t only skin deep. This book portrays a message that every young girls should listen to, especially how things are now-a-days.
August 12th, 2009 22:23
My only opinion on the movie is to make sure that the movie resembles the book. Or at least have some resemblence with the book, that way no one will say “I hate the movie because it doesn’t sound or look like the book”, like half of the world does when they see a movie on a book. Also, try to make the equippment on the book look real, no offense, but i dnt want to see a movie with fake hoverboards made out of paper. As for the actors i think that you should pick some people that no one has actually heard of, or pick some people that are good actors not the ones that look in the camera every ten sec. or blink twenty thousand times. AS for shay n tally. I think you should pick the girls off of icarly. i dnt really know why, but i can picture them as good people to play the parts, but i dnt think they have the best experience with a camera. but i think they will do good in there parts. And i know this may sound gay because im a guy, but pick some good guys to. I mean i know their suppose to be ugly cause they never had the operation but try to make them future-istic.
And this is my last problem, im trying to find the book “Pretties”. but im having no luck at my school, so i was wondering if you could put “pretties” online for free? Please, im tired of having to go through 5 different websites at school for no reason, cause all i could find is book reviews or comments. And here in the Early college they block websites with pictures for some reason. But the point is, put the book “pretties” online for free or let me know a website so i can read it for free. thanx
From Aaron Collazo
-Laugh & Smile Always-
August 20th, 2009 11:31
I would really love to know if they will have casting calls. I am 110% interested in being part of this film!
August 21st, 2009 17:53
This may be unrealistic to ask, but I am going to ask anyway. When they pick the male actors, make sure they dont pick fru fru pansy looking ones lol. Please, let them look like men.
And they can not mes up the specials!!!! They need to be perfect. Dead on and scary looking.
Tell them to take their time and pay attention to details.
Thats all I have to say.
August 23rd, 2009 02:34
Try to capture the mysterious and somewhat irking vibe of the book, because that’s important. Also, I totally agree with everyone who says that the uglies should just be normal looking people, and I think it would be cool if all the main characters were undiscovered actors and actresses (with lots of talent, of course!). If it’s possible, pretties should be highly airbrushed or at least altered with CG/other computer technology to make them look unnaturally perfect. I’m also a bit worried about how the Specials will look– if they don’t portray what’s in the book (freakishly beautiful, with a razor-sharp voice), it will be very lame and I assure you us fans will be very disappointed! They should make the audience gasp in the movie theater, in my opinion.
Overall I’m extremely excited for the movie, and I think if lots of work and lots of thought is put into it it will be an amazing portrayal of a fantastic book!
August 26th, 2009 03:30
The Character have to be perfect. I will murder the producers if the characters aren’t right.
also, they need to make the plot, and the way the city is clear, everything needs to be very clear so that people who haven’t read the books will understand.
August 26th, 2009 03:32
Oh, and they better make Zane cute (sorry for double posting) I LOVe the books, I can’t wait for the movie to come out
August 31st, 2009 07:41
please, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE DO NOT LET THEM SCREW THIS UP. Don’t let them lose the imagination this book has. Don’t let them overwhelm the book’s awesomeness by making an overly sappy romantic drama.
August 31st, 2009 10:47
I know I am way past the date requirment but I think they should check out the song Rangers by A Fine Frenzy. I believe it goes very well with the Uglies book and even the whole series. It would be the perfect headline song for the movie just as Decode by Paramore was for Twilight. And they should hire unknown actors. Big fan!
September 5th, 2009 03:23
This is kinda past the date requirment, but anyways. Ok I don’t really want there to be a movie, but if there is I hope it won’t ruin the book. The characters should just be unknown actors and actresses, uglies should just be normal people(not hard at all), pretties should be freakishly beautiful/gorgeous airbrushed and perfect, specials have to be just right. They need to be beautiful, but scary, sharp features, razor sharp features, everyone who hasn’t read the books (which they totally should before they see the movie) need to be suprised at how they look, and people who have read the books I hope it won’t ruin how they think that they should look, I think it might. (If your casting for Uglies put it on your blog and where they’re casting, I would only be one of the backround uglies if I got a part, but it would still be fun) Possibly no one would even see this comment but I’m writing it anyways. Thanks for listening (well reading, possibly)!
TTYL PPLS 
September 5th, 2009 22:51
i sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo agree that it should be as long as it needs to be even if it takes 7 hours long.idont care how long it takes i would watch it any way.who wouldnt and i understand there would be a ton of dead produsers if it was hacked to pieces to make it short.
September 7th, 2009 19:46
dono if its to late to contribute and i think its kinda bout casting but you have to remember that the people in these books change a lot (by surgeries) so you have to get flexible actors or ones that can be switched by someone with a similar voice, and i’d be fool if you made the rusty building replicas of actual biulding everyone knows now but all rusted.
P.S.-scott-la new midnighters!
September 8th, 2009 04:19
hehe
September 13th, 2009 09:43
OMg!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! sorry I just screamed so much I totally forgot what I was about to say..
September 13th, 2009 20:53
Do the opposite of everything that Eragon did and you’ll be good. xD
September 13th, 2009 22:00
I’m not the same person as jessie-wa above, but NO WHAT SHE SAID!!!! And you need to put in QUOTES QUOTES QUOTES!!!!!
September 14th, 2009 04:28
I love uglies
I can’t wait for the movie to come out 
September 14th, 2009 04:31
sorry you found me is by the FRAY not the FAYZ thats in a book
September 21st, 2009 07:47
HOVERBORDS! I mean “Back to the future” could do it, why can’t you?!
September 24th, 2009 14:45
Umm first, i think that whoever is in charge of writing, and the producers, directors and other assorted movie peoples need to read the book, and get scenes from the book into the movie as best as they can because the imagery that you put in there, Mr Westerfeld is awesomeeeee
And there are certain actresses I despise so here are some suggestions on who NOT to put… Miley Cyrus, any Disney mega-bitch (see Miley Cyrus), Megan Fox, Taylor Swift (she’s too pretty anyways) and definitely not who was it again?? Oh yeah, the QUEEN OF CRAPPY ACTING: Kristen Stewart Please, please noo…..