looking for a screenwriter

[iwannabepublished]

I have a completed manuscript that I believe will make a great movie. I'm looking for someone to work with me to create a screenplay. I'm perfectly willing to fully share credit and proceeds from a sale BUT am not looking for a ghost writer. In other words, this is a ‘spec’ job request. The story is a historical mystery and I would be happy to send a synopsis to help pique your interest. Feel free to e-mail me at kenteicher@nyc.rr.com if you are interested. If you do, please tell me something about your experience. By the way, I don’t have any experience with screenplays but have a VERY good idea about the flow of the work.

[JustinoXXV]

If you have a completed manuscript, you should work on getting it published. Then, have your agent shop the film rights around. If there are any interested buyers, then eventually a movie might be made from your novel.


I can't imagine why would a screenwriter devote so much time to reworking your projects when you have nothing to offer the screenwriter. Screenwriters have no problem coming up with their own specs, and have no reason to work on someone else's spec. The only way you can get someone of quality to do this is to PAY them.

[Mac H.]

Hi Ken,

Whether you convert it yourself, or get a friend to, be prepared to remove HUGE chunks of your work. To fit into a movie, your novel (I'm assuming that your manuscript is an unpublished novel ?) will need to be cut down considerably - in almost every way.

For example:
* Novel '5 days of the Condor' became the movie '3 days of the Condor'.
* Both movies of 'Charlie & the Chocolate Factory' cut out almost half of the characters of the classic book. (One Parent .v. Two)
* Almost all of your careful backstory and internal states will disappear.

That's why movies adapt from short stories/novellas so well - they are a better fit. (eg: Shawshank Redemption, Minority Report)

I'm not sure you'll have that much luck getting someone to work on it. From my (selfish) point of view, why would it make sense for me to re-write it (almost from scratch) on the speculation that it will make a better movie than one of the 20 projects that I already have in my head?

Also, if your manuscript is an unpublished novel, it also leaves the uncomfortable fact that 'unpublished' means that no publisher is willing to invest $3k-$30k on the story. So why would someone else be willing to invest $3,000k - $30,000k to make a movie out of it?

Your best bet might be to learn the craft of screenwriting yourself.

Good luck !

Mac

[Chesher Cat]

A reputable screenwriter will not be interested in sharing credit and/or spec sale money with you, because they are doing the writing. The credits would be "screenplay by SCREENWRITER GUY" followed by "based on a novel by BOOKWRITER GUY."

Generally, if a screenwriter finds a book they like and want to adapt, they will contact the author and make an offer to option the book. And since you are not published, meaning no one is breaking your door down for the rights and there isn't a built-in audience for it, the option money you can expect is next to nothing, with payment to come later if the screenwriter manages to sell the spec. But your "share" won't come out the the screenwriters money - it will be separate.

That being said, you might find somebody willing to partner up with you but it won't likely be a professional writer.

Best of luck with the project.