September 27 marks the start of a week long celebration of freedom to read and opposition to censorship. According to the American Library Association, more than 400 books were challenged in 2007. The Golden Compass came in at #4 most challenged, with the primary complaint being its “religious viewpoint”. The week will feature displays in public libraries and events with authors reading sections from their favourite banned or challenged books.
The censorship issue has been a topical one, appearing in the 2008 US presidential elections when it was revealed that Republican Vice-President nominee Sarah Palin had once enquired to her town librarian about the procedure for banning books with inappropriate language, although there have not been any reports of further action being taken. The controversy surrounding The Golden Compass movie is also fresh in the minds of His Dark Materials fans, with the “misdirected” attacks lamented by Mr Pullman for their effect on the film’s box office receipts in the US.
Further details about the anti-censorship week can be found on the banned books website.
Dynamic Enterprises‘ film adaptation of Philip Pullman’s novel The Butterfly Tattoo (a.k.a. “The White Mercedes”) will open this coming Friday the 19th in New York City at 410pm at the New York International Independent Film and Video Festival. Director Phil Hawkins and lead actress Jessica Blake will be in attendance. Tickets are available at the festival website or through the producers.
The Butterfly Tattoo enjoyed its world premiere last week in Vlissingen in the Netherlands at the Film by the Sea Festival, where it earned 4 out of 5 stars and nation-wide media attention. In addition, it is showing in other European film festivals and in Swedish and UK tie-in educational campaigns. Excited about upcoming screenings? Talk about it here or visit the official site.
The film adaptation of Pullman’s novel The Butterfly Tattoo (previously published as “The White Mercedes”) will open Saturday, 13th September at the Film by the Sea Festival at Vlissingen in the Netherlands. With its world premiere at the Big Theatre, this independent production by Dynamic Enterprises will share a screen with such predecessors as Babel, Das Leben der Anderen, and Chocolat. “TBT” will also screen at the Dutch Film Festival in late September, followed by the New York International Independent Film and Video Festival on 19th September as opening feature. Director Phil Hawkins won “Best Director” award at the 2006 edition of the New York festival for his first film as director, The Women of Troy.
Visit the official site for more information.
Last month, we reported that Mr Pullman had been invited to showcase his favourite books at Waterstone’s Writer’s Table. He has now exclusively revealed to the TimesOnline what those books are and how he chose them.
On Eoin Colfer’s recent publicity tour of the United States to promote his latest offering in the Artemis Fowl series, he was asked during an audience Q&A, according to blog ‘educating alice‘, how he planned out his books. His response was: “I go down to Philip Pullman’s house and go through his trash.” An interesting, but clearly effective approach to writing! To read the blog in full click here.
