Sam Heughan made When the Starlight Ends in his early days as Jamie Fraser on Outlander. Now the newly-edited film is coming out on DVD. Should Heughan fans buy it or not?
Sam Heughan stars in the film, When the Starlight Ends due for release this March, and now available on pre-order. The DVD reached #5 on the Amazon romance DVD list, at one point.
But wait! Not so fast, Sam-superfan. Before your eager fingers click “BUY,” you might want to know about a few things that went on behind the scenes.
Sure, when Sam was filming it, he loved the process and completing this project with such a talented director, cast and crew. He tweeted about it during production, almost three long years ago now.
But then… something changed. From what I can piece together, the financiers took over, re-edited the project and turned it into something it was never intended to be. Something Sam never approved.
Sam’s long-time friend, writer/director, Adam Sigal — the VERY REASON he agreed to do the project — developed When the Starlight Ends to be a “creative” more intellectual and quirky dark comedic indie, as opposed to a dumbed-down commercial dramedy.
Taking editing out of the hands of a director is a bit of a sly move. It’s done, at times, but it’s not often nor optimal, and it’s certainly not nice. The actors, already with their pay cheque in hand, have no say in how scenes are re-jigged.
If you want to see Sam’s original shooting script, you can see it here.
And back in Fall 2016, fans knew Sam wasn’t happy with it. So is he impressed by it now? By far the biggest clue I’ve noticed? Dead silence from Sam (and from everyone except the financiers) since the pre-order launched weeks ago. No tweets, re-tweets, Instagram or Facebook updates. A resistance to it, by omission. Fans know that’s not like him at all. This guy is social media-savvy. He uses it to the max and always makes known the projects that make him proud. Did you hear he’s raised $1 million for cancer research? Sure you did, because he is proud of it!
Most definitely, he’s seen the newly edited version by now. And so I have to ask — we all have to ask — does he not want to support the film’s final version?
So here’s some help in making your decision as his fan: the pros and cons to buy or boycott the DVD:
Pro (buy it!)
• I’m desperate to see his face, hear his voice.
• It’s #droughtlander
• Integrity, who?
• Doesn’t this happen all the time in Hollywood? We’ve already experienced the misery of watching our favorite adapted-to-TV characters edited down to nothing like they are in the books.
• It’s lovable Dr. Oz behind it!
Con (Boycott it!)
• The Outlander S3 DVD will be out soon enough. Not only will you see Sam’s face and hear his voice, but you’ll see never-before-seen-footage through extras and deleted scenes he is definitely proud of. Just look at this… did you see it? We’re finally going to see the original screen test with Caitriona!
• If he doesn’t support it, neither will I. I feel badly for him, but I will respect him enough and support projects he is proud of.
• It’s financial backers gone rogue. They are in it for one reason only — to make money. I get that. But, I’m not a pushover or stupid. If the financiers thought I would buy it only because it has Sam’s name on it (yet not his approval), they have another thing coming. I’m not going to be used.
• This certainly happens in Hollywood, but stars push back, either calling out the maliciousness, or refusing to promote it. That would include Natalie Portman, Emily Blunt, and Channing Tatum, for examples.
So here’s what I believe:
We’re not desperate. We are fans of the show, Outlander, and we adore the people of its cast. One of the reasons we admire Sam is that he encapsulates the integrity of Jamie so well. So, the assumption that Outlander fans would EAT IT UP, regardless of whether Sam supports the revised finished product or not, is what saddens me.
So why not leave it up to Sam? If he tweets or promotes it, then we know he supports it. If he doesn’t, then if I were you, I’d be asking Amazon for my money back. Another option is to do what Adam’s father suggested in a comment about this post: “Rather than buying the DVD, I donated to Adam’s new indie Sargasso starring Tom Berenger, Jeremy Sumpter (Peter Pan; Friday Night Lights); Tom Berenger (Oscar Nominee for Platoon; ….Major League; Sniper and much more; with Graham McTavish (Outlander; Preacher: The Hobbit and much more)….” If that idea interests you, just click on the IndigGoGo campaign Adam is running.
