Javits glances around. There’s a man in dark glasses drinking a fruit juice. He seems oblivious to his surroundings and is staring out to sea as if he were somewhere far from there. He’s smartly dressed and good-looking, with greying hair. He was one of the first to arrive and must know who Javits is, and yet he’s made no effort to come and introduce himself. It was brave of him to sit there alone like that. Being alone in Cannes is anathema; it means that no one is interested in you, that you’re unimportant or don’t know anyone.
He envies that man, who probably doesn’t fit the list of ‘normal’ behaviour he always keeps in his pocket. He seems so independent and free; if Javits weren’t feeling so tired, he would really like to talk to him.
He turns to one of his ‘friends’.
‘What does being normal mean?’
‘Is your conscience troubling you? Have you done something you shouldn’t have?’
Javits has clearly asked the wrong question of the wrong man. His companion will perhaps assume that he’s regretting what he’s made of his life and that he wants to start anew, but that isn’t it at all. And if he does have regrets, it’s too late to begin again; he knows the rules of the game.
‘I asked you what being normal means?’
One of the ‘friends’ looks bewildered. The other keeps surveying the tent, watching people come and go.
‘Living like someone who lacks all ambition,’ the first ‘friend’ says at last.
The ‘friend’ laughs.
‘You should make a film on the subject,’ he says.
‘Not again,’ Javits thinks. ‘They have no idea. They’re with me all the time, but they still don’t understand what I do. I don’t make films.’
All films start out in the mind of a so-called producer. He’s read a book, say, or had a brilliant idea while driving along the freeways of Los Angeles (which is really a large suburb in search of a city). Unfortunately, he’s alone, both in the car and in his desire to transform that brilliant idea into something that can be seen on the screen.
He finds out if the film rights to the book are still available. If the response is negative, he goes in search of another product – after all, more than 60,000 books are published each year in the United States alone. If the response is positive, he phones the author and makes the lowest possible offer, which is usually accepted because it’s not only actors and actresses who like to be associated with the dream machine. Every author feels more important when his or her words are transformed into images.
They arrange to have lunch. The producer says that the book is ‘a work of art and highly cinematographic’ and that the writer is ‘a genius deserving of recognition’. The writer explains that he spent five years working on the book and asks to be allowed to help in the writing of the script. ‘No, really, you shouldn’t do that, it’s an entirely different medium,’ comes the reply, ‘but I know you’ll love the result.’ Then he adds: ‘The film will be totally true to the book,’ which, as both of them know, is a complete and utter lie.
The writer decides that he should agree to the conditions, promising himself that next time will be different. He accepts. The producer now says that they have to interest one of the big studios because they need financial backing for the project. He names a few stars he claims to have lined up for the lead roles – which is another complete and utter lie, but one that is always wheeled out and always works as a seduction technique. He buys what is known as an ‘option’, that is, he pays around $10,000 dollars to retain the rights for three years. And then what happens? ‘Then we’ll pay ten times that amount and you’ll have a right to 2% of the net profits.’ That’s the financial part of the conversation over with, because the writer is convinced he’ll earn a fortune from his slice of the profits.
If he were to ask around, he’d soon find out that the Hollywood accountants somehow manage it so that no film ever makes a profit.
Lunch ends with the producer handing the writer a huge contract and asking if he could possibly sign it now, so that the studio will know that the product is definitely theirs. With his eyes fixed on that (non-existent) percentage and on the possibility of seeing his name in lights (which won’t happen either, at most there’ll be a line in the credits, saying: ‘based on the book by…’), the writer signs the contract without giving the matter much thought.
Vanity of vanities, all is vanity, and there is nothing new under the sun, as Solomon said more than three thousand years ago.
The producer starts knocking on the doors of various studios. He’s known in the industry already, and so some of those doors open, but his proposal is not always accepted. In that case, he doesn’t even bother to ring up the author and invite him to lunch again, he just writes him a letter saying that, despite his enthusiasm for the project, the movie industry isn’t yet ready for that kind of story and he’s returning the contract (which he, of course, did not sign).
