Jedi Council Forums - Tips on adapting Fan Film Script into short story

Locked Topic | Read Only Topic | Previous Active Topic | Next Active Topic

Author	Topic: Tips on adapting Fan Film Script into short story
jbird69 Registered: May '00	Date Posted: 10/30/07 12:17pm Subject: Tips on adapting Fan Film Script into short story
	Hello everyone, I have scripts for a fan film trilogy that I cannot do justice to. I don't have the resources to do all three films and due to the time gap, I don't want to wait 20 years til the main actor is in his mid 40s to finish the third film. I do however feel that each one could be a good short story. I was wondering if anyone has any tips on this? Searches here got me nothing, google and others give you info for turning a short story into a script. Any help would be most appreciated. -----signature----- Writer/Director/Producer/Editor - Stunod Pictures http://www.stunodpictures.com http://stunodpictures.blogspot.com - The Stunod Scoop - Stunod Pictures' Official Blog Staff member and Sky's Personal Assistant : Viewin' It
	Locked Topic \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
jbird69 Registered: May '00	Date Posted: 10/30/07 8:12pm Subject: RE: Tips on adapting Fan Film Script into short story
	To avoid confusion, I want to convert script to prose, and am looking for tips, as most of the info I find does the opposite. -----signature----- Writer/Director/Producer/Editor - Stunod Pictures http://www.stunodpictures.com http://stunodpictures.blogspot.com - The Stunod Scoop - Stunod Pictures' Official Blog Staff member and Sky's Personal Assistant : Viewin' It
	Locked Topic \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
1Yodimus_Prime Registered: Mar '04	Date Posted: 10/30/07 8:58pm Subject: RE: Tips on adapting Fan Film Script into short story - Date Edited: 10/30/07 8:59pm (1 edits total) Edited By: 1Yodimus_Prime
	That's probably because turning scripts into prose is a lot more freeform than going the other way. Since you're removing descriptive undertone and since studios have very well-defined guidlines for what they need to look like, the adaptation process tends to be a lot more structured - during the writing phase - than novelizations. Because the bottle neck is going the wrong direction, the field of novelization is far, far too open to really give any sort of standardized example. Take the RoTS novelization. POVs get thrown around more rapidly than blaster fire. Tense has no solid place. Voice jumps every which way, sympathizing with everyone from Yoda to Sideous. The nonexistent narrator even comes up with a few opinions. And that's not even mentioning the descriptive abstractions. My suggestion - you know the story. It's complete. This is good. That's the most important part. Dialogue isn't. It was for the script, it not for a narrative. So start by putting the script away and typing from the beginning. Then see what happens. What I'm saying is, use what you have like a guideline, rather than trying to literally convert it into prose. I think this will give you the best results. Maybe. -----signature----- Rule 12: A soft answer turneth away wrath. Once wrath is looking the other way, shoot it in the head. --- http://boards.theforce.net/b/b1/26481069 - The Wise http://boards.theforce.net/B/b1/21283317 - Planet Hopping
	Locked Topic \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
moosemousse Title: CR - FF:UK South Registered: Oct '04	Date Posted: 10/30/07 9:00pm Subject: RE: Tips on adapting Fan Film Script into short story
	I've not done this before but I have a vague idea. Could you PM me a short sample of the script for me to look at? If I can do it I'll send it back with some notes. -----signature----- Vader's Mousedroid Society Fanfic links in my bio My fan art: http://boards.theforce.net/fan_art/b10020/26961879/ Bei der Instalation ältere Versionen aktualisiert # Boards: -1 \| # Messages: -1 (-1 today)
	Locked Topic \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
JadeSolo Title: Manager Emeritus Registered: Sep '02	Date Posted: 10/30/07 11:01pm Subject: RE: Tips on adapting Fan Film Script into short story
	Also, think about the visuals you wanted to use in the film. You can't describe everything in the script, so you give a few details that will later be expanded in storyboards or actual film. As Yodimus said, rather than converting those details into prose, go back to the general idea - the mood you wanted to evoke, the actions, the symbolisms, stuff that comes directly from the visuals. When you start incorporating all of that into the story, I think the prose will come out of your head a lot easier and will flow together a lot better. Well, it works for me. Another idea, kind of going along with all this, is to literally picture the movie in your head and write out what's happening as though you're telling the story to someone who's blind and deaf. In a way you're converting film into prose, but more from the movie than the actual script. -----signature----- "If you expect a kick in the balls and you get a slap in the face, it's a victory." "May God bless you and keep you always...I mean that in a civic deist way." -Prof. Siegel "No guaranteed money, but all guaranteed fun!"
