My Cast

Hello again. I thought in my last posting who should be in my book movie, if ever made of course. Lord of the Rings was a famous book for many years, but not made for the cinema for decades after it was published. If I was the casting director these would be my choices for actors (and actresses).

My favorite for a long time and the only one I tailor made the scenes to fit her role in this story: Julia Roberts playing Empress Athena. Ms. Roberts comes across as the girl next door every teenage boy wants to introduce to his parents. I see her as ambitious and full courgeous strength to become the highest paid actress of all time, until someone other actress was paid more. To keep her at the top, I think she needs more matriarchical roles, like Erin Brokovich. People are naturally attracked to powerful figures. Athena is named after the Greek goddess of wisdom which under research held the symbol of an owl and snake, resembling Harry Potter. I tried hard not to copy that. Athena symbolizes an old friend I no longer have who always wanted the best in life and fought for it. The hero of the story discovers her softer side and comments how he likes her better without the glamorous robes, jewels, furs, and gold crowns. Yes the hero is me. The hero is thought of bewitching Athena's mind, when in reality it is the other way around. When Athena dies, immortal hero, the hero proves his love for The Empress by singing a funeral song in his language and following his homeland traditions in mourning her. He even keeps a coin he traded with Athena a secret as the only thing left of their love. Many outsiders wonder why he does not gloat of his association of The Empress. He simply feels no need for any of her subjects validating his love for The Empress. The pain he feels is enough.

Another favorite, Brad Pitt as Cossus the Dragonslayer. The name came to me in a dream. A man just the right age to play the part of a older hero turned mentor and chief as he raises a family. Cossus symbolizes the mentor all heroes need to guide them into glory. Those who have no mentors fall from grace quickly. Plus I liked Brad Pitt in the movie Troy, what woman did not? I based this character after a music teacher who burned into my brain I was more than my shy reputation allowed until my ex-best friend took over that role.

After viewing The Aviator Leonardo DiCaprio as King Rychan or Alexis, the hero's best friend would be perfect for him. Mr. DiCaprio impressed me with portraying weakness and strength in The Aviator. The name Rychan I made up from two former childhood and teenage friends, Ryan and Rick, which should help in the pronounciation. Rychan symbolizes the anti-prince charming my friends were. Heir to the throne he is a popular sought out figure, but is cursed by a witch after his birth (Sleeping Beauty theme) and has seizures no wizard could cure. This curse causes lack of confidence and doubts of his future reign. His mother Athena makes him a king of another region from lack of faith in his ability to rule an empire. The hero (me) sees him as someone needing to break out of the mold he was placed in to become the man he is. Meeting Rychan as an adult complicates things, the damage to his faith has already been done. His wife is the controlling bitch from hell who leaves her husband to live a separate life and adopts a fallen soldier's daughter as her own since all her children died in infancy, blamed on Rychan's curse. Rychan eventually gains courage under stressfull circumstances where his wife is gaining enemies and Rychan must choose whether to lose his kingdom to rebels or control his wife's cruelties. He becomes the king the hero knew was there all along. And no the wife is not my opinion of Ryan's or Rick's wife, I don't even know them enough to form much of an opinion. I think Mr. DiCaprio could pull that off.
Alexis (variation of my niece's name), the hero's best friend, symbolizes Ryan's nasty side. Rick's nasty side is another character. Alexis is conniving, sneaky, and charming liar who falls in love with a girl out of his league. Alexis shows much of the hero's true nature, mostly hidden, in manipulation to get what the hero wants, but in loving and thoughtful ways. Alexis is also a loyal friend when it counts and when it doesn't matter. That's the Ryan I remember. Mr. DiCaprio could play the contradicting sides of this character too.

Another star I admire is Madonna. I think she's good even if she models Marilyn Monroe's struggle to be viewed by the movie producers as a serious actress. I read both biographies. She shall play Iris named after the Greek goddess of the rainbow. She symbolizes the core center of strength for the hero when all others who boosted his ego are gone. I recall one interview with Madonna being asked what her father thought of the outrageous behavior she is often criticized for. She answered that her father loved her no matter what she does. I think that is why Madonna can weather any storm that hits her, she knows she is loved. That is Iris's job in the story. She puts crumpled Humpty Dumpty back together when he is in pain. The Iris in my life is the grandma who died 2 days before my 9th birthday who gave enough love to last a lifetime. If she had not died, I probably would be a very different person. When I look back on my life's accomplishments I think about if grandma would be proud of me. I thought no because I was not following my dreams, until now. Iris also reflects much of the Alexis character. A coworker said she did not like Iris because she is so manipulative to the hero. She didn't get why these 2 characters cared for each other.

