Some scenes that weren't central to the main story had to be cut for the movie, and Parks said she hopes viewers will pick up the book to see what was left out.
"You have to be ruthless and cut the brilliant writing to make it work as a screenplay," Parks said. Even one of her favorite lines, from Janie's grandmother, didn't make it: "Put me down gently. Ah'm a cracked plate."
Other memorable lines survived the transition to film, including one said to a prospective suitor for Janie: "You ain't got but a fish sandwich to your name, and you can't get the likes of her with a fish sandwich." Or the smooth line Tea Cake delivers to Janie when he pledges his love: "You got the keys to the kingdom."
Parks first read the book about 20 years ago and considers "Their Eyes" to be Hurston's best work. Editing such work could paralyze seasoned writers with fear.
"I knew Ms. Hurston's spirit would be with us as we embarked on this journey. We were going to really follow in her footsteps," Parks said. "I felt more blessed and lucky than scared."
THEIR EYES WERE WATCHING GOD
Sunday at 9 p.m. on ABC
For Silver Spring's Ealy, a Dream Role
When Michael Ealy was an English major at the University of Maryland, he -- like many college students who take contemporary literature -- had to read Zora Neale Hurston's 1937 novel, "Their Eyes Were Watching God." Ealy became an impassioned fan of the book and gave it to his female family members and friends as Christmas and birthday gifts.
After finishing the story for the first time, Ealy dreamed of one day playing the role of Tea Cake, the one man who finally won over the feisty protagonist's heart with his Southern charm and charisma. Yet when the Hollywood casting call went out nearly a decade later, he almost didn't go for the role. With his light brown complexion and light eyes, Ealy assumed he would not get the role of the dark-skinned Tea Cake.
But Ealy did audition and snagged the part. A thorough acting job, he said, can win over even the most guarded fan.
"Denzel [Washington] played Malcolm X, and Malcolm was light- skinned. Nobody noticed," Ealy said. "I kept saying to myself, 'Do your job. Be Tea Cake and hopefully people won't be upset.' The key is the character."
Ealy always has had a love for literature, a passion nurtured by his Springbrook High School English teacher, Nancy Abeshouse, who encouraged him to consider writing or teaching English as a profession. The teenage Ealy wanted to be an actor, but didn't think he could make a profession out of it.
Ealy reminisces about growing up in Silver Spring, running around the College Park campus, and partying at Howard University's homecomings and local clubs such as Republic Gardens, State of the Union and the Ritz.
After graduating from Maryland in 1996, Ealy -- who did not take acting classes until his senior year because he feared auditioning -- moved to New York and waited tables while looking for acting work. He got his first break as the lead in a TriBeCa play called "Whoa-Jack!" Eventually, his talents led to his breakout role in the 2002 Ice-Cube movie "Barbershop."
Now, Ealy, 31, is busy preparing for a lead role in the Showtime drama series "The Cell," which debuts in April. He's also busy fixing up and furnishing his newly purchased three-bedroom house in the Los Angeles area. He's made so many trips to Home Depot and Lowe's that the workers there no longer give him the star treatment.
"When I was first going there, they were asking for my autograph. Now they're asking, 'Damn, Mike, are you back again?' "
Ealy doesn't want to talk much about his alleged romance with co-star Halle Berry. He said the two are good friends and denies media reports that they live together. "We don't live together. My bank account has let me know that I'm a homeowner. Trust me."
-- Keith L. Alexander
