I find myself contemplating the potential transition of my work into either movies or a television series. With two books nearing publication and two more in active development, the possibility of expanding my literary universe into visual media has piqued my interest.
In particular, I'm exploring the idea of adapting my Isekai/Sci-fantasy series and weighing the long-term benefits against the challenges. While I'm passionate about writing and have a steady flow of new material, I'm eager to explore the transformative power of visual storytelling and its potential impact on my narrative.
To provide context, I already have one television series and two film projects in various stages of development, with one of them, a television series, based on another of my literary works. This experience has offered valuable insights into the adaptation process, yet I'm mindful of the unique considerations that come with each project.
So, I turn to this community for guidance and insights. What are your thoughts on adapting a book series into film or television? Are the potential rewards worth the investment of time and resources? How can one navigate the creative challenges inherent in such an ambitious endeavor?
I'm eager to hear your experiences, perspectives, and advice as I chart my course forward. Your insights would be immensely valuable to me as I embark on this journey.
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Adapting a novel/comic into a film or television show, I believe, could potentially be extremely rewarding, as we have seen with numerous shows and films, including this year's hit sequel Dune: Part Two. Although not for film but rather for the stage, I am also in the process of adapting a famous children's story to a new media, and the biggest thing that I've learned so far is to really focus on the specifics. Unfortunately, you don't have the time to tell every single part of the story with the same detailed descriptions as the book author, so it's about narrowing down the larger story to specific moments that reflect the theme or idea that you would like to explore in the adaptation. A really good understanding of the book is in itself the very first step; understanding all the elements: plot, character, setting, sounds and music, themes, etc., and from there you would pick out the moments and elements that fit well into the theme or idea you would like to explore. For me, adapting a novel into a different medium has so many benefits in that it helps me to better understand the mechanics of the different media that I am working with and to really imagine the story being told in that medium. And above all else, adapting a piece of literature to another medium is just so much fun! So yes, I would say it is worth investing your time and money into the development.
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Our neighbor-novelist, with multiple HUGO awards (Oscars for Sc-fi writers) has been adapting her books to tv series since year 2020, deal with a major streaming company.
The development has gone through multiple exes & co-showrunners, directors, Actors- attached, quit, stop & go for 4+ years. I asked my neighbor once how is corporate development and she has no fucking clue if her ideas will ever make production. But the tv corporate checks keep coming; she keeps writing books & her fanbase keeps buying- that is real income.
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Hi Matthew D Rhodes - I highly recommend this Stage 32 webinar on adapting existing IP - Micky is a wealth of knowledge on this topic - here’s a link so you can check it out: https://www.stage32.com/education?p=8944891724083
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Hey Sam Sokolow Webinars and other things would be a great asset to utilize if I wasn't on a fixed income. My greatest asset right now is to chat with people and get differing takes.
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Dan MaxXx That would be fun to deal with. My first novel, I've been told, would do better as a TV series than as a novel.
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Shawn Day I look forward to the day any of my work makes it to the silver screen. My biggest hope is just being able to fully operate my own animation studio where I'm not beholden to producers that want to meddle in the story and make unnecessary changes when adapting. I've noticed a lot of adaptations have had that issue before and the movie has suffered from it.
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Matthew D Rhodes I get that completely. I am also considering producing my own adaptation and it really helps having that approach. It's my own visions and I know what my capabilities are to making those visions become reality. Like, I have this really big and crazy idea (e.g., to have four life-sized puppets that are controlled by actors, and that I want to make myself) and I know that I'll have to finance it myself, but I also know that it's completely possible. So, doing the adaptation bearing in mind that you want to produce it yourself is a really challenging endeavour, but I think it gives you a lot of liberty to really tell your own story through your own vision. If that makes sense?
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Hi Matthew, I have a Completed Screenplay adapting my published 8-book Dan Marlowe/ Hampton Beach, NH crime series into an hour-long pilot or Feature. I also have a completed pilot for a thalf-hour Dramedy about my True Stroke Journey, titled, "A Stroke of Luck". Think MASH. I will say making a sale in LaLa Land makes getting books published look like Easy Street! But all we can do is--"Keep On Trucking." Good Luck & Best, Jed.
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Shawn Day That's why I'm working to make connections with people that share the same objectives. Even if I can't get my own project done I would love to help on someone else's. I'm looking to volunteer my hours to gain some experience within the industry. Even while I'm trying to make connections here I've been making connections with professionals through inviting them to sit for my podcast.
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Jed Power I love to write, both novels and screenplays. I will always work towards my goals. I will never give up. It just feels a shame that the only thing holding me back is finances. Can't do anything if you don't have the funds.
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I hear you, Matthew. I am Disabled and Destitute. I can't afford the cheapest contest, so obviously, I am desperate for sale/option or any type of writing gig.
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Jed Power "Birds of a feather flock to together, so do pigs and swine. Rats and mice may have their chance as will I have mine" - Simon, Jeromy Irons, Die Hard: With a Vengeance