Posted by Danek S. Kaus | Posted in Books | Posted on 06-09-2010
Tags: adapt a book into a screenplay, adapt a novel into a screenplay, author, best-selling novel, Books, movie script, Movies, novels, screen writing, screenplays, Screenwriting, Writing
Whether their book is a true story or a novel, most authors dream of having their book up on the big screen. What many people do not realize is that a high percentage of movies started out as books, comic books or graphic novels. According to Internet Movie Data Base, over 22,000 movies have been made from books. So far.
If this is your dream, read on. One way to increase your chances of having your book turned into a movie is to write the screenplay version of the book. Producers prefer reading a script to reading books because they take less time to read. Most scripts are 90 – 120 pages, with a lot of white space.
If you’re thinking about writing the screenplay version of your book, here are some things to keep in mind:
1. You must write it the proper length (see above). Scripts that are too long or too short are immediately thrown out.
2. You must learn how to use screenplay format. There are books that teach this subject. If your script does not use proper format, it will be tossed without further consideration.
3. You must strive to get the Hollywood reader’s attention in less than 10 pages. This may mean adapting the beginning of your book. If you don’t get the reader’s attention and interest soon, they move on to the next script.
4. A screenplay can only contain what can be shown on the screen — action and dialogue. Unlike a novel, you can’t write about what the character is thinking. But you can reveal their emotions and thoughts through action and dialogue.
5. Every scene in your script must move the story forward.
6. Don’t “direct” the script. Don’t put in camera angles or suggest particular songs to play in the background. That is the director’s prerogative.
7. Consider eliminating subplots from your book and combining two or more characters into one, that is, create composite characters, if there are a lot of characters in your book.
8. Try to keep the dialogue short. Novels have much more freedom in that regard.
9. Watch lots of movies with the intent of noticing what works and what doesn’t. It will help you write a better script.
10. Realize that a book is not a movie and a movie is not a book. They have different needs and different rules. Keep this in mind and you will be more successful at adapting your book into a movie.
Danek S. Kaus is a produced screenwriter of an award-winning feature film. He was recently hired by a production company to adapt a true story book into a screenplay. Learn more about how to Turn Your Book into a Movie and find out his Screenwriting Services
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