Now a Major Motion Picture

Adapting a classic, popular, or critically acclaimed novel to the screen is notoriously difficult. Cinema is littered with unsuccessful adaptations yet at other times a film might transcend its source novel to become a cinematic triumph. This course examines the process, challenges, and outcomes of adapting literature to the big screen. Introducing key terms, techniques and concepts in the first session we will apply them to five film adaptations in the following weeks. With each you will consider a different issue with regards to successfully (or not) transferring a book to screen. No prior knowledge of the books or films is needed. The books/films will be JAWS, JANE EYRE, THE LORD OF THE RINGS/THE HOBBIT, BELOVED, THE SHINING, HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE, KESTREL FOR A KNAVE, THE GOLDFINCH and HEART OF DARKNESS.