Play-Writing Tips from Marc Klein

Do you have a book or story you want to transform into a play for stage or screen?

You're taking a tale written for the page and turning it into one dependant on audio and visual impact. The following 8 tips from an expert will help you make that transformation.

SCREENWRITING TIPS
By Ridley Scott (director) and Marc Klein, writer of "A Good Year" screenplay from Peter Mayle's book of the same name.

1. Heighten characteristics, because you don't have as much time as a book does. I.e. Mildly annoying character becomes very annoying.

2. Combine characters.

3. Make hero reluctant. There must be conflict.

4. Force the character into a corner from which there's no going back.

5. Keep the audience engaged toward the end -- not thinking, "This is the end, time to gather coat and hat." The SCORE will keep them aware the story is still moving.

6. To get a laugh/humour, cut to a dog or a baby.

7. Avoid whimsy - i.e. He and She have their first date at the village dance. Instead, invent a Cute Meet - i.e. he's fallen into a deep, dry swimming pool, she finds him there and instead of getting the ladder, turns the tap on so the swimming pool will fill (slowly) and he will float to the top.

8. Avoid "The Dinner Table" - a scene where He and She sit across from each other and talk. Create dramatic structure and charactization in a non-cliche manner.