Adapting Quote by Arthur Miller
“. . . usually, the biggest problems of adapting plays into screenplays is that they stick too close to the play, and I think film is a completely different medium. I think a novel is much closer to a film . . ..”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Discussing adaptations, Arthur Miller, 1970s
Adapting plays to film often fails because the mediums demand different storytelling techniques, and novels align more closely with cinematic language.
In simple terms: Plays and films need different approaches; novels are more film‑friendly.
Key Takeaway
Respect each medium’s strengths when adapting.
Themes
adaptation
medium differences
storytelling
creative process
Mood
reflective
analytical
Type
critical
educational
inspirational
When to use this quote
- screenplay writing
- film directing
- novel writing
- theater production
Key Concepts
narrative structure
visual storytelling
audience expectation
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you translate theatrical dialogue into visual scenes?
- What elements of a play should be reimagined for film?
A Different Perspective
Sticking too closely to the source can stifle cinematic creativity.
![“Obviously it's easier when I' m doing the adapting myself. But my feeling is, your potential upside far outweighs the downside. Ultimately, they [moviemakers] can't change your book. Your book remains on the shelf the way you wrote it. If they make a great movie of your book, then you have the…” quote by Jonathan Tropper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/fba/jonathan-tropper-1555_adapting_obviously-it-s-easier-when-i-m-doing-the_2596791.jpg)
![“(Looking at the letter in his hand) Then what is this if it isn’t telling me? Sure, [Larry] was my son. But I think to him [the pilots killed] were all my sons. And I guess they were, I guess they were” quote by Arthur Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/3e8/arthur-miller-947_quote_looking-at-the-letter-in-his-hand-then-w_55336.jpg)
