The Black Phone Author Reflects on Successful Adaptation After Low Original Story Payment
The Black Phone Years after receiving a pittance for the original story, Joe Hill contemplates the film's success. Before becoming famous, Hill published his first short story in 2004. Scott Derrickson, C.
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Years later, Robert Cargill filmed it. Finney (Mason Thames), a child held captive by The Grabber (Ethan Hawke), receives help from his victims via a black phone. It was commercially successful despite its low budget.
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Hill told X The Black Phone's success and rerelease as The Black Phone Stories. Hill thanked Derrickson for making "such a scary and heartfelt film" from his story. It cost $35 for the 2004 story.
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Incredible, Hill only received $35 for The Black Phone, which grossed $100 million. Success gave birth to the Black Phone 2.
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Hill wanted his short story to become a novel so it could grow like the film. He didn't think he could write his idea as a failed novelist with four unpublished books.
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His editor bought the Black Phone for $35 to ensure publication. Short stories aren't profitable, so Hill was paid average.
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Short stories led to 2007 novel Heart-Shaped Box. Joe Hillström King, Stephen King's son, revealed himself in 2007. Hill sold $35 short stories to advance his writing career without his father's fame.
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The Black Phone's success inspires. Before Hill's identity, Derrickson was intrigued by the story. New horror writers and $18 million films rarely succeed.
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The Black Phone shows that new writers and short stories can succeed without big names or budgets.
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Also See
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