A Hollywood offer on my book.....!

[aruna]

Naw, just kidding - but that got you in here, didn't it???

However, when I got back from Germany and listened to my phone messages, there was one from the UK Film Council (http://www.ukfilmcouncil.org.uk/). I had sent them the screenplay of my first novel, Of Marriageable Age; I wrote it a couple of years ago and though there was some interest in it back then, it went nowhere. A few weeks ago I found it again, dusted it off, and sent it to the BBC and the Film Council. The Film Council plays a huge role in discovering and developing British films, and also funds them.

Anyway, the message said, they won't be developing it but still they really enjoyed it and would like to meet me to talk about it. I have to call them back today and will find out more.... I'll keep you posted.:banana:

[reph]

Let me be the first to–

Oh.

What might they want to talk to you about?

[aruna]

I have no idea! But if they liked it, they might have suggestions as to where I might offer it, and even help me to get it noticed. One can hope and wish, can't one?
The problem with making a movie of this film is that it would be very expensive - that was what I was told four years ago. A Columbia movie producer read the book and sent it to her people in Hollywood, and that was what they said back then. The expense comes from the foreign locations.

[Lantern Jack]

Is your name Sharon Maas? I went to www.bn.com (http://www.bn.com) and typed in "Of Marriageable Age" and that's the name that came up. Is this your book...

http://images.barnesandnoble.com/images/3380000/3384583.gif

...That was the cover listed on the page. Alas, no further info, save the publishing house---South Asia. So, is this your tome? And, if so, what's the origin story? Are there any other works I should know about?

[mdin]

Yes, Jack. That is one of her books.



Anyway, the message said, they won't be developing it but still they really enjoyed it and would like to meet me to talk about it.

That's awesome! I think. What can they do for you if they're not developing it? :Hail:

[SusanR]

Good luck tomorrow with the phone call. I hope something good comes of it for you...:)

SusanR

(I'm not usually up this late--it's 2am my time--but I have a sick child and am on Mommy duty. If I could think straighter, I would do my daily writing quota now, but I'm too fuzzy and woozy. I usually get up to write at 4:30am! It's been a LOOOONG day.)

[aruna]

Yes, that's the book. It's also on amazon.com, but it's not available normally in the US, as it was not published by a US publisher.
It was rather annoying when one of the US agents I had queried replied saying that she had researched my books and they weren't selling well on amazon.com. Well, they aren't supposed to be there at all!

[Andrew]

:Hail: All right, Aruna! Knock 'em over with your idea! Congratulations many times!

[aruna]

:Hail: All right, Aruna! Knock 'em over with your idea! Congratulations many times!

Thanks.. but, she's out of the office till Monday....aaaaargh!!!!!

[Mike Coombes]

Congratulations, Sharon!

Sharon doesn't blow her own trumpet enough. You can find the rest of her published novels at www.sharonmaas.com

[aruna]

Congratulations, Sharon!

Sharon doesn't blow her own trumpet enough. You can find the rest of her published novels at www.sharonmaas.com (http://www.sharonmaas.com/)
Mike doesn't blow his own trumpet enough either. He made my website and specializes in author websites and I can't recommend him enough!
Kissing The Frog (http://design.write-across-europe.com/)

[SusanR]

Oh!

It's a really beautiful website. One of the best author-websites I've seen. There's enough to intrigue, inform, and tantalize, and not a whit too much. So many authors can't seem to edit their websites, it's as if they stash everything they can't publish in a book on it. Not so Aruna's....it's visually beautiful and perfectly worded.


****tipping her virtual hat****
SusanR

[Mike Coombes]

Sharon I'm blushing!!

It's easy to produce a website like that when you have such delightful material (and a great client!) to work with! I'm proud of the site, and doubly proud that Sharon trusted me with it.

[aruna]

Oh!



****tipping her virtual hat****
SusanR

Tip it to Mike!

[SusanR]

Tip it to Mike!


To both of you!

SusanR

[Mike Coombes]

I can't remember which commedian used to say this (maybe Eric Morcambe?)

"Don't applaud, just throw money!"

[KelseyF]

If they don't want to develop this particular screenplay, but still want to meet with you to discuss it, this is a *good* thing. It is likely they might have you in mind to develop, write, or rewrite one of their existing projects.

[stormie]

Congrats, Aruna (Sharon)! How are you going to make it 'til Monday??? Let us know what happens.

[SeanDSchaffer]

Congratulations, Aruna! I hope this all works out well for you; it sounds like a great opportunity.


http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif

[maestrowork]

If they don't want to develop this particular screenplay, but still want to meet with you to discuss it, this is a *good* thing. It is likely they might have you in mind to develop, write, or rewrite one of their existing projects.

Either that or they want to explore your other books... Good going, Sharon, and best wishes to you!

(Now if only Ang Lee would film my novel...)

[Maryn]

(Ang Lee told me he's got a problem with your dimples...)