If the proposal is accepted, the producer then goes to the lowest and least well-paid person in the hierarchy: the screen writer, the person who will spend days, weeks and months writing and re-writing the original idea or the screen adaptation. The scripts are sent to the producer (but never to the author), who, out of habit, automatically rejects the first draft, knowing that the screen writer can always do better. More weeks and months of coffee and insomnia for the bright young talent (or old hack – there are no halfway houses) who rewrites each scene, which are then rejected or reshaped by the producer (and the screen writer thinks: ‘If he can write so damn well, why doesn’t he write the whole thing?’ Then he remembers his salary and goes quietly back to his computer.)
Finally, the script is almost ready. At this point, the producer draws up a list of demands: the removal of any political references that might upset a more conservative audience; more kissing, because women like that kind of thing; a story with a beginning, middle and an end, and a hero who moves everyone to tears with his self-sacrifice and devotion; and one character who loses a loved one at the start of the film and finds him or her again at the end. In fact, most film scripts can be summed up very briefly as: Man loves woman. Man loses woman. Man gets woman back. Ninety per cent of all films are variations on that same theme.
Films that break this rule have to be very violent to make up for it, or have loads of crowd-pleasing special effects. And since this tried and tested formula is a sure-fire winner, why take any unnecessary risks?
Armed with what he considers to be a well-written story, who does the producer seek out next? The studio who financed the project. The studio, however, has a long line of films to place in the ever-diminishing number of cinemas around the world. They ask him to wait a little or to find an independent distributor, first making sure that the producer signs another gigantic contract (which even takes into account exclusive rights ‘outside of Planet Earth’), taking full responsibility for all money spent.
‘And that’s where people like me come in!’ The independent distributor can walk down the street without being recognised, although at media-fests like this everyone knows who he is. He’s the person who didn’t come up with the idea, didn’t work on the script and didn’t invest a cent.
Javits is the intermediary – the distributor!
He receives the producer in a tiny office (the big plane, the house with the swimming pool, the invitations to parties all over the world are purely for his enjoyment – the producer doesn’t even merit a mineral water). He takes the DVD home with him. He watches the first five minutes. If he likes it, he watches to the end, but this only happens with one out of every hundred new films he’s given. Then he spends ten cents on a phone call and tells the producer to come back on a certain date and at a certain time.
‘We’ll sign,’ he says, as if he were doing the producer a big favour. ‘I’ll distribute the film.’
The producer tries to negotiate. He wants to know how many cinemas in how many countries and under what conditions. These, however, are pointless questions because he knows what the distributor will say: ‘That depends on the reactions we get at the pre-launch screenings.’ The product is shown to selected audiences from all social classes, people specially chosen by market research companies. The results are analysed by professionals. If the results are positive, another ten cents gets spent on a phone call, and, the following day, Javits hands the producer three copies of yet another vast contract. The producer asks to be given time for his lawyer to read it. Javits says he has nothing against him doing that, but he needs to finalise that season’s programme now and can’t guarantee that by the time the producer gets back to him he won’t have selected another film.
The producer reads only the clause that tells him how much he’s going to earn. He’s pleased with what he sees and so he signs. He doesn’t want to miss this opportunity.
Years have passed since he sat down with the writer to discuss making a film of his book and he’s quite forgotten that he is now in exactly the same situation.
Vanity of vanities, all is vanity, and there is nothing new under the sun, as Solomon said more than three thousand years ago.
Welcome to Share with Friends – Free Texts for a Free Internet
Now you had a chance to read the first 1/11 of “The Winner stands alone” and we stop here the publication of the first pages. The book, already released in Brazil and Portugal, will start being published on March 19, in UK, followed by US, France, Greece, Bulgaria, Australia, Holland. In nearly all the other countries, it will be published from June to December 2009.
Release Dates
March: UK and Russia
April: France, Greece, Holland, USA, Hungary, India (in English), South Africa, Lebanon and Middle East
May: Australia, Iran, Bulgaria, Poland and Slovakia
Order the book
USA – UK – France – Russia – Australia – Greece – Holland – South Africa – Slovakia
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what’s the point of life? is it love or money? both are seen to be hollow in this book. both are shown to be an illusion (which may be perfectly true) which people seek for fulfillment. but can the sky be measured? in our effort to measure it, we are left staring into hollow space with the unreachable stars for companions. the only other option seems to be “Like a Flowing River.”
