The Art of Adaptation

ADAPTATIONS account for more than half of the drama output on global television. Adaptations from novels are today as crucial to the schedules of the BBC, ITV and Sky as they are to Netflix and Amazon Studios. No longer confined to the works 19^th century classic authors, a new wave of contemporary adaptations has arrived. Series such as Normal People (Sally Rooney, BBC/Hulu),  Big Little Lies (Liane Moriarty, HBO), Killing Eve Luke Jennings/Villeneuve, BBC), Us (David Nicholls, BBC1), Unorthodox (Deborah Feldman, Netflix), and The Handmaid’s Tale (Margaret Attwood, Hulu) have created new opportunities for adaptation.

ART OF ADAPTATION is a two-week ONLINE course during which participants will write the first episode of an adaptation based on their novel of choice. The course is led by Peter Ansorge, ex-Head of Drama at Channel 4 who began as a script editor in David Rose’s ground-breaking drama department at the BBC. Peter’s award-winning career includes: A Very British Coup, Traffik, GBH, The Politician’s Wife, The Camomile Lawn, Brookside and the Peabody-winning adaptation of Armistead Maupin’s Tales of the City.

His NFTS course ‘Wriitng The TV Pilot’, where participants complete the pilot episode of a new new TV Drama series, has won support and sponsorship from ALL3Media. Several of the scripts completed on Peter’s courses at NFTS Beaconsfield and NFTS Scotland are currently in development with leading UK drama Independents.

Art of Adaptation will focus on the actual writing of your script. Participants will be expected to write approximately five minutes of their script each evening. The scenes will then be discussed the following day as in a professional writers’ room. Examples of successful TV adaptations will be discussed and analysed.

You will be free to choose your novel, contemporary or classical, without having to acquire the rights. At the end of the course you’ll pitch your pilot and novel as a calling card to a Head of Development at All3Media.

The industry is aware that with the current expansion of TV Drama globally, there is a need to locate and champion new talent in the art of adaptation.

"Peter helped us all find the best in ourselves and make this experience truly rewarding, inspiring us every step of the way."

"I can't believe  that I wrote an entire one-hour drama script in just 10 days! And it was Peter's inspiration and knowledge that made that happen"

Places are awarded on a strictly first come first served basis so don't delay get your application in today!

Freelance Rate: £1125

Corporate Rate: £2000