In Need Of Some Help

tarra74 · Oct 10, 2005

Hello,
I have written and published a book called Druxel Manor. Since I wrote the book, I have felt it would make a wonderful movie. The problem is, I can't write screenplays. I'm looking for someone who would like to turn my book into a screenplay (I have a copy of my book in pdf and can email it) and be willing to split any money made 50/50 if it does get made into a movie. If you are interested, you can send me an email at [email protected] .

NikeeGoddess · Oct 10, 2005

excellent!

hey woman - if you haven't tried to adapt it yourself, you should. buy a book on screen adaptaptions and see. maybe you CAN write a script. however, if you don't really want to then make sure you find someone skilled in doing so. sounds like an intriguing, (yet a bit vague according to the link below) story.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1413766242/103-4040578-8309459?v=glance&n=283155&n=507846&s=books&v=glance

StephieM · Oct 10, 2005

Hi Tarra,

Turning a book into a screenplay isn't all that easy, (Not that I ever tried), but I can imagine. Let's say your novel is 240 pages long. A screenplay is at average 120 pages, with each page worth a minute. Basically your book would have to be cut in half, if not more. It would be a lot of work, with first deciding what goes and what stays, based on what's important and necessary to your story. If your lucky, you might find someone willing to put in the effort. But the truth is most screenwriters have their own stories to tell, which if sold will get them a good 100% of the profits.

If you truely believe your book can be adapted into a good screenplay, why not learn how to write a screenplay? Stick around, lots of good people here to help you out and pull you in the right direction.

Good luck!

Steph

dpaterso · Oct 11, 2005

Catch-22 situation, Tarra. Anyone willing to write a screenplay for you on the promise of a hypothetical 50/50 split is unlikely to be seasoned enough to adapt your novel into a screenplay. I'm not saying it's impossible, I'm just giving my opinion that it's unlikely.

Imagine if craziest possible scenario happened and a producer loved your book and the screenplay, and decided to finance the movie. You'd suddenly find yourself obliged to give away half your earnings to the screenwriter, as you promised you would. Before you enter into any such agreement, consider exactly what you're signing away. Half the option money? Half the sale price? Half of everything you earn from this movie? Be specific when you draw up the contract with the writer; best get a lawyer involved from the outset. Maybe a flat write-for-hire fee might benefit you better in the long run?

When you say "I can't write screenplays" does this mean you haven't tried, or that you've tried but you can't write screenplays? If the former, it may be worth your spending time reading some screenplays to get an idea of how they work, then reducing your novel to a workable outline, and having a go yourself.

I'm just saying.

I'd have to agree the description on Amazon is a little vague, I get that it's a mix of romance and thriller but going by the blurb, I have no idea what the story is about.

-Derek
Derek's Web Page - stories, screenplays, novels, insanity.

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Joe Calabrese · Oct 12, 2005

I've done a few projects/contracts with novelists to adapt their work and it's closer to 75/25% with the bulk going to the screenwriter.

This is because the screenwriter is doing most of the work (for the screenplay) and the novelist who only sells the movie rights to a producer gets a smaller percentage or usually a flat buy out fee, which is smaller compared to doing a partnership, where as attaching themselves to the script gives them an opportunity to make much more and have some measure of control of the script changes.

That is of course, you're not Dan Brown, who made millions off selling the rights to Davinci Code.

The plus side is the screenwriter has (hopefully) an easier time to get it read since it was published and the novelists has a more appealing package for a producer, who doesn't have to hire other writers to adapt from a book.

For the new screenwriter and new novelists it's a win/win scenario.

tarra74 · Oct 14, 2005

Joe Calabrese said:
I've done a few projects/contracts with novelists to adapt their work and it's closer to 75/25% with the bulk going to the screenwriter.

This is because the screenwriter is doing most of the work (for the screenplay) and the novelist who only sells the movie rights to a producer gets a smaller percentage or usually a flat buy out fee, which is smaller compared to doing a partnership, where as attaching themselves to the script gives them an opportunity to make much more and have some measure of control of the script changes.

That is of course, you're not Dan Brown, who made millions off selling the rights to Davinci Code.

The plus side is the screenwriter has (hopefully) an easier time to get it read since it was published and the novelists has a more appealing package for a producer, who doesn't have to hire other writers to adapt from a book.

For the new screenwriter and new novelists it's a win/win scenario.