Unless the producers want to re-edit the film to its original glory and Sam’s liking, then… maybe… the fandom they took for granted would reconsider.
What do you think? Do you plan to buy the DVD or not?
Holly – I have no plans to buy the DVD. It has nothing to do to with Droughlander. It has nothing to do with whether Sam tweets to support it or remains silent. It has to do with the few trailers I saw. I was not impressed with what I saw, actually thought it was awful. There just was no connection between Arabella and Sam. There is too much good stuff to watch to waste my time or money on something I just think is not good.
Donna
Perhaps that’s all in the new editing, Donna. As we know from Outlander, it can change a scene’s tone and intent. If they edited out important aspects, no wonder it seems “off”.
I will absolutely not give it a cent. You are right…Sam tweets about most of what he does professionally. I didn’t see the tweet or the facebook post where he discussed the way the film ended up but after reading it now…that’s enough for me.
Yes, the silence is so odd from such a social media guru… Tell-tale sign from an actor.
well, I pre ordered it. it only cost $15 and I throw that much money away on nonsense weekly.
so if it sucks, it sucks. I saw the preview too, and except for his insane hair, it didn’t look that bad.
time will tell, what did he say about emulsion, cause I thought that was awful. maybe if they had
more of a budget to work with, it might of been worth the watch. think they made the entire thing
for $30. good premise, but the follow through was so lacking.
No. Not until I read this piece did I come to that decision.
As much as I want to see Sam in a new role, his silence is enough for me to pass on this. Take the money you’d use to buy this and donate it to one of his charities or put it toward the movie ticket for his new spy movie coming out in Aug.
Awesome response from a future-focussed fan.
I was going to buy it I’ll admit..BUT having read this article I’m now not going to…..I totally agree with you that if Sam had wanted it bought he’d have tweeted about it on various occasions over the last couple of weeks. .. so nope I’ll give it a miss n buy Outlander Season 3 instead….thank you for this article
I actually discussed this with Adam (WTSE writer/director) this week. He shared the trailer and said it’s good but the movie isn’t. Both he and Sam were disappointed with the cuts made by the ‘suits’. He said that whether we buy has no financial impact on them (he & Sam) at this point, ‘though good sales might boost his status. So, my thought is follow your own gut. I do want to see more than the trailer but, as many have put out there, really don’t wish to help the ‘suits’ make points or profits at the expense of integrity.
Thanks Susan for the insight. So unfortunate for both of them to see a labour of love be ripped apart in front of your eyes.
No I will not bye it or even watch it. I’m am so sick and tired of people exploiting other people for GREED. So much greed goes on in this world…
Yes, it is the model on which the film distribution system is predicated, but we don’t have to support the products that matter to us, as an actor’s or director’s fans.
Well I pre-ordered weeks ago. There are 3 OL fans in my family and we are starved for more Sam. His films are hard to come by. I admit that I had not seen Sams tweet but knew something was amiss with the release. So I will let the family know this back story and then sit back with a glass of wine and let it rip
My son Adam wrote the screenplay and eventually directed this indie. He absolutely adores Sam as a friend and incredibly talented actor. Rather than buying the DVD, I donated to Adam’s new indie “Sargasso” starring Tom Berenger, Jeremy Sumpter (Peter Pan; Friday Night Lights); Tom Berenger (Oscar Nominee for Platoon; ….Major League; Sniper and much more; with Graham McTavish (Outlander; Preacher: The Hobbit and much more)….
https://www.facebook.com/SargassobyAdamSigal/
The Indiegogo campaign to support distribution is what I’m doing.
\https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/take-sargasso-on-the-road#/
GREAT response, Steve! I’ve donated to the first Sargasso Indie-go-go and while filming is largely done, funds are still needed to promote and (hopefully) allow it be taken to some major film fests! (Sam is supporting Sargasso, as well!) xo
Thanks Susan. Big Sigh. But proud of Adam who is so very talented. I think you’ll see that in Sargasso. Ya know, I saw it in his very first indie (Daydreamer), low budget, great screenplay. I’m sure there is more to come!
