Movie Contracts

Movie Directors Looking for Books?

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Currently, Stephen King has 34 books that are adapted into favorite movies.  Some of his books that were adapted to movies include Carrie, The Shining, Pet Sematary, The Green Mile, The Shawshank Redemption, The Dark Tower, and IT.  Other bestselling author’s book adaptions include those of J.K. Rowling, John le Carré, and Nicholas Sparks.  Some classics too are so good that they have been adapted over and over again.  Jane Austen, Jack London, and Charles Dickens might not have imagined that their books would make it to the screen so many times.

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Why Hollywood is Turning to Books for its Biggest Productions

For decades, readers repeated the same phrase when Hollywood adapted a beloved novel for the screen: “The book is better than the movie.”  But what makes a book a good fit for a film adaptation? It doesn’t hurt to be plot-driven, rather than, say, a catalog of the main character’s thoughts while wandering through a city or a forest.

The Verge explains: “Established popular books are a comparably faster and data-supported way for studios to develop film and TV plots. As more studios compete to have the next Game of Thrones or The Walking Dead, it’s easier to turn to completed work and fully envisioned world than to develop a story in-house.”

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Films Based on Books Take 44% More at the Box Office
Factors, such as speed, or fan appeal are attractive to subscription services like Netflix, Amazon, HBO, and Starz, which hope a rich, ongoing story will lock in subscribers.  Films based on books take 44% more at the box office in the UK and 53% more worldwide than original screenplays, research from the Publishers Association (PA) has shown.

In international events for both consumers and authors, the question of screen readiness is becoming more prevalent as the need for new content for development rises.  Last year’s submission rate for the Books at Berlinale is above last year’s, reflecting a gathering consciousness of the importance of “words to screen” development and publishers’ relations with film producers and studios.

“Is it better as a film or as a TV series?” has become an important question, not just for producers but also for authors, agents, and publishers.

Hollywood producers are no strangers to the world of books, which they regularly sift through for source material.  What makes a book a good fit for a film adaptation?  It doesn’t hurt to be plot-driven, rather than a catalog of the main character’s thoughts while wandering through a city.

Read more:

https://www.elle.com/culture/movies-tv/g25713366/best-movies-based-on-books-2019/

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/book-adaptations_n_5000674

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What are OPTIONS for a Movie Deal?

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Getting a movie deal is not easier than getting a book deal with a publisher!  But how do movie deals work?  Movie rights are part of subsidiary / secondary rights – even if you get a foot in the door: Almost all production companies and film producers offer first an option for a film.
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What is an Option?
Insider author Fred Rosen explains: A film production company or studio reserves the right to make your novel into a film, or TV show and rents this right for a specific length of time.  A standard film option is for a year, with renewable one-year options.  Each time a company picks up the option, the author will be paid just for sitting on your movie rights – while they will try to secure the funds to make the adaptation and also to find professional and experienced script writers.
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What Could Get Optioned?
Published novels and nonfiction books, magazine articles, short stories. Unpublished work can also break through when someone who has a connection with a production company discovers something and passes it on (Frank Capra based “It’s a Wonderful Life” on an unpublished short story by Philip Van Doren Stern). However, a published novel has much higher chances for your work to get optioned.  What is the value of an option? Options start at $500 and go up.  $5,000 and more is excellent.
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What About Agents?
If you don’t have an agent, it’s fine to query film agents directly.  They’re always looking for salable options to pitch to Hollywood.  Be straightforward in your pitch: Briefly summarize the work to be optioned, where it’s published and your bio.
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Be Aware:
Movie deals involve often a dozen decision makers.  For most movie deals to get completed, there has to be key actors, a director, a screenwriter, and a producer committed to the movie.  That’s why 90% of potential movie deals never get completed – because the package can’t be put together to convince the investors on funding the movie.
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Even more important is it to first read this article by Kristine Kathrin Rusch “Steeling Intelectual Property” before you do anything.  She explains in detail how authors can be tricked in movie contracts.  Don’t become a victim and follow her step-by-step procedures! 
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Approach A-List Actors
One of the best ways to get a movie deal for a novel is to target the A-list actor or actress who would be the best person to play the role of your main character.  Many A-list actors have their own production companies or in-place deals for a certain number of movies – and can sometimes pick which movies they’d like to be in.  Authors have already a picture who should play the key role or roles in a movie made from their novel.
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How to Get in Touch
How do you get in touch with the actors you’ve identified as potential role players?  You can try through their management company (agent or manager), via their personal website (if they have one), or maybe through connections.  To get a feel for the industry, start reading industry trades, such as “The Hollywood Reporter“.  You also might already know about IMDb.com (Internet Movie Database).  The monthly subscription to IMDbPro.com has fairly up-to-date contact information.
Start reading IndieWire.com, and FilmmakerMagazine.com for a feel of the industry.  Attend film festivals to see independent films come to life.  See if your state has a film office.  Through all these new resources you may come across a screenwriter to work with.
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TV Shows
Watch the credits of a TV show you enjoy, noting the names of the producers.  You can write to them, asking them to read your script.  While the number of scripts bought from freelancers in television is small, it does happen.  After targeting a show, write polite query letters to producers or story editors – usually people who re-write scripts and deal with freelancers, explaining your fondness for and familiarity with the show and your desire to send a spec script.  Then, even if your script is rejected, it might get you invited to pitch other ideas to the producers.
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Writers Guild of America
If you don’t have an agent, and no contacts in the business, you can still market your script on your own.  Register your script with the Writer’s Guild of America, the official union site representing writers in the motion picture, broadcast, cable and new media industries.  Your registration provides an official record of the claim to authorship and can be used as evidence in any legal disputes about authorship.

