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A Novel Idea, Transferring a Screenplay into a Novelization with Craig Shaw Gardner

For many who saw the original Back to the Futue film series, their first preview of the storylines was through promotional film novelizations.  Film novelizations were such a part of a film’s promotion that they were even mentioned on the theatrical one sheets.  Berkley Publishing produced all of the novelizations for the Back to the Future film series.   For the second and third film novels, author Craig Shaw Gardner was hired.  Many considerations go into transferring a film’s screenplay into a novel to be read by the general public.  BTTF.com has a rare look into this process with an interview with Mr. Gardner.

The first film’s novel was written by American author George Gipe.  Gipe working off of a script that varied from the final shooting script, built upon the base script to add additional back story with some scenes that were never penned in any draft of the film. Berkley Publishing because of Gipe’s death in 1986 could never consider having him finish out the trilogy’s novels.  With the recent success of Craig Shaw Gardner’s film novelization of the 1989 Batman, Berkley Publishing asked Gardner to carry the torch on the Back to the Future novels. 

Working off the latest draft screenplays by Bob Gale, Gardner had to create the world of Back to the Future Parts 2 & 3, with added thoughts and reflections that are never translated on screen. Gardner has been writing professionally since 1977, with a science fiction and humor background.  Part of the Back to the Future Part 2 & 3 novels successes were due to Gardner working direct with Bob Gale.  BTTF.com is honored to host this interview with Mr. Gardner and his involvement with the Back to the Future film series.

 
What is your background in writing, have you always had an interest in science fiction storylines?

I decided I wanted to become a science fiction writer in the fifth grade when I discovered Seven Science Fiction Novels of H.G. WELLS.  This, I decided, was cool.  It took me another 18 years to sell my first short story.

 
How did you get involved in doing film adaptation novels?

I was selling two kinds of fiction early on -- horror and humorous fantasy.  That was the right combination for my publisher to approach me to do the novelization of Lost Boys.  Another editor read my Lost Boys book, and decided that the humor/suspense mix was just right for the Michael Keaton Batman.  That book made the bestseller lists, so I became a go-to guy for this sort of book.

 
Back in the late 1980s the film adaptation novels would come out before the release of the actual film, for many you allowed the reader to create their own visual image of the film before seeing the actual movie.  Do you try to create and match the script and the final film, or do you allow for the written word and the reader's mind to carry it where ever it goes?

Generally, the writer has to write the novel of the movie at the same time the actual film is being made.  So, in essence, every time I wrote one of these books, I was making my own version of the film.

How did you get involved in making the Back to the Future 2 and 3 novels?

My publisher approached me.  I had those earlier successes I mentioned above, and a proven track record writing humor, so I fit well with the franchise

The first film's novel had lots of additional scenes and details, many of which were never in any drafts of the film.  Was there ever any discussion about creating separate scenes for the novels you worked on?

Generally, the writer creates his adaptation from whatever version of the script he or she has in front of him/her.  But, at the same time, the film is constantly being rewritten and polished as the scenes are being shot, so the finished film and the novel may have some differences that were included in earlier scripts but not the finished film.

Did you get to see any early cuts of the film or visit the sets?  What did you use for reference to create the imagery on the pages?

I got a video of the layout of the McFly household to figure out just how Marty avoided various members of the family in Back 2.  Beyond that, I pretty much followed the script.

Who with the film's production did you work with the most?

I worked directly with screenwriter Bob Gale (who was very helpful and also videotaped that incredibly confusing layout of the McFly household) on these books, whose one dictate was that I couldn't have any scenes from Biff's point of view.

What did you think of the storyline of the second and third films?

Whenever I write a novelization, I get so close to the material that I lose all judgment as to the relative merits of the source material.  I just try to produce the best book I can in the time that is given to me.

Watching the end of BTTF 3, for me seems a bit rushed compared to the rest of the storyline.    What do you as an author think of the ending, did you ever add anything else to the ending in the novel?

These movies were filmed back to back, and quite quickly.  I actually pointed out a small continuity error towards the end of the films, which did get fixed at the end of Back 3.  But overall, in this kind of project I act as a "hired hand."  I try to make the most sense possible out of the materials I was given, but it's really not my job to change anything.

 
Was there ever any discussion of any sort of continuation series like in the Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and Star Trek franchises?

Not with me, alas.

 
As an author that got to write out the adventures of Doc Brown and Marty McFly, do you have any ideas as to what happened to the characters after the end of the film?  Your personal thoughts or ideas?

Well, as time travel fantasy, these characters could show up anywhere in history, with amusing results.  But, because these movies were more humorous (as opposed to the straight ahead action of  Star Wars or Indiana  Jones) the publisher most likely decided their future sales potential was more doubtful.  In the publishing biz, humor is always harder to sell.

Is there anything else you would like BTTF fans to know about you experiences in being part of BTTF history?

A neat fact.  Back to the Future Part 2 (novel) was a choice of the Scholastic Book Club, and racked up sales of over half a million copies!  So the books did very well.

We thank Mr. Gardner for his time, to learn more about Craig Shaw Gardner and his writing career, visit his website: www.craigshawgardner.com/

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