 "Photo:")
As the number of active readers across America decreases, production groups such as Walden Media are stepping up to spread the valuable messages that books hold. Once limited to black- and-white print, children's stories are now available to the world through colorful animation. Walden Media, a division of Anschutz Film Group, adapts popular children's books, such as Charlotte's Web, The Chronicles of Narnia, and Holes, into family films. On Tuesday Randy-Michael Testa, the vice president of education for Walden Media, spoke to Boston College faculty, staff, and students about the corporation's mission and the importance of literature in a child's life.
Walden Media's mission is rooted in "bringing kids back to literature," Testa said. The business's web site states that it specializes in entertainment meant to engage the imagination and to involve young people in the learning process. Testa said that he and other Walden employees work closely with people such as educators and child specialists to create films that are faithful to the original texts and appealing to both kids and adults.
The ultimate goal of adapting books into movies is to improve overall active readership, Testa said. Referring to recent statistics showing that, on average, 15-to 24-year-olds spend two hours watching TV each day and only 15 minutes reading, Testa said that less than 10 years ago, this age group was the most likely to pick up a book; now they are the least likely. He said studies also show that only one in four Americans read a book last year, and slightly more than one-third of adult males read literature.
Testa attributed this, in part, to the increasing number of televisions in households, and predicted that reading is an activity that will virtually disappear in half a century.
Testa stressed how lifelong readers are not byproducts of reading levels. Dani Vissar, A&S '10, attended the lecture and agreed with Testa. Vissar said that in order for children to grow into lifelong readers they must find material that piques their interest.
"[Children] should read what they want, and there needs to be a definite jump for more reading," Vissar said.
Although Walden Media is a for-profit business that produces multi-million dollar films, Testa said the company strives to promote literature through faithful adaptations, which in turn encourage children to read more books and grapple with lifelong values. Good books and accompanying movies increase retention, comprehension, and the capacity for empathy, Testa said.
Walden Media is unique in that it produces adaptations that strive to remain true to the original text. Many much-loved books-turned-movies have been distorted by adaptations that may differ from the original story. "When an adaptation is faithful, it drives interest back to original properties," Testa said.
The movies that Walden Media chooses to adapt from books must not only convey the original spirit of the book, but must also relate to issues important to children. Works of fantasy, such as C.S. Lewis' The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, help children understand difficult problems and real issues through the lens of imaginary worlds.
"Through this and other children's books, we learn that fantasy must be grounded in reality, and through fantasy, children make sense of reality," Testa said.
The beauty of reading books and watching their film adaptations is that each person derives a different meaning from the experience, Testa said. Just as children reread their favorite books, Walden Media has made it possible to revisit stories that hold meaning and significance for all generations.
"When we put it up on the screen, in a way it becomes more epic," Testa said.
Professor George O'Har of the English department, however, contends that there is still something to be said about reading a story instead of just watching it.
"A book is your own," O'Har said. "A movie, no matter how good it is, is someone else's version."
Be the first to comment on this article!