Converting dramatic text to screen language

Abstract

The purpose of the article. The study considers film adaptation as a way of interpreting a literary text written for stage production by means of cinematography. The article focuses on the role of the director, his own vision of events and characters in the process of transcoding a work of art into the language of cinema. The features of the dramatic text (monologues, dialogues, author’s remarks, description of characters, division of the work into scenes and acts), the means by which the dramatic work affects the viewer/recipient are highlighted. The article, based on the works of William Shakespeare “Macbeth” and Sophocles “Oedipus the King”, examines the originality of the transformation of a dramatic text into the language of cinema. The article outlines the theoretical basis of film poetry, which allowed directors and screenwriters to practically embody the film adaptation of stage drama. The results of the study showed that the dramatic text and its film interpretation indicate the author’s and director’s reception.
 The methodology. The author uses analysis (theoretical works on screenwriting and directing, research in the field of art history), observation (the creative process in cinema), comparison (the literary source and the finished film), systematization (techniques for transforming the dramatic literary source into a screen work), modeling the principles of directing and script. 
 The results of the research can be used in educational programs of art universities and creative workshops, as well as in the practical work of directors, screenwriters, cultural scientists, and art historians. The paper provides examples that form the basis for practical principles that can help in creating film adaptations based on plays.
 The scientific novelty lies in the fact that the study represents a unique scientific contribution, carrying out a thorough study of the process of transforming a dramatic work into a film script. It is important to note that this research goes beyond the script, delving into the essence of the director’s vision. It provides for a comprehensive understanding and systematization of various directing techniques used throughout the entire film adaptation process.