Red Riding Hood Movie Fans Exclusive: Interview with Illustrator Craig Phillips

Even if you were miffed by the end of the novel Red Riding Hood (I was actually relieved not to have the end spoiled before the movie), you have to admit the cover illustration is stunning.

By some stroke of luck, the artist responsible for the piece, Australian illustrator Craig Phillips, found his way to this blog. He was kind enough to answer a few questions about his experience with Red Riding Hood and his work in general.

Check out the interview below.

In terms of designing a cover for a novel, how much information is provided to an illustrator in order for them to complete their work (synopsis, character descriptions, etc)? 

It really varies from job to job. Some Editors and Art Directors are very loose with art direction, and some are very tight.

Sometimes I will receive a synopsis, and sometimes a full manuscript. On some projects the art director will require me to capture a general feel or strong theme that might run through the book. Other times they simply pull out the most exciting passage and tell me to go for it and make it fun.

In the case of Red Riding Hood, the art direction was very tight. The composition was all directed firmly by the Art Director. But I had to sort of bring it to life with the final line work and capture a certain feeling they were after. I often feel stifled by this type of art direction. It leaves an artist very little to work with and the results can reflect this. But the art director on Red Riding Hood is very, very good - and she was a delight to work with!

She provided me with a sketch of her thoughts which I felt was very promising. It was basically a less refined version of the final product. She did ask me to contribute some of my own designs with her input, four of which you can see as pencil sketches.

After some discussion we returned to the original idea which was simpler and more graphic and ran with that. She requested that the cover be mostly white, with the iconic red cape and a hint of snow covered forest wrapping round the spine to the back cover.

I then executed the cover in ink and water colour and photoshop, submitted the art, was requested to make one change, being to give her that very long exaggerated cape, and it was all wrapped up!

The cover for Red Riding Hood is so in tune with the aesthetics of the film. Were you provided with any footage or art from the film to guide you in your design?

I was not given any images for Red Riding Hood. I worked off specific art direction instead. Really, the only thing in there that was an issue was the length of that cape. I had to exaggerate it more then in my original pass to fit with the film.

Red Riding Hood is such an iconic character. What was it like contributing to such a long standing tradition?

GREAT! I LOVE this material. If I could work with fairy tales and folk lore every day for the rest of my life - I would! I am currently working on that by creating short graphic adaptations of old tales, the first being The Boy who was Never Afraid, a Swedish tale penned in 1912 by Alfred Smedberg. I find this material so magical, so compelling and so visually rich to work with.  I feel very blessed to have the opportunity to work with these tales.

You also illustrated the covers for the Maggie Quinn series. Is there an added pressure when you are responsible for visualizing a character for readers?

This is a very interesting question! It is something I think about all the time, and argue with my artist peers about.

As far as I am concerned, a book cover should be more of a conceptual illustration, rather than a straight character piece. I loved Red Riding Hood because it was done in a very minimal way. It was all about being simple, being well designed and focusing on an iconic portrayal of character rather than a character study. We don't see her face, and that's a good thing. We see the cape and we immediately know its her.  We do not need to know anything else. I believe that should be left up to the readers interpretation of the text and how the character appears in the readers own minds eye.

Having said that, I still do a lot of jackets where I have to create a character on the cover, and I see a lot of these on the stands too. The Maggie Quinn series was another great project with a wonderful Art Director, and I was really proud of what we created for those. I just cant help but think that my portrayal of the character might interfere with the reader as they are digesting the text.

I am creating a jacket now, right this morning actually,  for an Oliver Twist tale where I am required to portray the character on the cover, but I am going to see if I cant work in a few other designs in there as well.

I think the tendency ( and yes, this is a bit of a generalization) is that for the younger pre-teen readers we often do characters, and for older readers we can get away with something a little more suggestive and broken down.

If any of your readers have an opinion on having characters drawn for them on novel covers, I'd like to hear it. Maybe its just me and my own taste?

While photographs can be art in their own right, what advantages are there to illustration? On the flip side, are there any disadvantages or restrictions in terms of illustration?

I think it comes down to the Art director. A good Art director will pick the right artist for the job. Sometimes a great photo will work, sometimes a nice illustration. But a good Art director making the right decisions and picking the right artist to fit the particular project is the key to a great product being made.

Is there a particular artist/illustrator who inspired you in the beginning? Now?

