Novel to script

skink · Aug 14, 2012

I've just sold my novel to a publisher.

My literary agent also represents people in the movie industry, and insisted that we retain the movie rights. He is currently shopping my manuscript around trying to sell the movie rights.

I'd like to try to adapt my own novel into a screenplay. I asked my agent about this and he wasn't supportive. His idea is to sell the rights to a producer and let him hire a scriptwriter, but I'd like to do it myself for a number of reasons:

1. the challenge
2. vanity
3. I'm not sure I'd trust anyone else to do it right
4. I'd like to ensure I get involved in the movie process, should it come to that.
5. I want to ensure I make money out of my story, wary of Rex Pickett and Winston Groom's experiences.

I came here looking for tips as a complete novice. I have read the excellent sticky thread by dpaterso, so have chosen my software, bought a swag of how-to books, and found a pile of screenplays to study. I read my Robert McKee back when researching my novel, so always had a cinematic approach to my novel.

there were a couple of links here to articles about adapting novels to scripts, but the links were broken. I had a look through the threads, sure that this issue must have been discussed before, but can't find anything.

so my question here is simply whether anyone has any good tips for turning novels to scripts - anecdotes, recommended reading, pitfalls, links.

my novel is a thriller, heavy on dialogue and action, written third person. I was influenced by Elmore Leonard, so I'm hoping this should be an exercise in boiling down the novel to a 110 page screenplay and formatting it correctly.

simple, huh?

sharpyetblunt · Aug 14, 2012

On a technical note i read that a lot of novelists struggle with scene description. All that great flowery description you put in your book will have to be compressed into one or two lines for each scene usually.

Also be ruthless. It might work in the novel but your going to have to cut a lot of great stuff out so you can't get too precious. Say goodbye to whole chapters, minor B plots and characters.

WriteKnight · Aug 14, 2012

This link - William Goldman talks about HIS process for adapting a novel. It's just one approach - but I happen to like it.

http://gointothestory.blcklst.com/2012/08/screenwriting-101-william-goldman-3.html

dennis7490 · Aug 14, 2012

By all means do it. You're on the right track. Read scripts. read scripts. read scripts. And then read more scripts.
You have to get your head out of the novel mode. It's very different. While you're writing, don't worry about stage directions, i.e. telling the director what to do. He knows what to do. tell the story. Plain and simple. Tell the story. Your formatting in this draft should be very basic. Don't get caught up in all the options for formatting the programs offer you. Keep it simple. Your most complicated transition should be CUT TO, and these days they hardly even use that.
But do it. If they don't like it, they'll say, "We need to get another writer." At that point you can beg them to let you have another shot at it (for free, of course), but if they still don't like it, Do NOT fight them if they really feel that, because if they do not feel strongly about the screenplay they will not shop it and you won't sell it, and the movie won't get made. But write it. It might turn out great. You won't know until you write it. dive in. the pool's icy cold!

dpaterso · Aug 14, 2012

And a tip on adaptation from Bill Martell.

Riffing off the guru advice I've seen over the years... I'd say do it as an exercise by all means, but try not to be disappointed when the prodco gives the assignment to a pro screenwriter.

-Derek

skink · Aug 14, 2012

many thanks for your insight and encouragement, folks. This is exactly why I love this site.

special thanks to you, Mr Paterson, for your excellent sticky thread, which told this novice almost everything he could ever wish to know about starting out.

Writeknight - thanks for the Goldman link. When I made my big stack of scripts to study, Marathon Man was on top of the pile. If I had to choose one screenplay that I'd like to emulate, that would be it. I'm off to try to find more wisdom from the great man
(second on the pile was Chinatown, then Midnight Run and Out of Sight)

I am well aware that I can't afford to be precious about my story, that I will need to kill my darlings, and that any prospective producer will have his favourite screenwriter on speed dial, but I should point out that I am in Australia, and my story is set here.

The movie industry down under is a little more, well, homespun than Hollywood. There is no monolithic studio system, no vast talent pool of professional scriptwriters. It's much more dependent on support from government agencies like Screen Australia, who put public seed money into projects to help them get off the ground. They help writers get in touch with producers, and producers in touch with investors. If that smells like socialism to you Americans, then it's your loss. You've got Hollywood, but we've got universal healthcare.

I have a meeting with the development manager of the local state film agency next month, just to put a toe in the water, and would like to have the beginnings of a screenplay to talk about, or at least have enough background knowledge to bullshit convincingly.

It will be nine months at least until my novel is printed, and I don't imagine there would be any interest in the film rights until the book gets some traction, if any. By then I might have a first draft of a screenplay. If a producer wants to get a pro to polish it or rewrite it, then that's his perogative, but maybe, just maybe, I could get a co-writer credit.

Mac H. · Aug 14, 2012

You mention that you are in Perth, Australia and preparing for a meeting with Screen West.

There's a read-through of a script that's been in development with Screen West ... it'd be a great thing to attend to get a feel for the rhythm of it.

Details: Read-through of 'Circle Work'

One of the readers is Matilda Brown .. a great up'n coming actor. (I suspect that she's slated for a decent role in Bill Leimbach's upcoming film)

I'm a Sydney based screenwriter who is currently adapting someone else's memoir. Let me know if there's anything I can do to help you in your aims ...

Mac
(PS: If it is Australian based, an Aussie producer can get matching funds from Screen Australia to option your novel. This can even happen *BEFORE* the novel is released. Sarah Radclyffe picked up the option to 'JULIAN CORKLE IS A FILTHY LIAR’ using this method .. I believe it earned the writer $10k. ($5k provided by Macgowan Films, and $5k matching from Screen Australia). For this to work Screen Australia is relying on the judgement of the producer - so it has to be an Australian producer with suitable credits.

It doesn't happen often - but it does happen occasionally.)

skink · Aug 14, 2012

thanks Mac,

unfortunately that link to ScreenWest requires a user login, and no clues as to how to get one. I'd be interested to attend the read-thorugh

The meet with ScreenWest is very informal, 'no expectations or requirements', three days of half-hour face-to-face meetings put together with the AWG to let newbies like me bounce ideas off her.

my agent's over east, and can't attend, so I'll be taking a trip outside my comfort zone and fronting up, trying to hide my complete ignorance of the movie biz.

Any advice, guidance or networking opportunities you could give would be very welcome, Obi-Wan. Currently my network consists of one person, my agent. It would be nice to double that.

Mac H. · Aug 14, 2012

They are probably rearranging their site. It looks like they've remarked that page as 'draft' ..

Here's the direct-ish link:

http://tix.cinefestoz.com/session2.asp?sn=Script+Reading&s=50

It is listed as a 'ticket' - but it costs $0 ... they are just using the booking system.

Let me know if you have any problems with it.

Mac

skink · Aug 14, 2012

thanks again Mac. The link worked, but the event is in Busselton, which is three hours south of Perth. A bit tricky to get there on a Sunday, but thanks for the tip
Tim Ferguson! I wondered what had happened to him. I saw him perform live a few times in the DAAS about twenty years ago

Novel to script

skink

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