The Legacy of Movie Casting and Why We Gush Over Demi-Jonas Bros’ Reunion

Camp Rock’s Demi Lovato and the Jonas Brothers just reunited in concert—and fans are buzzing. With all the millennials and fans from the 2008 era gushing over it, aren’t you a bit curious why? The answer? It’s the legacy of movie casting. So we’re here to talk about that and what storytellers can learn from it.

Photo by Garry Knight

A Brief Review

Rewatching the two movies (Camp Rock 1 and 2) made me realize that they are far from perfect. I find that there are paces that feel abrupt (almost cringey in a way), especially when the characters transition from having normal dialogues to singing their hearts out with all their choreographed banters. 

When it comes to the narrative, I don’t think the way Shane (Joe Jonas) lectured the group about being true and authentic would be palatable in today’s woke audience. Perhaps the creators wanted to build something to establish their point. The pretense led to the first movie’s most celebrated song: “This is Me.” And that’s when the feels came out for me.

Back to the Present

There is something about the legacy beloved movie characters leave, even decades after their portrayal. When they come together, it gives fans a sense of comfort, a familiar feeling of youthfulness, a revelation of growth, and a grounded remembrance of wonderful memories.

Mitchie and Demi became one persona at that reunion concert. It’s a full circle moment, and we are all here for it. The story came out of the screen, and it became a lived experience.

That’s legacy. That’s the power of storytelling when embraced by the target audience. 

Compelling Characters

So what’s in it for the writers? Insight. Especially if you want to bring your story from the pages to the big screen. Although Camp Rock was not a book adaptation, you can curate yours to be a potential motion picture. 

A story’s hero is the king for movie makers. Craft a compelling character; it’s the center of every great story. We can remember very well who Mitchie is, even though we might have forgotten some details of the plot.

You’re not writing a script. You’re sticking to your novel, but you’re making it hybrid. Create characters that can likely be portrayed by your favorite artists. Study the actors you want to cast to portray your characters. Tailor their personalities but add some depth and layers. It is to give you an avatar so you can visualize how your novel’s characterization moves, speaks, raises eyebrows, squint eyes, or smiles.

You may ask: How sure will I be that this lands my story in a movie?

Of course, that’s just a quarter of the equation.

Successful Adaptation Comes from Great Readership

It’s actually pretty neat to think that your novel can be the next big Hollywood movie, and it's a great vision to have. But remember, all great movies that were adapted from books first passed through the eyes of avid reader-fans. Readers are your best marketing machines because they can lobby and rally for your work without you even trying. You just need to gain their trust and make your story resonate potently enough. 

In the end, you can visualize your favorite actors breathing life into your novels, and they can all gather in a place to celebrate the story birthed from your book. But it all starts with how willing you are to craft a well-trusted story that will truly leave a mark.

If you’re ready to publish a novel that will become the next big hit, send your draft to The Manuscript Editor, and we will help bring your story to life.  

Sources:

• How I Got My Book Optioned for a Major Motion Picture

• Make Your Book a Movie

• How to Write a Bestseller with Paula Hawkinsure