Here she shares some ideas for the above-the-line talent that might bring her novel to the big screen:Seven Locks is set in the Catskill Mountains on the Great Hudson River in the latter part of the 18th Century, so the grand and magical landscape would definitely be part of the cinematic interpretation. The stars in the film would be actors who loved that landscape. Vera Famiga would play the main character. She already lives on a goat farm in the Catskills; she cards and spins; and she is tough enough and sweet enough to embody my character----an unapologetic farm wife who does whatever is needed whenever. Mark Ruffalo would play the French trapper, who discourses on the virtues of the indigenous tribes and the great romance of the landscape and its people, and who may or may not be a rake. Judith, the daughter, needs to be portrayed by several actresses as she ages from seven-years-old to an adolescent and then a young mother. There I would need some clever casting support. Perhaps Paul Dano could portray her moody brother, but he would have to have a young actor play his 10 year old part. I don’t know if he has any relationship to the Mid-Hudson Valley. Hmm, I’m not familiar with any African-American actors who live in the Catskills (for the roles of Thomas and Susanna), but I’m sure they exist in the communities of Hudson or Poughkeepsie, Newburgh or Kingston. It would be a thrill to discover a new Mid-Hudson Valley star. If local actors are not available, then perhaps Viola Davis could be persuaded to play the sister of Chewetel Ejiofor, who would make a perfect prophet.Learn more about the book and author at Christine Wade's website.
I totally trust Vera to direct.
The Page 69 Test: Seven Locks.
--Marshal Zeringue
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