Elijah Wood or Hayden Christensen should play Emperor Rurick the Conqueror. This part calls for a young hottie because Rurick is introduced as a boy and dies young, like Alexander the Great. I got the name Rurick (or Rurik) from a book about Russian Czars. Rurick's symbolizes prince charming every girl wants to marry. While writing Rurick's scenes I kept in mind the theme of "Everybody loves Rurick". Rurick is my best friend Rick's snake charming personality and dashing good looks that led to Rick's arrogance, phony charm I saw right through, and screwing around with half the girls in school. That is until my character smacks him back down to earth and deflates his enormous ego. Emperor Rurick also is insecure and untrusting of people repeatedly using him to benefit themselves more than Rurick. Rurick has great respect and admiration for the story's hero he views as his only honest friend who never bows to him as Emperor. As a boy, Rurick is described much as my first impressions of Rick when we first became friends in the 6th grade, before a girl in the 9th grade crushed his spirit and he began he bad boy reputation to keep from getting hurt again. I don't think he really loved any of his girlfriends in high school. He dated only popular girls his guy friends approved. I didn't like any of them because he always picked the brainless, jealous of me, with huge boobs that did not impress me at all, and only dated him because he was popular type of girl. Why should I like a girl set on splitting Rick from me? I don't give a shit about her popularity, Rick was my friend, not hers. I, on the other hand, was a safe person he could show his vulnerable side to without fear of my reaction. When asked (I think about 11th grade) why I was not banging with Rick like everyone else. I said that I was Rick's friend, not his whore. The boy needed an explanation what I meant by that. If he didn't know the difference between friendship and romance, I didn't know how to explain it. When Rick ripped his friendship away, I, like my hero, mourned the loss like no other. That is my relationship with Rick and Rurick.

Geoffrey Rush should be the antagonist Andos. I varied the name from the Andes Mountains. Andos is the troublemaker for the hero. There has to be a villian or one has no story. I shouldn't say this, but much of his behavior in the story is modeled after my Mom. I've seen Mr. Rush in several movies and thought he played good guys as well as bad guys so I am positive he could bring out Andos's insecurities and bulliness well. My Mom and I are a complicated story. I despise her need to control everything and asking intruding questions that are none of her business. But the hero falls into a tight friendship with Andos's daughter Iris. The hero's best revenge is being happy. Of course Andos constantly loses battles with the hero, but never gives up.

I think Eminem (sorry fans if I spelled it wrong) should play the flip side of my hero's personality and his son, Eurick. Eurick (or Euric) symbolizes my lack of confidence, lonliness, awkwardness, and shyness I tried all my life to shed, but sporadically reappears. I got the name Euric from an encyclopedia entry. He was a King of the Visogoths (ancient settlers of Germania as the Mongol Huns pushed west). I think the rapper I never really seen in his hit movie or videos, nor listen to his music, must have something going to get so much attention and awards for his controversial lyrics. I think (I can always be wrong) that this rapper purposely infuriates people in order to get public attention and record sells, much like Madonna in the 1980's. Though I read some article that his movie is just playing himself and his rise to stardom. Um, that is not acting, that is a reality show. Acting is convincing audiences you are someone other than yourself, hence the word acting. I am one to give people a chance, just ask Rick or Ryan who had plenty of chances and my repeated forgiveness, and give this young starlet an opportunity to play a character who is nothing like his reputation. Eurick does not fit in anywhere he goes and is comfortable being invisible.

And now the hero, Alaric. I got the name from the King of the Visogoths who fought against the Roman Empire. Either Orlando Bloom or Cory Haim should be the male version of me. My hero had to be male because great heroes in ancient tales are men. Women play sultry witches who get their hearts broken by the hero or dreams of marrying the hero come true. I saw a Hollywood True story on Mr. Haim and am one to give people chances to prove what kind of an actor they are. I don't recall any of his movies. As for Mr. Bloom all I can say is "Why is he not headlining his movie parts?" He keeps playing second fiddle and I want to see him in a starring role. I know from his past movies he can deliver a wonderful performance and capture the hearts of lots of women like Mr. Pitt.

If anyone is wondering, I do have characters Ryan, the god of chaos and mischief, and Master Ricky the Giant because compared to me he is one. In a scene in my second novel I place the main theme of my heroic character. Ricky says to Alaric, "I envied your courage and wanted to be like you." My response, "I wanted to be you too, until I found the courage to be me." That is my hero's personality. I think this posting is long enough. Later!