From Manuscript to Movie Script in Five BASIC Steps

Many of you have been asking about the craft of adapting your novel into a screenplay. Many (mistakenly) believe it is a straight word-for-word transition; a cut-and-paste, if you will; from the original manuscript into some sort of screenwriting formatting software program and you’re done. As a result, many inquiring with any screenwriting service offering this service are usually shocked at the cost.

However, you couldn’t be further from the truth.

Writing an adaptation is a learned craft that is so difficult to do correctly, very few screenwriters can even do it well. Many avoid doing it altogether because of the amount of work that is actually involved in the process, both technically and mentally. The major difference is they are not writing their own concept. Then, to make it even more difficult, they’re not even working from another script written for a visual medium. So, they have to take a source material, convert it from one medium (books) to another (visual) and try to stay as loyal as possible to the original story.

The problem comes from the where the purpose of the written work is where it is design to have the READER get “lost in the words” and in their imagination. Length is rarely an issue with novels. In a movie script, the purpose is to have the READER skim over the words and get “lost in the action” of the story, and length is ALWAYS a consideration.

So, keeping that in mind, here are some key tips to keep in mind when tackling an adaptation assignment: 

1. READ the original source material and determine if it is film-worthy. If you do not own the rights to the story, before you do anything, you must secure the rights to the novel. If it’s a self-published novel that you believe would make an interesting screenplay concept, the author will probably make a deal for the rights without any money involved.

2. Determine the right genre. Too often, because a story takes place on a spaceship, the writer automatically assumes it’s a Science Fiction, when it can be better defined as an Action/Horror.

3. Pick out the twelve of the best VISUAL scenes of the novel, and build your story around these. These are your “trailer scenes”. They must include the basic plot of the story, with the most conflict, of course, involving many of the main characters. Complete your story structure outline (beat sheet) using these scenes and characters.

4. Some “cool” characters might be left behind because they didn’t fit in to your screenplay. You may be able to find a way to “combine” characters or character profiles to keep these people alive. You might have a straight-laced FBI Agent, and a funny, off-the-cuff undercover cop that didn’t make the cut. Maybe the FBI agent works as more of a cut-up character. This is how iconic characters are born.

5. Remember- you ARE writing for a visual medium. You'll want to remain faithful to the original material, but keep in mind- You HAVE to make sure it is a great screenplay, first and foremost.

Obviously, this is an oversimplification of the process, reducing it to only five steps, when it’s closer to 250 steps, but you get the point. You are at the mercy of the QUALITY of the original source material; the lower the quality, the more difficult the adaptation.

When hiring a writer to adapt your novel, keep in mind that you'll want to hire a professional screenwriter, first and foremost. Secondly, you’re hiring someone who can do, and who has done, what few others do successfully.

Is it a good idea to adapt your screenplay? I think it is. It gives the author two avenues of success; a successful novel will draw interest its screenplay, and a successful screenplay will increase sales in the novel. At some point, if the novel is highly successful, a screenplay will be written anyway. If you have one registered, listing you as a screenwriter or co-screenwriter, they’ll have to work with you on credits down the line, and you’ll benefit from that.

It’s an investment, of course, but it’s an investment in your future, both as a novelist and possibly a credited screenwriter.

 WRITER'S BIO: Geno Scala has close to thirty (30) completed feature film screenplays and television pilots. His company has completed fourteen (14) novels-to-screenplay adaptations to date for his clients. He counts many celebrities among his vast clientele. He has two TV projects, (Hell Hath No Fury; Sextracurricullum) in the hands of Spike TV, and two reality show concepts, including Just Like Elvis, about the lives of Elvis Tribute Artists, currently being marketed.

His most recent television project, Bad Priest, is under consideration by another group of television executives, of which, one stated: "This pilot is compelling and clear and offers just enough to tease us with where these stories and characters might go. It begs for a full season..."

Mr. Scala spent 22-plus years in the Hollywood community, and was the Executive Director for the 72nd Annual Academy Awards. He held similar positions with The Soul Train, The Grammys, Blockbuster Video and Saturn award shows.