Many writers dream that, maybe one day, one of their books will catch the eye of a film or play producer. As it is pure fantasy for most of us, we tend not to think beyond the dream to the practicalities. But films and plays are very different products from novels.
For one thing, writing is for loners – you sit on your own and put words on paper. Movies, on the other hand, require hundreds of people to get involved in creating each scene – and that’s before you include the actual actors. Plays need fewer staff, but it is still a collaborative act to get a play onto the stage.
When you are writing, you can be as vague as you choose about your characters – does he have long or short hair? Is she blonde or brunette? As for the scenery, the weather, the size of the living room etc … You can leave the reader the fill in the details you leave out as they please. But in a film or play, the director has to commit. And it is unlikely to be at all like the images you have carried in your mind as you wrote the damn thing.
As a writer you can spend pages describing a character’s thoughts, with very little action taking place. Try that on stage or screen – there is only so much voice over a viewer can take before dozing off, or running for the exit. Hence the need for striking visuals, cunning camera angles, and expressive mood music (and the reason for that huge list of credits on even a modest budget film).
Some well know authors get involved with adaptations of their work. Sometimes it works out well (as with JK Rowling). Sometimes not so well – E L James allegedly drove everybody mad during the production of the first 50 Shades of Grey film. Others take a more detached approach, once paid, even if the result is very different from their original novel.
Yann Martel wrote Life of Pi which was turned into a very successful film. More recently it has been turned into a play. Martel chose to keep out of the adaptation, apart from an initial meeting with the playwright, Lolita Chakrabarti. He was invited to, and attended, a workshop with the actors pre-production which he found “way too touchy-feely for me!” His preferred style was to step aside and let the theatre people have free rein. Which is hard for many writers – like handing over the baby you’ve weaned to be brought up by strangers. Martel, by the way, is pleased with the end result. And not getting too involved gave him time to work on another novel – all by himself.
Note to film / theatre scouts: here are the links to my books and social media in case you’re interested:
You can find all my books and short stories on Amazon books, At least one story always free. ALL BOOKS FREE ON KINDLE UNLIMITED
www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B00RVO1BHO
NEW!! A story set in 20th century Coventry for Coventry 2021
Silent Echoes: The Carters seem just like any other family. Apart from the life changing events nobody talks about. Will history just keep repeating itself? Ebook-£1.99, Print-£7.99. getbook.at/SilentEchoes
And Alex Still Has Acne – An adventure story for teens of all ages. £6.99, e-book £1.99. Free on Kindle Unlimited. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Alex-Still-Has-Acne/dp/B08LNFVRLY
CAST OFF – short stories about Shakespeare’s women. £6.99, e-book £1.99. Free on Kindle Unlimited. https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08M8BKZKH
Saving Grace –What kind of trouble has Grace got herself into? And can Courtney save her before it is too late? £6.99, e-book £1.99. Free on Kindle Unlimited. https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08P9LFG7N