But How Will it Affect the Film Projects?

Posted on January 11, 2006

The Hollywood Reporter weighs in on the two literary scandals currently occupying Hollywood and the publishing world: the revelation that novelist J.T. Leroy doesn't exist at all and The Smoking Gun's accusation that James Frey made up most, if not all, of his drug and addiction memoir, A Million Little Pieces. Oh -- and he conned Oprah, too.

A film version of Frey's best-selling addiction memoir "A Million Little Pieces" could need a rehab of its own after a story posted Sunday on the muckraking Web site the Smoking Gun raised serious questions about the veracity of the author's gritty true-life account. On his Web site, Frey said, "I stand by my book and my life, and I won't dignify this bullshit with any sort of further response." He is scheduled to appear tonight on CNN's "Larry King Live" to discuss the controversy.
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As for the film adaptation of Frey's "A Million Little Pieces," one agent who requested anonymity said that the project will suffer because it no longer will be able to attract A-list talent. "I can't imagine that a star is going to want to do what in essence is a biopic of a guy whose biopic is incorrect," the agent said.
But a top literary manager, who also requested anonymity, said that people should concentrate on the writing rather than the story behind the writer. "With 'A Million Little Pieces,' part of what makes it great is this notion that it's a true story and that it's his memoir," the manager said. "And yet, if you were to strip that away, is it still a provocative and engaging and dramatic story? Well, I think it is, so I don't know if it hurts him." While the project might hit snags, it's uncertain whether Frey's burgeoning screenwriting career will take a hit. He is currently writing "Prep," a teen drama for MTV Films.
"No matter what happens, James is still a really good writer," said JC Spink, who is executive producing the film. "Besides, haven't most of us in this town been guilty of embellishing at one time or another? If anyone was going to hold that against me, I'd never work again."

Note to J.C. Spink -- if we weren't suspicious of your work before you talked to The Hollywood Reporter, we certainly are now.