Paulo Coelho is an absolute winner!
Dear all,
With all the respect to Mr. Coelho and his readers I have some constructive criticism.
Everyone is different. There are millions of books to choose from. I accidentally got 11 minutes 5 years ago.Loved it. Then was tempted to get Alchemist. Liked it too. Eventually I read all of the books by Paulo Coelho. Some of them are more interesting than others. Like everything in life but all of the books I read so far were GENUINE.
But i didnt get “The winner stands alone”. Well, not that I didnt get it, just that it seemed like it was written for the sake of writing and not for the sake of getting a message to the reader.
Issues raised in the book were CLISHES as well as the way the whole book is written. Just didnt work. Nothing clung together. Chapter after chapter I was reading it with a hope that the story will take me somewhere emotionally, logically or anyhow like others did. It took me to just one conclusion – disappointment.
Either my expectations were too high or Mr. Coelho needs look back at how good he can be and just be himself and write like only he can.
You wanna play with fire? You should have never picked up the god damn beretta!!! Now you’re in Reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeal Trouble!
dear all,
i,m so grateful that i just finished read the al-chemist yesterday. it’s so fruitfull of positive elemets in life. its really helpful and can relate it with everyone’s life..anyway it happened when i first bought like the flowing river somewhere in 2007 which i read 1st from puulo’s touch… i know there’s something special with the touch of the inspiring value….winner stand alone may be the next choice….but i will look for by the river i sat and wept as well…..enjoy reading guys!
Dear Mr. Coelho,
Reading ‘Winner Stands Alone’ and honestly speaking, it didn’t connect with me as some of your earlier works like ‘The Alchemist’, ‘The Zahir’ and most of all ‘Brida’.
Anyways, I believe every work has its own frequency which resonates with some hearts/souls and not with others.
I made a little observation. Every chapter of the book has a time as its title, and each time, the numbers add up to 11. Is there a specific reason for doing so?
God Bless,
Anukool Chavhan
Pusad,India
Sir Paolo Coelho,
honestly, I haven’t read any books of yours nor any books at all. i’m turning college this year in a teaching profession major in english. i’m not fun of reading books yet i want to engage on it..
i just passed by for your advice…wish that you would hear my small voice. a Filipino teen who admires you so much^^
God Bless and More power!
Un reve qui devient realite.
Dreams are for the dreamers, that dream to become happy. Happiness is for the people who enjoy and live the moment.
well first of all thank you so much because you wrote the greatest books ever ,in my life i did’nt imagine myself holding a book and reading it but when my friends told me about (Veronica decides to die) I decided to buy it i really liked it, it was one of the best books i’ve ever read, after i finished reading this novel in less than 24 hours , i bought another one which was Brida and i also finished it in less than 48 hours. those 2 books explained alot of mysterious things and answered many questions that i was looking for at least one answer for them in addition i found in your books loads of thoughts that came to me in the past year . I’m 16 and maybe i don’t have experince in my life and i used to think about alot of things which i never did but after reading your books i had the courage to go through my real path of life , and to go through many things i wanted to experince but i was afraid to fail ….
I was given the chance to see the depth of many worlds presented in this book, the Superclass and the Powerful. Thrilled with every incidents detailed and the interrelation of different characters. I likely compare this to The Zahir and The Devil and Miss Prym but with a different ending.
Another superb masterpiece of Paulo Coelho! Thanks for the great inspiration.
¡siempre quedo con la sensacion a poco!..este libro no esta en chile??
solamente con la la presentacion ya quiero leerlo.se ve muy interesante el temacomo sucede con la ambicion del hombre actual,la fama, el dinero y todo lo que lo conlleva a convertirse en un ser ambicioso y egoista…para terminar en soledad..
Hello Mr.Coelho,
I have all ur books except your autobiography which is not available in India.I have seen the posters of your latest book-winner stands alone….But, i am upset that there is no worldwide release and it will be a few months before it is available in India….Looking forward to reading the book….my favourite till date is-veronika decides to die…..thanks for the good books u write….i hope you have a very healthy and happy life….regards,vikas
hello Mr. Coelho,
i very much liked ur the alchemist, coz its says that there in only one truth in the universe- that is our heart.
then i read eleven minutes. i was disturbed. you have indeed selected the negative aspects of life. this is done deliberatly.
now, i think i am goin to get the same in ‘Winner stands alone’.
people want happiness, if they think of saddness, they become sad.
if they think “i dont want to become sad” still they become sad.
all ur books other than alchemist potray saddness. we have dreams. dreams to become happy. not to be sad.
thanks!