Loads!  Firstly, turn of the century illustrators - Arthur Rakham, Edmund Dulac, Kaye Neilson, Aubrey Beardsley, John Bauer, Heinrich Kley. 

Then I love artists such as Charles Vess, James Jean, Tomer Hanuka, Alex Toth, Miyazaki and .. I could go on and on. Too much inspiring stuff out there.

Charles Vess

Edmund Dulac

Thanks again to Craig for taking the time to do this interview. 

Check out more of Craig's work on his site and blog.

He has also recently opened an etsy store, Pencil.Paper.Ink., where some of his prints are available, including the Red Riding Hood piece.

Barnard Alum Writes a Book About Newly Released ‘Red Riding Hood’

To film “Twilight,” Blakely-Cartwright was flown to Portland over Barnard's spring break. “I have a line that you have to listen very carefully for,” she said of her small part. “I say in an urgent voice: ‘I’ve got 911!’ when she’s [Bella’s] almost hit by the truck, saved only by Edward’s vampiric strength. Talk about chivalry.”

Blakely-Cartwright’s film experiences have led to lasting relationships. “I talk with Shiloh [Fernandez] every day and Amanda [Seyfried] every few weeks,” she said. Fernandez and Seyfried costarred in "Red Riding Hood."

They also facilitated the writing of her novel. “They all had well thought out insights into their characters, which was very helpful to me. Writing the novel’s characters ended up being a real collaborative project,” Blakely-Cartwright said.

The newly minted novelist credits Barnard for developing her writing skills. “Not only in terms of what I was taught, but also in the incredible support I was given,” Blakely-Cartwright said. “Barnard is a place that pledges its support for its students in so many, very tangible ways.” She recommends that other students who are aspiring writers seek out professors Mary Gordon, Anne Prescott, and Maxine Swan—just in time for class registration.

Read the entire article here. 

Red Riding Hood Bonus Chapter Now Available

 

Read/download the bonus (final) chapter here. 

Red Riding Hood: From Script to Screen

Catherine Hardwicke's From Script to Screen book is now available on amazon.com. The book is in stock, but may take an extra day or two to ship.

You can order the book here.

Want to win a copy? Enter our giveaway here. 

'Red Riding Hood' Movie is Already a Hit as a Novel and E-Book

The movie is also a print novel that was being written even as the filming progressed. It is also a multimedia e-book that leverages the latest technology to enhance the story of a teenage girl torn between two male suitors, one of whom may be a werewolf.

The book debuted at No. 1 on the New York Times children's paperback bestseller list when it was released in late January, serving as a sort of multimedia prequel and pump-primer for the film, directed by Catherine Hardwicke. As an e-book, "Red Riding Hood" includes video interviews with Hardwicke and her many collaborators, an animated short film, audio discussion about the set design and props, costume sketches and Hardwicke's hand-drawn maps of the world where "Red Riding Hood" takes place, among other things.

"I was realizing as we were prepping for the movie that I felt sad for the back stories of these characters. I wanted to know more about those people," Hardwicke said of her decision to transform "Red Riding Hood" into a book.

Click here to read the entire article.

Under the 'Hood'- An Interview with Sarah Blakley-Cartwright

QUESTION (Q): What is your favorite scene in the book?
SARAH BLAKLEY-CARTWRIGHT (SBC): I have to say, I’ve always loved the horseback ride. You’ll see what I mean: it’s every girl’s fantasy.

Q. Do you base your characters on people that you know, or have met?
SBC: I do. Even though the characters David Leslie Johnson created were already very strong, I had to envision them on my own. When I hit a snag working out the relationship between two sisters, Catherine Hardwicke told me, “Think of Erin. Use the relationship as a model for Lucie and Valerie.” As an only child, my best friend Erin was like my sister. We’ve spent overnights at Catherine’s house since we were 13 years-old, shooting comedies about Venice Beach insane asylums, making drawings of each other in the backyard, running up the Pacific Coast Highway in red feather boas. And just that, having a real-life example to draw upon, made them come to life for me.

Q. Tell us about your writing process: how do you write? How do you approach a book? Where do you do your best writing?
SBC: I write on paper! It’s very romantic, although that isn’t why I do it. I pick up every morning with whatever scene I feel like writing at that moment. Otherwise, if I write something I don’t feel connected to, it really shows. My best writing comes from the bathtub. I have to be comfortable. When I’m really stuck, I turn out all the lights and lay in bed with a voice recorder. I only fall asleep half the time.

