Robyn Rychards | Movies as Inspiration

March 26, 2014

Let's talk movies. I have yet to run across someone who doesn't like them. Personally, they're one of my favorite hobbies. I enjoy a variety of genres, though Chick Flicks, Dramas and Sci-Fi are my top three. They need to have a believable happy-ever-after though. Real life has enough tragedy. A get-away to the mountains for a weekend to watch movies and eat delicious things is definitely on my to-do list.

As a writer, movies can inspire a story for me, as was the case with my debut, HER MAN FROM SHILO. I watched a rerun of The Thorn Birds and it left me wanting a hero and heroine who had known each other since they were young but ended up enjoying a happy marriage rather than the emotional trauma that was the story of Megan and Ralph's lives. A movie sparked an idea for the story I'm working on right now as well. However, HER KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOUR came to life after I read a book. I decided I wanted to write something that had the Hero and Heroine running from a common enemy. As I was pondering different scenarios for this, trying to find something I felt was doable for me, I thought about Sleeping With the Enemy. Though I had to do some research to gain the knowledge needed to write a story that had a heroine who was an abuse victim, I decided I could tackle it. Recently I watched Safe Haven which has the same type of heroine and it made me want to write another story with that trope. So sue me, I like the ‘damsel in distress' scenario. LOL! For the moment, using Josh Duhamel as my hero in my current work in progress comes close enough. Oh is he ever yummy! And yes, the story I'm working on now is also inspired by a movie. What kind of movies do you enjoy? If you could change a movie you like to make it suit you better, what movie would it be and what would you do?

About HER KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOUR

HER KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOUR

Paisley doesn’t need a knight in shining armour to rescue her from her high-powered, abusive ex-husband. She’s got it covered on her own: she's changed her name, liquidated her assets, and has a plan to disappear in the Rocky Mountain National Park.

Psychiatrist Sterling James has absolutely no intention of being anyone’s saviour. The only woman he has any time for is his sister. But circumstances change when Sterling finds Paisley in an unexpected and life-threatening situation. Brought in to the drama of her escape, Sterling finds himself invested, and he can't move on until he knows Paisley is going to be safe.

It should be a simple enough exercise to get Paisley out of the park and into her new life. But nothing is ever as simple as it should be, and Sterling soon discovers that even if her ex-husband buys the set-up, he might not be able to watch Paisley go...

Comments

48 comments posted.

Re: Robyn Rychards | Movies as Inspiration

Now you can say you've met someone who doesn't care for movies!! My feeling is that they don't make movies the way they used to in the old days. I have seen Sherlock Holmes and Ironman, though, because I'm a fan of Robert Downey Jr., but other than that, I don't care for the movies that are made today. A lot of them have too much violence and the language is uncalled for. I'm not a prude by any stretch of the imagination, but the "f" word pops up every second word, and I personally find it distasteful and unnecessary to get a point across. My Husband, on the other hand, watches movies on his portable player 2-3 times a week. I'm content to listen to music instead.
(Peggy Roberson 11:35am March 25, 2014)

I have to say Peggy Roberson is correct in that movies now a
days have too much violence and "F this" "F that" to be to
my liking. However, I do love to see a good movie be it
action, romance, thriller, or sci-fi. What would I change,
now that would be hard to say. Is it so hard to put the book
into a movie that you lose half the plot or the main reason
you read the book to begin with. I was not thrilled with the
movie of Janet Evanovich's One for the Money. It didn't
even have half the book in the movie! That would be what I
would change, stick to the book more.!
(Tina Ullrich 12:25pm March 25, 2014)

I hear you Peggy Robertson, there is a lot of movies out
these days that are junk and the language can take away from
the story rather than add to it. I really enjoy a lot of the
vintage movies. Do you have any favorites?
(Robyn Rychards 12:46pm March 25, 2014)

I enjoy chick flicks or Disney movies
(Patricia Wagner 12:47pm March 25, 2014)

I agree with you Tina Ullrich! The movie, ONE FOR THE MONEY
was a big let-down from the book which I really enjoyed.
Sometimes the books have way too much to put in the movie
version, and I think they did a really good job with THE
HUNGER GAMES. Though they couldn't include everything from
the book, they stayed pretty true to the story and it didn't
leave me feeling ripped off like ONE FOR THE MONEY did.
(Robyn Rychards 12:51pm March 25, 2014)

Hi Patricia! I really like the Disney movies too. Thank
goodness, since I have four kids and have had to watch them
all repeatedly!
(Robyn Rychards 12:52pm March 25, 2014)

