Week 1

This week, I began studying the art of screenwriting and reviewing the source material I will be adapting. I read the script for the movie The Imitation Game, a movie I had previously watched. While I initially assumed that screenplays were composed of dialogue and “objective” descriptions of what should occur in a scene, I noticed that the narration in the screenplay was brimming with personality in the form of witty remarks and unique similes. The screenplay also described the inner thoughts of the characters more than I expected, both to more accurately convey how lines should be delivered and how the scene should be executed. Because I had already watched the movie it was made into, I could easily see how this script was turned into the final product. 

I also reviewed the source material that I will be adapting, including character bios, short stories, a 6 issue comic, and in game voicelines. These different sources, while all considered canon and taking place in the same universe, frequently contradict each other or provide different images of the characters, making adaptation difficult. For example, Zed in his voicelines is depicted as a cruel person who forsakes honor to defend his country, while Zed in the comic is depicted as somebody who prioritizes honor above nearly everything else. Shen in his short story is depicted as nearly emotionless in pursuit of his duty, while depicted as quick to anger and turn to violence in the comic. However, these different sources share common central ideas such as the cycle of abuse, the power of tradition, and the types of goals people prioritize most in life. The magic system presented is soft and leaves many details open, but also provides room for me to fill in the gaps with my own writing, especially with culturally inspired elements.

For my adaptation, I plan on structuring the story and characters off the themes portrayed in order to reconcile the different ways the characters have been presented in canon. Next week, I will do screenwriting exercises to prepare myself to begin writing, and make a detailed outline and character sheets for the characters I will be writing about.