When you're talking about a project like Wit, only two things really matter: the woman you cast as Vivian Bearing and the artist you hire to direct her. It's nice if you have other things going for you in the production, but make no mistake, your success or failure will be determined by those two people. When HBO decided to make a television version of Wit, they managed to find a perfect fit for each, with Emma Thompson in the lead role and Mike Nichols behind the camera. What made this project so special was that both Thompson and Nichols were incredibly devoted to it. Emma Thompson shaved her head for the role, following in the footsteps of the actors who have played Vivian on stage, and the two collaborated to write the screenplay for the adaptation. When two people as talented as these work together on what clearly amounts to a passion project for both, the results can only be extraordinary. The film was met with critical acclaim, and rewarded handsomely when it was time to dole out the Emmys. In fact, Mike Nichols' Emmy for directing this TV movie was what earned him admittance into the EGOT club.
Audrey Fox is an ex-film student, which means that she prefers to spend her days in the dark, watching movies and pondering the director's use of diegetic sound. She currently works as an entertainment writer, joyfully rambling about all things film and television related. Add her on Twitter at @audonamission and check out her film blog at 1001moviesandbeyond.com.
