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“From words to pictures.� - Novels that have been made in to films -
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Types of ‘page to screen’ films. Literal adaptation
Key narrative
Interpretation
Interpolation
The novel or book is translated as is. For the most part, all characters, events and the narrative is exactly as it appears in the novel.
Although the film remains true to the novel in terms of characters and events, not every part is included, summarising the plot for more entertaining viewing.
The film writers and director creatively interprets the film how they personally see it, or to a particular style or mood they want to create, or technique they want to use.
The writers and/or director lifts ideas from the novel, but most original details are imprecise or hint at the book’s narrative, while new plot devices, events and characters are added.
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Film relates directly to novel, more realistic and true to what came first.
Doesn’t always make for great viewing. The novel will almost always play out longer than a synopsized motion picture.
‘Feature length’, enjoyable to watch An interesting, creative approach while still relating back to the novel. makes entertaining viewing. Those who haven’t read the novel enjoy anyway.
Some details from the book will be left out. Avid readers notice jumps or gaps in the film.
Critics or book lovers often think the films should remain true to the book, as not to ruin them, especially ‘classics’.
Often a ‘new’ story is created. Great films can be made from vague associations to novels.
Those expecting a likeness of the book would be disappointed. Mixing original and created plots can cause for confusing viewing.
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Specific areas to look in to. ‘Pre-cinema’ novels
Novel unkown
Re-invented
Films that are based on novels that were written in a time before universal film and video, so are solely adapted to film.
Successful or popular films that Children’s classics or great literary aren’t commonly known to be based works created for on-screen on an original novel. entertainment.
Examples
Examples
• Dracula, 1982 based on Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel of the same name.
• The Godfather, 1972 not commonly known to be based on Mario Puzo’s novel of the same name
• Alice In Wonderland, 1951 based on Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland, 1865
• Fight Club, 1999 Chuck Palahniuk wrote the novel in 1962
• Sherlock Holmes, 2009 based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s novels from 1887
• James Bond films, 1962-2009 adapted from Ian Fleming’s novels, 1953-1966
Examples
• Lord Of The Rings, 2001-03, from on J.R.R.Tolkien’s novels • Romeo and Juliet (Baz Luhrmann’s), 1996 interpreted from Shakespeare’s 16th century writings
Problems These areas are concentrating the production and the ‘how’, rather than specifying genres, so they are varying, and hard to work as a set or series.
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Penguin Classics season. What?
Where?
Who?
Tone?
A season of Penguin Classic novels that have been turned in to films.
BBC One. The channel has a great range of factual, informational and cultural programmes and films.
The average age of the BBC One viewer is 52, (BBC Controller Jay Hunt, July 2009). This slightly older age lends itself to the audience of classic novels.
Informative and factual, though lighthearted as to keep the entertainment value.
“A wide range of drama, including literary adaptations, should be a significant part of the BBC One schedule.” “BBC One should be the BBC’s main platform for television drama and, especially in peaktime, drama should be one of the biggest creators of BBC’s One’s impact with its audience.”
The tone of each chosen novel/ film will differ slightly, and although BBC One holds the highest percentage some ‘classics’ may originally be for of viewers of the terrestrial channels. a more learned reader, the films will have been interpreted to engage, and appeal to, a mass audience.
- BBC1 Trust Report, Aug 2009.
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Penguin Classics, the books. Imagery & look
Key Themes
The Penguin book range has an iconic classic look as well as more recent redesigns. Visual themes in my idents would reflect similar design ideas, colours and layout.
The books often have a vintage look, due to their age, stained pages and just-fading bold colours. Simple but prominent typography also heavily features.
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Penguin Classics, the films. Chosen films. Five films, one focussed per ident. Listed to be shown in chronological order of the film’s production:
• Great Expectations - Film (1946) directed by: David Lean
- From the novel - Great Expectations (1861) by: Charles Dickens
• Alice in Wonderland - Film (1951) directed by: Disney (various) - From the novel - Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (1862) by: Lewis Carroll • Oliver!
- Film (1968) directed by: Carol Reed
- From the novel - Oliver Twist (1841) by: Charles Dickens
• Pride & Prejudice
- Film (2005) directed by: Joe Wright
- From the novel - Pride and Prejudice (1813) by: Jane Austen
• Dorian Gray
- Film (2009) directed by: Oliver Parker
- From the novel - The Picture of Dorian Gray (1890) by: Oscar Wilde
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Design direction. Colour?
Type?
Other visuals?
To reflect the novels.
In 1947, 500 Penguin titles saw a redesign by designer Jan Tschichold to what we now recognise as their look. Tschichold created the Penguin Composition Rules to keep a unified style, dictating type and layout.
Keeping with the novel feel, vintage and aged papers and textures, old books, old letterform.
Vintage and aged tones alongside bold, bright blocks of colour.
The type was Eric Gill’s Gill Sans.
Keeping with the theme “From Words To Pictures”, so finding ways to tie the two mediums together, animating what would be static content from the pages, perhaps.
Gill sans was also the chosen typeface for BBC One (the current ident uses a ‘softer version’). Considered layout and type should feauture heavily throughout my idents.
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Ident opportunities. Typography
Themed imagery
Written words in to typographic design. Vintage looks, blocks of colour.
In relation to each individual film’s theme, as well as the Penguin books.
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Summary of intentions. • Produce five ten-second idents promoting a season of films that are adapted from Penguin Classic novels. • Typography will most likely feature heavily in the idents, along with imagery that reflects the Penguin books ‘look’. • A vintage, hand-rendered feel to the digitally produced animations. • Stop motion is a likely possibility to add movement without video. • I will be promoting the fact that the chosen films were originally ‘classic’ books. 9|
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“From words to pictures.� - Novels that have been made in to films -
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