Thanks for offering this perspective, Steve. Moving on, supporting Adam’s and Sam’s NEXT projects are every fan’s focus.
So tell us meddling fans, does Adam get his talent from you?
Holly. I wish! Adam had an imagination even in his early school years. He actually started out wanting to be an actor. (He’s a very handsome guy too). He got a Nike show commercial when he was gee around 15 years old and started making money on residuals as it played. He said “Hey this is for me!”. He left home for Hollywood (we live in Florida) when he was around 19 to be an actor. That lasted for six months when he called us and said “I don’t want to act, I want to write”. I must admit my wife and I were happy as he had such a talent. He wrote a sci-fi novel and self-published it. Then he wrote “Daydreamer”, a screenplay about a guy who doesn’t know what he does at night. Somehow he and his friend got then a budding actor named Aaron Paul to star in it (Emmy Award winner for “Breaking Bad”). And they edited it on a laptop, raised the money and filmed it. My wife and I frankly were a bit scared to watch it at first. “How good could this be? An indie with maybe a 150K budget??”. Well we watched it and honestly I said “this is really good”. Yes the production values weren’t good but screenplay was really good and different and imaginative. The producers couldn’t get much distribution other than Amazon and Blockbuster at that time….The rest is history. He met Sam Heughan when Sam before Outlander and gave him “When the Starlight Ends”. Years later when Adam raised the money, Sam so graciously said “I’ll do it”–even though he was now a megastar. Adam told me many times what a genuinely nice guy Sam was. You know the rest….well actually you don’t but for now WTSE’s will do well as a DVD because Sam has a great following. And the movie isn’t terrible, it just has obvious flaws in editing, music and a few other things. At $10 now it will sell and that helps Adam anyway as he’s got his name on it. He just wrapped “Sargasso” which I’ve seen some of the cuts and I love it. We are hopeful as parents.
So a roundabout way to answer: I wish I had Adam’s talent and his persistence in an industry that is tough and not so nice.
Absolutely not. Hollywood has ALWAYS had a reputation for corruption and immorality, yet uses its microphone to lecture the rest of the world on how wee should think, believe and vote without earnind the privelege of being anyone’s moral compass. Since they seem to operate without perameters. It is incumbent on us to impose conscience by voting with $. Creative bastardization to ascertain distribution is the antithesis of art.
Love this reply. Film is collaborative and done with talent and for love, and when it meets selfishness and greed, the original product is corrupted.
The fact that Amazon has already lowered the price to $9.99 doesn’t bode well for this being a big seller. I saw the movie at a screening and was not impressed. I think Sam is wonderful in Outlander but this film was not good. I didn’t like his character and I didn’t see chemistry with Miss Oz. I wish I could see the film that Adam and Sam intended to make. I won’t be buying it.
I think that’s everyone’s wish. To see what was originally intended.
Adam Sigel just tweeted about this. He seems to be proud certain elements of the movie and asked if people watched it to let him know what they thought of it.
I write my own films and they are my “babies”. I can’t imagine the emotional attachment you would have once you directed your own work (working with a group of such dedicated, talented people on a film set in pre-production and production).
Perhaps that’s like the difference between the love Claire had for Frank and Jamie, lol.
Adam’s a class act, all the way, and the turn of events on this film is unfortunate.
Sad what Hollywood can do to good films,They only about money,but I still want see it,just get a feel for Sam’s acting in something different.
I’d been dithering on whether or not to buy – this article, and my belief that you’re most likely correct about Sam’s silence, has convinced me to pass on it. Sam is a remarkably talented actor, and I can wait for something he is IS proud of…I’m sure there will be much in his future. For now, I will watch Outlander (over and over and over 🙂 )
I think the promos look bad and it’s not a good example of Sam’s acting. Something really went wrong here and obviously Sam doesn’t support it. I’m definitely not going near it. Rather see something that Sam is proud of.