If you are fortunate enough to secure an agent, and they get your work optioned, then the process moves into higher gear.  Generally, you will receive an upfront payment for a specific time period of optioned rights.  You may or may not have input into the adaptation of your book into a screenplay.  If your book is not produced by the expiration of the optioned rights, they revert back to you and the process starts over.

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How to Pitch Your Book at Film Festivals

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Books-Berlinale

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Books at Berlinale sends out an open call for applications every year in October, and publishers and literary agents from all around the world apply by submitting novels that have the greatest potential for a film.  Out of hundreds of applications, only ten or eleven books are selected.  See the application info and eligibility and application questions.
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The book presentation is moderated and the respective rights holders (publishers/literary agents) are introduced. Producers and film rights holders can then meet during the casual get-together.

Read a first-hand experience Tips for First-Time Competitors in Books at Berlinale by Nazlı Gürkaş, Kalem Agency.  And how she used her previous Berlinale experience to perfect a pitch and give their author visibility in the international film world.

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Quick Tips – not Only for Film, but Also for Book Festivals:

  • Do your research ahead of time.
    Look at all the films that are playing. Research the filmmakers. See who is making the kind of films your book would be for.
  • Volunteer first.
    If the festival is taking place in your area, why not apply as a volunteer first to get behind the scenes insights, before you decide to attend (and spend money) officially next time.
  • Premieres generally have a party after them.
    Try to get in – and network, network, network – which means listening to people not talking. Don’t forget your author business cards…
  • Don’t neglect the people you’re sitting next to.
    Filmmakers go to film festivals. Producers, directors, executives, managers, agents, actors and designers also go to film festivals.
  • Definitely follow up.
    You might have made some connections that led to exchanging business cards. They might be worth gold.

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Where Else Pitch Your Book / ScreenPlay to Film Producers?

There are lots of Film Festivals around the world where you can meet directors and movie products.  Some of these festivals offer the possibility to pitch your manuscript / screenplay in a presentation.

Austin TX Film Festival

Nantucket, MA, Film Festival

Holywood’s Official Submission Platform

Check out these Contests too
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Writing Non-Fiction? Consider FilmFreeWay
Really interesting is to see how the world of film links up with literature. After all, books remain one of the major sources of inspiration.  Before you submit a manuscript it has to be transferred into a screenplay.
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More Resources:
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Aiming for a Movie Deal for Your Book?

Thinking of Writing a Screenplay? 

Parallels between Novel Writing and Screen-Writing 

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Aiming for a Movie Deal for Your Book?