Aruna, that's great! Of course they don't want to talk to you because they thought the script was interesting, though they won't be producing it. I imagine they want to explore whether you have other scripts or are available to screenwrite something that needs a rewrite. Good news for you either way!

Maryn, proud of you (yeah, like I had anything to do with it)

[katee]

aruna, that's absolutely fabulous! Congratulations!

Of Marriageable Age is an outstanding book - for those of you that haven't read it, do - and would be a wonderful movie.

[jen.nifer]

Hi Aruna, WOW. Keep us posted.

[aruna]

Thanks to everyone! And I really, really hope that it doesn't involve any kind of rewriting or new screenwriting of other books - though it was an interesting task, adapting this to a screenplay, and I learnt a lot out of doing it, I am I'm definitely a novelist an dnot a screenwriter. They'd be welcome, however, to develop the other books!
I don't know how I'll make it till Monday. Yet I think it best not to get any hopes up. That's a certain path to disappointment. So, Aruna, breathe deeply and get on with life...

[jst5150]

Excellent. Congrats on your hard work and earned opportunity.

[katee]

So, Aruna, breathe deeply and get on with life...
Don't do that! Get on with writing your next book - I'm dying to read another one of yours ... :)

[aruna]

She just called me.
We are going to meet next Tuesday in London.
She said that although they are not going foward with it she really enjoyed it and wants to discuss how to move forward with it, and also any other projects I may have.

Well, I once a wrote a treatment for The Speech of Angels, my third book. I think it could make a good movie without all the complications of OMA. Think I'll work on that and get it polished to show her. The logline I had for it at the time was "Little Voice with a Violin."

Wish me luck!

[LieselGarmach]

Sounds promising!!!

Will be sending positive vibes that direction Sunday night/early Monday morning!

[aruna]

I got a letter from them today.
Basically, it said what i already knew, confirming the meeting next week.
But also, they suggested I send it in to the Script Factory (another non-profit script development agency) for a full report, which they would finance; if I then choose to revise the script according to the report they will look at it again.
I guess that's a good start, though I don't particularly relish any more work on it. But I guess once I get into it I'll enjoy it. Now where did I leave my First Draft software.....

[SeanDSchaffer]

I think it's awesome they're willing to work with you on your manuscript, Aruna. I wish you the best of success with your new version. Good luck to you!

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif

[aruna]

Yesterday I went for my talk with the Film Council.

The person dealing with it told me she really enjoyed my script. She said most adaptations don't get the characterisation right' - it's hard to bring across what's going on in a character's head, but mine was brilliant.
However, there are some problems with the structure which is why they rejected it for the time being. It needs reworking, to focus on one charcter, and a simplicfication of the structure and time-line. I should work on this, and they'll work on it with me, helping and advising along the way. After I've reworked it to their satisfaction - which could take some time, even years - she'll pass it on to the senior executive with a high recommendation. At that point, or even earlier, they approach directors and producers. The script would be forwarded to such with a high recommendation from the Film Council.

Next, we talked about other projects. I gave her two treatments, one of Speech of Angels and one of my present unpublished tome. I pitched Speech of Angels toher and her eyes gleamed; she really liked it. She wants to pass that treatment on with a copy of the novel right away; she was worried about it being too long, but I told her the story is so straightforward (unlike my other books) that it can easily be made to fit the 120 standard minutes.

I told her that Last of the Sugar Gods was probably unsuitable at the moment, as it's another complicated structure. I prefer to wait for that till the book is piblished.

The I pitched an idea I'd just had that morning, travelling to London in the train. It's for an original script this time. To be based on the Jim Jones mass suicide in Jonesville, Guyana. Crazy - she had never heard of it - she's quite young, and that was over 20 years ago. She was so fascinated she couldn't believe that nobody used it for a movie already.
The thing is, I know that area. A few years before that happened some friends and I bought some land and started a farm in the jungle, right near to where Jonesville happened, so I know what's involved in setting up such a community.
I think a fantastic movie could grow out of that idea - I just have to think up a great story to weave into that event. Its a subject that fascinates me - why do people join cults? And it could satisfy on many levels; you've got the morbid curiosity of the masses into 800 people dying in the jungle of poisoned Koolaid , and then the psychology behind how that could happen in the first place. It's a hell of a project - but it's my next. In January I'm going to start working on it.

Over the last couple of weeks I've been feeling I need a break from novel writing. I feel like a mother who's had three (four!) babies and needs a pause from baby-making! So a year or two of working with scripts sounds good right now. Not that scripts are easier - it's just less gut-wrenching.

Oh - in spite of all this good news, my main problem has yet to be solved. No mention was ever made of money; at this stage there's not even a whiff of the stuff. So I guess I'll have to starve in my garrett for a little while longer!

