Hi all,
I am a writer. I have beautiful series concept and story, that is based on a published book. How do i go about pitching it? At what stage does a producer or the network buy the rights from the book author?
Please suggest.
Thank you.
Screenwriting : Series or Films based on books. by Ruchika Agarwa
Series or Films based on books.
Other topics in Screenwriting:
Check out Trending Discussions
Register / Log In
1 person likes this
Hi Ruchika,
Just to be clear - are you the author of the published book?
If you are, then your agent or publisher can pitch to a producer on your behalf, or you can write the screenplay and pitch. If you have a contract with a publisher, check to see that you have film rights.
If the published book has not been written by you, then you'd need to secure the film rights from the author/publisher, UNLESS it's old enough that it is public domain.
6 people like this
YOU have to buy the rights to the book before you write the script.
Novel adaptations are assignments.
Production Companies buy the rights to novels in galleys. Anything that looks like it might be a best sellet they buy before publication.
Then they hire a writer to adapt the book (with the company's input). They "audition" Screenwriters based on reading a few of their original screenplays, and then have them pitch their take on the book. It's a competition between the writers that they interview (just like with sequels or anything that is existing IP).
I turned down adapting ANGELS & DEMONS - the Production Company that bought the rights really liked my screenplays and some of my take, but had one thing that they required in the script... and I said I couldn't do that. Worst decision I have ever made!
5 people like this
All the other comments on this are correct. You need to have the rights from the author/publisher to adapt their work as well as their permission to represent the rights to any adaptation of their work. Otherwise you are trying to represent an intellectual property for which you do not have permission to do so. This is part of what makes a project's "Chain of Title", which is the chain of permission to use/ownership of an IP from its origin all the way to the completed project. A complete and conflict free Chain of Title is a material requirement for any project.
Thank you all for your help and suggestions. Much appreciated :)
Hi Ruchika and welcome to Stage 32. Yes. You need to option the published novel first. I optioned a self-published novel from the author last year for a two-year exclusive term. I didn't start writing the first draft until we had both signed the Letter of Agreement. I also have a clause for an automatic third-year exclusive provided I have completed a screenplay in the first two years and moving forward with finding a production deal.