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Book-to-Movie
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Admit it:  As an author you are dreaming of a movie deal. You might think getting a book deal with a publisher – don’t think getting a movie deals is easier!  Here are some beginner insights into how movie deals work. Check out the links for more. Movie rights are part of sub rights or subsidiary rights – even so these rights are hard to sell. And if you get a foot in the door: Almost all production companies and film producers offer first an option for a film.
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What exactly is an option?
Fred Rosen explains what options are: “It is a rental. A production company or studio reserves the right to make your work into a film, MOW or TV show for a specific length of time. In the past, the standard option was for a year, with two renewable one-year options. Taking advantage of the recent recession, producers have now been able to negotiate the first option to 18 months. Regardless, each time a company picks up the option, you get paid just for sitting on your movie rights. In the meantime, they’ll try to secure the money to make the adaptation and get someone to write the script (though it probably won’t be you—Hollywood prefers to use its own writers to adapt work).”

He furter explains: What can get optioned?
“Just about anything. Published novels and nonfiction books. Magazine articles. Short stories. Unpublished work can break through, too, when someone who has a connection with a production company discovers something and passes it on (Frank Capra based It’s a Wonderful Life on an unpublished short story by Philip Van Doren Stern). But you should generally focus on getting published first—because the print imprimatur still demands the highest price when optioned.”
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How much is an option worth?
“Options start at $500 and go up. In today’s market, $5,000 and more is excellent. It’s impossible to offer an average because it depends on so many factors, the most important being how much the production company wants the work.”
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Do I need a film agent to make the option sale?
Rosen says: “Generally, yes. If you have a literary agent, look at your contract and see if the agent gets points for a film sale; if so, encourage her to send your work to a film agent she’s familiar with (the two will split the commission). If you don’t have an agent, it’s fine to query film agents directly. They’re always looking for salable stuff to pitch to Hollywood. Be straightforward in your pitch: Briefly summarize the work to be optioned, where it’s published and your bio.”
Read all of Fred Rosen’s tips here and get an idea how much you might earn.
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Tips by John Kremer
“Most movie deals involve as many as a dozen decision makers. One of the best ways to get a movie deal for a novel (I presume your book is a novel) is to target the A-list actor or actress who would be the best person to play the role of your main character. Many A-list actors have their own production companies or in-place deals for a certain number of movies – and can sometimes (not always) pick which movies they’d like to be in.
For most movie deals to get completed, though, there has to be key actors, a director, a screenwriter, and a producer committed to the movie. That’s why 90% of potential movie deals never get completed – because the package can’t be put together to sell the investors on funding the movie.
Of those four key pieces, the easiest to target is the actor or actress, because most non-industry people know what movies have been made by actors and actresses. Plus it’s generally easy for a novelist to picture who should pay the key role or roles in a movie made from their novel.
How do you get in touch with the actors you’ve identified as potential role players? You can try through their management company (agent or manager), via their personal website (if they have one), or sometimes even via a tweet to their @profile on Twitter.
But probably the best way is to use your connections to see if someone you know knows the actor you want to reach or the best friend of that actor or a close relative, etc.. Once you’ve located a connection, ask them to get you a personal introduction to the actor. Not just a kind word, or a token email, but – if possible – an in-person introduction.”
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Tips by Courtney Carpenter
“If you don’t have an agent, and have no contacts in the business, you can still market your script on your own. Before you try, however, take one preparatory step: Register your script with the Writer’s Guild of America. Registration provides a dated record of the writer’s claim to authorship and can be used as evidence in legal disputes about authorship.”

If you want to break into television:
“It’s generally not a good idea to write scripts for a series of your invention. Full-time, experienced, professional writers earn monumental salaries doing just that; why compete with them? Instead, tape several shows of an existing series. Watch them repeatedly. Learn who the characters are, how they would behave in a situation. One writer even advised typing up the script as you watch an episode to help you understand the flow of the dialogue.”

“Also watch the credits of a TV show you enjoy, noting the names of the producers. You can write to them, asking them to read your script. While the number of scripts bought from freelancers in television is small, it does happen. After targeting a show, write polite query letters to producers or story editors – usually people who rewrite scripts and deal with freelancers), explaining your fondness for and familiarity with the show and your desire to send a spec script. Then, even if your script is rejected, it may be a good enough calling card to get you invited to pitch other ideas to the producers.
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Mark Terry cautions:
“Movie contracts are a byzantine mess and unless you have an agent who specializes in movie contracts, your agent might suggest hooking up with a film agent or entertainment attorney, who will either get a flat fee or perhaps another percentage ….”

“What you do have to do is to watch out for production companies that want to have an option dirt cheap or hold on to the property for an unreasonable length of time.”

