MovieChat Forums > The Dogs of War (1981) Discussion > the difference of 'prose' vs. 'screenpla...

the difference of 'prose' vs. 'screenplaty'


as a 'published-for-pay' soul, and being 'educated' by my second wife on the elements of screen-writing vs. prose (she was a screen-writer, frequently optioned, with some options going to 'production'), i note some 'beefs' from
members re: 'not detailed as the novel'.

well, one must understand the 'format' of screenplays vs. a novel. 1st, the writer has absolutely no part in 'strict-detail', as a novelist---for example, while a novel Must 'paint' an accurate 'word-image' of a scene or character, over many pages, a screen-play will simply say 'setting---'small desert gas-station'---then 'action', then dialog, if any--the Director handles everything else. the director even may use a 'dialogist'---revising the writer's words.

then you have the 'format'---unless a screen-play is marketed by a major agent, or from a 'proven' 'blocbuster' writer---and even if so---it must generally be 120 pages of not just 'double-spaced' type---with few words, as the gaps between, say 'scene' and 'action' take up space, as well as dialog---Over 120 pages? 'circular-file'---

simply put, to expect a screen-play to have the attention to detail, continuity,
characterizations of a novel belies understanding of movie-making, or goals---
no novel could 'get-away' with the 'stuff' of film---

i advise such critics to download the free samples of numerous screen-writing software---then they will see 'what's-up', and understand the true difference of cinema vs. prose---and when did anyone ever read a book, followed by minutes of numerous credits? ending with the 'director'? savvy?

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[deleted]

Hi! ('Hi!')
I thought I'd fix that for you. ('I thought' --- 'I'd' 'fix---that' 'for you'---)-'


as a published-for-pay soul, and being educated by my second wife on the elements of screen-writing vs. prose (she was a screen-writer, frequently optioned, with some options going to production), i note some beefs from
members re: "not as detailed as the novel."

well, one must understand the format of screenplays vs. novels. 1st, the screenwriter has absolutely no part in strict-detail as a novelist. for example, while a novel must paint an accurate word-image of a scene or character over many pages, a screen-play will simply say "setting---small desert gas-station---", then "action", then dialog, if any. the director handles everything else. the director even may use a dialogist to revise the writer's words.

then you have the format, unless a screen-play is marketed by a major agent, or from a proven blocbuster writer (and even still it must generally be 120 pages of not just double-spaced type with few words with gaps between saying "scene" and "action" and taking up space, and there's still dialog as well! Over 120 pages?). circular-file...

simply put, to expect a screen-play to have the attention to detail, continuity,and characterizations of a novel belies understanding of movie-making, or goals; no novel could get-away with the stuff of film.

i advise such critics to download the free samples of numerous screen-writing software. then they will see what's-up, and understand the true difference of cinema vs. prose, (and when did anyone ever read a book, followed by minutes of numerous credits? ending with the director? savvy?).



I'd shake hands with this man in real life, but his fingers would be crippled from using the quote-fingers 80 times in every sentence with more than 5 words.

-WAA

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haha good one----'what a prick'
______________________
Eric C 4 Prez

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simply put, to expect a screen-play to have the attention to detail, continuity,
characterizations of a novel belies understanding of movie-making, or goals---
no novel could 'get-away' with the 'stuff' of film---


Interesting post, but I would ask you to test your hypothesis against The Shawshank Redemption.

I think that what is say is true so far as the relationship between the screenwriter and the final film, but if the directors and producers are also taking attention to detail seriously then there really is no reason why a film can't be as good as the book it is based on.

Instead of belying an understanding of movie-making, maybe it belies an understanding of lazy, turn-a-quick-buck movie-making?

;)


------------------------------------
No f-----g s--t lady, do I sound like I'm ordering a pizza??

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The difference of 'prose' vs. 'screenplaty' is that 'screenplaty' is not an actual word.

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Do you two have editors?

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