Pardon, je me suis trompee -” c’est un peu comme les poemes de Fernando Pessoa au lieu de M. Obreira.
:)
Oui, c’est vrai ce que dit Katrina c’est un peu comme les poemes de Manuel Obreira avec les 13 differentes manieres de l’interpreter.
Je comprends que chacun y met une part de son ame, a sa facon. and that is where the beauty is,the uniqueness of each one of us.
Merci.
Dear friend, thank you for your friendship. I have just arrived on your website, so i must confess i had no time to read it closely, contrary to i do know from ‘The Mountain’ you are a very special(i couldn’t find the time to read your ‘Alchimist’, but it will be not so important as my 5th mountain’.
As for my celebrity, no matter i’m alone inside, but i can’t do business with my page on “Who is who international’, as the internet pirates did not permitted me to view my link.
All in all, no matter i’m in my thoughts with a dark-haired attorney since many years ago, no matter he’ll be Russian/English/American/French(italians & spaniards & germans aren’t included); i will always be alone in Romania-the most dirty EU country-because all of my acts have always been political and i’ve been the only one yto get the courage to forget all i’ve been told in the past and follow my path, contrary to the system).
But any act of af a person will be political in its essence, so how could i stand against them all, by my policy, if i’ll be poor and kept isolated!?”
Mr. Paulo Coelho,
am delighted to have read your first chapters. Am looking forward to the whole book. I relate with Javits so much I need to know what became of him. I have just finished reading Witch of Portbello and what a relevation into the different aspects a person can be viewed from.
Take care.
Dear Paulo,
Your books have kept me smiling even when i was in deep blues,
You are in Brazil still your books appeal to my Indian sentiments,
My favourite one- “The Zahir”
Take care and keep your books pouring in till i am alive,
i have just completed the X11 chapter and cannot wait for your latest novel to reach Singapore. Hurry please. Thank you Paolo Coelho. love, marianne
Dear Paulo,
Obviously, I’m still curious about who you are, and keep reading some of your enormous amount of excellent published material. Truly grateful, for being able to read 1/11th of your new novel for free, at least I owe you my sincere feedback! No way do I intend to insult you. However, being honest, giving you my personal, truthful opinion, I’m afraid to conclude rather negative. May I mention I had the same negative opinion while reading ‘Brida’, but ended up enjoying the end of this book. Perhaps in the same way ‘The Winner Stands Alone’, positively will surprise me, when able to read the entire story from the beginning to the end.
As much as I admire the Voice in the ‘Alchemist’, the Voice of faith, hope and love, I find I’m saddened by the Voice in ‘The Winner Stands Alone’, which seems to be the Voice of contempt for the very same faith, hope and love, contempt for life. Reflections like these belong to therapy and confessionals, and should be stopped for publishing for the public.
The twelve first chapters make me think of the prophet Elijah, all pleased with himself for everything he had done for God (although the only reason he could do all that God asked of him, was the grace, the fact God chose Elijah, and made him able to carry out his mission),and blaming humanity for not being as perfect as himself. God told him to stop his mission and called him home. We cannot be messengers of God’s love with contempt for life and living beings.
So, Mr Coelho, I charge you with contempt for life and dismiss your new book from my “court”, from my choice of spiritual litterateur.
Thanks anyway…love,
Heart
Normal = everybody else
Do you all sense danger when it is present, love when it engulfs you or god when he touches you? Am I normal? I read souls!
A Guide
Dearest Paulo,
I don’t know how to express my feelings as words really fail me.Your books have always been of great inspiration to me,and I do owe you a lot.I wish I could see you and tell you my story and how you saved me from drowning.This book,is definitely another masterpiece by you,yet easy to follow,to read, to feel and to touch.You’re doing a great prophecy for a world that is longing for a savior!If only all the people would read,think and learn the way I did and would save their hearts from the mire of disbelief and dishonesty!Love you Paulo!Good luck!Keep fascinating us cause we really need it!
