The first draft of For Nothing, as it pertains to the world of screenplays, is now complete thanks to my good friend Thomas Humphreys. Don't let his dabbling with alcohol and nonsensical Welshman ways fool you. This man is a seriously talented writer.
If you are uncertain what goes into adapting a novel into a screenplay, let me tell you it is not easy.
Consider:
- The novel is 280 pages, roughly. The screenplay needs to be under 120 pages. There is an axiom that a page of a screenplay is worth one minute of film time. To cut a novel by 60% and still convey the original story is a monumental task.
How monumental? At the moment it is about 180 pages. So where to cut the next 60 pages becomes problematic to say the least.
- You have an author who considers the novel his baby, and you must please him. I hope I wasn't tremendously picky through the process, but Thomas was very patient and kind enough to let me put my two cents in on a few moments through the process. If impossible sinners could be saints, he might be one.
- Don't mess up the story, readers will know and will call you out for it. All while cutting out 60% of the story...did I mention that?
THE PRICE
I may or not have made several promises.
Items said to have been mentioned include but are not limited to:
- A round of shots at a local American bar.
- To attempt to work in a small role for his actor brother, Mike Humphreys, if we ever get the chance.
- To write this blog.
All in all not a bad deal for a superb piece of work. Though I did have to mention that Americans really don't say bollocks. The term is beneath our civilized society.
Follow Tom on Twitter here: @Mr_Frodo_esq
Follow him on Facebook here: His Facebook Page
Follow his actor brother Mike here: His Facebook Page
How can you not like people who hangout and get dirty like this?
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