Film Education -

Book to film

A film of a book is much more than a straight copy of the original, it represents a shift from one set of conventions for representing the world to another. The changes which are made - what is added and what is left out as well as how mood and atmosphere are recreated - and the reasons behind these changes are key questions to explore when introducing a film interpretation of a book.

Developing young people’s understanding of film language is central to this approach.  When students are equipped with basic vocabulary about shot types and camera angles, as well as an awareness of how directors might use lighting, costume, set design and editing, they are better able to discuss and analyse these film representations with confidence.

For a fuller, more comprehensive approach to teaching and learning about film representations of books, see Thinking Film, Thinking English.