Interview (Written): Drew Goddard (“The Martian”)

A THR interview with Drew Goddard whose TV writing credits include Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Alias, and Lost, and whose screenplay credits include Cloverfield, The Cabin in the Woods, World War Z, and The Martian, based on a novel by Andy Weir:

How much did you work with Andy while you were writing?

A lot. I talked to him early on to just tell him how much I loved the book and how much I loved his writing. And to let him know I didn’t want to do this without his blessing and his involvement. Then I said, “Now, having said all that, I think the best thing to do is I should go in my cave and write this first draft. I’m going to do everything I can to protect this book, but there’s going to be a part of making the sausage that’s not going to be fun for you as an author.”

Did you have any contact with him while you were writing that first draft?

As I was writing it, I was calling him constantly with science questions and logic questions because he’s a genius, and I’m pretty dim when it comes to the science. Those conversations were the best because he had not quit his job yet; he was still working as a computer programmer. He was still doing that even after Matt Damon had signed on. I kept saying, “Andy, I promise you, you can quit now.”

Did you feel a responsibility to the book?

The way I approach adaptation is, I try never to say yes to anything I don’t love because if I love it, I will protect it. And then once I know that, the second rule is: My job is not to protect the book — my job is to make the best movie. Those two things sort of are at odds with one another. But I don’t like watching movies that are just transcriptions of a book; it’s a great way to make a mediocre movie.

For the rest of the interview, go here.