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At least twice before in movie history, No. 1 best-selling nonfiction books have been translated into films with totally fictional stories.
They were 1964's "Sex and the Single Girl" and Woody Allen's 1972 "Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex."
Those were both sex manuals, which makes director Richard Linklater's fictional film version of Eric Schlosser's "Fast Food Nation" close to a unique idea -- especially since this time the non-fiction author himself was a vital partner in the unlikely adaptation.
In town last week to promote the film's Friday opening, Schlosser was quick to point out that, though he shares co-writing credit with the director and was involved in virtually every aspect of the production, "Make no mistake, this is a Richard Linklater film."
A well-spoken, 49-year-old investigative reporter who looks a bit like the young Alan Arkin, Schlosser said, "I was there to serve Rick's vision; to bounce off ideas and add perspective. I really can't take credit for the inventive way it was done."
After his investigation into the fast-food industry and its negative impact on global culture became a huge best-seller in 2001, Schlosser was approached by a succession of filmmakers wanting to turn it into a documentary.
"This was how I also saw it being filmed. But I was leery because so many of the filmmakers had corporate sponsorship -- particularly those associated with PBS, which gets a lot of money from McDonald's every year -- and I feared the message would get watered down."
The idea of a fiction-film version came from veteran producer Jeremy Thomas, who optioned the book. "And I had written plays and worked for a film company before I became a journalist, so it was not a completely outrageous suggestion to me," Schlosser said.
With this concept firmly in mind, Schlosser sought out Linklater ("Slacker," "Before Sunset"). "I loved his work and admired his independence from Hollywood. So when I was in Austin (Texas, his hometown) on a promotional tour, I went to him and said, 'Can you give me some advice on this?' "
They became partners. "This was in 2002, and off and on for the next two years we worked on the script. It was all done on a handshake, without signing anything, and it was a totally pleasant experience because our writing styles and personalities meshed so well."
It was not an easy task, figuring out characters and situations that would embody all the levels and concerns of the book. "But the challenge was fun, and I was always amazed at Rick's grasp of the book, and his skill in finding ways to represent it in fictional terms."
Schlosser said he was as involved in the production as any author has ever been in the translation of his book -- on the set, overseeing the editing, and promoting it on the road. But, while he enjoyed the communal process, it didn't leave him with any filmmaking ambitions.
"I don't want to be a director. The endless delays, the waiting around for money, the not knowing if the deal is going to fall through, it's just too tough. And I learned early on in my career that I don't want to be a screenwriter. Words are just too important to me."
He said, "When the movie opens Friday, I intend to leave all this behind. I've been dealing with the dangers of fast food in one way or another for more than 10 years, and I still feel very passionate about the subject, but it's time for me to move on.
"I've become an advocate on the issue by necessity, but I'm not Ralph Nader. I'm not confrontational by nature. I don't enjoy the fighting -- or finding myself a target. Writing the book was my contribution to the movement, and I figure that's enough. The rest I leave to others."
At the same time, he's delighted by "the revolution that's taken place in this country over the past decade in the way America thinks about food," and he's optimistic about the future. "The idea of eating right has taken hold, and it's not going away."
Schlosser's next book is about America's prisons, a subject that's replaced his obsession with the evils of junk food. Is there a fiction film in it? "Well, I don't see one. But then I didn't see one in 'Fast Food Nation' either, so who knows?"
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