MID-TERM ASSIGNMENT--ADAPTING LITERATURE

This assignment will break you away from your own work and will help you with a fresh view.  This is an individual, not group project.  You will have the opportunity to work on this in class.

1.                  Read Ransom of Red Chief.  It is on the website. 

2.                  Determine what genre of film this will be.  Be able to JUSTIFY your choice of genre

3.                  You are writing an adaptation, so remember, it can be told from any of the character’s point of view. Also, this story is a jumping off point. When you are doing this assignment remember that you are not MARRIED to the short story. 

4.                  Create a Logline for a screenplay you will be writing for this adaptation. You cannot change the title.

5.        Be sure to have your THEME. 

SCREENWRITING EXERCISES

1.                  Create a Beat Sheet for your adaptation.  When you are writing your Beat Sheet, keep in mind that your screenplay will only be between 15-20 pages.  Really think about what you will be putting to paper.  Be very specific about your beats.   Be sure, as well, that you put the page number the beat will appear in a screenplay. 

2.                  Write a two page typed Character Study paper for your main character. (again, let me remind you that this can be told from the point of view of any of the characters, so don’t limit yourself.)  You must hit the  following points in your character study--

            a.   Dramatic Need

             b.  Point of View

            c.   Personify an Attitude

             d.  Experience a Change or Transformation 

If you are confused REFER TO YOUR NOTES!!!  We went over all this stuff in class.

3.                  Write an Opening Image scene. 

a.      Remember that you can open your film with any ESTABLISHING image.

b.      Don’t write more than 2-3 sentences for each “paragraph.”

c.      Within your opening images, you can use speaking

                                                               i.      Dialogue

                                                             ii.      Monologue

                                                            iii.      Voice over

                                                           iv.      Be silent with music

                                                             v.      Or just be silent

4.                  Write a dialogue speech between two of the characters in which you create the THEME STATED beat.

REMEMBER!!!  If you get confused about dialogue, action, formatting, anything, it is pretty much all on the website.