The film I chose was Ghost World. Prior to reading the screenplay, I knew absolutely nothing about this film, other than that it was based on a graphic novel.
I've decided to analyze it by thinking about the cinematography that the screenplay suggests. If I were the director, I would try to refer back to the graphic novel as a foundation for the film. In doing this, I would keep all the silhouettes as clear as possible. The opening scene in particular really brings this idea to mind, as it's describing the lives of the apartment tenants as seen from outside their windows. I would make sure that the scene visible in each one could be read in an instant, much like a panel in a comic strip or graphic novel. The key to this is a clear story-telling image for each window.
The cuts would also be quick. This isn't a Kurosawa film, where cuts can be several long minutes apart. However, because graphic novels are art, I would also treat the cuts as art. Each scene would need to be carefully composed so as to achieve maximum clarity. The audience must never be confused as to where exactly they are at each point in time.
I would also make the characters just as unique and cartoony. I briefly glanced at the movie poster and cast list, and I think these were all great decisions that I wouldn't stray from. Enid looks like how I imagine her to be: an outcast art student. Steve Buscemi (Seymour) is also famous for his unique look, and I think it fits the "comic book world" very well.
Films such as Amelie and Paprika both feel grounded in the real world and in a universe entirely their own, and I would model Enid and Rebecca's world in the same way. It would feel like the "regular American suburb" that it's described to be, but there would also need to be an element of "otherworldliness" to it. This, I think, I would achieve mainly through the color schemes.
I am excited to watch this film now that I have read the screenplay, and I think the graphic novel is certainly worth exploring as well.
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