Q: How do you balance time for creative pursuits with the mundane tasks required to live life. Walk us through a typical day in your life.
SBC: I think the trick is to sneak writing into the pockets of time in between those tasks. No one has a perfect, planless day. But we do stand in line and wait for the water to boil. That’s when the writing gets done. Always having a pen and notebook nearby helps!

Q: In what ways did your childhood influence you as a writer? As a person?
SBC: Both my parents are talented artists. Our houses were always filled with a stream of creative adults. I grew up thinking of the artist’s career as both glamorous and within grasp, as something I could strive for and achieve.

Q: Most writers are also avid readers. What authors did you read as a child? What authors do you read today? Do you have a favorite book or author?
SBC: The incredible dystopian world of Lois Lowry’s The Giver comes to mind. A favorite book that I’m just re-reading is James Agee’s A Death in the Family, which is a beautiful, clear-eyed portrait of an American childhood.

Q: What is the first book you remember reading by yourself as a child?
SBC: I remember my first chapter book. My father and I were on a road trip up the East Coast. It was so cold that my hair was frozen. And I’m an L.A. girl, used to 65 degree winters. In a small town, we stopped at a tiny, dusty antique store where I became obsessed with a first-edition Bambi. I guess my dad thought I’d earned it. I read the book that night in our cozy lodge, fireside. I finished it over the next day or so in the backseat of our rental car, all the while imagining the deer asleep and nestled in the frozen countryside we were passing.

Q: Lastly, ebooks: friend or foe?
SBC: I say, embrace technology! Red Riding Hood is actually Little Brown’s first simultaneous enhanced e-book and print publication. It allows for a new, multisensory form of reading, where the reader can watch a video conversation between me, Catherine and David; hear a recording of Catherine reading the introduction to the book; peruse set design blueprints of, photos of the set itself, costume design sketches, and the best of the film’s storyboards. Reading the eBook, you’ll really get a sense of how the world was created on film.

Source

SXSW Red Riding Hood Book Signing

In addition to the Midnight Screening/ Q&A and Directing Workshop, Catherine Hardwicke will be at book signing for Red Riding Hood: From Script to Screen.

 

The signing will be held Friday, March 11th at 2:30 pm. Click here for more details. 

SXSW is turning into Catherine-palooza! I'm insanely jealous of anyone out there getting to attend any of these events. I met Catherine back in October in Portland, OR and listening to her discuss her work was a fantastic experience.

Red Riding Hood Novel: Movie Tie-In Edition

According to Borders, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon, there will be a movie tie-in edition of Sarah Blakley-Cartwright's novel available in March.

The new tie-in edition will be out March 16th. The page count for this edition appears to be the same as the one currently in stores, so no word yet on whether this edition will contain the illusive ending.

UPDATE: I received the book in the mail today. The contents are the same as the previous edition, just a new cover. 

Red Riding Hood Novel is a New York Times Bestseller!

Congratulations are in order for Sarah Blakley-Cartwright. Her Red Riding Hood novel is #1 on the New York Times Children's Paperback Books list!

Check out the book's site, which includes a countdown to the final chapter.

And here are some previous posts about the novel:
Catherine Hardwicke, David Johnson, and Sarah Blakley-Cartwright Discuss Red Riding Hood Novel

Sarah Blakley-Cartwright On Her Red Riding Hood Novel

You can order the book from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or from a local bookstore. 

 

Catherine Hardwicke, David Johnson, and Sarah Blakley-Cartwright Discuss Red Riding Hood Novel

Director, Screenwriter, and Author discuss how everything intertwines, how the story evolves, and how icebergs fit into the whole thing. 

Check out both clips from Entertainment Weekly here. The interview is also available with the enhanced e-book edition.

Both the book and e-book are now available. You can find a link to the amazon listing on the sidebar.

Sarah Blakley-Cartwright On Her Red Riding Hood Novel

Sarah Blakley-Cartwright, author of the Red Riding Hood companion novel, recently discussed her on set experience and take on David Leslie Johnson's script.

