Alex Garland on moving from novels to screenplays and the differences in craft between the two

(This episode was originally released as a podcast on 4 December 2020.)
Alex Garland is the critically acclaimed writer and director of movies such as Ex Machina, Annihilation and, most recently, the TV series Devs. His career began with the bestselling novel, The Beach, before he moved on to writing screenplays for films such as 28 Days Later, Sunshine, Never Let Me Go and Dredd.
We had a really enjoyable and fascinating chat with Alex about why he ended up returning his advance for more novels to turn to screenplays instead, and why he felt he had to move on to directing his own screenplays. We also had a deep dive into the craft of writing (and reading!) and even find time to chat about video game writing as well!
Links:
Watch Devs on BBC iPlayer: www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode...
Watch Annihilation on Netflix: www.netflix.com/gb/title/8020...
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[@jmi_music]

The best Alex Garland interview I’ve heard yet. Thank you

[@pageonepodcast]

Thanks - glad you enjoyed it!

[@DaveMuller]

As an aspiring screenwriter I loved this, so thank you. And it amazes me that such an informative video has so few views.

[@pageonepodcast]

Thanks Dave! Be sure to check out the rest of our interviews - we've had some great screenwriters on the podcast, such as Joe Cornish, Nick Hornby and C Robert Cargill, with more to come!

[@mattemery4081]

Absolutely brilliant, thank you for this

[@pageonepodcast]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@DanielMedina-co5ww]

Garland is stil very underrated, sadly. his works def make you think, they're not just blind single-watch entertainment

[@stevemuzak8526]

I hate blind entertainment movies. Avoid them like a plague. Especially now when everything is political woke propaganda. Thank God that Alex isn’t making any crap like that. We need more deep psychological horror and sci-fi movies

[@jonharrison9222]

@@stevemuzak8526
When your argument boils down to ‘everything I don’t like is WOKE’ you are wasting everyone’s time.
Your own especially.

[@jonharrison9222]

Overrated?
He was world famous before his second novel was published and reviewed well everywhere.

[@jonharrison9222]

All that success and Garland still goes around with a face like a smacked arse.