TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE : INTRODUCTIONS
1.1. Background of the study
1.2. Statement of the Problem
1.3. Aims and objectives
1.4. Significance of the study
1.5. Scope and Delimitation of the Study
1.6. Research methodologies
1.7. Definition of terms
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1. Historical Background on film and Adaptation from Stage to Screen.
2.2. Theoretical Framework
2.3. Historical review of Directing and the Director.
2.4. Directing theories.
CHAPTER THREE:
3.1. Authors biography
3.2. Adaptation from stage to film
3.3. Synopsis of the film
3.4. Plot structure of the film
3.5. Genre,Language, style and technique of the film
3.6. Thematic thrust of the film
3.7. Character and characterization or character delineation
3.8. Social Relevance of the film
CHAPTER FOUR: PRE-PRODUCTION, PRODUCTION AND POST PRODUCTION
PROCESSES
4.1. Pre-production process
4.2. Production process
4.3. Choice of equipment
4.4. Budget
4.5. Challenges during shooting
4.6. Post-production process
4.7. Behind the Scenes (BTS)
CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSION
5.1. Summary
5.2. Conclusion
5.3. Recommendations
5.4 work cited
5.5 Appendix
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
A director is a creative professional who oversees live theatre productions during
all phases, from casting calls to performance. He is the artistic head in envisioning
the progress of a production.
The Directors function is to ensure the quality and completeness of theater
production and to lead the members of the creative team into realizing their
artistic vision for the production. The director gives life to a character either on
stage or on screen.
The Director collaborate with a team of individuals who are creatively minded to
coordinate research and walk on all the aspects of the production which includes
the technical and performance aspects.
Directing is the process or art of instruction, guiding, counseling, motivating and
leading people in an organization. Directing in Theatre means leading dramatic
performances on the stage or film. Directing is a journey, the modern theatrical
Director is in complete charge of all the artistic aspects of a dramatic presentation.
Directing is the craft of controlling the evolution of a performance out of material
composed or assembled by an author the Director directing must have a script to
work with.
A film Director is a person who controls the films autistic and dramatic aspect
and visualizes the screenplay or script while guiding the film true and actors in the
fulfillment of that vision. The Director has the key role in choosing the cast
members, production design team and all the creative aspects of filmmaking.
The film director gives direction to the cast and crew and create an overall vision
through which a few eventually becomes realized or noticed. A Director is basically
a storyteller.
Some film directors write their script themselves or collaborate with the screen
writers in developing the script.
Some outline general plot-line and let the actors in provide dialogue. But in this
study the researcher will be working with an actual script developed by a
screenwriter.
1.2. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
The researcher wants to attempt adaptation of the play ‘IYASE’ from stage to
screen which is a tedious process. State place are barely recorded and even when
they are recorded they are not well showcase so the researcher wants to make an
attempt of adapting a stage play to a screen play (Film).
1.3. AIM AND OBJECTIVES
The researcher wants to use directing to illustrate the adaptation of this stage play
’IYASE’ to a screen play.
The aim of this study is to give the reader more insight on the adaptation of a
stage play to a screenplay.
The objectives of this study includes;
● To broaden the horizon of the reader on the difficulties in adapting a stage
play to a screen play.
● To encourage the reader to go out of their way to achieve an explore to
challenge themselves and leave their comfort zone to try out new things with
their craft.
1.4. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
Film directing is the craft of focusing on developing and implementing the overall
creative vision of a script as well as working with actors on crafting performances.
The Director uses direct as a medium of adapting the stage play ‘IYASE’ on screen.
The Director looks for possible ways of achieving this adaptation of stage play to a
screenplay and in a more believable way.
1.5. SCOPE AND THE LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
This study aims to emphasize diversity in film and how it's able to reach a wider
audience than stage and how much more they could offer if it's a film.
The limitation of the story will focus especially on the youths cause most youths
don't have the luxury of traveling to see a stage play but the Internet has brought
these films to them at their own comfort zone improving globalization and its
importance.
