Casting Your Film 

Last month I wrote about "Finding Your Film Story in your novel" on this blog. I pointed out that the film story might be different from the novel story, because the elements of a film are visual. When I talk about casting your film story, I'm not talking about actors and actresses (though that would be fun!). I'm talking about the characters in your book that have the ability to transition successfully from page to screen.
   Novels tend to be more complicated than movies and can have multiple subplots. There's no way all of them can make it onto the screen. Often you'll see characters "composited" for film, i.e. two or more characters made into one character (or one character given all their actions/dialog). 
The first requirement for your film cast is that they need to have a stake in the outcome. If you shove them in there because they are interesting, you will weaken your script and your film story. You don't want to do that. :-)
   If you've found the spine of your film story inside your novel, then you should already know the main players in your film cast. Sometimes that can surprise you. Your film story may shift the focus from one main character to another, or even to a subplot character. Remember, your goal is to build a strong, interesting film story, not recreate your novel for film. If you can't distance yourself from your novel, then you should consider getting someone else to do the adaptation for you (though you will have to pay them!). 
   To get you started, here are eight questions to ask yourself about your film cast:
1. Can this character or set of characters carry the action?
2. Do my main character/s have the stature, strength and intensity to interest a star in the part?
3. Do my characters have the volition, the will power to propel the plot?
4. Do your characters relate well with the other characters in the story?
5. Are they attractive? (This is a commercial assessment and has less to do with appearance, than who they are. Will viewers care about what happens to them?)
6. Are they credible and believable?
7. Do they have clarity and consistency?
8. Is there contrast between your characters?
   All of your film cast doesn't have to meet these criteria, but your main characters do. (There is more leeway in the foreign film market than the US market.)
  With your film story and cast identified, you are half way through Adapting Your  Novel for Film. :-)
Perilously yours,
Pauline
(Note: While supplies last, I'm running a 2-for-1 sale on my website for Adapting Your Novel for Film and Made-up Mayhem.)