What do the movies "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," "The Shawshank Redemption," "The Patriot," and "X-Men" have in common?

They're all adaptations -- films scripted from material originally created for other mediums, from novels to non-fiction to comic books. Now, a new book written by screenplay expert Richard W. Krevolin and published by Wiley & Sons in New York provides the definitive guide to writing screenplays based upon material adapted from other sources. How to Adapt Anything Into a Screenplay will be released March 28, 2003.

Although screenplay adaptations are a staple of Hollywood and even have
their own Academy Awards category, until now little guidance has been given to writers who want to take on an adaptation project.

Krevolin, who is a renowned screenplay consultant and has taught
screenwriting at universities such as USC and UCLA, says there's a
misconception that adapting material for a screenplay is somehow easier
for a writer because the basic story is there.

"Adapting pre-existing material for a screenplay comes with its own
unique set of challenges, from obtaining proper clearances to successfully
structuring the material to work well in the medium of film," Krevolin
said. "The key to successful adaptations is not to do a verbatim and faithful
transcription of the original material. It is to capture the essence, spirit, and soul of the work and creatively convey it in the script and on the screen."

In his book, Krevolin offers intense case studies on close to a dozen
major films adapted from different types of pre-existing material. He also
includes tips from agents, managers, producers, and development
executives designed to help writers navigate the difficult waters of adaptation.

Read an excerpt from "How To Adapt Anything Into A Screenplay"

Reviews
Here's what critics have said about How To Adapt Anything Into A Screenplay:

"Enlightens and clarifies the adaptation process...It's like a semester of film school only a lot cheaper and you can learn while lying on your couch in your underwear."
   --Tom DeSanto,
     X-men, Apt Pupil,X-Men 2

"A well thought out and professional book on adaptation. Richard Krevolin has done the heavy lifting and put together an indispensable guide for any serious screenwriter. How to Adapt Anything Into A Screenplay has a permanent place beside my computer. . . The best book on adaptation, hands down."
   --Jack Epps, Jr.,
     Screenwriter for Top Gun, Dick Tracy, The Secret Of My Success

"I wish I had this book when I was adapting the life of Jake LaMotta
into the screenplay for Raging Bull."
   --Mardik Martin,
     Screenwriter for Raging Bull, Mean Streets, and New York, New York

"Oh good, another book I don't have to write since Richard Krevolin's done such a bang-up job of it. He's distilled not only the essence of the art of adaptation but also reminded us of the essentials of drama and why we want to tell stories in the first place."
   --Chris Vogler,
      Author of The Writers Journey

"Richard Krevolin understands that writers of adaptations owe little to the original material. Instead, like all screenwriters, they owe audiences the best possible movie. He asserts quite rightly, in clear and engaging language, that adaptations are more like original screenplays than they are different from them. And in doing so, he has written the best book possible."
  -- Prof. Richard Walter
     UCLA School of Cinema Screenwriting Chairman