By Cayla Resnick
I think that “The Picasso Summer” would work very well as a film. However, I think that instead of George Smith knowing Picasso as a talented artist I think that it would be interesting if he didn’t know who Picasso was. I think that his wife Alice should know who Picasso is and be ecstatic that they are so close to him but George has no idea who she is talking about. I would start the movie with a small quote said by Picasso about the influence of art in individuals lives, and then as the short story does with the Smith’s talking about Picasso being nearby however, Alice has to explain to George why Picasso is such a well known artist. Regardless of what his wife is saying George doesn’t believe what Alice is saying and doesn’t think that Picasso is so significant.
For the beach seen I would have it so the viewer can’t see that it is Picasso and can only see what he is drawing. I would have George go up to Picasso and his drawing and explain how he didn’t understand the art that he created and express how he didn’t see how people enjoyed art. Then Picasso would explain how art can be observed and interpreted in different ways that can be unique to each individual. George would start to understand Picasso’s perspective and is about to take his phone out for a picture of the drawing when the ocean comes up and ruins it. While this is happening Picasso is walking away, George looks over at him expressing how he never asked who the man was.
When he gets back home he tells Alice about his experience. Yet neither one of them ever knows that it was Picasso who made the art in the sand. The only ones who get to find that out are the viewers right after that when they show Picasso again fully and it is revealed that the person George saw drawing in the sand was actually Picasso. This way it would leave the audience frustrated with the idea that he never knew it was Picasso however, it makes it more realistic since George in this adaptation isn’t a fan of Picasso. The only thing George can take out of his encounter with Picasso is Picasso’s message about the influence of art in peoples lives. At the end I would have George go and buy his wife a piece of art. Although it isn’t a Picasso painting, Alice is still very grateful for the gift she received. This shows a character development in George because he has learned from Picasso’s words and although he doesn’t know it, Picasso was that influence.
I really like this idea as it shows how George really begins to respect Picasso. I feel like this shows where George begins to fall in love with his paintings and really learns the true meaning of art instead of him already knowing it. I also really like the part of George going to buy his wife a piece of art it does show heavy character development and really begins to show his love in art, unlike the original story where he already had that love.
I also chose to do a film adaptation of this reading, and I like how different our ideas were. Making George not care and Alice care so much was interesting to think about after reading the story first. I like how you decided that George would buy Alice a piece of art at the end, because as you mentioned it shows character development and is also romantic.
I like your idea for the film adaptation of “The Picasso Summer”. Having George not know who Picasso is would make the moment on the beach a lot more special. Rather than George being infatuated with Picasso he would be impressed by the artwork that he is making in the sand. I think that this moment would allow George to have more of an appreciation for art, which is what his wife was trying to do all along.