In the second part of our article, we take a look at researching a screenplay based on a historical event…

One of the challenges posed by a historical adaptation is the amount of research that has to be done in order to understand the world in which the story takes place. If you’re completely unfamiliar with the time period in question, it can take a enormous amount of time to get up to speed before starting to write the actual screenplay.

It may seem that much of the work will already have been done by the author of the source material, but it is still important to have a detailed understanding of the world that stretches beyond their pages.

For a start, the author of the source material will have had very specific goals in mind; not to mention a personal point-of-view and even an agenda. Therefore, it is important to set out what additional research is required and get it done at the beginning.

Some might argue that for a screenplay set way back in another era, the research element matters less, as most audiences wouldn’t be aware of any deviation from the truth. However, anything that takes away from the authenticity of the story is going to damage the credibility of the screenplay.

Most people, at one time or another, have yelled at the TV or whispered indignantly under their breath in the cinema when something doesn’t ring true on screen. As soon as that happens, the suspension of disbelief that takes place when a person sits down to watch a film is lost and so is their connection to the story being told and the characters in which the filmmakers want the audience to become emotionally invested.

So, we round off this two-part article with a few research tips:

1. Remember the story

It’s easy to get wrapped up in the research and, subsequently, go off on other tangents. History is full of interesting stories and some of these might intersect with the story you’re writing. Unless they support the main thread of your story, or can maybe become an interesting subplot, leave them alone!

2. Don’t get overwhelmed

Remember that the research is there to support the script. Make a research plan and stick to it. Organise the research and always be relating it back to the script.

3. Know when to stop

At some point in the research process, you will reach saturation point. When this happens, one piece of advice is to clear all the research away and sit down in front of a blank screen. Trust that you know the world of the characters and let it feed into the writing naturally. The last thing you want is to forever be riffling through bits of paper or flicking through textbooks when you should be concentrating on writing effective scenes.

Overall, when it comes to researching a historical tale, remember you aren’t writing a dissertation or studying for an exam.

Once you’ve developed an overview of the world you’re creating, focus on what is important…your characters and the story you’re crafting.

Find out more in our collection of articles on screenplay research.