Hi Everyone
I am currently adapting a crime thriller from novel to screenplay. It is going really well and I have been setting it out for film, but the book's author and myself both feel it would be better as a television drama. I know how to format, that's all fine, but I have no idea how to set it out in episodes, or what the etiquette is for that.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated and also recommendations on what scripts I could read to help me and where to find them online.
If anyone out there would be willing to allow me to look through their television screenplays, I would be very grateful.
Thank you.
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Hi Rosalind, I would definitely recommend this site as a starting point:
https://sites.google.com/site/tvwriting/
I've written a 10-hour mini-series based on a book where I had to pinpoint the most dramatic moments to end a particular episode: https://www.stage32.com/profile/612235/Screenplay/The-Devil-At-My-Heels-....
Being that the book is a crime thriller, that's a great genre to build cliffhangers into the ends of episodes to keep the momentum going.
If you have any other questions, of course let me know. I hope these help!
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Rosalind Winton Here are some webinars about developing and writing TV shows: https://www.stage32.com/webinars/tag/television
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Fantastic. Thank you so much James and Maurice, I will certainly look at both your links.
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You're welcome, Rosalind Winton.
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Rosalind: I have a couple of crime drama pilots and show bibles. I'd be happy to let you have a look. You can PM me here, and I'll email them to you.
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Thank you so much Phillip, I have messaged you.
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When adapting from a book (or any other media for that matter) into a movie or TV show the key word is - adapt. Books and movies offer very different audience experiences and any adaptation needs to be mindful of this. Usually the best way to do this is to write a draft, which is usually a very long script and then see which ideas, concepts, sequences and sometimes even characters can be removed, combined or compressed to ensure that the core themes and values of the original work are still conveyed, just in a way that better suits the medium you are adapting to. One example is the Omar Sharif character in the movie Lawrence of Arabia. In real life Lawrence teamed up with dozens of tribal chiefs during his time in Arabia, but in the movie they are condensed into the one single character of Sherif Ali, meaning that what they stand for isn't lost while representing them in a way audiences can easily grasp for the sake of the narrative. Chernobyl also did this by having Emily Watson's character represent an entire branch of the Soviet scientific community in a single character.
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Hi Ewan, thank you so much, that is great advice that I have taken on board.
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Hi Rosalind! There are some other resources you can use on Stage 32 as well. Apart from the awesome members who've given you great feedback and assistance already :) You can check out our webinars, there are several on adaptations and on TV structure. You can even book a call with an executive specifically about adapting material, you could choose an executive that has experience in Television. Here are a few links to help:
https://www.stage32.com/webinars/Netflix-%20-Stage-32-Present-Television...
https://www.stage32.com/scriptservices/coverage/buy?id=66
https://www.stage32.com/webinars/How-to-Adapt-a-Novel-Into-a-Film-or-Series
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Hi Niki, sorry for the long delay in replying to you. Thank you so much for the links, I will check them out.
How have you been, Rosalind Winton?
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Hi Maurice. I'm great thank you, I've been busy with editing work and adapting a novel into a screenplay for a client, writing my lyrics and doing bits and bobs on my own screenplay when time allows :) hope you're doing well.
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You're welcome, Rosalind Winton. It sounds like you've been busy. Glad to hear it. What are you writing the lyrics for? I'm doing great. Staying busy as well.
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get a copy of save the cat it helps.
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Hi Maurice. I'm writing with a collaborator who is an amazingly talented composer, musician, vocalist, performer and we're working on an album together, which is really exciting. I also write all the time anyway, because it's something I love doing. I can send you some links to some of the songs I've been involved with over the years if you like?
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Tristan. Thank you, yes, I've seen the name of this book pop up before on Stage 32, but somehow never really thought about getting it lol. Think I will now, that's brilliant.
You're welcome to send me the links, Rosalind Winton. I'd like to hear your songs. You can message the links to me or email them (storytelling200@gmail.com).
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Maurice, I've sent you an email :)
Thanks, Rosalind Winton. I'll check out your songs today.