Adapting novels for TV and film
Course
In London
Description
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Type
Course
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Location
London
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Start date
Different dates available
What makes for a successful adaptation. How to evolve a text into a whole new medium and reach an even wider audience, while staying faithful to the essence of the original book.
Please note that the dates, times, and fees of this course have changed from what's advertised in our Autumn propsectus. The information displayed on this webpage is up-to-date and correct.
The Tutor: Freelance producer and script editor, Lucy Armitage is the winner of two Sony Awards, two TV Choice Awards and a Broadcasting Press Guild Award. Her production work includes Derren Litten's Benidorm for ITV1 (now adapted as a touring stage production), Jonny Sweet's Together for BBC3 and Jonathan Coe's What a Carve Up!, adapted for Radio 4; plus a wide range of comedy-dramas and adaptations by writers as diverse as Julie Myerson, David Nobbs, Dane Baptiste, Andi Osho, Nick Hornby, Lenny Henry & Holly Walsh.
Facilities
Location
Start date
Start date
About this course
- Understand a wide variety of approaches to adaptation
- Choose which technique and medium are best suited to your text.
- Plot out and plan your adaptation scene by scene
- Have the confidence to pare down narrative & introduce new ingredients, whilst still staying true to the original novel.
- Create a pitch. Summarizing the essence of your chosen novel; capturing how it will be brought to three-dimensional life.
No other costs. Pen and notebook are sufficient.
- We'll study and discuss a wide range of existing adaptations: exploring what makes them succeed (or fail).
- We'll investigate storytelling and re-telling techniques, with practical exercises for plotting, editing and rewriting, according to the outcome and style you'd like to achieve.
- We'll examine ways to ensure that you know your original text inside out - enabling you to make bold decisions when it comes to bringing the text to a new medium and a new audience.
All writing courses at City Lit will involve an element of workshop. This means that students will produce work which
will be discussed in an open and constructive environment with the tutor and other students. The college operates a
policy of constructive criticism, and all feedback on another student’s work by the tutor and other students should
be delivered in that spirit.
For classes longer than one day regular reading and writing exercises will be set for completion at home to set
deadlines.
All writing courses at City Lit will involve an element of workshop. This means that students will produce work which will be discussed in an open and constructive environment with the tutor and other students. The college operates a policy of constructive criticism, and all feedback on another student’s work by the tutor and other students should be delivered in that spirit.
For classes longer than one day regular reading and writing exercises will be set for completion at home to set deadlines.
Reviews
Subjects
- Production
Course programme
- Trusting your instinct: what makes for a perfect novel when it comes to adaptation.
- Comparing and contrasting successful (and not so successful) TV and film adaptations - finding out what it is that makes them work.
- Techniques to ensure that your novel's core characters - and characteristics - are at the heart of every scene, and remain the driving force behind your narrative. We'll be examining the core ingredients and skeleton structure across a range of classic texts.
- Scene by scene breakdowns, plotting techniques, character thumbnails and storytelling devices.
- How to decide when a character or theme needs to be augmented, reduced or edited out. Having the confidence to suggest something new.
- How to stress-test your adaptation - ensuring it will satisfy your audience and still remain faithful to your author's intentions.
- How to win your author's blessing - and support - when it comes to an adaptation of their work.
Additional information
Adapting novels for TV and film