All screenplays on the simplyscripts.com and simplyscripts.net domain are copyrighted to their respective authors. All rights reserved. This screenplaymay not be used or reproduced for any purpose including educational purposes without the expressed written permission of the author.
I'm planning on adapting a short story into a screenplay. The main character reads a book that changes his life, what is said in the book is key to the story so I need it in the screenplay.
My only idea at the moment is to have a flashback of what the book is about - it's someone's life story. I don't want that taking up too much of the script though and I'm not too sure how to format it. Would it be a flashback?
It's a really good story and this probably the only hurdle to get over in adapting it.
Is the "flashback" actually a sequence from the book? If so it may work better as a DREAM/FANTASY sequence.
Also, is it important to get the whole point of the book across, or is it just a certain passage that triggers this life change? If it's the latter, you could probably get away with having him read the book to himself and utilizing VO for the important part.
The book is about an Indian guy who becomes a Yogi. He learns how to see without using his eyes. The book is written by a doctor who the Indian went to see - he wanted him to help promote his theatre show.
My character reads it and wants to learn it himself - for playing blackjack. There are examples in the book of the exercises he used to get his ability.
I guess the part I definately need is the skill he learns and how he learns it. How long can you get away with having a V.O while he's reading? Could I just paraphrase?
Yeah that sounds best. What I didn't want was a 10-15 page passage of the script totally taking the reader out of the story. The way you suggest will keep the character from my story still the main guy and not the person he's reading about.
The short story is 'The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar' by the way, by Roald Dahl. Probably fan fiction, but what the hey. It's a wee cracker.
Quick question, Ste; how do you go about adapting the book? do you call up the writer and ask his persmission or you call the publishing company? and do you have to pay money upfront for the rights?
I haven't done a heavy duty scrutiny here, but I really feel you've got an EXCELENT HOOK.
Just from what you have posted, I'm interested.
Regarding how to handle the important "book paradigm".
No one has a copyright on the idea of "seeing without eyes". Why don't you forget about the book and just take the "concept" of psychic vision and work with that first of all. Then you don't need to worry about copyright.
On the other hand, if you are serious about using the book, I suggest you try and contact the author, congratulate him/her on their excellent work and make your request.
My input regarding how to structure this would be to forget about flashbacks, but to go with the immediate point of view of the reader.
If your main character is reading the book, try starting with a voice over and fade into their perception of the story. This would be an immediate rendering of their point of view and character with respect to the story so you'd be killing two birds with one stone.
For instance,
V.O.
I saw myself as the student of this cryptic guru and I couldn't fathom how he could sit so still while I had this endless desire to rub my forehead. What did he have that I didn't have? **
So you could work the protagonist's character in this fashion as a kind of foil.
I'd definitely go with real time though and avoid flashbacks. I think that's the better way to go. Don't force people to think backwards if you don't have to.
The short story is by Roald Dahl, who is unfortunately not with us anymore. I've done a search for who owns the rights on google, but haven't come up with anything.
I'm kind of wanting to stick with the story that he told, just as it's a story I really liked growing up. I'm around half way through writing it and have the structure of it set out. It's going to be a short (around 30 pages) and should be finished this week sometime.
The main stumbling block I've got at the moment is Henry is a gambler and uses his skill to see through cards, in playing blackjack. The Yoga training though has changed his outlook and his winnings don't matter to him. I'm trying to think of a way to show this visually but am struggling.