The Art and Craft of Film Adaptation
FILM 453
Spring 2026
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01
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Film adaptations of literary texts have been a staple of cinematic production from the silent era to the present day, and remain both an enduringly popular phenomenon and an occasional source of derision or disbelief: Can the movie ever be as good as the book? In this course we will interrogate the long-held assumption that source materials for adaptations are the authoritative texts while secondary works are necessarily inferior. Adopting a lateral approach that allows us to examine how stories change and are changed by new iterations and new mediums, we will examine the varied modes, motives, and techniques of film adaptations, analyzing how filmmakers transform character, plot, setting, and point of view as they adapt varied source material into feature films. Students will be asked to annotate and analyze literary sources, film scholarship, screenplays, and films, and should expect to spend several hours reading and writing outside of class time per week. In addition to film analysis assignments and in-class writing exercises, students will create an original adapted screenplay treatment and pitch deck. |
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| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
HA FILM |
| Course Format: Lecture / Discussion | Grading Mode: Graded |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: FILM304 AND FILM307 |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: (Film Studies Minor)(Film Studies) |
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Past Enrollment Probability: Not Available |
| SECTION 01 |
Major Readings: Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore
Journal articles, novels, short stories, plays and screenplays available via course Moodle. Weekly film screenings may include films directed by Pedro Almodovar, Lee Chang-dong, Asghar Farhadi, Barry Jenkins, Ang Lee, Marjane Satrapi, Agnes Varda, Gus Van Sant and others.
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Examinations and Assignments:
Assessment is based on film analysis assignments, writing exercises, feature film treatment, pitch deck, reflection paper and class participation. |
Additional Requirements and/or Comments:
This course is designed for Film majors and minors.
You must submit a POI request in order to be considered for this course:
Permission of instructor approval will be granted by the instructor during pre-registration through the Electronic Portfolio. Click "Add to My Courses" and "To request a POI electronically, click here" to submit your request.
In addition, interested students should fill out this Google form application ASAP during pre-registration indicating your academic interests and why you hope to enroll in this course.
Google Application Form:
https://forms.gle/pvjpZG2YH2N1vskX6
No experience is required but a willingness to read and annotate source texts and give feedback on your classmates' work will be necessary. Students who submit the Google form application without requesting a POI electronically or vice versa will not be considered. If you are applying after pre-registration, you should also send an email to Professor Shepard to indicate your interest: sshepard@wesleyan.edu.
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| Instructor(s): Shepard,Sadia Times: .M..... 01:20PM-04:10PM; ...W... 01:20PM-04:10PM; Location: TBA |
Permission of Instructor Required
Enrollment capacity: 10 | Permission of instructor approval will be granted by the instructor during pre-registration through the Electronic Portfolio. Click "Add to My Courses" and "To request a POI electronically, click here" to submit your request. |
| Drop/Add Enrollment Requests | | | | | |
| Total Submitted Requests: 0 | 1st Ranked: 0 | 2nd Ranked: 0 | 3rd Ranked: 0 | 4th Ranked: 0 | Unranked: 0 |
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