The Influence of John Green's Personal Battle with OCD on 'Turtles All the Way Down': Empowering Message on Overcoming Mental Illness (Insightful Interview)

How John Green s Own OCD Inspired Him to Write Turtles All the Way Down

Felix Mallard, executive producer/author John Green, and Isabela Merced were spotted at the Los Angeles Advanced Screening of Max’s ‘Turtles All The Way Down.’ The event was a success, with attendees enjoying the film and the company of the talented individuals present.

John Green shared how his personal battle with OCD inspired his novel, Turtles All the Way Down in 2017. He hopes that the new book-to-screen adaptation will support others on their mental health journeys.

During a discussion about the upcoming film, Green revealed that he wrote the book while recovering from a tough mental health period. He credited his friendships, relationships, medication changes, and therapy techniques for helping him regain a fulfilling life. Green acknowledged the fragility of living with chronic mental illness, where periods of wellness and not-so-wellness can alternate.

Green shared that when he was working on the YA book, his aim was to portray the intense highs and lows of dealing with mental illness while staying true to its reality.

He expressed, "I aimed to approach it in a fresh perspective, not glorifying or vilifying it, not portraying it as a source of special abilities, but rather as a challenging emotional struggle that should not limit your identity."

Green believed it was important to share a story about mental illness that was both "true" and "hopeful" because he felt that "hope" is the appropriate response to struggles.

He quoted Emily Dickinson's poem "Hope Is the Thing With Feathers" to express his belief that hope is always present, even if we may not always be able to hear it. Green emphasized the importance of fighting and working to be able to hear the hopeful tune of hope in our souls.

Seven years after the release of Turtles All the Way Down in 2017, a movie adaptation of the popular New York Times bestseller is coming to Max on Thursday, May 2nd. The film features Isabela Merced, Felix Mallard, and Cree Cicchino in the lead roles. The story remains true to the original plot, focusing on 16-year-old Aza (played by Merced), a high school student dealing with OCD and anxiety. As she rekindles a connection with her old crush Davis (Mallard), Aza navigates the possibility of love and happiness despite her mental health challenges.

How John Green s Own OCD Inspired Him to Write Turtles All the Way Down

Elizabeth Berger and Isaac Aptaker, the creators of This Is Us, wrote the script for the film. The director of the movie is Hannah Marks, known for her work on Don’t Make Me Go. John Green, the author of the novel Turtles All the Way Down, has an executive producer credit on the project, similar to his involvement in the adaptations of his other books like Paper Towns and Looking for Alaska. With experience from previous movie adaptations like The Fault In Our Stars in 2014, Green understands the importance of allowing his collaborators to take the lead in the creative process. However, when it came to depicting Aza's mental illness in the movie, Green made sure to have a say in how it was visually presented.

"I only had control over a few things in the contract," he shared with Us. "I was really worried about that. I wanted to make sure I could at least say no to certain things."

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Max mentioned that at the end of the day, Green had nothing to worry about. He credited Marks for her ability to accurately portray OCD in a "powerful" and thought-provoking manner. Max expressed that Marks truly understood how to visually represent and create audio sensations that could effectively mimic the experience of being in an intrusive thoughts spiral.

Green hopes that despite the inevitable changes from page to screen, one aspect of the story will still resonate with both new and old fans: the friendship between Aza and her best friend, Daisy (Cincchino).

In the film, Hannah successfully brought to life an observation by Daisy in the book. Daisy thought she was in a romance novel, but it turned out she was in a buddy comedy all along. Green jokingly mentioned that there are two love stories in the film. One is between Aza and Davis, which is expected, and the other is between Aza and Daisy, which hopefully comes as a pleasant surprise.

"He continued, expressing his surprise. "You don't always anticipate something like that happening, but I really hoped that this relationship would be the one to support AzA and Daisy."

Turtles All the Way Down will debut on Max on Thursday, May 2nd.

Editor's P/S:

The article highlights the importance of mental health awareness and the role that creative works can play in supporting those struggling with mental illness. John Green's personal experiences with OCD inspired him to write "Turtles All the Way Down," a novel that authentically portrays the challenges of living with chronic mental illness. The upcoming film adaptation of the book promises to continue this mission, with Green emphasizing the need for both truthfulness and hope in the portrayal of mental health.

Green's involvement as an executive producer ensures that the film remains faithful to the original story while also allowing collaborators to bring their unique perspectives. The director's ability to visually represent the complexities of OCD and the emphasis on the supportive friendship between Aza and Daisy are key elements that will resonate with fans of the book and newcomers alike. The film's release on Max on May 2nd will provide a valuable opportunity for viewers to engage with the topic of mental health and find hope and support in the power of storytelling.