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adaptation case study

Playing The Long Game: 12 Movies Writers Can Learn From

Playing The Long Game No doubt you’ve been advised to ‘play the long game’ when it comes to  making movies, but what does this mean? Well, it’s gone down in screenwriting folklore that it took writer-producer Allan Scott 30 years to get his Netflix smash hit The Queen’s Gambit made. Walter Tevis’s chess novel was published in 1983 – and Scott optioned it immediately, buying the exclusive film rights in 1993. Over the ensuing years he concentrated on trying to get a movie version made (“I won’t embarrass all the directors with whom we didn’t make the movie but I… Read More »Playing The Long Game: 12 Movies Writers Can Learn From

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KILLING EVE’s Luke Jennings: ‘You Adore Villanelle, Or You’re Appalled.’

About Luke Jennings Luke Jennings is an author and journalist. Bang2writers will know him best as the writer of the Killing Eve novels, the basis for the hit TV series. In case you’ve been hiding under a rock though, the novels follow the obsessive duel between Villanelle, an elite assassin and Eve Polastri, the MI6 agent tasked with hunting her down. What you may not know is Luke had established himself before Killing Eve, writing a number of novels including the Booker prize-nominated Atlantic. He’s also written for The Observer, Vanity Fair and The New Yorker. In addition, he’s also… Read More »KILLING EVE’s Luke Jennings: ‘You Adore Villanelle, Or You’re Appalled.’

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Eric Heisserer: ‘Beware The Paper Tiger That Prevents You Writing’

All About Eric Eric Heisserer has a screenwriting resumé most Bang2writers would kill for. From franchises through to adaptations and indie dramas, Eric has been at every level of the movie coal-face it seems. Eric’s also really approachable and offers great insights on the craft. I interviewed him for my non-fiction Drama Screenplays book because he wrote and directed one of my favourite dramas Hours, starring the late Paul Walker. He’s also shared some excellent pointers on female characters in the past for B2W, too. So I thought I’d check back in with Eric in 2019 and see what other juicy… Read More »Eric Heisserer: ‘Beware The Paper Tiger That Prevents You Writing’

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6 Things Writers Can Learn From The Handmaid’s Tale

The Handmaid’s Tale, Adapted The Handmaid’s Tale is that rare beast, both critically acclaimed and commercially successful. Just two series in and it’s obvious it will go down in television history. More importantly, countless Bang2writers tell me they want to write something ‘just like it’, that ‘says something’ … But how? At London Screenwriters’ Festival last weekend, I lead a talk titled What Writers Can Learn From The Handmaid’s Tale. It was a brilliant session, with some great questions and observations from the switched-on delegates. Obviously I can’t cover all everything we talked about in one blog post, sadly. But here’s… Read More »6 Things Writers Can Learn From The Handmaid’s Tale

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INFOGRAPHIC: Everything You Need To Know About The Screenplay

So, we have a new infographic on B2W today that will hopefully kickstart your new screenplay and/or keep it going, so you can get it written and revised and sent out. Let’s check it out … What Should You Write About? There’s some great tips here on adaptation. Though most screenwriters aren’t going to have the money for options on adapting bestselling books, they can still collaborate with authors (especially self published ones, though literary agents may pair scriptwriters with authors too – always worth asking! ). Beyond adaptation, it’s always worth doing lots of work on your central concept… Read More »INFOGRAPHIC: Everything You Need To Know About The Screenplay

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10 Things I Learned From Awesome Adaptations

When a book is turned into a successful movie, it becomes a cultural phenomenon. Fifty Shades of Grey. Game of Thrones. Harry Potter. Twilight. We all know these stories and characters, whether or not we’ve read or watched them. As B2W often advocates, knowing what an audience wants and why is why the half the battle. Each movie has its own appeal that makes it a pleasure to watch. If we dig a little deeper we can identify those points of attraction. There are specific factors that can turn books into successful movies. Let’s reveal the secrets. 10 Unpredictable Ingredients… Read More »10 Things I Learned From Awesome Adaptations

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5 Things I Learned Converting My Screenplay Into A Novel

About Converting Screenplays Thinking about converting your screenplay into a novel? Bang2writer Brian did this and learned some interesting & useful lessons. Check out what he has to say below and make converting your own screenplay MUCH smoother! Thanks Brian and over to you … 1) Hollywood is not in the risk business What was I thinking?  I wrote an epic scale, special effects-laden science fiction action blockbuster.  And nobody in Hollywood knew who the hell I was.  How was I going to sell this screenplay? MECHCRAFT (the screenplay) began life some four years ago, and when it was ready,… Read More »5 Things I Learned Converting My Screenplay Into A Novel

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Adaptation Showdown: which is better, the book or the film?

Did You Know …? If you’ve been hiding under a rock or been away in outer space, you may have missed that last year I launched my own author site for my novel writing at www.lucyvhayauthor.com! I decided to combine my love of movies AND books and create a ‘Book Versus Film’ feature over there … So far we’ve had some BRILLIANT case studies and some surprising conclusions, written by moi and some other excellent contributors. If you want to read them, CLICK HERE. Don’t forget to follow me as @LucyVHayAuthor on Twitter for interviews with crime writers, reading recommendations… Read More »Adaptation Showdown: which is better, the book or the film?

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How To Write Female Leads Like A Professional Screenwriter

With the Oscar result due any moment, I’m in the curious state of being conflicted over which to root for this year, for the coveted Best Picture award! There are some genuinely diverse, interesting films up for the 2017 … a far cry from recent years. And long may that continue as far as B2W is concerned. However, if someone really twisted my arm? I would have to put my vote in for ARRIVAL. I’ve long been an admirer of Eric Heisserer’s work – I’d watched with interest his struggles to get the film greenlit, with Eric having to work on… Read More »How To Write Female Leads Like A Professional Screenwriter

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4 Advantages of Adaptation

B2W has been interested in adaptation for a long time, so when Savannah and Alex from Foxcub Films got in touch about its own adaptation, I thought the Bang2writers would love to hear about it, plus why adaptation can be such a useful and interesting avenue to go, when filmmaking. FINGERS is a 1960s gangland adaptation of the story of Salome, the young Biblical princess who famously danced for her uncle/stepdad’s birthday. He was so delighted that he made a vow to give her whatever she wanted and her mother prompted her to ask for John the Baptist’s head on… Read More »4 Advantages of Adaptation

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Q: What Is The Difference Between A Remake & A Reboot?

I’m at the VERY LAST Guerilla Filmmaker Masterclass this weekend (sob)!! So if you see me, do come and say hello … I’m the shouty small one with flowers in her hair, who’s sitting down the front somewhere. On this historic two days then, I thought I’d take a look at audiences and how what they expect / want can change over time. This is never more obvious than with remakes and reboots. I talk a lot with Bang2writers about movie franchises and one question I get asked fairly frequently is, “What is the difference between a remake and a reboot?” It’s… Read More »Q: What Is The Difference Between A Remake & A Reboot?

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5 Times It’s OK To Sacrifice Facts For Drama

Getting Your Facts Right Writing historical fiction, I have come to learn, is like navigating a slippery slope along a precarious cliff. God forbid you get facts wrong. Anyone who knows anything about the time period you are writing about will let you know that you did: in the reviews, on the internet, for all to see. Let’s face it. Getting the clothing down, the setting, the politics and social graces of the times is the easy part. Keeping people entertained in another time period is what makes the story a story. So I have had to take liberties with… Read More »5 Times It’s OK To Sacrifice Facts For Drama

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