Dreams WILL come true if…
Mariam
Dans ce chapitre, ce qui retient mon attention , c’est le statut de l’auteur qui cherche à ce que sont livre soit porté sur écran. Il vit dans un pays où la sotie de livres se compte par des dizaines de milliers par ans .Et il veut faire fortune , d’après les dires de son producteur .(je veux dire , les droits d’auteurs ).
Imaginons que le même auteur résidant dans un autre pays , comme le mien , Le Maroc . Sa situation serais autre .Même s’il avait passé 10 ans à se bousiller les méninges pour écrire son livre , son rêve s’évaporerais dès le contact du premier éditeur .
Heureusement pour lui , qu’il vit ailleurs , et qu’un bout de son rêve serais réalisable.
Chez moi on même pas le temps de rêver .
Mohamed El jerroudi
some dreams can be signs for me… But only the meaningful ones… there are others that I´d rather ignore. But I DO believe that sometimes Universe conspires for MEANINGFUL things… thanks for that Mr. Coelho!
and I want to thank you, Paulo. you are like an angel to us. your books teached us to understand better our inner world, to see the world and it’s real beauty.
thank’s!
The biggest problem of people is that they do not treasure what they have.
I am from Ukraine. The country is very unique. and people from west just can’t imagine how do we live. It’s like a mix from Russia and Europe. People have seen that life can be better. But they don’t want to do anything to improve their life. They hope it’ll be God or President,or their chef. that’s why they are always tricked and upset.
I’m 18. however, I know what means the real life. I know what means to be rich or don’t have money at all. (the difference between these people in my state is huge)
I know what means to love. It’s when you go to bed with tears and wish goodluck to the person you love and his new girlfriend. and anyway ask God to give him happiness and you more strenth. When you happy just to see him. even once in a year. it burns inside.
I know what means death. it’s when the person that seemed to be always near you – is gone under ground forever. but worth is not to die, but to be forgotten.
I know what means to be lonely. it’s when you are surrounded with a lot of people that find you the most outgoing person in the university. when you smile, go for coffee, but deep inside not understood and empty.
I know also what is to be happy. it’s when you enjoy spring, summer, fall, winter. when you can see the world around you. when you travel and feel the freedom in your soul, when you see children smiling, when you play with your dog or eat ice-cream with the person you love. when you are a bit crasy, optimistic doesn’t matter what happens to you.
when you do what you like.
I had a lot in my life. when I was 14 I understood that I can use my beauty. I had a lot of boyfriends, was going to discos and so on. But everything changed. I had a dream to study in the capital- Kiew. but my family didn’t have enough money to pay for me studing there. (in Ukraine we pay for everything, it’s not like in Europe. if you are stupid you ll have education if you have money. if you are clever but have no money – forget your dream) It was a real shock in my life. but it made me stronger.
I will study in Germany. I do everything for that. I don’t go outdoors with friends – I learn german. I read a lot of books. they are now my best friends. I don’t want to sit and cry, because life treated me not like I wanted. I’m not like that crowd in my country which always expects on somebody. I’m better and I will do everything by myself. (is it vanity?)
I have a goul. but it doesn’t close for me the world. I treasure what I have. My loving family, the world around, my little life experience. I’ve seen Paris, Berlin, Warsaw, Budapest, Amsterdam and so on. I breathed that sacred air. I was happy to see that people. they are so blind! they live in such a beauty. but they are always thinking about their problems at work, at home, at the university.
it is very difficult to treasure what you have. because if you don’t treasure what you have – you won’t get what you want. and even if you get it – you won’t understand what have you got.
Dear Paulo,
Thank you for your first book The Alchemist, after which I found all your other books. I have asked my Mother to send me your recent book, Winner…., as I definitely will not be able to find it in the Maldives.
I consider myself spiritual (budhhist – I come from Nepal), born in a hindu family and currently live in a muslim country! Thanks – Your books have added much to my knowledge. I must say, my best so far is Zahir!
I am a virgo as well and the one that enjoys a glass or two of local red wine with dinner!!
Ciao!
Sunita
Hi Paulo.
