Movies from the Heart—Finding Neverland

In the play Peter Pan, children find a magical world they can visit. And they are given the power of flight to get there!!

In 1904, when the play was written, this was a brand new concept. Children flying? Visiting magical worlds that definitely don’t exist in real life?

Well, yes.

When someone comes up with a new world like this, I always wonder where the idea came from. Were they reading fairy tales for inspiration? Or is it even possible to look at the derivation of a creative endeavor like Peter Pan? Maybe the writer has a different kind of mind from the rest of us. Or maybe not. Maybe the writer is just observant…

With Finding Neverland [2004] by David Magee, we’re taken inside the mind of playwright J. M. Barrie, the creator of the play Peter Pan, and we get to see how he came up with the idea of a place called “Neverland” and children like Peter, Wendy and Michael.

Take a look at the trailer for the film.

It’s interesting. This film is about an author most people probably don’t know, but everyone knows Peter Pan. So remember that, as you write—you aren’t the star of the show as a writer, it’s your work that takes that spotlight. I think some people who come to Los Angeles hoping to become screenwriters do so for the perceived lifestyle they think they’ll have. But think about it, how many screenwriters can you name? One? Two? You’re not a celebrity—you won’t be interacting with your favorite actors and directors. Oh, they’ll be your friend while the production is going on but it’s doubtful you’ll ever hear from them again unless they play a part in another script you’ve written!

So it’s imperative that you go into this business with your head firmly on your shoulders. That you go into it for the love of writing, of storytelling.

And J. M. Barrie had a particularly interesting story. Peter Pan came from his interactions with some children he met in the park one day. He’d just written a play that was a flop and was desperate to write a play that would be a hit. When he came up with Peter Pan, the producer was convinced it would be a flop with the highbrow London theatre goers. But Barrie had an idea. He got a bunch of kids to be in the audience on opening night and they were transfixed by the play—and their delight spread to the highbrow audience.

One of the things I love about this movie is that it tells the story that…well, you never know. You can be the biggest producer in London and not know a hit when you see it!

But the film also tells the story of Barrie’s romance with the mother of the children—and he a married man. The blend of this exploration of the world of children with Barrie’s own exploration of the love in his life—as he’s married when he meets the children’s mother—is a great combination of stories. If you’re thinking of writing a film that explores two different stories and interweaves them beautifully, Finding Neverland is a film to study.

Next week, let’s look at another period romance, Girl with a Pearl Earring..

Copyright © Diane Lake

07Jul24

Email Diane a question to Diane@DianeLake.com