1.6. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
This research is quantitive in nature and the primary source of research is the use
of articles on the play ‘IYASE’ and the secondary source of research is the
quantitative method. The researcher would ask questions and share
questionnaires to the public to gain their view or their opinion on the adaptation of
a stage play to a screen play.
1.7. DEFINITION OF TERMS
● WHAT IS DIRECTING?
Directions refers to the process of guiding and overseeing the creation and
production of a performance or show. Directing requires a strong leadership
communication and cut skills as well as the ability to collaborate and manage of
diverse professionals. Directing involves envisioning the overall aesthetic and tone
of the production, guiding the creative professionals and actors to achieve their
vision. It also requires overseeing the entire production process from start to
finish.
● WHO IS A DIRECTOR?
A Director is the artistic head responsible for overseeing and guiding the creation
and production of a performance, film, television show or other forms of media.
They are the creative leader of the project responsible for bringing the script to
life. He is responsible for the casting of actors and guarding the performances,
Blocking scenes and photographing movements. Yeah she collaborate with the
writers producers and other crew members and is also placed with the
responsibility of interpreting scripts and developing a vision for the production.
He works with the creative designers, lead the rehearsals and make creative
decisions and problem solving during the production. Lastly he collaborate with
the editors in post production.
● WHAT IS ADAPTATION?
Adaptation refers to the process of transforming a work from one medium or
format to another while maintaining it’s core essence, themes and story. This can
include; Book to film/ movie adaptation, play to film adaptation, film to stage
adaptation etc.
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND ON FILM AND ADAPTATION FROM STAGE TO
FILM.
Film is an audio visual means of communication that uses the art of photography
to convey messages. It's can also be defined as a piece of all the usual
entertainment used in passing information to viewers while entertaining them.
Every film is symbolic to the extent that it is a presentation of an aspect of reality it
document and reveals cultures.
ORIGIN OF FILM
The advent of film has an autistic medium is not clearly defined. There were
cinematographic screenings by others, however, the commercial public screening
of ten Lumiérè brothers short films in Paris 28 December, 1895 can be regarded as
the breakthrough of projected cinematographic pictures.
The earliest films, where, in black and white under a minute, long without
recorded, sound, and consisted of a single shot from a steady camera
● EADWEARD MUYBRIDGE 1878 use a series of cameras to capture a horse in
motion, laying the foundation for motion pictures. He made hundreds of
Chronophotographic studies of the motion of animals and humans in real
time.
● Then came Louis Le prince, William Friese-Greene and Sklandanowsky brothers
meet pioneering contributions to the development of devices that could
capture and display, moving images, laying the groundwork for the emergence
of cinema as an artistic medium. The scene in this experiment timely said to
demonstrate the technology itself, and they usually filmed with family, friends
or passing traffic as the moving subject. The earliest surviving film known
today as the ‘Roundhay Garden scene’ (1888), was captured by Louis Le Prince
and briefly depicted members of his family in motion.
● A 1903 the first narrative film, ‘The Great Train Robbery’, which was directed by
Edwin S Potter, this 12 minutes film told a story and marked the beginning of
narrative cinema (film).
The origin of film is a testament of human creativity, and the boundless potential
of innovation, reminding us that the smallest ideas can lead to groundbreaking
discovery and artistic achievements.
Few months called different names by different generation of people, simply
because of movement on the line it presents and screen. This is because coming
after the art of steel photography, most people wanted to tell that it is another
kind of photography, hence, the call it so many names, which includes;
1. FLICKS: this refers to the old way of seeing the jacket transitional movement
between exposed and non-exposed frames of a film gauge when cinema was
newly invented. By then, you would literarily see narratives going from light to
darkness. This movement in the past used to give the impression of flicking
from darkness to light before it came to be technically perfected by projector
producers, so that light rays are supplied constantly to the projector without
obstruction.
2. MOVIE: The word movie is a fanciful way of referring to movement, Hence, it is
shortened to movie just because of the illusion of motion experienced while
watching a film. The pictures are not still, static or frozen on screen, but are
filled with actions and movements.
3. FILM: this is so named because of the plastic ribbon substance that is used in
recording images in camera. This would be sent to the laboratory to be
developed and edited before being projected for popular consumption. This
substance is popular called celluloid.
