Fourth grader gets six figure book/movie deal

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Alex Greven's 30 handwritten pages entitled "Girls" is now a movie deal. The nine-year-old got "low-to-mid six figures" for the movie rights to "How to Talk to Girls" from the book Harper Collins adopted from his, uh, manuscript.

Some tidbits: comb your hair and don't wear sweats; control your hyperness and cut down on sugar if necessary.

So there it is. The 2009 trend might be writing like a 9-year-old. Get out your pencils, girls. I'm sure some movie mogul will offer you a bundle for a competing "How to Talk to Boys." :)

Here's a link:

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3iea59cb79796a9dff3ef92b089a2a1cd7
 

JJ Cooper

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Good for him - well done and let's hope he finishes his schooling and stays away from The Viper Room.

JJ
 

Ken

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...when I was back in fourth grade boys were more interested in How Not to Talk to Girls. Sixth grade was a different matter, though ;-)
 

Beach Bunny

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It was just a matter of time for literature to follow art into the "Jeez, it looks like a six year old did that." :rolleyes: I shudder to think what future historians will make of this era.
 

swvaughn

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I think something inside me just broke.
 

Shady Lane

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So if nine years old is abysmal, what's a proper age to start writing with the intent to sell?

I wrote my first published book when I was fourteen.
 

Phaeal

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Gosh, it's got to be rough for all those teenage writers who are now officially over the hill, like the rest of us dinosaurs. ;)

Me, I'm waiting for the toddler-written porn market to open up before I jump off the bridge.
 

Darzian

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I'm personally interested in seeing the contents of this book.

...when I was back in fourth grade boys were more interested in How Not to Talk to Girls. Sixth grade was a different matter, though ;-)

Things are changing.
Note: talking from experience.:Lecture:
 

MoonWriter

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Gosh, it's got to be rough for all those teenage writers who are now officially over the hill, like the rest of us dinosaurs. ;)

Me, I'm waiting for the toddler-written porn market to open up before I jump off the bridge.

:roll:
 

Ugawa

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Gosh, it's got to be rough for all those teenage writers who are now officially over the hill, like the rest of us dinosaurs. ;)

Me, I'm waiting for the toddler-written porn market to open up before I jump off the bridge.[/quote]

:roll:
 

Tirjasdyn

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Alex Greven's 30 handwritten pages entitled "Girls" is now a movie deal. The nine-year-old got "low-to-mid six figures" for the movie rights to "How to Talk to Girls" from the book Harper Collins adopted from his, uh, manuscript.

Some tidbits: comb your hair and don't wear sweats; control your hyperness and cut down on sugar if necessary.

So there it is. The 2009 trend might be writing like a 9-year-old. Get out your pencils, girls. I'm sure some movie mogul will offer you a bundle for a competing "How to Talk to Boys." :)

Here's a link:

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3iea59cb79796a9dff3ef92b089a2a1cd7


I saw the interview with this kid. This is a publicity stunt. Boy admitted none of this worked for him. Lol. Sigh.
 

Kitty Pryde

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To be fair, it's just an option, not a movie deal. But, um, wouldn't a movie about 9 year olds romancing each other just be creepy and gross? ditto for a movie about a 9 year old giving dating advice to skeevy grown men! how can that be good at all? It's just a gag gift book that no one will remember next year. But the kid is a little smarty, and I say, good for him. Now he has the money to pay for college and MFA program!
 

WendyNYC

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To be fair, it's just an option, not a movie deal. But, um, wouldn't a movie about 9 year olds romancing each other just be creepy and gross?

Yes. I have a 9-year-old, and, as far as I can tell, they are still in the girls/boys have cooties stage.
 

katiemac

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Well, let's break this down. His book is nonfiction, a self-help guide, advice about girls written by a young kid. I see why HarperCollins picked it up and published.

The movie option is an option and, being an advice guide, someone is going to have to write a story that goes with this book. It could be anything--probably a romantic comedy not about nine year olds, but a movie that features a wise kid--and there you go. You get the book buyers interested as well as the regular romantic comedy crowd.

It's not like he's written an epic literary tome and got it published and made into a movie. And even if he did, all that proves is that if you really want something, you can do it, too.
 

Little Red Barn

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I think this is cool. In the past I've worked with this age group and their Young Author's entries. As well, had the privledge of seeing some mighty fine plot developing, geared of course to their peers.
 

KTC

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...when I was back in fourth grade boys were more interested in How Not to Talk to Girls. Sixth grade was a different matter, though ;-)

I think you have yourself an idea for the sequel. Copyright that fast!
 

IceCreamEmpress

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Well, let's break this down. His book is nonfiction, a self-help guide, advice about girls written by a young kid. I see why HarperCollins picked it up and published.

Oh, yes. It's a cute stunt.

The movie option is an option and, being an advice guide, someone is going to have to write a story that goes with this book. It could be anything--probably a romantic comedy not about nine year olds, but a movie that features a wise kid--and there you go. You get the book buyers interested as well as the regular romantic comedy crowd.

Yes, it's probably going to have Adam Sandler as the single dad whose 9-year-old son teaches him how to win the woman of his dreams (Scarlett Johansson as the world's most expensively dressed elementary school teacher).



Guys? It's not like the people at HarperCollins decided to take this book instead of the books what you wrote. They took this book because they thought it would be a fun, headline-grabbing stunt, and because they bet they can move copies (great gag gift for guys to give to their single friends, for instance: "Hey, Joe, maybe this 9-year-old can help!")
 
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