[My-Immortal]

The I pitched an idea I'd just had that morning, travelling to London in the train. It's for an original script this time. To be based on the Jim Jones mass suicide in Jonesville, Guyana. Crazy - she had never heard of it - she's quite young, and that was over 20 years ago. She was so fascinated she couldn't believe that nobody used it for a movie already.
The thing is, I know that area. A few years before that happened some friends and I bought some land and started a farm in the jungle, right near to where Jonesville happened, so I know what's involved in setting up such a community.
I think a fantastic movie could grow out of that idea - I just have to think up a great story to weave into that event. Its a subject that fascinates me - why do people join cults? And it could satisfy on many levels; you've got the morbid curiosity of the masses into 800 people dying in the jungle of poisoned Koolaid , and then the psychology behind how that could happen in the first place. It's a hell of a project - but it's my next. In January I'm going to start working on it.

Because they didn't have forum boards to post on? (meant to be slightly humorous, but still...I wonder if these people weren't SO lonely that they were willing to turn to anyone that would listen to them or pay them any amount of attention....) Good luck with your project. :)

Take care all -

[Old Hack]

Wonderful news, Sharon! Fingers are crossed for you.

[SusanR]

Wow....awesome news...thanks for the update. I'm old enough to remember the Jones mass suicide, and I think it's a brilliant idea for a movie script.

As far as money goes...I may sound naive to you, but would this be a good time to have an agent talking to these people on your behalf?

SusanR

[aruna]

As far as money goes...I may sound naive to you, but would this be a good time to have an agent talking to these people on your behalf?

SusanR

No. The Film Council is not a production company itself; it's only there to further the entire British film industry, find talented directors, scriptwriters etc.
When the time comes, and the script is ready, they will help me find an agent or a producer; and though they help with the funding of a movie, they do not themselves buy or option scripts.

[Master Bedroom]

I think a fantastic movie could grow out of that idea - I just have to think up a great story to weave into that event. Its a subject that fascinates me - why do people join cults?

People join cults, because they are vulnerable, most likely rejects who long for acceptance, they find it in cults who offer them allot of love and a sense of fellowship and belonging.

The problem is, they let you in, but not out.

It can also be, that some people are sick of the mainstream and seek alternative spirituality, but its mostly the former, hey, look at Tom Cruis-lol!!!

[aruna]

People join cults, because they are vulnerable, most likely rejects who long for acceptance, they find it in cults who offer them allot of love and a sense of fellowship and belonging.



The question was actually rhetorical; I wasn't really looking for an answer on this thread. I have some personal experience with a cult-ish group and it's going to be interesting researching the whole topic thoroughly.

[egem]

Aruna I think this is great news all around. I am very happy for you and hope to see your work on the big screen soon. It sounds like they are interested in YOU and not just the work you put down. Maybe being that the piece you sent was a few years old, maybe now you will rewrite it or write another piece that will KO them. I hope so. All the best.

[Yaslan]

:hi: Aruna. Congratulations! :banana: i tried checking out the libraries here in the U.S. but they didn't have your book. Hopefully they'll come to their senses and order it soon :Clap:

[blisswriter]

Congratulations Sharon and good luck with it all. I would particularly like to see something come of the Jim Jones pitch. I think I was in my early teens when that all happened. Don't quite remember... I do remember that I was totally obsessed with it all.

I cut out and saved all the newspaper clippings, read all the books I could find, watched the news coverage on telly, and watched the movies. That was back then.

About a year or two ago, I came across a book about the events that I'd never seen. Then another movie came on and I was drawn back in.

Even though I know it was all true, I kept wanting something different to happen so that the outcome would be different somehow. All those people, especially the babies, murdered so callously.







The I pitched an idea I'd just had that morning, travelling to London in the train. It's for an original script this time. To be based on the Jim Jones mass suicide in Jonesville, Guyana. Crazy - she had never heard of it - she's quite young, and that was over 20 years ago. She was so fascinated she couldn't believe that nobody used it for a movie already.
The thing is, I know that area. A few years before that happened some friends and I bought some land and started a farm in the jungle, right near to where Jonesville happened, so I know what's involved in setting up such a community.

[September skies]

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif what exciting news Aruna, you go girl!

[aruna]

:hi: Aruna. Congratulations! :banana: i tried checking out the libraries here in the U.S. but they didn't have your book. Hopefully they'll come to their senses and order it soon :Clap:

Sadly, you won't find my books in the US, as I never found a US publisher. So the books are not in bookshops, amazon.com, and much less so in libraries. I hope that next time around that will change....

Thanks to everyone for their good wishes - now send me some good vibes for that blockbuster, Oscar-winning movie - I promise to find roles for the actors among you!

[Yaslan]

Let the magic surround you and may you always drink from the cup of life :Fairydust Sends many sweet prayers for that future blockbuster oscar winning movie of yours! :PartySmil

[Old Hack]

Although your books might not have sold into America, Sharon, I bet that people from the USA could still log in to Amazon.co.uk and buy them from there: I've bought books from Amazon.com here in the UK, without any problems.


If that doesn't work then there's always AbeBooks.com or AbeBooks.co.uk, where you can find second-hand books from around the world. Useful for readers but I always use it as a last resort because writers don't earn royalties from second-hand sales.