The Big One- the book

[wader-dad]

I read David Kinney's new book--The Big One: An Island, an Obsession, and the Furious Pursuit of a Great Fish. Dave is a Pulitzer Prize winning newspaper guy who is a surfcaster. The book is great.

It sort of centers around the 2007 MV Derby and Lev Wlodyka's yo yo belly 57 pound bass- but it is much more than that. It is sort of like Robert Post's book Reading the Water in that it tells about Vineyard legendary fisherman but its all wrapped up around the derby craziness. It is intended as a book for broad national appeal in that it tells of what happens on the Vineyard after Labor Day. It tries to explain the insane, obsessive striped bass world we live in.

Kinney sold his movie rights to Dreamworks and Spielberg- who wants to do another Vineyard big fish movie. Although they buy alot of stuff It looks like it may happen. Big shot producers are working on it. The following is from Variety:

DreamWorks has acquired screen rights to the book "The Big One: An Island, an Obsession and the Furious Pursuit of a Great Fish" for mid- against high-six figures.


Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci will produce through their first-look deal with the studio. They are looking for a scribe to adapt it.

The book chronicles the annual Striped Bass and Bluefish Tournament Derby. Held on Martha's Vineyard, it's the most celebrated fishing tournament on the East Coast and pays a $30,000 grand prize. Kinney observed overly competitive 9-year-olds, cheating scandals and heated rivalries between neighbors.

Book was bought preemptively by DreamWorks co-prexy Holly Bario, a Martha's Vineyard native. Kurtzman and Orci, who just scripted the big-scale "Star Trek" and, with Ehren Kruger, wrote "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen," sparked more to the characters than the fishing.

"We've been looking for a way to tell a pure character story," Orci said. "The people of the Vineyard are like a giant extended family, until this odd period of time when they turn against one another in competition. It's funny and heartbreaking."


So I think we should get some S-B guys to play the lead roles in the movie. They don't need some Hollywood types. Redlite can play Lev, Larry- Big Fish can play Zeb Tilton and Clammer can play #^&#^&#^&#^& Hathaway. Anybody know anyone at Dreamworks?

[Joe]

Wow - mid-high six figures for movie rights to a book about surfcasting.
Look for a 1000% increase in partcipation if they make it. The
"Gidget Effect" when a relatively obscure sport becomes recognized as part of popular culture.

[wader-dad]

Ok Joe -you can play Dave Kinney in the movie.

The book is not all on surfcasting- you got the boats , the guys lined up on Menemsha Jetty waiting for Albies and Bones, and the surfcasters.

For the women readers and viewers they have Janet Messineo, surfcasting heroine. Tough gut Mark Plante. Newspaper man Nelson Sigelman. All sorts of characters.

I don't see it being a big movie though.

[Pete F.]

A River runs thru it meets surfcasting. It will do to surfcasting what it did to troutfishing. Instead of Orvis'd out they will be Zbassed out or Skinnzed. The nights will still be quiet.

[Fish_Eye]

I missed the opportunity to chase the rubber shark underwater...I won't miss this one. BTW, a great read, I especially loved the chapter "I fish therefore I lie," the focus on Buddy Vanderhoop is hilarious.

Mike

[Raven]

Born actor.... the transformation after labor day is the story.

[ThomCat]

Good reviews! I just received a copy, now if I can only find the time to read it.

[Swimmer]

Coming to an IMAX theater near you.

[reelecstasy]

I just picked it up, we shall see

[wader-dad]

Dave Kinney is speaking at the Ct Surfcasters Meeting this Wednesday night 7 pm at the Madison Town Surf Club to talk about the Vineyard Derby and his book. Non-members are welcome to come. No charge or anything. Should be very interesting.

We are also having our annual raffle to benefit Multiple Sclerosis. Plugs are being donated and one winner takes all. Its for a very good cause.

If you are not fishing- why not try something new.

[lurch]

"sleep when your dead"

so far so good....I like it!

[westhavendave]

I recommend it highly. A great primer about the derby with enough characters and twists to keep it interesting. The author comes of as kind of a googan while trying to fish with theses guys. I kept wondering throughout the book whether any of the people profiled posted on any of these boards.