From Play to Screen: Dissecting the Screenplay of ‘Fences’ (2016)
“Fences,” a 1985 Pulitzer Prize-winning play, was the brainchild of August Wilson, a renowned playwright who meticulously chronicled the African-American experience in the 20th century through a ten-play series often referred to as the Pittsburgh Cycle. In 2016, the world witnessed the momentous transition of ‘Fences’ from the realm of stage plays into the cinematic universe under the direction of Denzel Washington. This transition served as a testament to Wilson’s prolific storytelling and his mastery in penning compelling narratives that resonate both onstage and onscreen.
The story of ‘Fences’ revolves around the protagonist, Troy Maxson, a middle-aged African American man grappling with life in the racially tense climate of the 1950s Pittsburgh. The thematic essence of ‘Fences’ lies not just in racial struggles but also in the exploration of human frailties, familial bonds, and the existential crises that every person inevitably faces.
In understanding the metamorphosis of ‘Fences’ from play to screen, it’s essential to recognize the unique nuances associated with each form. Writing a screenplay that successfully maintains the soul of the original stage play while accommodating the inherent differences in the mediums is a balancing act.
Plays are primarily dialogue-driven and often confine the action to a single location. ‘Fences,’ for instance, largely takes place in the Maxson’s backyard. This setting serves as a microcosm reflecting Troy’s internal world and becomes an essential element of the story. This contrast with movies, which are visually-driven and have the flexibility of space and time to expand and enhance the story.
When Denzel Washington took on the formidable task of directing and starring in ‘Fences,’ he faced the challenge of adapting a dialogue-heavy play into a visually compelling movie. It required careful crafting of the screenplay to ensure the stage’s emotional depth was not lost in the translation to the big screen.
To this end, Washington decided to respect the source material as much as possible, only making minimal changes to the original text. The screenplay for the movie ‘Fences’ was developed using Wilson’s own draft, which the playwright completed before his death in 2005. This approach preserved Wilson’s distinct voice, authentic dialogue, and rich characters, while subtly infusing elements that capitalized on the cinematic medium’s strengths.
For instance, the original play begins with a long conversation between Troy and his friend Bono, set entirely in the Maxson’s backyard. The movie version, however, opens with a dynamic garbage truck scene, introducing Troy and Bono in the middle of their workday. This addition provided a visually striking start, created more context about the characters’ everyday lives, and served as a fitting initiation to the world of ‘Fences.’
Additionally, while the play used monologues to reveal characters’ pasts and their emotional states, the movie had the freedom to use visual cues and actions to achieve the same purpose. For example, Troy’s younger self is shown in a brief flashback sequence in the film, something not possible in a stage play.
However, the essence of ‘Fences’ lay in its rich dialogue, so the filmmakers had to ensure it translated well to the screen. It was critical to make the dialogue feel natural and authentic in the movie without losing the dramatic rhythm that made the play so impactful. The cast, many of whom had been involved in a 2010 Broadway revival of ‘Fences,’ brought their deep understanding of Wilson’s text, their familiarity with their characters, and their innate sense of rhythm and pacing to the movie.
Breaking Down the Screenplay: Structure and Writing Tips from ‘Fences’
From a screenwriting perspective, ‘Fences’ provides rich material for analysis and a plethora of valuable writing tips. It offers a fascinating case study on how a tightly woven, dialogue-centric stage play can be transformed into a visually compelling and emotionally resonant screenplay.
The structure of the ‘Fences’ screenplay beautifully mirrors the architecture of the original play. Composed in the form of a classical tragedy, the narrative unfolds in a sequence of emotionally charged, conflict-ridden scenes. These scenes capture the essence of the characters’ struggles, revealing their desires, fears, and internal conflicts, and propel the story forward in a rhythm and pace that feels both organic and dramatically intense.
Each scene in ‘Fences’ serves as a building block in the story’s structure. The most compelling scenes often hinge on the concept of dramatic conflict, and ‘Fences’ is no exception. A prime example is the Friday payday scene where Troy reveals to his wife Rose that he has fathered a child with another woman. The tension and conflict inherent in this scene stem from the characters’ opposing desires-Troy’s need to confess and Rose’s initial denial and subsequent outrage. This scene dramatically alters the story trajectory and provides a turning point in Troy and Rose’s relationship.
One key writing tip to glean from this scene is how effectively it uses dramatic conflict to drive the narrative. Each line of dialogue is purposeful and heightens the tension, revealing character flaws and motivations while advancing the plot. Screenwriters can employ this technique in their own work, using dramatic conflict to inject tension into scenes and propel their story forward.
Despite the limitations of its stage play origins, the screenplay of ‘Fences’ also made effective use of visual storytelling-an essential aspect of screenwriting. A notable example is the recurring motif of the incomplete fence that Troy and his son Cory are building. This physical object serves as a powerful visual metaphor for Troy’s attempts to protect his family and his struggle to face his past. In contrast to a stage play, a movie can utilize visual symbols like this more effectively, offering screenwriters a powerful tool for conveying themes and character dynamics.
