Griselda: The TV
Series
Oliver has been pondering
what a TV series about Griselda would be like. At Convulsion C2K in July 2000
he included in The Griselda Experience spot a discussion of how one might go
about casting the wide range of characters from the stories. Some updates below date
from the time of Convulsion CO2 in July 2002, where this matter was discussed
again during The Griselda Experience, following reading of the latest story,
"Meet the Parents", to which there are references below. Further
updatings have been made, up to May 2006. Any comments and suggestions will
always be welcome. Ideal Casting for a Griselda Series This all started when,
having become quite suddenly (in April 2000) hopelessly addicted to FRIENDS,
I wondered one day whether Jennifer Aniston might not make a good Griselda.
It is fun to imagine one's characters in the guise of familiar actors, and so
I began to develop a list of castings based on who might look and/or play the
parts well, in a series on the lines of the Hercules and Xena series, but set
in and around Pavis. The Hercules\Xena actors are obvious choices (though I
have only used some below), since they are used to playing in fantasy
already, but there are any number of actors (e.g. several in Lord of the
Rings) who can play tough male adventurer types, government and military
high-ups, and lowlifes who are just around, nor are tough female adventurer
types that hard to find. I have relied mainly on
the rather random sample of films, videos, and TV series that I have seen or
encountered, and I am sure that I have missed some whose names would be
familiar in the States. Comments below reflect some responses when I read the
original version at Convulsion C2K and correspondence on the matter with
interested parties, including my good friend and best Griselda-critic Philip
Kemp, an aficionado of film. One basic problem with
casting, which applies particularly in Griselda's case but has knock-on
effects with Ferdie and Red Hot in particular, since neither should be much
taller than Griselda, is that modern actors are often quite tall. Colouring
of hair etc. is not such a problem, but the basic looks of major characters
like Griselda, Wolfhead and Red Hot as described in the stories ought to be
adhered to. Griselda Obviously this is is the
big one. Griselda has to look very short, red-haired and blue-eyed. She must
combine an appearance that is harmless at a casual glance with the capacity
to turn extremely ferocious, not to say terrifying, when she is angry, or
even just displeased. It is also important that she is in her mid-twenties
when the stories take place, and there is a limit to how far any actress,
however good, can look young. Jennifer Aniston was universally rejected at
Convulsion C2K, and I am forced to concede that she is a bit too tall and
probably could not come on fierce enough; I have suggested a 'guest star'
role for her below. I also thought of Soleil Moon Frye (once star, I have
learned, of an American series called Punky Brewster), who plays Katie,
Joey's girlfriend who keeps hitting him in F·R·I·E·N·D·S Series 5 Episode 15; she has the right size
and hair colour, but doubt if she could come on fierce enough either. Jodie
Foster was the most generally acceptable suggestion at Convulsion C2K, but
she is not as young as she was, and was not approved at Convulsion CO2,
where, of other possibilities mentioned then or since, Alyson Hannigan got
some voices. My most recent view, after
seeing The Opposite of Sex and the Ally McBeal episodes in which she played
the part of a vamp attorney with immense enthusiasm, is that Christina Ricci
has far the best potential. Though naturally a brunette, she is blond in The
Opposite of Sex, so changing her hair colour shouldn't be a problem, and
close inspection of some pictures on the web shows that she has blue eyes, if
not as bright as Griselda's might be. She is also closest to Griselda in
height, at a reported 5'1". But a problem noticed recently (2005) is
that she has become rather thin! She had some support at Convulsion CO2,
where Natalie Portman (5'3"), who would have to change hair and eye
colour, was also mentioned. Possibles: Reese
Witherspoon (5' 2") and Keira Knightley (5' 7"); but I feel
neither could look ferocious enough Griselda's Relatives Hereward (father) Bob Hoskins? (maybe better
as Rowdy Djoh Lo) Jodie Foster or Gillian
Anderson? Ferdie (brother) Bruce Campbell (Autolycus
in Hercules\Xena)? Drawback is that he is rather tall. Belladonna (first cousin) Cameron Diaz Lucilla (Different Shades
of Red; first cousin) Jennifer Aniston (with
hair dyed red, as during one part of F·R·I·E·N·D·S