Your a real inspiraton and when i read your book i feel at peace with myself, and they make me happy. It’s almost as if they guide me through life. Your books are amazing, and the way you write is beautiful. Im very excited about your new book ‘The winner stands alone’ can’t wait to read it.
I love every single book you have written.
Im looking forward to your upcoming books.
Take care and Thank you for your amazing books.
Loads of love
Mago querido, que saudade!
Estou contando os dias para assistir o seu filme e o Brasil também!!!
Beijosssss
i wnt to see the movie!!
Paulo…
Another masterpiece from you…just one bit of complain…what harm do we people living in India do to not deserve your books on time? There isn o probable date about when it will be released in India! Is it our fault that we we were born here?
Sir Paolo,
I’d be saving a few of my allowance to buy this book. Anyway, The Alchemsit has greatly changed my life’s perspective.
Dear Heidi,
as stated at the end of this chapter – this is only the end of 1/11 of the book.
The integrality will be published on print this month in the UK and next in the US.
Love
Paulo
dear paulo,
is chapter XII the last chapter of this book?
thanks…
xo,
heidi
Dear Paulo…and to all people who read this…
yesterday there was a massacre near to my home town…Stuttgart in Germany…a 17 year old boy killed nearly 20 people… some of his teachers, boys and girls of his scool class, a nurse, and police officers and people walking around…he had 200 shots and shot 114… he said to a boy from his class:”knee down and die”…and shot in his head….i am so shocked, because friends of mine know someone who died…and really my best girlfriend had a physician date next to the scool yesterday, but today she told me she forgot it…god bless!!!
Why is this happening…i have only one answere…love is missing…i know from another friend that this boy had depressions…the people in class made jokes of him and his parents had money and where “higher society”…what can bring a boy from 17 years to kill somany people…..probably some agreement to Igor?…what can we do…my only answere :never ever ignore your neighbour, your scool friend, your son and daughter, the human being next you…you can stop that things like this are happening…because someone who did this, felt that everyone around dont see…feel..love..him……..sorry for my english.. i am shocked…in love claudia
Just as the story begins to roll, I have to wait! Thank you for the free pages.
Dear Mr Coehlo,
Thank you for sharing your work with your virtual friends.
You’re probably not the first author to use the web to publish, but for me, it is a first. I had never read a book on the internet before.
And it’s transforming completely the relation I have with it. I usually finish your books the same day I’ve started them. They are page turner. But now, I have to wait… to hope…at the end of each chapter I wish for another one but I do not have the control. I have to wait for you! And I read with pleasure the comments the other readers post. They are part of the story. Very interesting.
(Sorry for my english. I wasn’t sure if you or a member of your team could read french.)
nathalie
ps my teenage sons love your work too. They read Le démon et mademoiselle Prym at school.
I am aHR professioanl with orthopaedic challenges.I am standing alone to make a mark,
Gauatm
Im so excited to buy this new book. Another book that will inspire me in so many ways..By the way, when will it be released here in the Philippines? Hope to receive a respond from you Mr.Coelho. Godbless!
Thank you for sharing the chapters Paulo! While reading the 12th chapter it got me to thinking about the blog talk radio conversation you had a while back discussing the Alchemist with Lawence Ffishburn. :) hehehehehe.
Nice!
Much Love
Marie
Hi Mr. Paulo,
I’ve read almost all of ur books……the collection of all ur books lies in my shelf ……and i re-read those books sometimes……
when u first posted the chapter I of the book winner stands alone….i was so glad and i’ve followed the ensuing chapters ardently…..i would like to know when ur book is bing released in India coz as i’m Bhutan, we get all our books from INdia……i would love to have a copy of “the winner stands alone” in my collection of ur books……ur books have always given me hope when there was none…..i’ve learnt so many things about life from ur books……i always find myself relating to one character in ur book……i feel i’m one of the characters in ur book…..ur books taught me to rise up when i fell……it has give me strength to move forward against worst adversities……I hope u keep on writing to inspire and motivate ppl like us…..thank u….
hey paulo
love the chapters bt m thinking u are one of these people too…rich invited to thousands of parties a year in different cities…amidst people bt still sometimes alone…and maybe as self abosrbed in urself as the people u described in ur books…of and i dont think that al the film are of the same topis cinema is changing moving towards more realistic issues as well where the do bring in political interefernces, controversies and gud story lines
mr. coelho,
greetings.
i’ve been faithfully checking your site for an update of this story since i’ve been very curious what would happen next. thank you for sharing this and i can’t wait for the release. i live in philippines and i’m wondering if you know when it will release here.
thank you. God bless and please continue sharing your blessing.
jessie
“I have asked what being normal means?”