I would be willing to go with 75/25% with the bulk going to the screenwriter. This is my first book and it could be made into a movie, I'm sure the sales of my book would rise, so I'd get most my money that way.

thewritingbug · Oct 14, 2005

It might be worth trying to do it yourself. Even if you work on doing a few chapters. No one knows your story like you do; you might be better at it than you think

Lisa

scripter1 · Oct 14, 2005

Well,

even if you get a screenwriter to take on the project you will be best served by learning a little bit about the craft. That way when the screenwriter shows you the first draft you won't be freaked out by it.
You'll be able to speak the same language.

Storytelling is storytelling, the foundational elements are the same, conflict, rising tension, so forth.
But the screenwriting is so much tighter, everything is condensed, no internal thoughts, no smells (only two senses can be used, sight and sound), locations kept to a minimum, , extra characters condensed into one or two (budget issues), etc, etc.

As was stated before, your two hundred page novel will be stripped down to it's bare essentials and all your best descriptive writing will be condensed to three or four fragmented, grammatically incorrect sentences.

It may be a serious shock to a novel writer.

So, prepare yourself.

tarra74 · Oct 15, 2005

My brother tried to teach me (he's an actor/screenwriter) and he had me read over several movie scripts (I found them to be boring, but I think that's because they were all from movies I had seen and didn't like to begin with - I just recently got the script to my favorite movie recently, but haven't had the chance to study it yet, but I'm sure I'll find it more interesting, plus it started out as a book, so I'm planning to get the book too so I can compare the two). After studing the movie scripts, my brother had me adapt the first chapter into a movie script. After he read it, he told me I'd be better off having a screenwriter with more experience write the screenplay for me. He said he'd do it himself, but he doesn't have the time.

Optimus · Oct 15, 2005

"Storytelling is storytelling, the foundational elements are the same, conflict, rising tension, so forth."

Not necessarily.

Novels are based on novelistic writing whereas screenplays are based on dramaturgical writing. The story structures for both are rather different. The "act breaks" are different (differing goals for the climax of acts in novels versus screenplays) and novels tend to have more than 3 acts anyway. Character development is handled differently (scripts don't use introspective revelation of any kind) and more quickly in screenplays than novels.

Blah, blah, blah.

So, rather than learning about scriptwriting by *just* reading scripts, it might behoove you to do some broader research and explore the differences between novelistic writing and dramaturgy. Some may argue that the differences are small, but they still exist and can have a great impact on the story if handled poorly. Learning these differences will give you a better idea of the storytelling mindset that one should have when approaching writing a screenplay or, more importantly, converting a novel to a screenplay.

This could help you with collaboration when you find a screenwriter. Or, it could motivate you to just convert it yourself.

At any rate, good luck.

Maryn · Oct 16, 2005

Oh, I hate being the bearer of iffy news. Tarra, you would be wise to check out Absolute Write's Bewares and Background Checks board, where you will find many, many messages about your publisher--and that you probably don't own the rights to your own book.

The best course of action is to confirm whether you have retained those rights in the specific contract you and PublishAmerica entered into. If you haven't, start your next book or a different screenplay and chalk this one up to experience. (If my memory is right, the rights may revert to you in seven years, so you could write that screenplay now and not attempt to sell it until you own the rights--but this is something to look into for yourself, rather than take my word.)

Maryn, sorry not to be able to say something more positive. Except "Welcome!"

tarra74 · Oct 16, 2005

Maryn said:
Oh, I hate being the bearer of iffy news. Tarra, you would be wise to check out Absolute Write's Bewares and Background Checks board, where you will find many, many messages about your publisher--and that you probably don't own the rights to your own book.

The best course of action is to confirm whether you have retained those rights in the specific contract you and PublishAmerica entered into. If you haven't, start your next book or a different screenplay and chalk this one up to experience. (If my memory is right, the rights may revert to you in seven years, so you could write that screenplay now and not attempt to sell it until you own the rights--but this is something to look into for yourself, rather than take my word.)

Maryn, sorry not to be able to say something more positive. Except "Welcome!"

According to my contract, I still own the movie rights.

NikeeGoddess · Oct 17, 2005

what Opty said - go here and invest: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-form/103-4040578-8309459

Jaws is a great example. The book and the flick are so very different. And they're both excellent...and both written by Benchly (who incidentally said he would never adapt another b/c it was so difficult; regardless of the fact that he did an excellent job adapting his own work) Also keep in mind that even after writing a script it will most likely be rewritten to fit the actor who is cast to play the part. An entire rewrite was done just to accommodate the little known Richard Dreyfus who begged and begged for the role.