I enjoy action movies, animated, and some movies like Safe Haven... I agree with Peggy about all of the cursing... I do not understand a dialogue with every other word a curse. I actually read more than watch movies anymore... I find more enjoyment in books.
(Colleen Conklin 1:00pm March 25, 2014)

I do enjoy the action movies as well, Colleen Conklin. DIE
HARD, THE ITALIAN JOB, James Bond. But there's nothing like
a book, for sure!
(Robyn Rychards 1:20pm March 25, 2014)

I don't watch many movies, but when I do they're usually old black and white ones, or musicals.
(Jen Barnard 1:47pm March 25, 2014)

I only watch and am interested in Foreign movies since they
are unforgettable, memorable, worthwhile, beautiful and
meaningful. Not trash and disgusting.
(Sharon Berger 3:12pm March 25, 2014)

I love movies - good movies - and that means I seldom look at movies that are released to great hype. I like mysteries, love stories, comedies, foreign films. Right now we apparently are in an era when the movies are either derivative, not very well written and starring people who have great hair, but not much else.
(Annette Naish 3:19pm March 25, 2014)

I like movies from books if they don't chop it all up.
Honestly, I would redo the last Harry Potter movies to better
coincide with the books.
(Lennette Daniels 4:05pm March 25, 2014)

I am not a big movie watcher either. I love tv though! I watch a lot of series tv shows and I admit some reality, too.
(Denise Austin 4:50pm March 25, 2014)

I like comedies or the old musicals, like Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.
(Marcy Shuler 6:00pm March 25, 2014)

Hi Jan Barnard! I enjoy the old black and white movies as
well as the musicals. My kids even enjoyed watching IT
HAPPENED ONE NIGHT with me and wanted to watch it again!
(Robyn Rychards 6:15pm March 25, 2014)

Thanks for stopping by Sharon Berger! I can appreciate how
memorable foreign films can be. When I was in high school my
French class went on a field trip to see THE TALL BLONDE MAN
WITH THE ONE RED SHOE. Still remember that film fondly. :D
(Robyn Rychards 6:17pm March 25, 2014)

Good movies with quality actors are getting harder and harder
to come by these days Annette Naish. And so many times lame
movies have a bunch of hype leading you to believe they are
so much more than they really are.
(Robyn Rychards 6:20pm March 25, 2014)

Hi L Lam! I agree with you about the ending to the Titanic.
As I heard a comedian say recently, 'There's enough room on
that piece of wood for Jack too.' :D
(Robyn Rychards 6:22pm March 25, 2014)

Finding a movie that does justice to the book is hard to come
by, I think, Lennette Daniels. I'm not sure which is better
either, reading the book first or seeing the movie...
(Robyn Rychards 6:24pm March 25, 2014)

Hi Denise Austin! There are several TV series shows that I
enjoy and, I'll confess, I like watching Survivor... :)
(Robyn Rychards 6:26pm March 25, 2014)

I enjoy comedies and musicals as well, Marcelyn Shuler,
including SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS. An old comedy
we've been into lately is BAREFOOT IN THE PARK. We had to get
our own copy of it so we could watch it whenever we wanted.
(Robyn Rychards 6:29pm March 25, 2014)

I don't care much for movies. I prefer books. But I do watch Disney movies with my grandkids.
(Debra Bechard 6:33pm March 25, 2014)

I love urban fantasies, romances, mysteries, comedies and
more. I can't think of one I'd change off the top of my head
but... after I see a movie, unless I'm wowed by it, I usually
have some ideas then... :-))) Thanks for the giveaway!
(Linda Townsend 8:37pm March 25, 2014)

I like movies, but have not been to the theater in YEARS. I
prefer to watch them at home on the TV.
(Barbara Studer 8:46pm March 25, 2014)

I usually watch a popular movie first and then read the book. I found that reading the book first and then the movie is such a huge let-down. The book is better than the movie unless the movie keep to the book storyline.
(Kai Wong 10:13pm March 25, 2014)

i like comedies, romance, a little of both together movies
(Denise Smith 12:29pm March 26, 2014)

I love watching movies. I'm a bit selective, but will watch
across most genres.
(Mary Preston 7:57am March 26, 2014)

Most of the movies coming out are not to my liking but if I stick to the Disney movies or DreamWorks I do pretty good! HA
(Bonnie Capuano 8:54am March 26, 2014)

I'm a big fan of "old" classic movies, but I also enjoy trying newer movies, too. I agree with everyone that says there's way too much foul language in the more recent movies. I love action movies, and romance, and comedies, and just about anything that's not too scary. Your books sounds wonderful, Robyn. Thanks for today's blog.
(Nancy Reynolds 9:28am March 26, 2014)

I love old Hollywood and the classics. Especially the musicals.
(Pam Howell 10:28am March 26, 2014)

