Trash the Movie

'Trash: the movie' is making steady progress, and the team are coming together for pre-production work in September. Richard Curtis has delivered the screenplay, and Stephen Daldry will direct just as soon as the Olympics are over – Stephen is a main-player in the creative team that devised the opening ceremonies. Andy remains a consultant to the movie, but is quite clear about what that means

‘I’m not involved. I’ve had several meetings and conversations with these gentlemen now, and I have to say the book couldn’t be in better hands – there’s a real intelligence and sensitivity coming through. Hardly surprising…

‘I get asked if I’m going to have any input whatsoever, and the answer’s no. I’m not a screen-writer, and my only experience of movies is watching them with a packet of maltesers in my hand. My first meeting with Richard made it clear that the screenwriter’s job is very different from the novelist. His instinct is for telling a story in images rather than in prose, and he made me realise I’d no more try to adapt ‘Trash’ than I’d wander into a dentist’s to give myself a filling. He knows how to do it and I’m thrilled to bits that he’s doing it to ‘Trash’.’

The location looks like being Brazil, because there’s a good film infrastructure there – and Stephen and Kris (the producer who’s assembled this extraordinary team) have strong connections with that part of world. Part of Stephen’s genius, of course, is getting the very best out of child actors, trained or un-trained – so a lot of energy is going into casting the three boys.

Shooting is due to start in the Spring of 2013.