I was wondering how cinematically achievable you guys have made your novels/WIPs, unintentionally or otherwise, because I've noticed a lot of what I write would probably make a good movie just because of the film imagery I can see happening in certain scenes. I don't do it on purpose, but I notice after reviewing my WIPs.
How Cinematic is Your Book?
- Thread starter WalpurgisQuill
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I think my writing is pretty visual. Which isn't surprising, since I spent years doing screenwriting and I think in pictures.
Well the goal when I write, is to write as detailed a picture as possible in as few words as possible. I don't really think one image would be enough even for a short film.
Besides Hollywood as it is, will off screen this, off screen that, change the ending of 1984, and I can go on and on why I wouldnt want an adaptation. (Or at least sign off on it.)
Besides Hollywood as it is, will off screen this, off screen that, change the ending of 1984, and I can go on and on why I wouldnt want an adaptation. (Or at least sign off on it.)
All of my projects I can see as movies. It's how I write and it's intentional. And when I have a strong cinematic visual on a book I read, I'm wayyy more into it. I'm a huge HUGE lover of the movies, so to me it's really important for the pull me in factor.
ETA: I have actually considered toying with screenwriting. Several writer friends have encouraged me to give it a try and think I would be pretty decent at it with all the plot ideas I have.
ETA: I have actually considered toying with screenwriting. Several writer friends have encouraged me to give it a try and think I would be pretty decent at it with all the plot ideas I have.
I definitely go out of my way for stunning visuals. I've been told it's one of my strongest suits. I'll take that. Wish I could take it to the bank, though.
tri
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I think my book could make an interesting movie, but I like it as a book =P Not that I wouldn't want it to be a movie!
I've been thinking about this lately. It definitely depends on which genre I'm writing. I have a sort of slipstream contemporary spec fic thing that just wouldn't work on screen. However I'm revising a UF that is extremely visual and throughout my revision, I've gone back and changed scenes to make them more visually appealing. For example I had a scene that took place in a restaurant with a chase through a hallway. I just changed the setting to a crowded carnival and the chase is now through a cornfield.
Liosse de Velishaf
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I think most of my books have some pretty good visual possibilities, but I don't write books to be easier to make into movies, so they could probably have a lot more if I tried.
My book is second-world fantasy = expensive
The nearest geographical equivalent is Hawaii = expensive
Half of my cast is non-white
One of my main characters is on the larger side
In other words, it's never going to happen.
The nearest geographical equivalent is Hawaii = expensive
Half of my cast is non-white
One of my main characters is on the larger side
In other words, it's never going to happen.
I've already imagined my book set to screen. Only after I'd finished the entire draft, though. I've even imagined the movie trailer with the theme song. Yes, I'm that bad. Now if only I could finish the edits and get someone else to love it.
Very!
Not because I'm trying to make it filmable, but because I'm so focused on cool imagery. I love art and animation IRL and so I can't help but want to carry over a lot of that vividness/visual "oomph" into my writing.
A lot of novels involve far too much rumination to be easy to translate to film, but you could probably record my characters going about their adventures and still be able to enjoy what's going on.
Not because I'm trying to make it filmable, but because I'm so focused on cool imagery. I love art and animation IRL and so I can't help but want to carry over a lot of that vividness/visual "oomph" into my writing.
A lot of novels involve far too much rumination to be easy to translate to film, but you could probably record my characters going about their adventures and still be able to enjoy what's going on.
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I have a very cinematic style. I tend to play scenes through in my head like I'm watching them on a screen and then write that.
My major works would be easily doable either small or big screen.
My major works would be easily doable either small or big screen.
One of my crit group members writes historic MG books and she says she sees her story in her head as a movie and just writes it down.
I would say I'm the opposite, if there is such a thing. Cinematic stuff is a weakness of mine. I'm much more likely to get caught in my character's head and just write plot and dialogue and exposition. I need to work on settings and details that flesh out the world.
I would say I'm the opposite, if there is such a thing. Cinematic stuff is a weakness of mine. I'm much more likely to get caught in my character's head and just write plot and dialogue and exposition. I need to work on settings and details that flesh out the world.
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Wampuscat - What you described is me, exactly! I love writing interactions between characters, their thoughts, etc; But my major weakness is that the settings and details are so sketchy. I'm all, "eh, whatever" when writing those things, and it's a huge problem for my current fantasy WIP because the world makes no sense whatsoever!
