Plenty left in life

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Courtesy Photo. Richard Farrell stands in Lowell. His memoir, What's Left of Us, will be made into a movie starring Channing Tatum.

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Courtesy photo Richard Farrell, whose memoir, What's Left of Us, will be made into a movie starring Channing Tatum.

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Courtesy photo/Sony Pictures Channing Tatum, who starred in "Dear John" will star in the movie version of Richard Farrell's memoir, "What's Left of Us."

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Courtesy photo/Sony Pictures Channing Tatum, shown here with Amanda Seyfried in "Dear John" will star in Richard Farell's memoir "What's Left of Us."

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Courtesy Photo. Richard Farrell stands in Lowell. His memoir, What's Left of Us, will be made into a movie starring Channing Tatum.

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A Letter from Richard Farrell

To the editor:

I would like clarify the Encore article, “To Hell and Back,” published on June 10, 2010. First, your staff writer, Celia Nissen did a wonderful job. She’s energetic, came prepared and spent time researching my book.

However, I never intended to imply that Channing Tatum is “the hunky, kind of dumb guy.” Chan is a brilliant businessman and a sincere, wonderful young actor. In fact, actors who acquire A-List status in today’s Hollywood are brilliant.

To clarify, I said Channing Tatum’s characters to date have been roles where: “He’s the hunky, kind of dumb guy, and all the girls love him,” Farrell said. “He’s got the dimples and the smiles and the eyes, and he’s really good looking.”

But Channing Tatum is much larger than those roles. And by taking on the role of Richie Farrell in What’s Left of Us, Channing is going to prove to the world that he’s not only good looking, but he’ll probably become one of the best actors of this generation.

Bottom line, I wanted this to be perfectly clear to all your online and print readers because Channing Tatum is my friend.

Sincerely,

Richie Farrell

Milford

Richard Farrell shot his first bag of heroin the day his father died. After three years of a deadly downward spiral, he landed on the streets, poised to kill himself.

And that’s where his memoir begins.

“I don’t wanna live no more because I’ve lost everything: my kids, my family, my farmhouse, everything’s gone,” he wrote. “All that’s left is the guilt and the shame.

“It’s better for my two kids not to have a junkie dad, so me and a couple friends decide we want out of this.”

But they don’t die, and instead, Farrell lands in detox for seven days. His memoir, “What’s Left of Us,” which is going to be adapted into a film, recounts the days in real time, where events trigger memories of his past and explain how he got there.

“It’s my story of hell,” said Farrell, who lives in Milford. “You know, the hell I lived. It’s about my life coming to terms with what really happened to me.”

Farrell’s struggle began at birth, when he came out feet first and suffered brain damage that weakened the right side of his body. He still walks with a limp.

But his father didn’t approve of or support him, dreaming that he’d play football at Notre Dame.

“I just wanted to love him,” Farrell said. “I was constantly seeking his affection and his attention to love me just for who I am.”

Despite his bad leg, Farrell played football in high school. He was a middle linebacker and on his way to play for a Division II college, he said.

But then he tore up his bad leg in a game. He was prescribed Percodan, a drug with the same ingredients as Oxycodone. He fell in love with the drugs, one thing leading to another, and next thing he knew he was shooting two bags of heroin before giving his father’s eulogy.

Although he has been straight for 23 years, the story has haunted him.

“You know, I have severe PTSD,” he said, referring to post-traumatic stress disorder, “and I wake up in the middle of the night with these ghosts chasing me, and so (writing the memoir) was something I had to do to free myself.”

Since the book was published in 2009, the nightmares are almost gone, he said.

Farrell doesn’t portray his story as something to be proud of. He gets upset with authors such as James Frey for their memoirs.

“Not because of the whole controversy of him making it up, because there’s such a thin line – and I talk about it in my book – there’s such a thin line between reality and what happened and what you think happened, so it’s not that,” Farrell said. “But his whole bravado. He made it look like there’s some honor in being a junkie, like macho.”

Farrell chose to write the book for people who are struggling.

“It’s to say this is hell, man,” he said. “That’s what the book’s about: my own demons.”

After rehab, getting his life back together was anything but easy. With a wife and two young children, Farrell was focused on getting his family back and figuring out the rest of his life, as well.

He joined a program created by then-Massachusetts Gov. Mike Dukakis to keep incorrigibles out of jail. After passing an IQ and psychiatric test, he and 80 other participants were admitted to the program. They were required to take four classes at local colleges.

Farrell went to Middlesex Community College, where he picked up a journalism class on a whim and began writing about his past.

On the last day of class, he wrote his most gripping story, “The Evil Eye of Crack.” His teacher handed him the numbers of Boston Herald and Boston Globe editors and $500 later, his story ran in the Globe.

Continuing down the writing path, Farrell found success as an independent journalist in Bosnia and worked on movies for HBO in the 1990s. At HBO, he worked on the documentary “High on Crack Street, Lost Lives in Lowell,” which eventually became the movie “The Fighter” starring Mark Wahlberg and Christian Bale.

In addition to the memoir, he has written the book “A Criminal and an Irishman.”

“It was a long process,” Farrell said of his recovery. “Wife and I didn’t make it. It was madness. But those things happen.”

Today, he’s done writing books. Instead, he’s working on turning his two books into screenplays.

At the Cannes Film Festival two weeks ago, it was announced that “What’s Left of Us” would be adapted into a film starring Channing Tatum.

Tatum, star of “Step Up” and “Dear John,” was looking for something dark. After reading the book and meeting with Farrell in New York City to discuss ideas, they decided to make the movie.

“After meeting with him, it was like we’re brothers,” Farrell said. “I’ll let him explain it, but he’s got his own story that’s similar. He feels connected to the story.”

Now, as Farrell finishes the screenplay for “A Criminal and an Irishman” and begins work on the memoir’s screenplay, deals are being made and schedules worked out. Ideally, Farrell wants to begin filming in March in Lowell, Mass. The film is being made independently on a $7 million budget.

“We have the freedom to do what we want,” Farrell said of not working with a studio. “We can make another ‘Requiem for a Dream’ if we want.”

Farrell is confident Tatum will do well in the role.

“He’s the hunky, kind of dumb guy, and all the girls love him,” Farrell said. “He’s got the dimples and the smiles and the eyes, and he’s really good looking.”

But there’s more to him, Farrell believes. He cited a 2006 independent film “A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints,” which shows another side of Tatum.

Not only that, but Tatum is enthusiastic about “What’s Left of Us” and really wants to make the movie.

“I think he can do it; I’m convinced he can do it,” Farrell said.

Although he continues to tell his story, Farrell has certainly put the days of drug addiction behind him. He now lives with his girlfriend, Melissa, and 3-year-old son, Aiden.

He still frequents Lowell – but now to teach a screenwriting class at the University of Massachusetts Lowell’s summer writing program.

Celia Nissen can be reached at 594-6585 or cnissen@ nashuatelegraph.com.