Check out from the library some successful screenplays based on novels or download them from the Internet. Examples include "Dr. Strangelove," based on the novel "Two Hours to Doom" by Peter Bryant and directed by Stanley Kubrick, and "Jurassic Park," based on the novel of the same name by Michael Crichton and directed by Steven Spielberg. Compare the screenplay to the novel to find similarities and differences.
Watch the film adaptation of one of your favorite novels. Pay special attention to the character development in the film to see if it matches the impressions you formed when reading the novel. For instance, you could watch one of the Harry Potter movies to analyze the actors' portrayals of the characters.
Explore how film, as a visual language, conveys literary elements such as theme and symbolism. If various scenes were omitted in the film adaptation, take note of how the director portrayed the passage of time.