Dollar Baby: THE THINGS THEY LEFT BEHIND

I saw this first at Lilja's Library

This is from the press release, as posted on Dread Central:

In 2008 great American author Stephen King released Just After Sunset, a novel featuring a collection of short stories. One story, "The Things They Left Behind", is King's approach to the tragedy that struck NYC on 9/11. Almost a year after 9/11, strange things start happening to the main character, Scott Staley, who, at the time of the attacks, is employed at 'Light and Bell Insurance' on the 110th floor of the World Trade Center. Not only is Scott unable to get rid of his survivor's guilt, but things belonging to his late colleagues start to appear in his apartment.

After a run of bi-monthly short films on their YouTube channel, independent filmmaker Pablo Macho Maysonet IV and his Shattered Dreams Productions (SDP) sought out to obtain permission to produce a non-profit short film based on a story written by Stephen King through King's "Dollar Baby" program (in which King will allow a filmmaker to adapt his story for $1). This program was originally started when Frank Darabont, director of King's feature adaptations of The Shawshank Redemption, The Mist and The Green Mile, produced the short film adaptation to The Women in the Room in 1983. This would pave the way for other qualifying up-and-coming filmmakers to produce short film adaptations of King's work.


In late 2010, after signing a non-profit agreement with Stephen King, Maysonet was allowed to produce the emotionally charged adaptation of "The Things They Left Behind".


Production began in December of 2010 on a budget of $10,000 and included shooting in Times Square as well as various locations mentioned in the book. After completion, the film was immediately sent out to over 30 film festivals around the world including Sundance 2012. The Things They Left Behind is quickly stirring up attention around the world with festival screenings in Spain, Argentina and the Netherlands.

WILLA prepares for screen treatment

This is really cool!  Did you read Willa?  It was a short (well, not that short) story in Just After Sunset.  It was one of those stories that has a "OH!" moment.  You know, like Matrix, when you realize the world is really a computer simulation.  There's a moment in Willa when everything changes.  It's a sweet story.  Now, want to see Willa?  Sure you do!  Well, King fans are in luck.

Christopher Birk is directing his first movie. . . and it's a Stephen King story.  Exciting to see fresh talent, and we are always anxious to see those wonderful stories brought to life.  The project is well along the way, but still looking for investors.

The website explains that Birk was inspired to do this movie by a friend who had also directed a Stephen King short story. It was a short film but Christopher decided to make 'Willa' a feature film.

The story: David goes to find his fiancee, Willa. She has left him at a train station with a group of stranded passengers. He finds her at a local honky-tonk of a club and in his attempt to bring her back he learns the horrifying truth about why they cannot stay at the station.

Website: http://alphatreeproductions.com/Willamainmenu.html
FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Willa/183950598304298#!/pages/Willa/183950598304298#!/photo.php?fbid=200551773316745&set=a.132563160115607.11248.111008912271032&type=1&theater

The New York Times at Special Bargain Rates

I just read The New York Times at Special Bargain Rates in Stephen King's book of short stories, "Just After Sunset." I really liked this story.
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Twilight Zone:
Many of the stories in Just After Sunset remind me of the feel of the Twilight Zone. This story not only has the tone of the Twilight Zone, it reminds me of a specific episode. The Twilight Zone's "Long Distance Call" is the story of a grandmother who just can't let go. It's actually not very good.
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King's story is about a woman whose husband has died in a plane crash. As his funeral is being planned downstairs, his wife gets a call from him! He warns her of some upcoming events. The story ends with a Twilight Zone like twist.
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Death
So how does the dead husband describe death? Interestingly, it's grand central station! But don't think the light at the end of the tunnel is a train engine, because there are no trains. There is an escalator that goes somewhere. (I would not push the down button on any elevators, gang!)
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And time is slippery. That is, time on his side is not the same as it is on ours. That reminded me of elements in the dark tower.
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Just After Sunset is proving to be a true King classic, chalk full of strong stories.

2009 Bram Stoker Awards

The Horror Writers Association presented the 2009 Bram SToker awards for "Superior achievement in horror fiction published in 2008" to the following winners:

NOVEL: Duma Key by Stephen King

FIRST NOVEL: The Gentling Box by Lisa Mannetti

LONG FICTION: Miranda by John R. Little

SHORT FICTION: "The Lost" by Sarah Langan

FICTION COLLECTION: Just After Sunset by Stephen King

ANTHOLOGY:Unspeakable Horror edited by Vince A. Liaguno and Chad Helder

NONFICTION:A Halloween Anthology by Lisa Morton

POETRY COLLECTION:The Nightmare Collection by Bruce Boston

HWA Richard Laymon Award John R. Little

HWA Silver Hammer AwardSephera Giron

This is Stephen King's response to winning two Stoker Awards.

I'm delighted to tell you that I won not one but TWO Stoker Awards at this year's ceremony, one for Duma Key (Best Novel) and one for Just After Sunset (Best Collection). My motto is, You can never be too thin, too rich, or win too many Stoker Awards. (If you've never seen one, the awards are most excellently cool.) My thanks to everyone who voted, and my congratulations to all the other nominees. Most of all, though, thanks to everyone who bought those books and enjoyed them. (And if you bought them and didn't enjoy them, I still thank you.)

Steve