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Saturday, June 30, 2012

Screeplay Frontier


My daughter Eva expressed a surprising interest in writing screenplays of my novels. I’d been researching the different software programs for doing just that on my own for a few months - the problem being working and writing new novels takes up all my time. I didn’t think I’d ever get anything going on the screenplay front other than a half-hearted attempt at doing it, even with state of the art software. Amazon had a sale on my top choice, which is also the industry standard. With the points from the parts I’ve bought on Amazon for my customers it only cost me half of what I’d expected.
This collaboration with my daughter has me fired up. She’s always been a good writer. Her papers in college impressed me, but other than a passing comment, she’s never mentioned an interest either in my writing or doing anything on her own. It caught me off guard when she mentioned the screenplay interest, especially after I’d been researching that very venue for months without telling anyone. I’m not going to mention the software name because any Google search for top rated screenplay writing software has it on the top of the list, but a nice thing about it is you can install it on more than one computer without an additional license. Eva and I can share progress and any questions she has about a manuscript instantly, even from afar.
Maybe if we can get lift off on one of my books in screenplay form, they’ll be able to stop remaking movies over and over again.  :)  I’m going to be nearing the 10,000 word mark for my third part in the DEMON trilogy this weekend. Man, would that series be a movie I’d like to put on the screen. I’ll have to wait and see what Eva wants to start with, because it will be important that she likes what she reads, or converting it will be torture. I’ll be getting the software this next week, and her, my grandson, and my son-in-law will be staying with us a week after that for a few days. I should have some thoughts on screenplay writing collaboration to blog about next month. From all my research I know this converting books into screenplays is not for the faint of heart, but like I told Eva, I’ll be following her progress, not writing it for her. Her conversion scene ideas will be her own with me only helping on the outskirts of the project.
It’s funny, but over the last few months with launching into alternate publishing, and cutting thoughts of publishers and agents out of my thought processes, everything in a literary sense appeals to me more than before. It’s nice not having my work depend on the whim of strangers, but I guess if Eva and I actually finish a screenplay, I’ll be right back at the mercy of an even tougher venue. Maybe the people looking at screenplays to develop see dollar signs and market viability more clearly than mainstream publishing.  :)

10 comments:

Charles Gramlich said...

Luck with the screenplay. cool about working with your daughter. Would be cool to be able to work with my son on such a thing. He's busy with his architecture work at the moment.

BernardL said...

I know what you mean, Charles. Eva runs a major department for Summit Medical in Sacramento. I think she's planning on another grandchild, and wants a few more options for money. I'm hoping she doesn't have too high a hope for outside income knowing my record on earnings outside auto repair. :) Her ideas on a screenplay might change that though. It'll be fun finding out.

Jordan Summers said...

Bernard, Fingers crossed it goes well. It's very cool that she's interested in trying to do something with your books. Maybe you both can dig into them. It might go faster. :)

BernardL said...

It will definitely be a collaboration, Jordan, but it will mostly be her ideas on forming the screenplay. After all the studying I've put in on the difference between the novel and screenplay, I doubt moving it along faster is going to be possible. I'm hoping the software will at least make this endeavor less of a chore. :)

Jordan Summers said...

There are a lot of great screenplay software programs out there. We own the top one because dh used to write them years ago.

At this point, I have no interest, but I can't wait to hear how it goes with you.

BernardL said...

Anything my adult children show interest in to do with me provides its own entertainment value, Jordan. :) The possibility it might be profitable down the road is an added bonus. I will post on how it's going. I've read where this eighth edition of the software is a big step up from past offerings. A funny coincidence happened on the weekend too while all this was happening. I belong to Stage 32, an entertainment industry social and connections community. I received an e-mail Sunday from a member in my community that is the founder of the software I bought, asking me to join his other screenplay writing community. That was a little bit of a strange coincidence even by my Auto Repair Twilight Zone standards. :)

raine said...

Interesting to watch all your ducks line up into rows, Bernard! :)
I hope the collaboration works out. Sounds like fun!

BernardL said...

The ducks aren't lined up, Raine, but at least they're quackin'. :) I believe, if nothing else, this collaboration will be fun.

Cheryl said...

I love that you and Eva will be partners in this! What a blessing to be able to share a like passion for writing with your adult child.
I also appreciate you telling Eva it will be her writing it so her ideas will not be influenced and will be free to take it where she wants.
I am excited for both of you!!
Love, Sis

BernardL said...

Thanks, Sis. It's not off the ground yet. I'm installing the program on her computer Friday. I don't think she realizes the work involved in the conversion. A novel is completely different from a screenplay. Changing over to a visual format is a tough undertaking, but I was going to try it anyway, so if she doesn't like it, there's no harm done. :)