What is an adapted screenplay?

An adapted screenplay refers to a screenplay that is based on a pre-existing source material, such as a novel, play, or even a true story. The process of adapting a screenplay involves transforming the original material into a script suitable for the medium of film or television.

Here are some key points about adapted screenplays:

1. Source Material: Adapted screenplays are based on a variety of source materials, including literary works, biographies, comic books, short stories, and even other films or television shows.

2. Changes and Enhancements: When adapting a screenplay, the writer often makes changes to the original source material to fit the constraints and demands of the screen. This can involve condensing or expanding the narrative, altering characters or plotlines, or adding new elements for dramatic effect.

3. Rights and Permissions: The process of adapting a screenplay begins with acquiring the rights to the source material. This involves securing legal permission from the copyright holder, usually through negotiations with publishers or authors. In some cases, the writer may also need to secure life rights for adapting real-life stories.

4. Creative Decision-making: Adapting a screenplay requires making creative decisions about what to keep, remove, or modify from the source material. The writer must carefully balance the integrity of the original work with the visual and storytelling requirements of the screen.

5. Challenges: Adapting a screenplay can be a challenging process. The writer must condense complex stories or characters into a manageable length suitable for a film or TV episode. Additionally, they must navigate the expectations of fans of the original source material, who often have strong opinions about how it should be adapted.

6. Successful Adaptations: Many successful films and television shows are based on adapted screenplays. These adaptations have attracted critical acclaim and achieved commercial success by maintaining the spirit of the original source material while adding a unique cinematic vision.

7. Examples: Some notable examples of successful adapted screenplays include "The Godfather" (1972), adapted from Mario Puzo's novel, "No Country for Old Men" (2007), adapted from Cormac McCarthy's novel, and "The Social Network" (2010), adapted from Ben Mezrich's non-fiction book.

In conclusion, adapted screenplays involve transforming existing source materials into a script suitable for film or television. They require creative decision-making, deal with legal rights and permissions, and often face challenges in balancing the expectations of fans and the requirements of the screen. Nevertheless, successful adaptations can result in critically acclaimed and commercially successful films or television shows.