	Locked Topic \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
Miana Kenobi Title: Pacific RSA & NSWFF Mod On Limited Time Registered: Apr '00	Date Posted: 10/31/07 12:08am Subject: RE: Tips on adapting Fan Film Script into short story
	JadeSolo posted: Another idea, kind of going along with all this, is to literally picture the movie in your head and write out what's happening as though you're telling the story to someone who's blind and deaf. In a way you're converting film into prose, but more from the movie than the actual script. Pretty much what I was going to suggest. Just like you have to set up a shot in a film, look at the whole picture. What's the background look like? How's the lighting? Is there any sound? What's your character doing? How are they reacting to other characters? While you imagine how it plays out, write it all down. -----signature----- President of San Diego FanForce He tini nga whetu e ngaro I te kapua iti. Dyslexics of the world, UNTIE!
	Locked Topic \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
dianethx Registered: Mar '02	Date Posted: 10/31/07 4:15am Subject: RE: Tips on adapting Fan Film Script into short story
	Actually, I would disagree with what Yodumus Prime said. Don't start from scratch. Heck, you have most of it already written with the dialogue set. I write my stories by doing dialogue first and then putting all the other pieces in around it - descriptions, character development and reactions, that sort of thing. To me, dialogue is key. It sets the tone of the piece, forms the characterizations and gives you the flow of the story. If it doesn't work, then nothing else will. I would agree that going from a script to prose is a lot easier than the other way. And Jade's idea of visualizing the story and then writing it down is a great one. I think what you need is a beta reader, someone who can look over the script, give you ideas of how to attack it and then step back and let you go full bore. Good luck. -----signature----- Betrayal - http://boards.theforce.net/s/b1/10935143 updated 9/22/09 jedidas3's Master Merlin - Diplomatic Immunity - http://boards.theforce.net/nswff/b10808/30459852
	Locked Topic \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
jbird69 Registered: May '00	Date Posted: 10/31/07 8:21am Subject: RE: Tips on adapting Fan Film Script into short story
	Thanks so much for the info. If anyone besides moosemouse is willing to be a betareader, PM me and I'll send over the script. -----signature----- Writer/Director/Producer/Editor - Stunod Pictures http://www.stunodpictures.com http://stunodpictures.blogspot.com - The Stunod Scoop - Stunod Pictures' Official Blog Staff member and Sky's Personal Assistant : Viewin' It
	Locked Topic \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
LLL Registered: Jul '00	Date Posted: 11/2/07 4:50pm Subject: RE: Tips on adapting Fan Film Script into short story
	Things to think about: Why do you care about this story? Why are you telling it? What is the take home value for the reader? Those questions will help you decide such things as point of view, and what information to reveal to the reader when. -----signature----- I apologize to anyone I may have hurt or offended while I was posting here. Namaste.
	Locked Topic \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
jbird69 Registered: May '00	Date Posted: 11/6/07 8:37am Subject: RE: Tips on adapting Fan Film Script into short story
	Those are helpful questions to ask. Thanks LLL -----signature----- Writer/Director/Producer/Editor - Stunod Pictures http://www.stunodpictures.com http://stunodpictures.blogspot.com - The Stunod Scoop - Stunod Pictures' Official Blog Staff member and Sky's Personal Assistant : Viewin' It
	Locked Topic \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History