Hi Debra Bechard! Glad to hear you prefer books. ;) It's
nice to have people to read what I write! I really enjoy
both, and it would be hard for me to pick a favorite. It
totally depends on what I'm in the mood for at the moment.
(Robyn Rychards 11:59am March 26, 2014)

I know what you mean, Linda Townsend. Most of the time, I
can only think of what I'd do different right after I'm done
watching the movie. The ones I remember are the ones that
give me a story idea or I really hate how it ended.
(Robyn Rychards 12:02pm March 26, 2014)

Barbara Studer, I too prefer to watch movies at home, though
there are some that are worth paying for at the theatre with
the surround sound, giant screen and special effects. Most of
the movies I go to these days are because it's a special
treat for my kids. So it's not necessarily one I'd choose!
(Robyn Rychards 12:04pm March 26, 2014)

Kai Wong, I do agree with you. I think the only book that I
read first then watched the movie and it wasn't a total let
down was HUNGER GAMES. Though they weren't able to include
everything from the book in the movie because of time, I
thought they did a pretty good job of sticking close to the
story. I also felt like I had a better understanding of the
movie because I had read the book. The problem I have with
watching the movie and then reading the book is that you
know what happens before you read it. However, I saw GONE
WITH THE WIND before I read the book and that didn't stop me
from thoroughly enjoying the book. I think there's pluses
and minuses for either way of doing it. Tough call!
(Robyn Rychards 12:11pm March 26, 2014)

Nobi Ta, I think we need to have a realistic perspective of
life and not expect it to be like the movies or books that
we read, that only leads to disappointment and unhappiness.
Just like we can't expect Darth Vader to take over, or
Captain Kirk to show up and save the world, we can't expect
people and relationships to be like the ones we see in
movies or literature. Though there are some similarities to
real life, it's all make believe, fantasy, entertainment.
Thinking our life can be like that only leads to
disappointment. We need to be realistic in our expectations
in order to find happiness and contentment. Not that we
can't chase our dreams! My dream of becoming an author came
true but it took hard work and a lot of perseverance when
things didn't look good. Because life is full of problems,
tragedy and disappointment, I don't need to have that in my
entertainment. My entertainment is an escape from reality
for me. I like my happy ending even if it doesn't work that
way most of the time in real life. I hope that's what you
were looking for in asking me to share my thoughts. :D
Thanks for stopping by!
(Robyn Rychards 12:22pm March 26, 2014)

Thanks for sharing Denise Smith! I enjoy romance, comedy and
RomCom as well!
(Robyn Rychards 12:23pm March 26, 2014)

Thanks for stopping by Mary Preston. Variety is the spice of
life, right?
(Robyn Rychards 12:25pm March 26, 2014)

Bonnie Capuano, I agree with you. Good movies are harder and
harder to come by, though Disney and Dreamworks still give us
some good stuff. :D
(Robyn Rychards 12:27pm March 26, 2014)

You're welcome. Happy to hear you like the sound of my book
Nancy Reynolds! I too don't like anything scary, as well as
creepy or too bloody.
(Robyn Rychards 12:29pm March 26, 2014)

Hi Pam Howell! Since I was a teenager I've enjoyed musicals.
The first one being SOUND OF MUSIC, of course!
(Robyn Rychards 12:31pm March 26, 2014)

this looks good.
(Tina Lechuga 1:14pm March 26, 2014)

I love movies almost as much as I love books! My all time favorite movie is Bringing Up Baby. I fell in love with Cary Grant in my early 20s and thirty years later he is still my favorite movie star. I also watch a lot of tv and a lot of both movies and tv on netflix.
(Robin Mayerhoefer 4:03pm March 26, 2014)

I really do not like when a movie is taken from a book. There is never enough time for a movie to tell the whole story an author tells.
(Cindy Olp 9:28pm March 26, 2014)

I generally enjoy romance. Romantic comedy. There are a few dramatic ones that I enjoy.
(Lisa Hutson 9:50pm March 26, 2014)

I enjoy many types of movies including romance, mysteries, musicals, fantasy and adventure.
(Bonnie H 9:58pm March 26, 2014)

What about Howard Keel in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers? I
always enjoyed watching all of the guys in that movie!
(Marcia Berbeza 10:15pm March 26, 2014)

I enjoy Romance types of movies. Thanks for the giveaway.
(Kathleen Beale 7:21pm March 27, 2014)

I love movies. especially fantasy and sy-fy. sometimes if i
see a trailer of a movie taken from a book i try to read the
book first even knowing that it will ruin my vision of the
movie. bad habit lol :)
(Sarah Hansrote 10:32pm March 31, 2014)

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