series) looks just about young enough still, but better might be Alyson
Hannigan (5' 6") Uncle Brand (All in the
Family; uncle, Belladonna's father) Clint Eastwood Wolfhead (distant cousin) Having seen his
performance in The Whole Nine Yards, I think Bruce Willis looks the
definitive Wolfhead, with a splendid air of controlled menace and equally terrifying
geniality. Other possibilities suggested have been Sean Bean (see also
below), and Russell Crowe. Major Personalities in Pavis Sor-Eel the Governor Danny DeVito (this casting
got the best laugh at both Cons where this item was presented, so agreed by
acclamation) Jaxarte Whyded (his
nephew) Leonardo di Caprio met
general approval at both Cons, but he is now getting more mature, and maybe
someone appearing more ingenuous is needed Constable Jorjar Gene Hackman Fleeter Nemm Sean Connery? Possibly too
old now; Fleeter Nemm should be no more than middle-aged. Broosta ('that smart
priestess', Fleeter Nemm's wife) Courteney Cox Arquette? (Anjelica Huston, my
original choice, has aged too much) Loud Lilina Maggie Wheeler (Janice in
F·R·I·E·N·D·S) or Ellen DeGeneres Rowdy Djoh Lo Bob Hoskins Criminals and Adventurers (who are generally around) Olaf the Storyteller (I think I look too old
and not disreputable enough, although I suppose makeup could change that!) Christopher Lloyd of Back
to the Future and a lot more was suggested at Convulsion CO2, but he is now
closing on 68. (Olaf is no more than young middleaged, a contemporary of
Treasure Trove Hurbi) Snakefang Billy Connolly (in his Kroked Vinnie Jones was suggested
at Convulsion C2K (might also do for Big Nygg) Hanufa Mira Sorvino or Lisa
Kudrow Hilda (first appears as
Viridia's companion in Bad Example; now a fixture) Amanda Peet (as in The
Whole Nine Yards) or Lucy Liu Red Hot (first in Red Hot, now an
important character) Hudson Leick (Callisto in
Hercules\Xena) got general approval at Convulsion 2K, but is now 37, and at
5' 7¾" is rather tall. Other possibilities: Fairuza Balk (played Nancy
in The Craft; 5' 3"). Amanda Peet is also possible for this part Sweet-Talking Shamus Matt LeBlanc (Tom Selleck really is too
old now, though most like my description physically, and Brad Pitt has the
wrong colour of hair) Topknot (first appears in A Tasty
Morsel) Samuel L. Jackson was
suggested by Tom Zunder, but he is really too tough (Topknot is a blowhard
type) and does not have much hair. Also, strictly, the Llama Riders are not a
'black' people, although others on the Plains of Prax are; but he is a fine
actor, so I do not consider this an insuperable problem – the other points
weigh more. Steven Segal or Sean Bean
were suggested at Convulsion CO2, and
I have thought of John Travolta (again, ageing). Elsa from Adari Gina Gershon (looking as
she did as Corky in Bound) Characters who generally
play major roles in one or two stories only (but one or two have become
fixtures) Treasure Trove Hurbi (not
around after The Great Chart Caper) Johnny Depp Felissa (Hanufa's Little
Sister, Meet the Parents) ? Renée O'Connor, but she
might be better as Hubba in Holding the Baby; maybe someone younger like
Kirsten Dunst Carver Donan (Carving Up
Carver; referred to in Shamus Gets a Case) Arnold Schwarzenegger or
Sylvester Stallone (considered to be getting flabby by some). I have had
adverse comment on Schwarzenegger's accent, but Carver is a foreigner, from
the Pavic point of view. Ragna the Wrestler (Down
Among the Dead Men) Chyna (well-known on the Viridia Patroma (Bad Example) Charisma Carpenter
(Cordelia in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel) , my original casting, is
now getting too mature? A really young actress like Lindsay Lohan or Keira
Knightley could do it, or Alicia Silverstone in her Clueless persona. Litennor (This Love
Business) Antonio Banderas suggested
at Convulsion CO2 Avidius Tiro (Serious
Money) Matthew Perry Batulco the Great (The
Hero Bit; The Matchmaker) Kevin Sorbo, received
general approval at Convulsion C2K Redfox (Worlds Apart) Drew Barrymore in a red
wig Rogar the Matchmaker (The
Matchmaker) Robert Trebor (Salmoneus
in Hercules and Xena) Hjorvis the Mankiller
(Respect) Another possible casting
for Amanda Peet, who could alternatively do Elassia in the same story Jareen (owner of one of
the best inns, had a crush on Hereward; only really 'on stage' in Meet the
Parents) Madeleine Stowe (Cody in
Bad Girls) Needed (further suggestions for most of above always welcome) (1) in more than one
story, or generally in background
(2) Have significant roles
in only one story
|
© 2002 Oliver
Dickinson
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