Welcome to Heilman & Haver - Episode 76. We hope you enjoy the show!

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IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Kristen Lopez

Kristen Lopez is author of the new book But Have You Read the Book? 52 Literary Gems That Inspired Our Favorite Films. In it, Kristen offers an endlessly fascinating look at 52 beloved screen adaptations and the great reads that inspired them. Some films, like Clueless — Amy Heckerling’s interpretation of Jane Austen’s Emma — diverge wildly from the original source material, while others, like One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, shift the point of view to craft a different experience within the same story. Kristen explores just what makes these works classics of both the page and screen, and why each made for an exceptional adaptation — whether faithful to the book or exemplifying cinematic creative license.

Kristen is a pop culture essayist, TV editor for IndieWire, and she’s worked as an entertainment journalist for over 15 years, with her articles appearing at Variety, MTV, TCM, and Roger Ebert. A California native, Kristen was raised in a small suburb near Sacramento and graduated with a Masters in English from California State University, Sacramento. She is also the creator of the classic film podcast, Ticklish Business. In her free time, Kristen enjoys reading and finding Old Hollywood connections in her neighborhood. She joined us from her home in Los Angeles.

Find her writing at TheWrap.com and she’s on Instagram and Twitter at kristenlopez88.