From Text to Screen: Spinning Words into Film in the Science-Fiction and Fantasy Genres seeks contributors for chapters of an edited collection themed on the  translation of pre-existing works (plays, novels, short stories) to the big screen.  How do filmmakers take a work – especially one that existed in a different cultural and historical time – and translate it for contemporary audiences?

1. Proposals should include either recent films, “classics,” or films underrepresented in academic discussions.
2. Films should be based on non-film texts (preferably written) that are either genre or non-genre.
3. Preference to texts/films that have a somewhat significant period of time between the original text and the filmed version (i.e., “Ender’s Game”) unless the film/text are undeniably popular (i.e.: “Jurassic Park”).
4. Emphasis on the needs of the filmmaker to “culturally update” the original text to make it relevant for contemporary audiences, especially along lines of “race/class/gender” and technology/philosophy.
5. Emphasis on the cultural/mythic/folkloric importance of both the original text and the film version.
6. Preference to works that have seen more than a single film production.
7. The editors also wish to indicate a strong preference for avoiding unnecessary academic jargon and emphasizing clear writing and readability.
8. The editors also prefer not to receive proposals on the works of Philip K. Dick at this time.

Chapter proposals should provide a brief abstract (200-400 words) for a chapter of 5,500 to 7,000 words and detail the main thesis of the proposed chapter. Proposals should also include the name, discipline, and current affiliation (if any) of the author(s) with a separate, single page C.V. The editors are willing to consider proposals from graduate students and independent scholars. Proposals should be sent, as a Word and Word-compatible attachment to textualspawn@gmail.com by 1 March. Decisions on proposals will be made by 31 March.  The editors also welcome general queries and questions concerning possible proposals and the suitability of specific films/texts attextualspawn@gmail.com address.