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SimplyScripts Screenwriting Discussion Board  /  Questions or Comments  /  Adaptation of "The Diceman"
Posted by: stebrown, February 26th, 2008, 12:09pm
Hi everyone, one of my favourite books is 'The Diceman' by Luke Rhinehart. I've searched both here and on google for adapted scripts of the book but came up empty.
The reason I'm looking is I think it would make a fantastic film and I am thinking about working on writing the script.
I've read a couple of threads on here about 'fans-fiction' and that it wouldn't get read by any producers etc but I think I would still like to give it a go, if only for practise and my own amusement.
I was wondering if anyone had any advise about adapting books for film. Things I'd like to know are how closely should I stick to the novel? If I out-do myself with it is there any way of getting around the whole 'fans-fiction' problem? (Could I buy the rights?) Has anyone seen or heard about The Diceman being adapted already? I heard something about a tv show but I think it was very very loosely based on the book.

Thanks in advance, and if anyone hasn't read it I'd highly recommend it.
Posted by: Tierney, February 26th, 2008, 1:36pm; Reply: 1
A few years ago Paramount made a big deal about Dan Waters (Heathers) doing an adaptation of the novel but the script died in turn-around.  After that, Rhinehart wrote his own script and has been trying to sell it without much success.  I used to have a draft of a version of it from 2005 but I think I must have tossed it because it's not in the old scripts box.
Posted by: stebrown, February 26th, 2008, 1:51pm; Reply: 2
Sorry Bert, was pretty sure I wouldn't spell adaptation correctly though lol

Thanks Tierney. Still think I'll give it a go. Lost my copy of the book - when lending out goes wrong - so would have to get another copy from some website.
Posted by: mikep, February 26th, 2008, 4:37pm; Reply: 3
  Since you seem to love the book, take it ( once you get another copy) , re-read and outline it. As loose or detailed as works for you.
  Then you have the fun of deciding what works onscreen and what doesn't. It's a challange taking the novel and paring it down to what is needed to tell the story.   For me it was interesting to see that I felt the need to rearrange the sequence of events in the novel I worked from in order to tell a good movie story. What read well in the book didn't make sense as film structure so I took my time and worked on what - for me - was a sound screenplay outline, then I just dived in and wrote it.  
  Not entirely sure how succesful the exercise was but for now it seems to have benefitted me. Good luck!
Posted by: stebrown, April 13th, 2008, 4:15pm; Reply: 4
Sorry mike, thanks for your advise about this -- i'd moved onto a few other ideas and forgot about asking the question.

I've started writing this - not as an adaptation but just based solely on psychology and someone deciding to use the dice. It's going to be a psychology student who decides to do it as his final paper. I don't know whether it would fall under 'fan-fiction' or because it's so loosely based it'll be alright.

Don't really know how it'll go. But it's pretty much writing itself at the moment and is really fun to write.

Will work on this and post it once it's finished.

Ste
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