Saturday

TOPIC: ADAPTATIONS


In my time at Stevenson University, I’ve only written original scripts. Adapting a story into a script is a much different process.

I need to stay true to the source material, while also making sure I’m not missing any subtext or themes of the story. I don’t have access to the author of “The Gene Police.” So I need to pick up on every little line of dialogue, or inner monologue, and find a way to transmit that into the script.

Finding ways to show how a character feels is tough. In the book, Shep Harrington (The main character) is a private gumshoe, with a good sense of snark. A lot of this comes through in his inner thoughts.

I wanted to forego voiceover in the script… it just seems cheesy, especially for something with a slightly dark tone. So creating new dialogue, and filling in character backgrounds with props is important.


I feel like I’ve done a good job with translation from novel to script.  I’ve gone back and read summaries of the first two novels, but I do like starting in the middle of Shep’s story. I feel like there is room to grow and either direction, and the idea of writing just a story, without having to explain everything all the time is nice.

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