Blog 4-Authorial Voice

The authorial voice in A Boy's Life, The Apartment, and Adaptation differs mostly in the narration. In A Boy's Life, Mathison's narration consists mostly of imagery-laden descriptions regarding landscape or surroundings. Her use of simile and her ability to paint a picture in the reader's head is reminiscent of a novel, whereas Wilder's narration is on a "need to know" basis, and exists more for the purpose of informing rather than inspiring a certain feeling. His authorial voice is not without personality, however. His use of slang lines such as "big mother" both add to the style of the screenplay and to its era authenticity. Kaufman's voice in Adaptation is unique. It acts as both author and protagonist and creates an effect like looking into a mirror with a mirror behind you and seeing an endless line of "yous." I found this idea confusing at first, but also amusing, though I find that I favor the authorial voice of Mathison.

1. Earlier in the course we discussed sort of the "DOs" and "DON'Ts" of screenplays. It was said that, typically, screenplays are not supposed to be laden with novel-like description as found in Mathison's A Boy's Life, or with slang terms as found in Wilder's The Apartment. Is Kaufman's Adaptation, of the three, the screenplay that most adheres to the "guidelines" of screenplays?

2. I really enjoy the idea of the fact/fiction "Donald Kaufman." Has anything like this been done in the history of screenwriting?

-Kyle Deason