Breaking AI & Tech News Analyzed

The Unexpected Letter That Sparked a CollaborationIn 2017, Ben Rivers received a hand‑typed note from Don DeLillo after a mutual friend sent the author a DVD of Rivers’ 2015 film The Sky Trembles and the Earth is Afraid and the Two Eyes Are Not Brothers. The letter praised the film’s power and opened a dialogue that would later shape Rivers’ next project.From Fan Mail to Film: How DeLillo’s Response Shaped “Mare’s Nest”Encouraged by DeLillo’s endorsement, Rivers wrote again in 2020 asking permission to adapt the author’s 2007 play The Word for Snow. DeLillo declined a direct adaptation but “absolutely gave me his blessing”, allowing Rivers to weave the play’s dialogue into a larger narrative about children navigating a climate‑scarred, adult‑free landscape. The resulting film, Mare’s Nest, juxtaposes the cryptic play excerpts with original scenes shot across Menorca, Snowdonia and a London studio.Creative Choices Over Box‑Office Numbers: A Non‑Commercial ApproachRivers’ work remains firmly in the art‑gallery circuit, favouring 16 mm grain and visual mystery over conventional storytelling or commercial metrics. No box‑office figures are cited; the film’s value is measured by critical reception, festival screenings, and the unique synergy between literature and cinema.Reimagining Literary Adaptation in Contemporary CinemaThe partnership demonstrates an alternative to mainstream adaptations of well‑known novels. While recent attempts such as Noah Baumbach’s White Noise and the French Never Ever have struggled to retain DeLillo’s tone, Rivers’ approach treats the source material as a thematic catalyst rather than a literal script, preserving the author’s “cold, deadpan” language within an experimental visual framework.What the DeLillo‑Rivers Partnership Signals for Future Art‑House ProjectsRivers’ success suggests that future independent filmmakers may seek “blessings” rather than full rights, using literary fragments to enrich visual storytelling without the constraints of strict adaptation. The upcoming screening at Curzon Bloomsbury, paired with a Q&A, underscores growing audience appetite for such cross‑disciplinary experiments.A screening of Mare’s Nest with a Q&A with Ben Rivers will take place at Curzon Bloomsbury at 6 pm on Tuesday 16 June