My understanding is that the director and the female lead have both been promoting it. The director says the money people didn’t get all they wanted so it’s ok with him.
How could a writer/director thwart fans who are happy with a film’s vision that turns out wasn’t his own?
Like I said before, Adam supports his own people- his friends- the very professionals who worked on this film.
Is he promoting it? I say no. Addressing it, yes.
Is Sam, the lead actor, who thrives on fans acceptance but also has his own rules of integrity, promoting it? Not a peep.
no I’m not, if it insulted Sam and he’s not happy with what they did, no way will I buy it. those financiers need to learn a lesson not to screw with Sam’s fans.
I didn’t know the politics of this Indie Film when I bought it. Sam H. monologuing in an American Accent was different and showcased a certain acting range. I expect eccentric from Indie films and that they are uncomfortable and off putting. This film does meet my expectations. It will be a rare gem in my collection with Sam H. despite the politics.
I understand the reasons not to buy it, but I’m afraid if it does badly, it will reflect that way on Sam’s career.
I bought the movie and watched it last night. Unfortunately, it is TERRIBLE. Sam is certainly not the problem. The story/plot is just WEIRD. It is second only to Emulsion as being bad (another weird story). Don’t waste your money. Just watch reruns of Outlander!
Just rented this and am not impressed. Disjointed. The scenes with the real couple and their lives together and falling apart are the best. The script includes some beautiful words about their relationship – poetic. But the whole thing with the Ralph switch – wtf? Acting out the book scenarios? Just silly and did nothing for the story. It would have been much better if we just had a film about the two lovers, which eventually happens and is very good. Would love to see what the filmaker really wanted. Could have been deep and beautiful.
J’ai visionné le film, et je dois avouer que j’ai adoré ce film et le jeu de Sam… quel bon acteur! J’ai aimé que le film ait un côté philosophique, créatif, et humoristique.
Sam était absolument fabuleux. Drôle, naturel, pleins de talent! Par contre, en sachant l’histoire rattaché avec la création de ce film… on dirait que je suis gêner de l’aimé…
J’ose imaginer l’autre version de ce film… j’irai le visionner en courant! Svp! J’en veux encore! ??
Marie
I watched the movie, and I must admit that I loved this movie and the game of Sam … what a good actor! I liked that the film has a philosophical, creative, and humorous side.
Sam was absolutely fabulous. Funny, natural, full of talent!
I dare to imagine the other version of this film … I will go watch it running! Please! I want more! ??
Marie
I liked this film a lot … didn’t buy it but rented instead … and can’t imagine what would have made it better. It was quiet, charming, quirky and it touched my heart. I don’t understand the controversy and why people got so exercised about the finished product. All the actors did well and the screenplay was sweet and fanciful, ingredients that bring me joy and that I appreciate. Yes, Sam Hueghan probably could have used a dialect coach, but who cares really? I thought he channeled earnestness and sincerity, and at the same time, ditsy and airiness, masterfully, and it was a pleasure to see him play a somewhat comedic role so beautifully.
I bought the film. It’s not good. In this, Hot Scott, He’s Not! What makes Sam so sexy, aside from his looks is his Scottish accent & his voice. In this film he has a forced American accent. The bushy hippie hair is terrible, acting & filming quality is B rated at best & story line is just dull. It’s wordy with nothing to say. Don’t waste your $$.
I have no plan to buy the DVD. First, it’s not in my budget to buy all the good DVDs I think I need. Miss Oz & Mr. Heughan do a great job together. If Sam had been able to do the Directing, or at least had a significant amount of input that satisfies him, it would have been even far superior. He’s a versatile, passionate actor . I LOVED , LOVED. The ending. I wish I could have had a happy ending to my life, but, at 72, it’s just not going to happen. So, thank Mr. Sigal, Ms. Oz & Sam Heughan for providing a Happy Ending for me to watch???