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No, I Will Not Write a Movie About the Loss of My Wife

I have been asked. My version would never sell.

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Jon Tyson; Unsplash

Though I am presently writing a book about my experiences as a recent widower whose wife nearly 23 years, Lorie, unexpectedly passed away last November, I will not write a film based on the tragedy.

As I had mentioned in the above subtitle, I’ve been asked.

I have several reasons for my decision, chief among them the filmmaking process itself. Regardless of whether the hypothetical film would be targeted as a studio product or an indie, far too many content changes would inevitably occur between Fade In on the page and the finished, distributed product.

For context, I’ve sold film and television projects to or developed projects with TNT, Sony, Fox, Roddenberry Entertainment, Hulu, Cinemax, Prime, Ovation Network, Warner Brothers, CBS and more. I know the inner workings of those industries firsthand — neither my words nor thoughts are based on theory but practical experience — both of which have fallen into turmoil post-WGA strike.

Lorie and I led a complex, rich life together. Her death, at 66, was tragic. For me to be creatively involved in any such project for film or television, it would have to maintain complete integrity to its source and I would require complete…

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Joel Eisenberg
Joel Eisenberg

Written by Joel Eisenberg

Joel Eisenberg is an award-winning author, screenwriter, and producer. The Oscar in the profile pic isn’t his but he’s scheming. WGA and Pen America member.

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