"On the set, Blakley-Cartwright saw Red Riding Hood’s drama unfold as she watched the actors perform, and had a chance to interview them about the characters they were portraying. “It was a stunning set, and seeing the actors at work really informed my characters,” she says. “Being there was an amazing gift. To have all of that right there in front of me provided a road map for my writing. Obviously this project is a team effort, and seeing all that creativity first-hand—how could anything be better for a writer?”"

Blakley-Cartwright also discussed how her novel diverges from what will appear on screen.

"Rather than strictly adapting Johnson’s screenplay, Blakley-Cartwright sought to flesh out the characters in her novel. “I hope I was able to add to the story,” she reflects. “The first quarter or so of my novel is not in the movie, in fact."

And what about that pesky ending? While the book's site launched just last week, the final chapter will not be available until after the film's release. 

The Kindle edition, released on January 25th, will be an Enhanced E-Book Edition with extra content:

• Video of Catherine Hardwicke, Sarah Blakley-Cartwright, and David Leslie Johnson discussing their creative partnership
• Video of Sarah Blakley-Cartwright explaining her writing process
• Animated short video showcasing the Scribe's Book
• Audio of Catherine Hardwicke reading her introduction
• Audio discussion about the set design and architecture
• Audio discussion of paintings featured in the film
• Audio discussion of the film's historical research and props
• Storyboards from some of the film's action sequences
• Images of the visual effects from the film
• Blueprints, photos, and sketches of the set
• Sketches of the costume design with designer comments

Anyone willing to share their Kindle?

Check out the entire article from Publisher's Weekly here.

Red Riding Hood Book Site Launched

If you read the Red Riding Hood by Sarah Blakley-Cartwright, you may have found the end to be slightly lacking. After the final pages of the story, there is a message to the reader: "Is this truly the end of Valerie's story?"

A website is provided to "find out" if it was truly the end, but was unavailable until yesterday. The site has launched with the message "Still believe in happy endings? Check back soon for the final chapter."


UPDATE: According to an article from Publisher's Weekly, the final "bonus chapter" will be available after the film's release.

"Readers will also have access to what Stein calls “an extra bonus”: a final chapter to Red Riding Hood that will be available free online (at http://redridinghoodbook.com/) after the film’s release. “The story is a whodunit, with lots of wonderful red herrings, and with every chapter readers are led to think someone else is the werewolf,” she says. “The novel has a great ending as it is, but there’s an extra surprise in the online bonus chapter.”"

Update on Red Riding Hood Books

Looks like amazon.com has the Red Riding Hood novel in stock a month early and is shipping the item.

 

Also, the cover for Red Riding Hood: From Script to Screen has been revealed on amazon.com.

UPDATE: Now available

Another Red Riding Hood Book to Add to the Collection

Red Riding Hood: From Script to Screen is set to be released April 12, 2011. 

According to amazon.com, the book will include:
- Introduction, notes, and sketches by director Catherine Hardwicke
- Screenplay written by David Leslie Johnson
- 96 pages of color concept art, storyboards, and costume evolution and illustrations
- Behind-the-scenes photographs

You can pre-order the book here.

Red Riding Hood Novel Available Now

UPDATE: Amazon.com has the book in stock and ready for shipping. 

When I went on the Twilight location tour with Catherine Hardwicke in October, she mentioned there would be a novel released as a companion to the movie. Well, according to amazon.com, the novel will be out January 25, 2011!

The body of a young girl is discovered in a field of wheat. Her flesh mutilated by telltale claw marks. The Wolf has broken the peace. When Valerie learns that her sister has been killed by the legendary creature, she finds herself at the center of a dark mystery, one that has plagued her village for generations. It is revealed that the werewolf lives among them, and everyone in the village immediately becomes a suspect. Could her secret love Peter be behind the attacks on her town? Is it her betrothed, Henry? Or someone even closer to her? As the men in the village hunt for the beast, Valerie turns to her grandmother for help. She gives Valerie a handmade red riding cloak, and guides her through the web of lies and deception that has held her town together for so long. Will Valerie discover the werewolf's identity before the town is ripped apart? This is a dangerous new vision of a classic fairy tale, the happy ending could be hard to find.

Sarah Blakley-Cartwright, who may be familiar to fans of the first Twilight film, penned the novel. Sarah is usually in the background of the school scenes (on the left in the image below) in Twilight.

Will you be picking this up?