The Green Mile is great example of a short story adaptation. However, I believe that when King wrote the story he had so much background material in the making that it wasn't too difficult to come up with a feature length idea.

Maryn · Oct 17, 2005

NikeeGoddess said:
The Green Mile is great example of a short story adaptation. However, I believe that when King wrote the story he had so much background material in the making that it wasn't too difficult to come up with a feature length idea.

Actually, the amount of material in a typical movie is a lot more like a longish short story than a novel. That's part of the reasons novels can be so hard to adapt--what do you cut? (Too often, the stuff that made the novel great, IMO.)

Maryn

Optimus · Oct 17, 2005

Not really, because short story structure is different from film (dramaturgical) structure. Don't confuse length for structure.

Most short stories (like short films) lack a fully developed 2nd act. It's just not part of the structure.

Dramaturgical structure MUST have a well-developed 2nd act. That is the heart of the story.

Edited to add: However, when converting short stories to screenplays, it might seem "easier" to the screenwriter due to the fact that they may find it easier to add story material (to the short story) than to take away material (from the novel).

Mac H. · Oct 17, 2005

Hi Tara,

There is an earlier discussion on the topic here: http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19571

And yes, PublishAmerica (aka America House) doesn't take the movie rights to a book, so you are fine with that.

But I think you may have your logic slightly backwards. You want someone to invest $30 MILLION dollars in a project to have the end result of increasing the sales by a couple of hundred of a self-published POD book ?

(Yes, I know that Publish America technically isn't self-publishing. For the sake of the argument, they are near enough)

It is also backward for another reason - imagine a meeting with a producer: "Sure, I'll take a look at it. Based on one of those Harry Potter books was it? Not Harry Potter? 'Druxel Manor'? Sounds pretty cool. How many million copies did it sell?"

Your best bet is probably to write it yourself. You'll learn a bit along the way, too.

And the good news is that movies take so long between conception and appearing at the theatre, that your book will be free from the clutches of PA by the time the movie comes out!

Mac
(PS: And please modify my comment in the link on the subject of novellas & short stories with Opti's correction.)

tarra74 · Oct 18, 2005

Mac H. said:
Hi Tara,

There is an earlier discussion on the topic here: http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19571

And yes, PublishAmerica (aka America House) doesn't take the movie rights to a book, so you are fine with that.

But I think you may have your logic slightly backwards. You want someone to invest $30 MILLION dollars in a project to have the end result of increasing the sales by a couple of hundred of a self-published POD book ?

(Yes, I know that Publish America technically isn't self-publishing. For the sake of the argument, they are near enough)

It is also backward for another reason - imagine a meeting with a producer: "Sure, I'll take a look at it. Based on one of those Harry Potter books was it? Not Harry Potter? 'Druxel Manor'? Sounds pretty cool. How many million copies did it sell?"

Your best bet is probably to write it yourself. You'll learn a bit along the way, too.

And the good news is that movies take so long between conception and appearing at the theatre, that your book will be free from the clutches of PA by the time the movie comes out!

Mac
(PS: And please modify my comment in the link on the subject of novellas & short stories with Opti's correction.)

Another Publish America author just got his contracted to a major motion picture, so I know it can be done.

Sheryl Nantus · Oct 18, 2005

tarra74 said:
Another Publish America author just got his contracted to a major motion picture, so I know it can be done.

details, please?

Mac H. · Oct 18, 2005

tarra74 said:
(Someone else).. just got his contracted to a major motion picture, so I know it can be done.

I suspect you'll find that someone is being very liberal with the truth. I hope not - there's really no reason that it couldn't happen, but some people associated with that group tend to have a rather thin grip on the realities of the world.

Considering that it is also home to a loose gripped fellow who wrote his name backwards to become his own 'publicist' and then decided that he'd run a multimillion dollar auction on E-bay (but violating the ebay auction rules!), I rather suspect that somebody simply sold the rights to themselves (or partner), and then claimed it was a 'major' motion picture.

I hope I'm wrong. The silly thing is that there are some quite good books which come out of PA as well, but they aren't the ones we hear about.

Mac

In Need Of Some Help

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