All right. The story so far is having a nice flow. You can not stop reading, the description of the profession (producer) is very well presented to a reader.
But what do producers think of their jobs? Probably just one thing: turnover or cash.
L.A. – the perfect location
I have been in many differnt jobs so far, and now I am in a retail…retail is a new religion. Really people live for that, each shopping centre is full of people, and they have in their heads only one thing: consuming. Sometimes tehre are also lonly poeple, who do not know what to do with themselves….well, let’s not go too far.
How can you change all that distubing human developement?
Please, check the web page:
http://www.romp.uk.com
and go under the description of what it is all about, it might give a little bit stronger emphasis on the producer – after he finds his normal way again…I suposse this si going to happen in the last quarter of the book :)))) or he will die.
I am waiting for the “special” character…I honestly do not know who that shall be, but I know there will be one!!!…someone like the painter in the 11 minutes?
Hm, I thnik that you are getting the answers by writing, but once again check the web page, if anythung else at least they have nice images.
Dear Mr Paulo:
like your others books this is beatyfull… its very nice to read whath you writhe and my mother and i love your books there are so nice and helpfull… when can we have the priveleged of read it in Spanish here in Mexico?
i hope soon because i like my mother can read your new publication.
best wishes
Lili
Dear Mr Coelho,
definitely an interesting book you wrote, I’ve just read “Brida” and it is quite striking how different your books are now.
The only thing that bothers me is that I’ve got to wait at least two years till you find another white feather. I just hope you will find a whole bunch of feathers sooner than you used to.
Good luck,
Konrad
dear paulo,
When would be the release of your new book here in the Philippines. My shelf is waiting for this new book of yours together with your other books starting from “the pilgrimage” up to “the witch of portobello.”
waiting for your response…
paula
Bonjour Paulo, buenos dias, bongiorno, guten Morgen,goede ochtend,bra morgon, xopowee ytoo, bom dia
The distributors…hmm they are also the ones that impose their clout onto the cinemas owners as well, telling them which advertising will be screened and so on. There are, I guess, hardly any independent cinemas’ owners these days. They have all been gobbled up.
The movie stars are producing their own films now. They have waken up.
Still they are being paid far too much and other international films with different ideas and different artists have to be able to be screened on a much larger scale.It becomes monotonous to see the same names over and over.
As you said yourself Paulo, it is always the same thing – “Man loves woman, woman loves man, Man gets woman back. Removal of any political interferences that might upset a conservative audience, more kissing, a story with a beginning, a middle and an end and a hero who moves everyone to tears with his self-sacrifice and devotion – and one character who loves a love one at the start of the film and finds him or her at the end.”
Time for a break and a changing “New World.” in cinema too.
Thank you for allowing us to share those xii chapters with us.
Love
Dear Paulo,
…when i read the last chapter of your new book, some words come into my mind…you wrote in your issue “the prayer of Petrus” from your book “the road to Santiago”……..”Have pity on those who cannot see anyone but themselves, and are shut in their limousines, locked in their air conditioned penthouse offices, and suffer in silence the solitude of power. But have pity on those who go without everything, and are charitable, and seek to overcome evil with love only, for they know not Your law which says:”he who has no sword, may he sell his cloak and buy one.”……probably Igor has a sword in his hand, but he is trying to find a perfect way to handle it….i think he is also a warrior of the light…..but like you say…”warriors of the light are not always sure what they are doing here. that is why they are warriors, because they make mistakes”….and Igor makes mistakes and he is not really sure about the things he did (the girl on the beach..he knows her name)…….so i think Igor wants to kill the darkness in the people he sees…but he forgets, that every one has a light inside….which is hidden in the most, but exists….and the only way to fight against the darkness is to bring the light….and light is love, not hate……
when does it come out in Germany…..love claudia
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