Screenwriting : Need your opinion by Tatiana Tierney

My feature scripts and short scripts have gotten more attraction than my series, Tatiana Tierney. It really comes down to the concept and who I pitch to (the person might be more attracted to a film than a series or vice versa). Since you have a lot of plot, your novel might be better as a series than a film, or you could adapt your novel into a feature script and pitch it, then the company that buys your script could make a part two, three, and so on down the line.

Tatiana. I feel your pain. Since getting into script writing I've delved in to series pilots/scripts. I adapted my novel The Lofts into a feature script, but had to cut some of the subplots out. Part of me still wants to make it a series.

I wish you the best of luck!

Thanks very much Maurice and David for sharing your thoughts with me. I understand, there will be other things taken into consideration e.g. budget, length of the series, locations etc. but I still believe that it’s possible. I will try anyway :)

You're welcome, Tatiana Tierney. I hope you find the right producer for your series or film!

Some adaptations work really well. Jaws. The Firm. The Great Santini. The Princess Bride. Condensing a full length novel into a film that still carries story and intent and tone and the magic of the original work is hard work, the novel and the film are different mediums with different strengths and because feature films are so much more condensed than novels. To really see how to do this, it's helpful to read the book, read the film script, and view the film. That will show you how some of the stronger adaptations worked, what was cut, and how some elements were condensed and combined to carry the story forward without losing the original material's strongest elements. You can often find the scripts on sites like Script Lab and Script Slug. Good luck.

Thank you very much Maurice!

Thank you very much Max for your comment, very helpful. That's what I am learning right now; the difference between writing a book and a script. There is a challenge, but I am a non-stop learner and love creating. I know my book was just published and I should work on that path, but I saw the plot as a film from the beginning. I wrote the book playing scenes in my head. Soon after publication, I realised that I want to see it as a film or series (maybe 10-12 episodes). The characters are acting in my head all the time. I have to get them out :)

Welcome Tatiana Tierney (: ! Your novel sounds captivating—love the mix of romance, resilience, and the cool locations. Given the depth of your story, a series could be a great choice since it allows for more character and plot development. Right now, TV series often attract more interest from platforms looking for binge-worthy content, so your idea for a drama series might hit the mark perfectly. Best of luck with your adaptation!

I’m actually working on a series of my own, but it’s been tough for me too! My agent told me I need at least three scripts and one series under my belt for people to take me even a bit seriously

Thanks very much Chase for your supportive comment, much appreciated. Yes, drama series then! I wish you the best of luck too with your project!

Hi Tatianna, I have done the opposite, I have written an 8 episode TV fantasy Drama, but without an agent it's really difficult to get in front of the right people, so I am looking to convert into a Novel and self publish. Good Luck and let us know how you get on.

TV series have longevity, especially nowadays. characters are remembered because people see them more often than in a movie. But, for a dramatic romance, I recommend a movie with memorable characters.

Hi Samantha, thank you for your comment. From what I have learned so far when I was working on publishing my book and now I am working on my first script that the challenge is always there for the book or script, it doesn't matter. I just love learning and decided to give it a go with the script :)

Good luck Samantha with publishing your novel!

Thank you very much Alana for your comment. Agree, the characters must stand out.

Thanks Tatianna, The novel is slow going, but as I work in TV/Film I am still holding out hope I can get my script into the right hands, with the producers I meet.

Hi Tatiana. To phrase it slightly different than Max. This thread feels like Fantasy Island. It starts with asking the wrong question. This is what all novel writers want to do; translate the novel 1 on 1 into a script, so they do not lose any precious dialog Easy, isn't it? Yes, it is, and it's does not work that way! " Ok, so we make it into a tv series." That, 999 times out of a 1000 (or more), does not work either, especially a tv mini-series translated from one book. I would start with reading the book Jaws and then read the screenplay. Hopefully it will open your eyes, and you conclude that besides the fact that you have to cut, cut, cut, a screenplay is a whole different animal compared to a novel. You must get the max out of your writing process.

Thank you very much Rutger!

Yeah, I know that a script is a whole different animal, but I am not afraid :)

Not being afraid, then again, is a good thing!

It all comes down to the people within your orbit that can make things happen, but generally speaking, indie budget feature film scripts easily have the biggest commercial market.

You're welcome, Tatiana Tierney.

CJ Walley thank you! It's promising and encouraging.

When adapting books to films, there's always a lot of subplots that have to fall by the wayside. Just the way it is. TV would give you more room to explore subplots and different characters. In film, you really have to synthesize your story down to the core elements and focus on the protagonist's journey before seeing what auxiliary narrative flourishes you can reasonably include in tandem. I've adapted one book to film and one into a TV pilot, and in both there are many darlings to kill to make it work

Pat Alexander Thank you Pat. I understand that adapting is harder ... but still possible!

Ask your publisher; most have relationships with tv & movie ppl. What are your book sales numbers?

Dan MaxXx Thank you Dan. I am a self-published author.

Its often underestimated just how big a task it is to adapt something. When deciding between a movie vs. a TV show, try mapping out the plot and character trajectories of your story in both formats to see if they can work. Sometimes in the TV format you may end up with a couple of episodes that feel like "holding patterns" which isn't good, so you can see if there is a fix, or, if the narrative flow works better in a movie format. I often refer to this as "stress testing" the concept to see what way will result in the best experience of your story for the audience.

Ewan Dunbar Thank you Ewan. I appreciate your advice! I am on it.

I write books too and I've turned them into TV dramas and features. What I do is think do I see an ending for this? Is it a romcom where it's over once they get together? Then it's a movie. If it's a character's journey where a lot of things can happen to them and the people around them then it can be a show.

Brittney Coon Thanks very much Brittney for your comment.

I agree with you and am doing exactly the same. The plot in my book is much bigger and deeper, but I managed it to fit under 300 pages as I didn't want the book to be big and heavy.

The plot is about the main character, Grace, and her journey through life and what happened 2o years later when she received shocking news. If it is a film, then there is too much to cut out. I would start from where the scene is twenty years later with flashbacks, but that would be a completely different angle of the story to show to the audience.

That's why I am thinking of it as a TV drama series. There is a lot to tell and show. I don't see it as seasons, just about 10 episodes (more or less).

Tatiana Tierney That can work. They did that for Sharp Objects, only one season to tell that book in more detail, and with A Good Girl's Guild to Murder, the young adult mystery book was turned into one season.

Good luck with your endeavour. There are helpful hints here on Stage 32 and the Internet on how to convert a book into a movie. Sounds like a wonderful and exciting project.

David Dicaire Thank you David!

Sharp Objects was so damn good.