However, he has also an interesting story to tell about the movie rights / options for: “Catch Me If You Can.” That book was optioned about 20 times before Spielberg made the movie with Tom Hanks. The author commented it was great, he kept getting about $20,000 per year for a book that wasn’t really selling any more.”

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Q&A by Warren Adler:
Just a few samples of a long list of questions and answers / tips by Warren Adler

QUESTION:
If I wanted to sell my book rights to Movie producers, How would I go about doing that?
Warren Adler answered:
You would have to get yourself a Hollywood agent who believes that your book has a shot at a movie deal. Unless you are plugged into that world, have an agent or a book that has attracted some interest, your chances are pretty slim. Unfortunately there is no direct path to the movie world unless you happen to know actors, producers, directors and those deeply involved who can get a movie made.

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QUESTION:
I have inherited the film rights to a world famous, best selling (on Amazon) science fiction novel. While I realize the worth of the property is only what a studio is willing to pay, I’m wondering what is a good starting point in the negotiations? I’m not interested in back-end royalties, ancillary merchandising, or alternate distribution modes, but rather a 1 price, get it over with deal. Is $5 million totally absurd? $3 million? Are there other avenues to explore outside the Hollywood morass?
Warren Adler answered:
I would suggest you find a Hollywood agent who is willing to negotiate a deal. Before you start counting numbers you had better see if the interest matches your expectation. There are numerous lists on the internet of agents, producers, actors and others in the movie business.

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QUESTION:
I wrote a book ten years ago based on a real event–a horrific mass murder that occurred in GA in the 1800s. It sold extremely well but is now out of print. (It is considered a rare book on Amazon). Recently a screenwriter tracked me down and says he wants to convert my book to a script for movie. After the book went out of print I did not renew my agent’s contract. I have no idea who this screenwriter is and how to negotiate. I have no intentions of signing over the rights to just anyone. Any advice?
Warren Adler answered:
Get a lawyer who deals with intellectual properties. Never give rights away. It may be the screenwriter is willing to pay,( even a modest amount might do it) with a big bonus at the back end if he sells the script for a production. Put a time limit on it. Say a one year option, renewable for another year. If he wants the rights for nothing, walk away. It doesn’t matter if the book is out of print or not, its still your property. As for the agent, he could make a claim depending on the old contract. A lawyer will know. Try to set a price with the lawyer in advance. It could be worth it, since the book’s subject matter, which caught the screenwriter’s eye may have a lot more value than you think.

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QUESTION:
I have written a series of books and the first one has been published. The publisher wrote me that my stories are ‘movie stuff’. How do I go about marketing these books as a miniseries or movies?
Warren Adler answered:
Find yourself an agent in Hollywood. Unless you have personal contacts in the film or television industry, the process is difficult. You might try writing a one page summary of your work and send it off to Hollywood agents, producers, actors, directors etc. There are also numerous scouts out there looking for material. I don’t mean to be discouraging, but unless you are approached the chances of your work getting noticed can be a labor intensive chore. Of course, you could get lucky and find in your networking or readership base someone who might get you to a producer.

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QUESTION:
Recently my novel “The Family Bones” came out in print. Today, I received two separate letters, one from a major film company, and another from a major agency in Los Angeles inquiring about movie rights for my book. I am astounded. I referred them both to my agent, but what would you suggest is the going rate. These are both legitimate contacts.
Warren Adler answered:
There is no going rate. If its a producer with a studio deal the chances are it will be more than an independent would pay. They’ll probably ask for a one year option with renewal terms. Get as much as you can and be sure your agent knows how to negotiate with them. They will option thousands of books and very few will get made. It is indeed a leg up, but you are dealing with seasoned hustlers and you must protect yourself.

Dozens and dozens more questions and Warren Adler’s answers. Check them out! Interesting reads. BTW: Warren Adler is the author of the famous movie: “The War of Roses”.
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Now, what’s an author to do?
First of all: BE PERSISTENT! Don’t stop to send out queries. Know that it is not easy to get a movie deal. Read and research everything you can find about movie rights and contracts. Perfect your query letter to movie editors, directors, A-class actors and producers. Explore each avenue and if you get an offer, first google this company carefully, together with the word complaint. Do use the help of a movie agent and a contract lawyer, at least for your first movie contract, even if it takes a percentage of your option.

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Tagged: Book to Movie, Fred Rosen, how to get a movie deal for your book, how to query a director, John Kremer, movie deals, Warren Adler