4. VIDEO-FILM: these terminology is a common use in Nigeria. This is because
then most films in Nollywood started coming out in the 1990s people saw that
they were shot with video cameras rather than cinema cameras; Siri consumed
on television screens instead of in cinema complexes, so Nigeria started
distinguishing this kind of production from Proper cinema productions by
calling then Video films. Again, this is because the filmic stories are realized by
means of video camera technology.
5. CINEMA: this is coined from the Greek word ‘Kinema’, meaning ‘Movement’ or
‘Motion’ printing at the art of writing with camera light in motion. It is from
this word that the concept of cinematography is gotten, showing that there is a
connection between, kinema, motion and graphein (graphos), to write or to
record.
6. MOTION PICTURE: this is a visual medium, that is sequence of static images to
create the illusion of motion. It is a storytelling medium that combines; *visual
elements- moving images, special effects and cinematography, *Audio
elements- The use of music, sound effects, dialogue, and narration.*Narrative
structure- a story plot, character and pacing. Motion picture emphasizes the
medium’s ability to capture and display motion creating an immersive
experience for the audience.
These were the many names film was called. They are all the same and are used
intangibly not minding their specific connotations. It is movement that on the lies
all of them whether they have viewed in small screen or any wide screen. They are
motion picture arts, and remain different from still photographs.
BACKGROUND NOTES ON ADAPTATION FROM STAGE TO SCREEN.
Adaptation is defined as a pre-existing work that has been made into a film.
Adaptations are often of literary or theatrical works, but musical Theatre, best
selling fiction and non-fiction, comic books etc have been regularly adapted for the
cinema.
In the process of adaptation, the structure and function of an entity is altered in
order to suit the new environment. In the context of media, adaptation is defined
as a movie, television drama or stage play that has been adapted from a written
Work typically a novel or a play.
The first known footage of a book to movie adaptation belongs to George Méliès,
who was a pioneer that paved way for many film techniques. In 1899 he released
two adaptations: Cinderella which is based on the Brother’s Grimm Story and King
John which is the first known film to be based on Shakespeare’s works.
HOW TO ADAPT A STAGE PLAY FOR THE SCREEN
when adapting any material one must consider the medium for which the original
work was intended.
Using Danny Boyd video the 1996 film the ‘birdcage’ as an example of how a stage
play can be successfully adapted for the screen. The film was adapted from the
play ‘La Cage aux Folles’ written by Harvey Fierstein and Jean Poiret.
Elian May, a prolific writer-director adapted the play for the screen masterfully and
Mike Nicholas, who is an acclaimed film and stage Director of all time directed the
film.
Here are the tips laid by Nicholas on how to successfully adapt a play to screen.
● USE YOUR SET AS A STAGE: In the ‘Bridgecage’ Nicholas shot wide allowing
actors play out their actions without cutting. He would use the sets natural
depth to keep less pertinent characters in the background rather than out of
frame. When it’s time for a long shot to end, it’s broken by either a match cut
or by a new character entering the scene.
● REHEARSAL IS KEY: Like in Theatre, rehearsal was a huge part of Nicolas
process. He practiced with his class for weeks before production began. He
would allow his cast to improve and adapt to shooting later with some of those
choices. When it was time to shoot the movie, everyone had a complete
understanding of precisely what they wanted to do and how they would do it.
● IMPROVISATION IS YOUR FRIEND: Nicholas had a rule on set, once he was
satisfied with a take he would let his actors go off script, so they can be able to
improvise some scenes.
Geoffrey Wagner divided adaptation into three modes; transformation,
commentary and analogy.
TRANSFORMATION: Transformation in film adaptation refers to the mode of
adaptation, where the original work is significantly altered to create a new story
with a different genre, tone or style. These approach transforms the source
material into a new creation, departing from the original narrative, characters and
setting. in transformation, the film maker radically re-interpret the original work,
changes the genre, introduces new characters, plot and setting, uses the original
work as a starting point, but create a distinct new story. Transformation allows
filmmakers to reimagine the original work in a bold and innovative way, creating a
unique cinematic experience.
