FROM A BOOK TO A SCREENPLAY

Greetings All!

So, I was thinking about all the YA movies I’ve seen, the older ones like Harry Potter and the newer ones like The Hunger Games. I’ve been mulling around in my head for a time now about writing a screenplay. I write dialogue well and I’ve written plays before (took a class in playwriting once upon a time) so, why not segue to screenwriting?

My first foray into this was to check out Amazon Studios. It’s Amazon’s way of giving newbie screenwriters a chance to produce a movie by sending them a script and having their staff review it and putting it into their community for revisions. If they buy it you get a straight fee and if they turn it into a movie that sells over 60 million dollars you get more. Is this Amazon’s way of taking over the world of screenwriting like they have with Ebooks? Probably. Still, it might be a way for newbie screenwriters to get a shot, so to speak. Here’s the link if you want to check them out: http://studios.amazon.com/

Next, I checked out screenwriting software online. The one that most screenwriters use is called FINAL DRAFT http://finaldraft.com but it is expensive. They do have a free demo but it only allows you to upload 15 pages of script. As I was reading I found in one of the reviewers of Final Draft mention a free screenwriting site called CELTX http://celtx.com and so I downloaded their free version. I haven’t used it yet because I am still in the research mode stage (get it, I said stage as in theater---LOL). CELTX has apps available for your mobile device. I downloaded their CELTX SHOTS because it’s supposed to be able to format your script into a storyboard format. I was excited when I saw this because I USE STORYBOARDS TO PLOT OUT SCENES IN MY NOVELS. After they’re written. I put them into scenes so I can make sure each scene makes sense as far as setting, characters, timeline and advances the plot along. CELTX has other apps, one is called CELTX SCRIPT which allows you to write on your mobile device or iPad. I don’t usually write on my iPhone so I didn’t download this app. A third app they have is CELTX SCOUT which allows you to take pictures to save for your scripts/storyboard.

Once I figure out how to use CELTX, I intend to format one of my books into a script. According to what I’ve read, most scripts for movies are about 100 pages long. Easy, peasy, right? I mean, I’ve written 300 page books, so 100 pages should be easy. A TV series script is even shorter at around 60 pages.  Now the question is, which book should I turn into a movie? Haven’t all of us thought about how our books would make great movies? Maybe you even cast the main characters already. I am guilty of that. I decided to choose one of my self-published books to format as a script.

Here’s the list I have to choose from and the genre/tagline (see? I’m already using screenwriting jargon):

WITCH HUNTER-15yo Molly visits her eccentric Tarot card reading aunt in Salem. Even the Tarot cards can’t predict murder.  YA

PLEASE TO SEE THE KING-collection of short stories based on English ballads. Not YA
AINE-16yo Aine discovers she’s not human. She’s a banshee. YA
FAERIE FOLK-Aine’s adventures continue with a dark faerie out to destroy her.  YA

FAERIE CHRONICLES: AINE AND FAERIE FOLK IN ONE VOLUME

NINA-17yo Nina tries to clear her father when he’s accused of setting an explosion that kills over 100 people. She discovers a secret too horrible to imagine. YA
FITZROY: THE BOY WHO WOULD BE KING-Henry VIII of England only illegitimate son he ever acknowledged. YA
INTERLUDE-a collection of short stories. Not YA.

PUBLISHED BY SMALL PRESSES:

THE CRAZY NURSE-XOXO PUBLISHING-medical romance. Not YA

IF IT’S MONDAY, IT MUST BE MURDER-GYPSY SHADOW PUBLISHING-murder mystery. Not YA.

LORE OF FEI-MUSE IT UP PUBLISHING-faerie fantasy. YA.

So, which one should I choose? I also have five novels I am currently querying:

EIGYR-early life of Igraine, King Arthur’s mother. YA

THE VIDDEN-Dystopian with zombies. YA

FAMOUS-Contemporary YA about a girl no one notices who finds her own voice and realizes she has something to say.

ZOMBIE CRUSH-Contemporary YA/Paranormal Romance with zombies and government conspiracies.

BIRTHRIGHT-Space Opera with werewolves, selchies and dark magic. Not YA.

I could pick one of those instead. Hmm---lots to think about. Meanwhile, I’m going to learn the software. Which book of mine do you think would make a good movie? What about your book? 

Take Care, Until Next Time,

Kathleen