How does the constraint of 'temporal duration' fundamentally alter the narrative structure of a 500-page novel when it is adapted into a standard feature film?
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Correct answer: Radical condensation, merging minor characters into composites and cutting subplots
A reader can spend weeks exploring a massive novel's intricate subplots, interior musings, and minor characters. A feature film, typically constrained to a two-hour window, must prioritize narrative economy. Screenwriters achieve this by cutting non-essential narrative branches, compressing timelines, and merging several secondary characters into a single composite character to maintain narrative momentum.
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