So, in short, I"m another person who doesn't write cinematically, at all.
So, in short, I"m another person who doesn't write cinematically, at all.
I try to write very cinematically, visually etc. The first half of my novel could be easily translated to screen. The latter half, however, might be expensive. Depending on how they do it, I guess it could definitely become a movie.
I'm not going to lie and say that it's not one of my goals.
I'm not going to lie and say that it's not one of my goals.
I think the novel I'm writing now would work great as a movie (I admit to fantasizing about this happening!). It's in first person and is a lot in the main character's head, but there's enough going on in the plot to work on screen (bullying! Action scenes!). It would be a different beast to the book if it was a movie - more action, less angst.
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I think my current work in progress would make a pretty good movie. But it would also be a very different sort of thing than what I am writing. I am really trying to utilize some narrative tricks which could not be replicated to the screen. And shouldn't be. If this story was made into a movie it would have to be by some one who was willing to make some real artistic departures. (You know the sort of movie adaptation that makes fans really nervous.)
Also casting would be a nightmare, because I have a large group of characters with entirely separate super powered alter egos (As in, they are effectively different people--totally different personalities, but same body, so same actor) and they are all under 20 in age. Like, to do it right you'd need a lot of good, young talent. I'm sure there is some, but yeesh would not want that guy's job. (Try getting a seven-year-old who can play both a spoiled and disney-princess loving daughter and then also be a jaded slightly-sociopathic stepford smiler soccer mom.)
...Maybe it would work better animated.
Also casting would be a nightmare, because I have a large group of characters with entirely separate super powered alter egos (As in, they are effectively different people--totally different personalities, but same body, so same actor) and they are all under 20 in age. Like, to do it right you'd need a lot of good, young talent. I'm sure there is some, but yeesh would not want that guy's job. (Try getting a seven-year-old who can play both a spoiled and disney-princess loving daughter and then also be a jaded slightly-sociopathic stepford smiler soccer mom.)
...Maybe it would work better animated.
I've read that authors regularly say to agents/publishers that their book has "film potential", which got me thinking about my own latest. Although I can see all the scenes in my head as if it were a movie, I don't think it would make a good film, at all!
That said, there are some books that I would never imagine could be cinematic, that actually turned out to be great films ('Remains of the Day', and 'Perfume' spring to mind). Then there are others, where the film adaptation was so ham-fisted it almost managed to retroactively mangle my enjoyment of a great novel ('I am Legend', 'Myra Breckinridge').
Definitely not. The time scope/pacing in my novel works (I hope!) for a book, but wouldn't work at all (IMO) in a movie. I can just imagine the first two years of my book getting all compressed into a couple of days, or even just one night! (And maybe that'd be a fun story, too--it just wouldn't really be mine anymore.)
From what I've noticed, books with main characters who do a lot of thinking or things that don't make sense unless you view it from their POV don't translate as well onto the screen. Plus, my WIP has a bit of science fiction added to it, which would definitely cost more than books with settings in the past or present. So while I do try to have a lot of imagery in my writing, I really don't think it would work as well as a movie.
Any good story can be made into a movie. And 'cinematic' to me, doesn't really mean much in terms of a novel.
Whatever I'm reading I hope I can 'visualise' the characters, the setting and the unfolding tale. If I can't, I don't see much point in reading it.
Whatever I'm reading I hope I can 'visualise' the characters, the setting and the unfolding tale. If I can't, I don't see much point in reading it.
I agree that any good story can be turned into a movie. I think the OP was mostly wondering about detailed descriptions that would translate onto the big screen.
In terms of those: Nope. No. I got so much dialogue and thinking and character stuff, there is very little imagery in comparison.
In terms of those: Nope. No. I got so much dialogue and thinking and character stuff, there is very little imagery in comparison.
Anything will translate onto the big screen.
Writing with the big screen in mind is no guarantee of writing a better description or a more readable novel.
Writing with the big screen in mind is no guarantee of writing a better description or a more readable novel.
I have NO experience with film. Like, none. I don't know what it takes to make certain settings, wardrobes, worlds, etc. I'd think that if the story is good enough, though, they'll find a way to make the film. Think Avatar. I don't necessarily think you have to have cinematically gorgeous imagery for it to make a good movie though. Perfectly good movies happen in ordinary settings. Usually they're more character/plot driven. Just my 2 cents-- probably worth less than that though considering I really don't know what I'm talking about