Challenging the dichotomy
between reading a book and watching a movie, a film can include writing lessons
within a narrative that is oriented to a romance and the business of a
publishing house signing a writer for a second book. In the film, Shadows in the Sun (2005),
Jeremy, a young employee of a major publisher, is sent by his brass, business-minded
boss, Andrew Benton, to sign Weldon Parish, who lives hundreds of miles away
from London and has retired from writing due to his fear of failure. In
resisting Jeremy’s efforts to manipulate him to sign, Parish agrees to talk
shop with the young writer. Although by no means a major part of the film,
Weldon’s brief lessons and exercises can be of use to viewers. Film can indeed serve
the cause of writing rather than merely draw readers away from books to the
screen. In fact, astute viewers can critique the brief lessons and thus
actively make use of film for intellectual and vocational purposes. Going
through the lessons and exercises in the film can illustrate such an active
engagement.
The full essay is at "Shadows in the Sun."
