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Types of adaptations -

During the process of adapting a book into a film, writers tend to veer in one of two directions. The first is that they adapt the story in all of its precision, with very few details left behind. The second type of adaptation is “loose,” which is when filmmakers use the book as little more than inspiration source material for a different story.

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Existing fans -

When film studios decide to adapt a book into a movie, one thing they can rely on is the existing fandom that follows the source material. But while this can be a blessing, it can also be a curse: fans are more likely to rip apart and critique a film if they believe that it isn’t a good adaptation of the story that they know and love.

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Selection process -

The process for adapting a book into a movie begins long before a screenwriter is hired to write the script. Indeed, film studios are always scouting for popular or critically acclaimed books with potential for cinematic adaptation.

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Optioning rights -

If a studio sees a book that they believe to have cinematic potential, they engage in negotiations with the publishers and authors to try and purchase the rights to adapt the book. This part of the process could sometimes take years to get through.

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Screenplay development -

After a studio manages to secure the movie rights, they hire a screenwriter to adapt the book into a screenplay. The writer is responsible for condensing and restructuring the story’s narrative so that it will be suitable for a film.

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The writer’s conundrum -

One of the many challenges faced by the screenwriter is to understand which parts of the story are worth adapting, and which parts are not. In fact, many studios hire writers who have a successful history of adapting books into movies, just to make sure that it gets done properly.

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Director selection -

While the writer works on the script, the studio chooses a director based on their vision for the adaptation and compatibility with the material. This is an incredibly important part of the process, since directors can make or break a movie with their ideas on how it should be adapted.

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Casting -

Casting directors select actors who fit the roles envisioned by the director and screenwriter. The authors of the original stories are often brought in to ensure that the actors chosen remain as true as possible to their literary counterparts.

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Budgeting -

Film producers spend a lot of time determining a movie’s budget based on the scope of the adaptation and the potential appeal that it has in the world.

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Location scouting -

Depending on the book that is being adapted, filmmakers need to have a deep understanding of where the story is staged. Real-world locations are chosen to match the settings described in the book and, sometimes, sets are built to artificially recreate these spaces. After all, filmmakers don’t want readers of the book to critique the film for not adhering to the original locations.

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Storyboarding -

Storyboarding is an artform in itself, whereby filmmakers plan out the movie in visual sequences as they believe it will look in the end. Comic book adaptations–like the Marvel Cinematic Universe–rely heavily on this stage of the process, since they are visual films based on existing visual material.

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Costume design -

Costumers are crucially responsible for creating attire that reflects the characters and time period described in the book. A lot of designers interact with existing fans of the books in order to understand how they have viewed the characters. This helps to shape the film in a way that will make it visually satisfying.

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And... action! -

After the entire planning stage is finalized, the bulk of the filming takes place. All creative elements come together at this stage, adhering to the screenplay and directorial vision. At this point, you will often see the original author wandering around the film studio, as they are usually brought in as consultants for the shooting process.

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Cinematography -

During principal photography, the director of photography is responsible for capturing scenes through the camera’s lens, using ways that enhance the narrative and mood. From a purely production perspective, directors of photography don’t really need to have an awareness of the source material.

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Editing -

After the film has been shot (which typically takes months), the footage is assembled and edited to create a coherent storyline, often involving significant cuts and rearrangements. This stage is imperative in establishing the movie’s genre, which must reflect the original book as closely as possible.

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Adaptation challenges -

When it comes to deciding what to cut, condense, or alter in a film, this can prove to be tricky for adapted movies. After all, normal movies can follow their own standard of creativity, but adaptations have an existing medium that came before. And you certainly don’t want to disappoint the fans!

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Music -

Music composers are hired to create music that evokes the emotions and atmosphere of the story. One thing that you will often find in adapted films is that the music tends to hold heavily onto themes that resemble characters. These themes (or motifs) are littered throughout the movie.

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Test screenings - Rough cuts of the film are shown to test audiences to gauge their reactions and make final adjustments. Usually, these test screenings are filled with fans of the original books, because they are the studio’s targeted audience and are the ones who know the stories best.

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Marketing -

Once the film has been solidified, a marketing campaign is devised to promote it. The marketing for adapted movies tends to be very different to other films, only because there are already fans around the world who can be relied on to spread information.

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Distribution deals -

To release a film in theaters or through streaming services, film studios need to contact distribution companies and negotiate deals. This stage of the process doesn’t really change if it’s an adapted movie though. In fact, it’s actually far easier to distribute a movie that comes from a book.

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Premiere and promotion -

Once all the details are worked out, a studio sets a premiere date! There are many options for where a movie can premiere, such as film festivals or special events. The whole purpose is to generate buzz and media coverage.

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Critical reception -

After the film is released, critics review it. This is quite possibly a make-or-break moment for filmmakers. While normal films are judged based on their individual merit, adapted films are criticized even more, because they are compared to the source material alongside being evaluated as a standalone work.

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Box-office performance -

The film's commercial success is measured by its box-office revenue. Interestingly, a film is considered to be a success only if its box-office earnings are at least double the movie’s budget.

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Audience response -

Viewers react to the adaptation and they compare it to their expectations and experiences with the book. A lot of adaptations in the past have been met with insurmountable criticism from book fans, which have often resulted in commercial failure for the movies.

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Award recognition -

After a lengthy–and hopefully successful–run at cinemas around the world, an adapted film may receive nominations or awards for its adaptation, performances, technical achievements, and more. In fact, the Oscars even has a separate coveted award designed to honor the best adapted screenplay!

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Impact on book sales -

Successful adaptations can often lead to increased book sales as audiences seek out the source material. Indeed, this part of the process is almost never-ending, as the film inspires people to read the book, and the book also inspires audiences to watch the movie.

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Franchise potential -

An adaptation’s potential for a sequel is measured by its box-office performance and audience response. If the adaptation is successful, sequels or spin-offs may be planned to further explore the story world in a franchise.

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Fan community engagement -

Fans of the book have a tendency to discuss and analyze adaptations, forming online communities and fan theories. Interestingly, many film studios have used these communities as a way of successfully marketing new stories and adaptations. It is free, after all.

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Author feedback -

Once an adaptation is released, the original author may comment on or critique the movie, expressing their opinions on how their work was translated to film. Since they are the forerunner and brain behind the entire story, the author’s opinion is the one that arguably matters most.

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Continued interest -

Even after the initial release, discussions about the adaptation persist as new audiences discover and engage with it over time. Indeed, the best that a film studio can hope for is that their adaptation is classified as “timeless.” That is, truthfully, one of the biggest measures of cinematic success.

Sources: (Book Riot) (The Film Fund Blog) (Ready Steady Cut) (Literary Hub)

See also: Movies you didn't know were based on true stories

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