Screenwriting -- A Key Difference Between A Screenplay And A Novel

One of the mistakes that beginning screenwriters make is the tendency to "novelize" their screenwriting in the descriptive passages. That is, they use the methods found in novels. For example:

When John looked at Allison he remembered all the other women he had loved. Some had hurt him and some had loved him. But he was willing to continue trying to make it work with her. Or they might say:

When Mary looked at the boat, she realized it was the most beautiful one she had ever seen. She knew she had to have it, even though it was out of her price range.

How can a director possibly show those things on the screen?

A screenplay can only contain what the audience can see and hear on the screen. Unlike the novel, you can only reveal character and backstory (history) through action and dialogue.

This is your challenge: To show a character's history and reveal it on the screen, ONLY through action and dialogue, without resorting to long passages of one person describing themselves and their history. Boring and amateurish.

Let's look at the screenwriting approach John's situation. Here are some ways to reveal backstory through dialogue. Please note, the following are NOT in proper format.

Allison's remark stings. John hesitates before replying, then he looks into her cold eyes.

JOHN: I never imagined you'd talk to me this way.

ALLISION: What? No woman has ever spoken to you that way?

JOHN: No, it's happened before. More than one said something like that.

ALLSION: So now we're all harpies?

JOHN: I didn't say that. Some were very kind -- like Judy.

ALLISON: I told you to never mention her name again.

JOHN: I don't love her any more. You're the one I love. And I'm willing to try again, to make it work.

Back to the article. Allison's last statement also reveals something about the couple's past -- John's past relationship with Judy is still a sore point with Allison.

So as you're adapting your book into a screenplay, or starting with an original screenplay, look out for the places where you might tend to "novelize" description and instead use screenwriting techniques of revealing information.

Danek S. Kaus is a produced screenwriter of an award-winning feature film. He was also hired by a movie company to adapt a true story book for the big screen. He can help you adapt your book into a screenplay If you have completed a screenplay and would like to Get a Professional Script Analysis

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