The ‘Fences’ screenplay also showcases the power of character-driven narratives. Troy Maxson is a character as complex as they come, filled with contradictions. He’s a former Negro League baseball star who never made it to the major leagues, a loving husband and father who betrays his wife and frustrates his son, and a hard worker who feels life has dealt him an unfair hand. The screenplay explores these facets of Troy’s personality through his interactions with other characters, allowing his persona to unravel naturally rather than forcing exposition onto the audience.
Understanding your characters inside out is an invaluable writing tip for screenwriters. Developing well-rounded, multi-faceted characters, like Troy, allows audiences to engage more deeply with the story. It’s essential to allow characters to reveal themselves through their actions and dialogue rather than relying on heavy-handed exposition.
Screenwriters can also learn from the way ‘Fences’ uses dialogue to reveal character, drive the plot, and maintain audience engagement. The movie’s dialogue retains the rhythm and authenticity of August Wilson’s original play, helping to bring the characters to life and add depth to their interactions. Every piece of dialogue serves a purpose, whether it’s to reveal character, advance the plot, or increase tension.
This nuanced use of dialogue is another important screenwriting tip. Dialogue should never be used merely to fill silence; it should always serve a purpose in the story. The dialogue in ‘Fences’ is a masterclass in purposeful, character-driven conversation that screenwriters can learn much from.
Lastly, the ‘Fences’ screenplay underlines the importance of pacing. Although it maintains the dialogue-centric nature of the original play, it introduces visual elements and dramatic beats that maintain narrative momentum. The screenplay effectively intersperses high-tension scenes with quieter moments, providing the audience with necessary breathing space and maintaining a steady, engaging rhythm throughout the film.
Pacing is a crucial aspect of writing a screenplay, and ‘Fences’ serves as a great example of effective pacing. By balancing tension and release, action and rest, screenwriters can ensure their story maintains audience engagement from start to finish.
Bringing ‘Fences’ to Life: Translating a Screenplay into a Cinematic Experience
Crafting a screenplay that elegantly adapts a stage play into a cinematic narrative is only half the journey; the other half is successfully translating that screenplay into a film. In the case of ‘Fences,’ this process was a careful exercise of maintaining the essence of August Wilson’s dramatic rhythm while using the tools of cinema to enhance the story and characters.
A crucial aspect of this translation process is collaboration. The director, actors, cinematographer, and other members of the film crew must work in sync to bring the screenplay to life. This was exemplified in ‘Fences,’ where the team’s collective efforts, guided by Denzel Washington’s directorial vision, resulted in a film that paid homage to Wilson’s work while elevating it to a new medium.
Washington’s approach to directing ‘Fences’ was to preserve the integrity of Wilson’s dialogue and the nuances of the characters, which he achieved by largely keeping the original cast from the 2010 Broadway revival of ‘Fences.’ The actors’ intimate familiarity with their characters and the play’s dynamics enabled them to deliver performances that resonated with the authenticity of Wilson’s original vision. This collaborative endeavor between the director and the actors emphasizes the importance of shared understanding and trust in bringing a screenplay to life.
As a writing prompt for aspiring screenwriters, consider how you would work with a director and actors to translate your screenplay into a film. How would you communicate your vision? How would you handle creative differences? This exercise can help you understand the collaborative nature of filmmaking and the importance of dialogue and negotiation in this process.
While a stage play primarily relies on dialogue and performance, a film has an array of tools at its disposal to enhance the story. In ‘Fences,’ the filmmakers effectively used cinematography and production design to add depth to the narrative. The film’s cinematography captured the close-knit neighborhood’s claustrophobic feel and the characters’ emotional states, while the production design recreated the 1950s setting down to the smallest detail.
These creative choices helped bring the world of ‘Fences’ to life, providing a rich and immersive visual experience that complemented the narrative. They demonstrated how the screenwriter’s words are just a blueprint that requires the skills and creativity of many others to transform into a cinematic experience.
One writing tip to take away from this is understanding the cinematic possibilities inherent in your screenplay. While writing a screenplay, consider how various elements like cinematography, production design, and music can be used to enhance your story. This doesn’t mean writing detailed camera directions or set descriptions-leave that to the director and the production team-but rather understanding that your words are the starting point for a broader creative process.
To illustrate this point, here’s a writing prompt: take a scene from your screenplay and brainstorm how different filmmaking elements could enhance it. How could the cinematography reflect the characters’ emotions? What kind of production design would help set the scene? This exercise can help you appreciate the multifaceted nature of translating a screenplay into a film.
Finally, ‘Fences’ showcases the importance of respect for the source material. While the screenplay and the film took advantage of the cinematic medium’s unique opportunities, they never lost sight of their roots in Wilson’s original play. This respect for the source material is crucial when adapting a work from one medium to another.
A valuable writing tip here is to always remember the essence of the story you’re adapting. Whether it’s a play, a book, or a real-life event, your job as a screenwriter is to translate that essence into a new medium without losing what made the original work special.
To conclude, the process of translating the ‘Fences’ screenplay into a film involved a delicate balance of honoring the source material, using cinematic tools to enhance the story, and fostering collaboration among the creative team. It’s a powerful example of how a screenplay is brought to life, offering valuable insights and prompts for aspiring screenwriters keen on mastering the art of screenwriting.
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Originally published at http://aiinscreentrade.com on August 11, 2023.
