If I were to cast my book as a movie

Inspired by this post on my favorite online forum, and because I like to have a visual in my head of characters, I decided to “cast” my book as if it was a movie.

Britt Robertson was chosen as Juliette due to her similar appearance to a painting that is in the book.  The character’s eye color is green, but that’s what contacts are for.

I chose Aaron Tveit as Tristan.  He’d need dark hair with curls though, and bluer eyes. I know he can pull the curls.  Not all guys can.  But I’m a sucker for curls, so this in non-negotiable.

I came by Leighton Meester when looking for who’d play Emma, but she’d be a good Gabrielle.  She can pass for the right age, but also has a calm, motherly look which is vital to this character.

Emma Watson’s hair color changes, sometimes brown, sometimes blonde, sometimes reddish.  In this shot, it’s almost perfect.  The character Emma has dirty blonde hair.

For the role of Emma’s husband Sunil, I knew without searching that Kunal Nayyar would be perfect.  He’s better know as Raj on The Big Bang Theory (one of the best shows to grace television in years).

Then we’ve got Chris Pine as Jesse.  I needed someone who could both look like a jerk without trying to be one as well as look thoughtful and kind without trying.  Jesse’s got a lot of internal conflict going on.

For William, I bounced back and forth between Robbie Ammel and Taylor Lautner.  Taylor without a shirt is too distracting, plus…well, crud.  The other reason makes a casting choice above just plain funny.  Well, Robbie won out. Looks jock-like, fun, like a playful big brother.  I don’t quite think that Taylor’s got the carefree look to him that William needs.  He’s more brooding, which can be sexy, but that’s not the point for this role.

Tom Felton was picked as Ash.  Yes, I know, he and Emma Watson were already in eight movies together, but this casting is a just-for-fun thing.

For Juliette’s best friend I chose Coco Jones.  I spent some time angry last night when looking for a young black actress.  For this woman, photos of her were photoshopped taking her skin tone very pale.  What is wrong with black skin being dark?  It really irks me that women with darker skin have less of a chance of making it in Hollywood (and the business world in general) than lighter-skinned black women.  There is nothing wrong with darker skin, and Hollywood and the world in general needs to realize that skin tone doesn’t indicate intelligence, morality, ability, or anything else.  Trying to find women to play her sisters was even more difficult.  As you can see on Coco’s head, her hair still has its natural texture.  I don’t want to participate in the promotion that African hair has to be relaxed and made to look like a white person’s, or that skin must be lightened.  Variation is beautiful, and it’s a travesty that fitting in often means trying to appear as a different race.  Coco isn’t white, but she’s no less beautiful than anyone else.

Alex Pettyfur is perfect in every way for Robert.  It’s just too easy for him to look like an uncaring jerk, an intimidating SOB.

Landon Liboiron was cast in my mental movie for the same reason as Alex Pettyfur.  These are bad buys.