Dr. Rosanne Welch hard at work, as always. Off to Vienna for the #screenwritingresearchnetwork Conference then Sicily to see family next week.

@drrosannewelch hard at work, as always. Off to Vienna for the #screenwritingresearchnetwork Conference then Sicily to see family next week.

 

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On-board our first flight with complimentary champagne. What a way to start our journey! via Instagram [Photography]

On-board our first flight with complimentary champagne. What a way to start our journey! via Instagram [Photography]

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Dr. Rosanne Welch at the beach in Stazzo, Italy via Instagram [Photography]

Dr. Rosanne Welch at the beach in Stazzo, Italy via Instagram [Photography]

The accidental pose reminds me of the Venus de Milo.

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Dr. Rosanne Welch speaks during Screenwriting Research Network Roundtable in Vienna via Instagram [Photography]

Dr. Rosanne Welch speaks during Screenwriting Research Network Roundtable in Vienna via Instagram [Photography]

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I (@douglaswelch) grabbed a photo of Rosanne at M Street Coffee while we enjoyed our iced lattes. A short break between errands today via Instagram [Photography]

I (@douglaswelch) grabbed a photo of Rosanne at M Street Coffee while we enjoyed our iced lattes. A short break between errands today via Instagram [Photography]

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Brunch at Fika Fika, Pasadena before podcast recording. Yum! (2 Photos) via Instagram [Photography]

Brunch at Fika Fika, Pasadena before podcast recording. Yum! (2 Photos) via Instagram [Photography]

Brunch at Fika Fika, Pasadena before podcast recording. Yum! (2 Photos) via Instagram [Photography]

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Losing the Real Girl in Adapting Gidget with Dr. Rosanne Welch

Losing the Real Girl in Adapting Gidget

On Saturday, August 6th I had the pleasure of giving an Introductory lecture on Adaptation before a screening of the movie Gidget. Written by Gabriele Upton the film was based on the novel by screenwriter Frederick Kohner which was itself based on the diaries of his daughter, Kathy Kohner, about the summer she learned to surf.

Losing the Real Girl in Adapting Gidget with Dr. Rosanne Welch

I focused on the fact that the book is a love story between a young woman and a sport – surfing – whereas the movie became a more generic love story about a girl and a college boy. While it has been enjoyed over the years its saccharine take has kept readers from discovering the real excitement and joy of independence Kathy (nicknamed Gidget) found that summer in Malibu. She made a series of important decisions about her life and proved herself among a group of seasoned male athletes simply by working hard at being good enough to surf alongside them. I ended by illustrating how the TV series (written by Ruth Brooks Flippen and starring Sally Field in her first big role) managed to capture the truth of the novel better than the 3 films made from it – which oddly starred 3 different women in the lead role but the same male lead – as if the films belong to Moondoggie but the TV show belonged once again to Kathy.

Losing the Real Girl in Adapting Gidget with Dr. Rosanne Welch

I had the great treat of bringing my 2 MFA cohorts to the Autry Museum for the event so they could check out the museum before the show. Then we all had the great treat of being joined by the real Kathy Kohner Zuckerman herself along with a group of young female surfers who wanted to watch the movie and meet an idol. Thanks to Ben Fitzsimmons for inviting us all to create this event together. And remember whenever you see a film based on a book that reading the book will make for an even richer experience of the story.

Losing the Real Girl in Adapting Gidget with Dr. Rosanne Welch

Powers Cameragraph projector, c. 1904-06, Hollywood Heritage Museum (Lasky-DeMille Barn) via Instagram [Photography]

Powers Cameragraph projector, c. 1904-06, Hollywood Heritage Museum (Lasky-DeMille Barn) via Instagram [Photography]

From Curator, Richard Adkins…

“This is a Powers Cameragraph projector, c. 1904-06. It is without its original housing, which would have been a metal box not unlike the Powers projector that is on display to the right of this mechanism. It comes from the estate of Richard Nederhauser, a projectionist who later was in charge of all technical updates for the Metropolitan Theatre chain.”

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DeMille Office, Hollywood Heritage Museum (Lasky-DeMille Barn) via Instagram

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Rosanne In Mr. DeMille’s Office , Hollywood Heritage Museum (Lasky-DeMille Barn) via Instagram [Photography]

Rosanne In Mr. DeMille’s Office , Hollywood Heritage Museum (Lasky-DeMille Barn)

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DeMille Office, Hollywood Heritage Museum (Lasky-DeMille Barn) via Instagram

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Vintage Film Makeup Kit, Hollywood Heritage Museum (Lasky-DeMille Barn) via Instagram [Photography]

Vintage Film Makeup Kit, Hollywood Heritage Museum (Lasky-DeMille Barn) via Instagram [Photography]

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DeMille Office, Hollywood Heritage Museum (Lasky-DeMille Barn) via Instagram

Visit The Hollywood Heritage Museum