Can One Word, One Minute, and One Idea Spark a Movie? Yep.

How easily can you adapt a work into another medium. A few years ago, I wrote a story a day for a year. I wrote each story from a prompt word. The trick? I only had a single minute in which to write the tale. This creativity project revolutionized my writing and my life. Here’s one of the micro stories. During this project, which I posted to FB, friends followed along. Someone suggested I turn some into movies.

“How fun!” I thought and adapted the story into a short screenplay. A couple of fab actors (huge thanks to Jake Warrenfeltz and Matthew Pauli) I know agreed to be in it, and Anwar and Amal of Greenbelt Barber (in Greenbelt, MD) provided the set. So, this story became, “A Close Shave?” the first film in the One-minute Movie Project. Here are the story, part of the screenplay, and a still from the film.

So, if you’re wondering whether you can adapt your work into another medium, you can. Start small. Try it with a short story. Remember, if you’re writing a script or a screenplay, you focus on dialogue and action. Which of your pieces might make a great play, film short, or full-length movie? If you do decide to try it, let me know how it goes.

(Huge thanks to actors, Matthew Pauli and Jake Warrenfeltz for being in it, to Dayle Hodge for editing the film, and to Anwar and Amal of Greenbelt Barbershop for providing our filming location.)

Here’s are full story in text and a pdf of the A Close Shave screenplay.

“The Barber of Seville, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street – I tell you; barbers have gotten a bad rap.” Mr. Mitchell sharpened his straight razor on the leather strip. “It’s like they think we’re all murderers who will slash your throat as soon as look at you.”

Now, he checked the edge. It glinted starkly in the pale light of the room. “Really,” he placed the razor against Mr. Hawthorne’s neck. “If I wanted to kill the man who was sleeping with my wife, I would find a more expedient, less traceable way to do it. By the way, Mr. Hawthorne,” Mitchell smiled faintly. “How did you enjoy your complimentary tea?” (Prompt word: barber. © Izolda Trakhtenberg)