Post 4: Adapting American Sniper

                One of the most important decisions made in adapting American Sniper is what the book would be adapted into. I would pick for the book to be made into a movie rather than a musical or TV series. Kyle mentioned his family, his friends with his SEAL group, his sniping skills, and many more important roles in his story. A movie would capture the story all in one, with no need to make sure the endings if it were a TV series to tie into the next beginning, the movie would have it all there with no waiting for another week to see what happens next.

                In order for this book to become a movie, we would have to make a considerable amount of cuts for the film to not be ridiculously long. In the book Kyle included many in depth explanations, so as a director I would order that cut from being in the film. The next thing I would keep from going into the movie theaters would be Taya’s (Chris Kyle’s wife) for she was also a part of the book, but a lot of her inputs were unnecessary, making the book longer than needed. I would make these cuts in order for the audience to continue being reeled into the plot, the cuts would avoid the audience from getting bored of the film. The storyline without the long explanations and Taya’s input would be much more interesting and eye-catching.

                The soundtrack for the movie would include songs such as Centuries by Fall Out Boy, where this song captures the image of being a hero, but “some legends are told, some turn to dust or to gold,” which helps in the characterization of Chris Kyle. Kyle was very humble and proud to be fighting for his country; if he died, he wanted it to be on the battle field. But Kyle never considered himself to be the BEST sniper ever, or the worst, he didn’t take bragging rights, he gave recognition where needed instead of taking it for himself. Another song that would be played during the movie would be Red, White and Blue by Lynyrd Skynyrd, where the song goes “My hair's turning white, my neck's always been red, my collar's still blue, we've always been here.” This song signifies Kyle’s pride he holds for the country. The song I would place at the closing credits would be American Soldier by Toby Keith, because throughout the song the lyrics speak about a soldier who is trying to be a father and a loving husband, while saving the country. “And I will always do my duty, no matter what the price. I've counted up the cost, I know the sacrifice,” this lyric from the song relates tremendously to Kyle, because Kyle was very loyal to the USA, and he would do anything to continue fighting. Kyle would reenlist to the Navy time and time again, regardless of his wife’s or parent’s protests, he would do so for the country, in full knowledge of the sacrifices he’d have to make. American Soldier is a very powerful song that would end the film really well, tying all lose ends and leaving the audience to walk away from the theater holding pride for their country as Chris Kyle did.