We all know execs want projects based on IP, and well all probably have some intellectual property we'd love to turn into a film or series, but if someone else own the right it's usually more of a hindrance than a help.
Do you look for IP-based ideas and try to secure rights? Do you find stories in the public domain and avoid the issue of rights? Or would you rather steer clear of the whole thing, even if you find a story you like?
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This is a great question, Allen. More and more, when we talk with execs about projects or when I'm on meetings for my personal projects, the question that arises more often than not is: Is this based on anything?
I read a ton. Always have. I did so for educational and entertainment purposes. But I can tell you that lately, I have a little corner of my brain on high alert for material that could make a good feature or pilot.
Hell, even TAG (which a good friend helped produce) was based on a NYT article.
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I created my own projects I have an amination project that is a client that I'm trying to get funded it been developed into a book series a movie a web series a game app a monthly virtual digital comic book I have people on broad but its the funding that I struggle with the ip thing can put people off
It's actually not as hard as one would think to get exiting IP. I optioned a NY Times best seller for 18 months for a shockingly low number and developed a screenplay based on the property. If you read a book you love, contact the publisher and ask who controls the subsidiary rights to the project. It may take some time, but the publisher will usually reply saying that the rights are available or give you the contact information of the rights holder. Then it just takes a little bit of an entrepreneurial spirit to engage with the rights holder.
There's a person whose story I want to tell. They wrote a biography but, they passed away fairly recently and the rights are now with their family who I have no contact details for. That's the status of my IP adventure so far. As per Jason's comment above, I should contact the publisher and see if they can provide contact information.
I'm rambling and being pessimistic but I feel that the project may be beyond my abilities at this stage. It's a passion project that I'm determined to pursue though.
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What Jason Mirch says is spot on. About 8 years ago, I found an article in Southwest Airlines Magazine that I found incredibly intriguing. I hunted down the author who connected me to the subject of the article and we were off to the races.
I wrote a story about a famous person, and my interviews led me to another famous person, and she gave me her life story rights. That was a coup for me. That still doesn't stop anyone else from writing a story about her, as long as their story is based on public information, but I have a ton of information that she never told anybody, and my story should be more richer and more favored if it came to that situation. Hopefully it won't, and hopefully I'll be able to sell this story and see it made into a great film.
So many great films/books are based on/inspired by news articles, like RB mentioned. Dog Day Afternoon, American Gangster, A Nightmare on Elm Street (yes, that's right), City by the Sea, etc. One of my most recent favorites is A Private War, based on the Vanity Fair article about slain journalist Marie Colvin.
A few years back, when I read the newspaper article about the man in his 80's who was a drug courier, I knew his story was going to be scooped up quickly. And it was. Clint Eastwood made The Mule, and it's still playing in theaters after two months. Bradley Cooper played the DEA agent Jeff Moore, who is/was apparently a Stage32 member for a short time. He introduced himself as such a couple months ago here. I'm not sure if it was the real Jeff Moore, though, since his profile and that post seem to be gone now.
Best fortunes in your creative endeavors, Allen!