Adaptation of Stephen King’s 9/11 Tale The Things They Left Behind Making Film Festival Rounds
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Although I don’t have the exact numbers right in front of me, I would be willing to lay a considerable wager that Stephen King has had more horror stories adapted to film than any other author. That seems like a safe bet. And now, through King’s “Dollar Baby” program, director Pablo Macho Maysonet IV has added the September 11th thriller The Things They Left Behind to the list of King tales to make the big screen.
Through “Dollar Baby,” selected filmmakers are granted the right to create a film from a Stephen King story for $1, allowing up-and-comers an opportunity to work with the legendary author’s material.
The Things They Left Behind tells the chilling tale of a September 11th survivor who is being haunted by those from his past lost to the disaster. It is a powerful reminder of the day, especially as we reflect on the date during the 10th anniversary.
Currently only accessible at select film festivals, you can get a look at the trailer for The Things They Left Behind below. Read on for more info.
From the Press Release
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.
At the moment this short film can only be seen at select film festivals, but to view the behind-the-scenes making-of The Things They Left Behind, go to SDP’s YouTube channel, and to follow up-to-date information regarding the film, check out the Facebook page.
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