Screenwriting : Adapting shorts to features by Suzy Miller

As always, best way is to learn from others...not so many filmed short scripts available online, but here are few references of short films gaining success, expanding into features or inspiring them...watch both versions and see what and how was developed;

"District 9" - originated from "Alive in JoBurg"

" Lights Out" - originated from a short with same title

"Jacob's Ladder" - inspired by "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge"

"Saul Fia" - originated from "With a Little Patience"

and many more out there...

Read Stephen Kings Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption and the read Frank Darabont's screenplay Shawshank Redemption. There's a case study on how to turn a short story into a masterful screenplay.

Like everything there are few hits of shorts to features and many failures. I dont believe studying will do anything. You just gotta align yourself with filmmakers and just make a movie.

"SAW" is probably the most financially successful$$ short to feature, and It was the first feature by Wan & Whannell.

"Curfew", a short (and one my all-time fav) won the Oscar for best short and was adapted to a feature and imo, the feature was disappointing, plot was dull and too much character backstory

Hi Suzy. I'm kind of in the same situation as you. I'm currently adapting a short film I wrote into a webtoon series (online comic books). It's been an interesting experience, trying to expand on something that originally was meant to just be a few minutes.

What i've found to be useful is to write down any idea, no matter how bad it is- that bad idea may open the floodgates to some great ideas. Also, an idea might not work well on it's own, but when mixed with another idea, could be great.

Can you expand on the world that your script takes place in? A side character that can play a bigger part or an event that can now be larger than it was, perhaps?

If you have the time, put the script away and try your best not to think about it for a week. Read it again and jot down anything that stands out, that you wish was expanded on or happened differently, any significant character traits, etc... Perhaps that will help bring about ideas.

There is always the "yes, but"/ "no, and" format https://www.reddit.com/r/writing/comments/5f65is/yes_butno_and_events_an...

Also, if the short script is something you wrote, were there any "deleted' scenes that didn't make the final script but could be used in the feature?

Anyways, hopes this helps and good luck on expanding on the story!

There is no formula or method. I think there is a single question. Does the story have enough meat to feed an entire feature.

Are there enough question to be posed?

Are there enough challenges that can be created by the characters actions.

Does that story need to be told to get resolution.