Why Adapt?

Yesterday, I had a chance to join the Pop Up Series Incubator info call. Since the program is aimed at European screenwriters and producers, I’m not eligible for it, but I still wanted to be there and learn more about it. Just because: 1- Adaptation is one of my focuses as a writer. 2- I know firsthand how well-thought their programs are from my experience at the Netflix Adaptation Lab, also created by Tatino Films.

Lately, we’ve been witnessing the rise of IP-based drama around the world, and I feel it’s more rewarding than ever to have a work based on pre-existing IPs as writers and producers.

But why?

Why would it be a good idea to have an adaptation project?

Psychological depth I still remember the day I came across Valmont twenty years ago. I couldn’t put my finger on why it hit me so hard—I literally felt a pit in my stomach—until I realized it was an adaptation of Dangerous Liaisons. (Stephen Frears’ version might have won the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay, but my vote would always go to Milos Forman’s Valmont as the best adaptation of Dangerous Liaisons among the many alternatives.)

I suspect authors have the luxury to develop stories at a more relaxed pace and with a courage we screenwriters rarely afford ourselves. They dive deeper into the human psyche and, with the goods they bring to the surface, manage to hit an emotional chord in all of us. Universal stories translate well into global success.

That gold is already out there, mined for us—so why not make the most of it?

A word of caution, though—we’re talking about different mediums. It’s a challenge in itself to translate those deep feelings and thoughts that only exist in characters’ minds and hearts onto the screen. Authors might freely devote pages to this exploration; we must find a proper cinematic language to do it.

Well… Challenge accepted.

Cultural relevance Pre-existing IP means the source material already lives out there in the world. So when you create work based on it, people often already have a reference point. For example, when you present something as an Agatha Christie adaptation, people know what to expect more or less.

And there’s a reason these IPs have created a sensation in the first place. They’re well-researched, well-developed and usually time-tested. They’ve already proven themselves as culturally resonant.

So again, why not make the most of it?

Time gain Needless to say, with an adaptation project, you’re not starting from ground zero (no blank page, yay!). If you’ve picked the source material carefully, there should be plenty of elements—plot, characters, themes—you can use. As the name “Intellectual Property” implies, someone has already put thought into it. It’s your chance to stand on the shoulders of others’ hard work.

Of course, you still have to make many creative decisions while translating it to the screen, but it would likely progress faster than developing an original idea.

Paying our debt to humanity
OK, this title might be a bit pretentious, but hear me out. Sometimes you come across a book that’s highly underrated. You find yourself saying, “But it’s beautiful. How come people don’t talk about this more?” It’s a sad fact that people watch more than they read nowadays, so they might not even know that book exists. That’s where we would come in. We can use our power as screenwriters and producers to make those stories more accessible to a wider audience. I feel that finding hidden gems and amplifying their message could be part of our mission.

Solely for marketing reasons Since we’ve already portrayed ourselves as noble in the previous item, now we can talk shamelessly about marketing. Pre-existing IP already has a place in the market and its own fan base. These fans are our potential audience.

True, royal fans might see our work as a betrayal of the source material and hate us for it, but they’ll still engage with it. (By the way, I’m with the fans when it comes to keeping beautiful book covers instead of switching to movie posters.)

As a side note, adaptations aren’t limited to books—they can come from graphic novels, podcasts, magazine articles, computer games, any IP, you name it. We can have fun with it. Spotting the potential for compelling drama in IP can be part of our daily hunt for story ideas. Instead of catching story seeds, you focus on ripe ones this time.

Why develop your adaptation project through a program?

I find the labs’ collaborative atmosphere very refreshing in this competitive industry. Labs make you a more humble, open-minded, and collaborative writer. You experience the joy of collective creation and realize that the lonely, suffering artist is a myth. The best works are not created in a bubble. I wish every writer could experience that synergy at least once.

A well-crafted program also means the journey is already paved for you. That takes away some of the burden of process management, leaving you more room for creative play. That was exactly how I felt during the Netflix Adaptation Lab last year. I met amazing people, worked with brilliant writers, and as part of the four-month program, we completed a series bible and pitched it to Netflix’s content team. We grabbed their attention enough to get the first episode script greenlit. After four meetings and two rounds of revisions, the project fizzled out, but I still count it as a gain. The whole experience was rewarding in itself.

To be honest, Pop Up Series Incubator sounds even more promising, with its mentors, residency opportunities, and guaranteed rewards. That last part is especially important because unpaid development can take a real toll on writers, I believe. But from what I understand, this program pays every team equally, so you don’t need to make a splash to get compensated. If you’re eligible, it’s worth exploring.  https://www.popupseriesincubator.com/