UNITS

1–2 CLIL

Film studies
1 Read the text. Why is it important that the screenplay is different from the novel in a
film adaptation?

FILMS AND CINEMA: FROM PAGE TO SCREEN

The Martian is a science fiction film from 2015. The famous Hollywood
actor Matt Damon plays Mark Watney, an astronaut. On a space mission
to Mars, there is a sandstorm. The crew think that Watney (Damon)
is dead, and they leave without him. But Watney survives. He now
needs to stay alive, and NASA (the US National Aeronautics and Space
Administration) needs to rescue him.
Like many popular films, The Martian started life as a novel, by author
Andy Weir. A film company bought the rights, and Drew Goddard, a
successful screenwriter, adapted the book for the cinema. This is called
writing a screenplay. A screenplay is very different from a book. In a book,
the author usually describes the characters and the story – or plot – in
detail. A screenplay needs to be visual and dramatic, but it’s important
not to lose the main story.
Drew Goddard made some important changes in his screenplay for
The Martian. In the book, most of the plot happens on Mars, with just one
character. But in the film, the action changes from Mars to NASA, where
we see some different characters. In the film, Watney writes a diary to communicate. But in the book, he
makes a video diary. Changes like this are important when a screenwriter adapts a book. There is more
dialogue, and the result is a fast-paced, exciting film for the audience to enjoy at the cinema.

2 Read the text again. Then read the sentences and write B (book) or S (screenplay).
1 An author writes it. B/S
2 A screenwriter writes it. B/S
3 People speak more in it. B/S
4 It has more detailed information on plot and characters. B/S
5 It’s important not to lose the main story.  B/S

3 Read the names and definitions and write the correct words from the box.

actor • ​audience • ​author • ​novel • ​plot • ​science fiction • ​

screenwriter • ​
character

1 people who watch a film audience

2 Mark Watney
3 about space, the future, etc.
4 An astronaut needs to survive on Mars.
5 Drew Goddard
6 The Martian
7 Andy Weir
8 Matt Damon
Work in pairs and discuss the questions.
4 
1 F ilms don’t only use novels for their stories. What other types of books and what other
ideas do filmmakers use to create films?
2 What is the difference between an adapted screenplay and an original screenplay?

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