INFORMATION ABOUT THE MASTER'S THESIS
1. Student's full name:Tran Thi Dung
2. Gender: Female
3. Date of birth: March 27, 1989
4. Place of birth: Yen Lac – Vinh Phuc
5. Decision on student admission No. 2998/QD-XHNV-SDH dated December 30, 2013, by the Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.
6. Changes in the training process:
7. Thesis title:The art of adapting literary works into films, viewed from the perspective of plot and characters (through "Moon at the Bottom of the Well," "Endless Field").
8. Major: Theory, History and Criticism of Film and Television - Code: 60.21.02.31
9. Scientific supervisor:Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ly Hoai Thu,Faculty of Literature - University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi
10. Summary of the thesis results:
Based on an interdisciplinary research approach, particularly drawing on narrative theories, this thesis identifies the key factors contributing to the success of a film adaptation of a literary work: plot and characters. While borrowing the plot from the original literary work, filmmakers must carefully select and adapt it to create an engaging and vibrant film. Similarly, the transition of characters from the book to the film is a challenging process; each director needs to select suitable actors and create compelling plot situations and details to allow the actors ample opportunity to portray the characters' lives. The thesis does not comprehensively examine all the elements contributing to a film's success, but rather delves into the analysis of plot and characters in film adaptations, providing filmmakers with a more accurate and comprehensive perspective when deciding which literary works to adapt into films. This analysis examines the plots and characters of two films.The moon at the bottom of the wellandEndless fieldsIn this thesis, we specifically explain how filmmakers adapt literary works. We examine how unnecessary elements and details are omitted, while others are added; how the reversal of the original story's structure, time, space, and events after being adapted into a film creates such effects… All of this will be specifically addressed. Furthermore, we will explore the reciprocal impact of film on literary works, helping modern writers develop novel ways of character building, plot development, and structural design, resulting in valuable works for readers.
11. Practical applications:
With a rich literary heritage from the past and the allure of recent best-selling books, filmmakers always have abundant material. However, not every famous book can be adapted; it requires a keen eye from the filmmaker. A thorough understanding of the principles, methods, and characteristics of the plot and characters in a literary work will help filmmakers create a more authentic and engaging adaptation, making the characters more relatable and reducing the criticism that many films fail to live up to the original literary work and truly resonate with viewers.
12. Future research directions:
Recently, Vietnamese cinema has undergone significant transformations and achieved considerable success, especially films adapted from literary works. The author wishes to explore further the adaptation methods and the reasons for the success of these films, aiming to provide young filmmakers with valuable insights into adapting literary works, ensuring that the film not only achieves good box office revenue but also possesses high artistic quality upon release.
13. Published works related to the thesis:
THE INFORMATION ON MASTER'S THESIS
1. Full name: Tran Thi Dung 2. Gender: Female
3. Date of birth: March 27, 1989 4. Place of birth: Yen Lac – Vinh Phuc
5. Admission decision numbers: 2998/QD-XHNV-SĐH, Dated: December 30, 2013 of the Director of University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University
6. Changes in academic process:
7. Official thesis title: Art adapted literary works into film seen from aspect the plot and characters (via “The moon at the bottom of the well”, “The floating lives”).
8. Major: History theory and Film – Television criticism Code: 60.21.02.31
9. Supervisor: Assoc. Prof – PhD: Ly Hoai Thu, Literature Department, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University.
10. Summary of the findings of the thesis:
Based on using the interdisciplinary research method, especially the theory about the self-studying, the thesis has indicated that the main factors to the success of a film adapted from literary works are the plot and character. In spite of borrowing the plot from the archetype literary work, the filmmakers must know variations to create a lively and interesting drama. Besides, character from pages of a book to a drama is a process of challenging changes, each directors must choose suitable actor or actress and create appreciate situation, the key details for actors to show their talent express the life of character. The does not spread the general elements that create the success of a drama, it only delves into exploiting and analyzing plot and characters in adapted films.This will help the filmmakers have a precise and comprehensive view when they decide to select a literary work adapted to a film work. By studying the plot and characters of the two movies “The moon at the bottom of the well”, “The floating lives”,we explain in details the way the filmmakers could adapt from the original literature. And the way that unnecessary elements and details are omitted or added; how to reverse the texture, time, space, the effect and the change after putting the work of original story into the film, etc. All will be shown in detail in the essay. At the same time, how the back impacts from film to literary work help the modern writers have more methods to build new and strange characters, plots, structures, etc.. that bring valuable work to the readers.
11. Practical applicability, if any:
The abundant ancient literary treasure or the appeal from the best-seller books recently are always the abundant source for the filmmakers. However, not yet famous books can be adapted, it should be based on the knowledge and creation of the filmmakers. The clear understanding of principles, methods and characteristics of plot and characters in the literature is able to help filmmakers to adapt the story better, more practical and characters are “more lives”, reduce some comments when many dramas are not the same as the original literature, or do not reach the viewers' heart.
12. Further research directions, if any:
Recently, Vietnamese films are significantly changing and have achieved certain success, especially the films adapted from literary works. The writer wants to study more about the measure to transform, explanation about the reasons of success. This may help the young filmmakers have the recipes about how to adapt a literature into a drama, and how to make film not only gain revenue but also have the high artistic quality when it goes public.
13. Thesis – related publications:
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