The Word On Film

Interview with John Ridley: Literary Triple Threat

For those of you who aren't basketball players, triple threat means that, offensively, a player is kick-ass at shooting, dribbling/driving to the basket, and passing. Forget the whole "eyes in the back of their head" metaphor. These guys have x-ray vision in the back of their heads. Offensively, you want this guy to have the ball. He can do anything with it. We're talking Jordan's skills and --hell, sometimes mysticism-- to get the ball into the basket.

John Ridley does with a story what Jordan does with a basketball.

John has written novels, screenplays, commentaries and comic books. If he has a story, one way or another, he'll get it told. From the days of his own stand-up comic career, to writing for Martin and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, John's reach, as a writer, is huge. He conceived the story for the film Three Kings, and U-Turn is based on his novel Stray Dogs. Undercover Brother has been produced as both a comic book and a film. Not only has John written for the screen, but he has produced and directed as well. The television series Third Watch and Platinum can all be added to his impressive resume.

I had met John, along with his growing family, at the book event for John's most recent novel, Those Who Walk in Darkness. We sat outside and leisurely-discussed writing and film.

WM: Comedian, screenplays, novels… how did you start writing?

JR: I started writing for television. Original I was writing my own jokes for stand-up, so I found writing jokes for television shows to be an easy transition. I feel very fortunate that I was able to do these things. I just like telling stories.

WM: Are you comfortable saying that you are writer?

JR: No, not really. I'm uncomfortable saying I am a writer, especially in LA. People always want to know about the actors… I don't really interact with or know these people. In LA, people talk a lot about what they do. I love to write. I find it a waste of energy to sit around to talk about what you do. I want to work, not chat about it.

WM: So, where do you get your story ideas?

JR: Ideas for writing stories for shows like Third Watch come from real life situations. Stories like Those Who Walk In Darkness, my hard-boiled fiction, comes from the idea of placing interesting and odd people in odd circumstances. Those Who Walk in Darkness takes a black, female police officer and sets her against people with superhuman powers. She hunts them. Why? Because they're different and the laws make it legal. She is someone who had to face racial discrimination, and now indiscriminately brings down all metahumans for no crime other than they are different.

WM: Are you doing a sequel or series for Those Who Walk in Darkness?

JR: Well, I have already agreed to write another book. I don't like sequels. Feels like I am selling out--to just pick up the same thing to do it over again. I'd get bored writing about the same character over and over. I'd like to offer the reader something different. Keep the same world I've created, but perhaps focus the next novel on a different character.

WM: So, how do you feel about Those Who Walk in Darkness being made into a movie?

JR: It's a balance. It's great because you get the money and get to buy something nice for your family. But you spent all this time writing, making rules for your world, and making everything work. Then the movie comes along, breaks all of your rules, and they wonder why things won't work. Why it takes three years to get a script. That's arrogance. It's like selling a car: I've sold the car so I can't drive it anymore, but at the same time, why buy a working car just to pull it a part and then try to put it back together again?

WM: Do you like writing film adaptations?

JR: Yes and no. It is really hard to cut things out, especially if it was my work originally. Sometimes the mood, descriptions, the psychology can be lost. I want to fight, to protect the work. I really feel bad for other writers who are not part of the adaptation process. So much of the story changes in transition to film. For Three Kings, the protagonist was supposed to be a black man. There was supposed to be this situation with men of color (black and Iraqi) and then George [Clooney] was casted as the lead.

In adaptation, besides basic changes to the story, there are budgets and lengths to consider. It's not much fun. You take source material and boil it down. If you find a good movie based on a book, you should really appreciate that.

WM: What projects have been your favorites?

JR: I like writing novels the best. You don't have to pitch the story or talk about it. No financial constraints or length restrictions. Someone doesn't look at an idea and say, "How much is that effect going to cost?" I have the freedom to do what I want.

WM: Is there anything that you'd like to do next?

JR: I've been fortunate enough to do everything I want. I'd maybe do less television and film so that I can write more novels.

WM: What about comic book writing and your fans?

JR: Comic books fans are great and loyal, but I haven't been to a convention in 13 years. Sometimes the fans get too inserted into that world-- If you get too into it, you give up some of the enjoyment. There is no warp drive, so relax.

WM: I have often found that when I create characters, I get protective and never want anything to happen to them. How do you feel about conflict?

JR: I have no problem putting my characters into bad situations. The way I create my characters--the conflict comes naturally. Conflict finds you. You carry a badge and put on a uniform, you just know that bad things are going to happen.

WM: Do you write everyday?

JR: I do write everyday. I have so many deadlines that I have to. Wish I could be more selective about what I have to write. Hopefully that will come.

WM: Do you have any advice for other writers?

JR: Don't do it. Get a job with regular hours. Plus you can act normal.

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