When reduced to their essences, writing and acting seem a lot alike. Both involve the creation of characters and the means of communicating those characters through created traits and mannerisms. And both, of course, involve the never-ending quest for character motivation. Perhaps that is why so many mystery authors have taken the opportunity to appear before the camera and inhabit a character in another way as well.
The phenomenon is hardly new. Actorturned-writer Will Shakespeare may have been the first major historical figure to combine both careers, though two centuries and change later, Charles Dickens continued the practice. Once film was developed as an entertainment medium, the lure of the camera became too strong to resist. Mark Twain made an appearance in a 1909 film adaptation of The Prince and the Pauper and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle filmed a cameo for 1925’s The Lost World, based on his adventure/fantasy novel. Seen pottering around his garden, Conan Doyle had just one line—“I have wrought my simple plan to give one hour of joy to the boy who’s half a man or the man who’s half a boy”—delivered via title card. But he appeared to enjoy being recorded for posterity, perhaps happy to be recognized for something other than Sherlock Holmes.
Denne historien er fra Spring #163, 2020-utgaven av Mystery Scene.
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Denne historien er fra Spring #163, 2020-utgaven av Mystery Scene.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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6 New Writers to Watch
Wiley Cash’s debut, A Land More Kind Than Home, about the bond between two brothers landed on the New York Times Best Sellers List and received the Crime Writers’ Association Debut of the Year.
ANN CLEEVES
British author Ann Cleeves has an affinity for remote areas and how these isolated regions affect her characters.
CARLENE O'CONNOR
“Anyone can play Snow White. It takes real talent to play the Wicked Witch.”
Mystery Scene MISCELLANY
FIRST USE OF FINGERPRINTS
PANIC ATTACK
The newest entry in my Pittsburgh set series of thrillers is called Panic Attack. It’s the sixth book featuring Daniel Rinaldi, a psychologist and trauma expert who consults with the Pittsburgh Police.
LAIDLAW'S LEGACY
During the pandemic, Ian Rankin stepped away from Rebus and into the shoes of friend and literary hero, the “Godfather of Tartan Noir” William McIlvanney.
HILARY DAVIDSON
Call it The Case of Life Imitating Art.
Thomas Walsh - The Unusual Suspect
Any paternity test on the sub-genre of police procedural will identify the DNA of Ed McBain and Lawrence Treat, as well as the 1948 movie The Naked City and the radio and TV series Dragnet…and of course Thomas Walsh.
S.A. COSBY
In Razorblade Tears, two aging men—one Black, one white, both with criminal pasts—join forces to seek revenge for the murders of their gay sons. The themes of fathers and sons and toxic masculinity will be familar to fans of Cosby’s 2020 breakout Blacktop Wasteland.
VIPER'S NEST OF LIES
A slip of the tongue is a dangerous thing. Not only does it expose indiscretions, it also can lead to murder. The latter especially applies to me.