Wild Things manuscripts at the Rosenbach
Friday, October 16th, 2009
A classic children's book is hitting movie screens across the country this weekend. The film "Where The Wild Things Are" is the latest version of the story by Maurice Sendak, which has already been turned into a short animated film, a children's museum, and an opera. The origins of the story are on display at a museum in Philadelphia.
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Sarah Rike is 9 years old, and the challenge of turning a children's book into a movie is not lost on her.
Rilke: The book was like 6 pages, and the movie was an hour and a half.
Sarah and her family came from Baltimore to see a preview of the movie – and tour the preliminary drafts of the picture book at the Rosenbach Museum in Philadelphia. While the filmmakers had to expand the story, curator Patrick Rodgers says Maurice Sendak wanted the story to be as concise as possible.
Rodgers: The earlist draft we have is a probably at least 1000 words. The book now is a 338-word book, there was a core there he liked and the rest he had to sculpt away and shape it into what he wanted.
The Sendak exhibit changes periodically, displaying material from the author's other works as well.
Sara is a very inteligent and articulate 9 year old. She is really a beautiful young girl. The entire family is very proud of her.