Writing the Adapted Screenplay

Much of Hollywood’s source material in recent decades was not written originally for the big screen – it was first created and popularized in another medium, like a book, memoir, an article, a video game, or even an album. Clearly, the marketplace has a proven demand for adaptations. In this course, we examine the adaptation of literary and nonfiction works and the film interpretations of each work. This class will explore the principal development questions involved in a successful adaptation, look at the legalities of securing the rights to a property, and dive into the specifics behind pitching an adaptation. Students will study the main developmental issues of adaptation and write a range of short adaptations across multiple mediums, plus create a pitch and a first act for a feature project. The course also aims to enhance the critical skill of students as well as their craft abilities.