Melissa Rosenberg
The Quote in Other Words
The task of condensing the extensive Twilight novels is challenging. However, with Penoza, we had an eight-part Dutch series, and I had to condense three episodes just for the pilot. Therefore, a significant amount of creativity and innovation is required to complete eight episodes.
Explanation of the Quote
This quote highlights the challenges of adapting a book into a TV series or movie. When adapting a book, the screenwriter has to condense the story into a shorter format, which often requires cutting out certain plot points and characters. However, when adapting a TV series from a foreign show, the screenwriter has to fill in the gaps and invent new storylines to make the show work for a new audience.
In the case of “Penoza,” the screenwriter had to condense three episodes into one for the pilot alone. This required a lot of creativity and invention to make the story work in a shorter format. Similarly, with “Twilight,” the screenwriter had to condense a massive tome into a movie, which required cutting out certain plot points and characters. Overall, this quote highlights the challenges of adapting a story for a new format and the creativity required to make it work.