INTERVIEW: Petals On the Wind Screenwriter Kayla Alpert Talks Adapting A Cult Classic And Future V.C. Andrews Movies.

What started in V.C. Andrews’ salacious literary series Flowers In the Attic, continues with the TV adaptation of the sequel Petals On the Wind, debuting for the first time on the Lifetime network.

[warning]: Spoiler Alert! If you have not read the books, or seen Flowers In the Attic, there are spoilers ahead. [/warning]

Kayla Alpert at the premiere of Confessions of a Shopaholic at the Ziegfeld Theatre, February 5, 2009 in New York City. Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images, courtesy of zimbio.com.

Screenwriter Kayla Alpert brings Petals On the Wind to life.

Petals On the Wind takes place many years after the traumatizing events of Flowers in the Attic—where the Dollanganger children were left to die in an attic by their mother, Corrine (Heather Graham), and tortured by their religious zealot of a grandmother Olivia Foxworth (Ellen Burstyn), before making their courageous escape.

One can only imagine how far Petals On the Wind will push the envelope with all the sex, violence, and ongoing drama revolving around one of the most scandalous families in fiction. We at YEC were able to interview and discuss the movie with Kayla Alpert, screenwriter behind both of Andrews’ adaptations on Lifetime.

YEC: For those who may not know, you have been writing for quite a while now. How did you first get involved with writing for television, and then later the Dollanganger Series?

Kayla Alpert: I started writing for television over fifteen years ago — including on Ally McBeal and Up All Night– as well as features, including “Confessions of a Shopaholic.” My friend Lisa Hamilton-Daly at Lifetime knew I was a fan of Flowers in the Attic so she asked if I’d be interested in taking on this iconic adaptation. Before she finished her sentence I said, “SIGN ME UP!”

YEC: Unlike Flowers in the Attic, the sequel (Petals on the Wind) has never been made into a movie since its publication. Given the worldwide cult status of the series by V.C. Andrews, and the success of the first book, did you experience any pressure in adapting the sequel? Was it easier or more challenging than Flowers in the Attic?

KA: It was a lot more challenging in terms of the scope of the second novel. Petals takes place over so many years — the story is far more sprawling and extreme (i.e. bonkers), including a ballet-related miscarriage, a questionable relationship between an older doctor (Paul) and a pubescent Cathy, just to name a few issues. Also, the drive of Petals is less clear– it’s part survival, part revenge. To squeeze it into a 90-minute movie, I really had to excise some major parts from the novel (purists, be warned!). That said, we also wanted to hone in on the most compelling part of the story– which is the relationship of Cathy and Christopher, post-attic.

YEC: How did you go about deciding what to include and exclude when approaching Petals on the Wind? What did you love the most about it?

KA: First thing was deciding where to start the movie. The novel takes place over 10 years– picking up from the day the kids escaped the attic– which wasn’t possible from a logistical standpoint (in terms of casting, time cuts, etc…). So once I decided to cut ahead to the kids as young adults, I had to pick and choose the most relevant and compelling moments. Despite all the crazy plot points, I did have to add some new story elements and characters, especially for Christopher– who didn’t have much of an active role in the novel. What I enjoy most is watching the emotional struggle between Cathy and Christopher– they love each other, can’t stay apart– yet, they know it’s wrong, especially when they see how it destroyed their own parents. I also love Cathy’s relationship with her mother– a recurring theme in both books. Now that she’s older, she still desperately wants love and acceptance from her mother and, barring that, revenge. At the same time, she’s terrified of becoming her mother. And while the plot in this case is extreme, I think that’s something most women struggle with as they become adults– trying to figure out who they are, apart from their own mothers.

YEC: Have you seen the final cut of Petals on the Wind already? Were there any particular moments you looked forward to watching onscreen after writing them?

KA: I have seen the final cut– along with several earlier cuts. Luckily, I was on set for much of the shoot but I really looked forward to seeing the ballet scenes, which our director, Karen Moncrieff, handled beautifully. And of course, all the steamier scenes were a big draw (although sometimes I had to watch through my fingers!) And of course, I was glued to any scene that featured Ellen Burstyn.

YEC: This sequel is certainly a lot racier and more daring than Flowers in the Attic, especially considering the dynamic between siblings Christopher and Cathy Dollanganger. What are your thoughts about the romantic and sexual elements?

KA: We were able to really push the romantic and sexual boundaries in this novel because our characters– and our actors– weren’t children. Some of the critics complained that we held back on the sex in Flowers— but the first novel was actually less “steamy” than most people realize– and of course, Kiernan Shipka, who played Cathy in Flowers, was only 13 when we shot it. Rose McIver was completely wonderful and professional when it came to her (many, many) romances and sex scenes– she’s absolutely beautiful and committed, and most importantly, had a terrific sense of humor about the whole process.
YEC: I thought the actors chosen to play the older Dollanganger siblings made the perfect counterparts to their younger selves. How did you feel about the casting, and what was your reaction?

KA: We were so incredibly lucky with the casting. If we had a magic wand and could’ve invented an adult Cathy, we wouldn’t have done better than Rose. She’s not only a fantastic actress but she looks so much like Heather Graham and Kiernan Shipka. Wyatt Nash was a very lucky last-minute find. He’s not only ridiculously handsome but a truly sweet guy– and I think he brought so much to the emotional scenes with Cathy/Rose.

YEC: There are some great dance scenes in Petals how much fun was it to finally get a chance to include them?

KA: I was glad we got to see so much ballet in this movie–we didn’t get a chance to do as much in Flowers— but I have to give all the credit to our director Karen Moncrieff for bringing them to life. She spent a lot of time with the actors and choreographer to get them just right.

YEC: Lifetime is currently developing three additional V.C. Andrews’ books, If There Be Thorns, Seeds of Yesterday, and My Sweet Audrina. Will you be writing or working on any of those stories?

KA: I didn’t have time to write any of those movies, because I was working on Petals, but I do have some other exciting projects up my sleeve– so stay tuned.

YEC: Finally, on your Twitter account, you retweeted a picture that shows you make a small cameo in the movie. How was the experience of being in front of the cameras instead of behind the scenes?

KA: That was hilarious. I play a mental patient in an asylum, wearing a grey hospital gown, ratty hair and hideous makeup. I figured if I was going to be on screen with Heather Graham, I might as well look like a lunatic.

Petals On the Wind airs this Memorial Day May 26th 9/8c on Lifetime with repeats airing on May 27th and May 28th, so be sure to check your local listing for time schedules.

Be sure to visit, like, and follow:

Site: http://www.mylifetime.com/movies/petals-on-the-wind

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lifetime.

Twitter: Kayla Alpert (@kaylaalpert), Petals On the Wind (@lifetimemovies) using the hashtag #PetalsOnTheWind. Plus, be sure to follow these cast members too: Heather Graham (@imheathergraham), Rose McIver (@imrosemciver), Wyatt Nash ‏(@TheWyattNash)