Adapting published work

dougspice

dougspice

Veteran
Here's a question I've not found a suitable answer to: I am interested in adapting a published short story as a film. What is the process I need to pursue? The author has been dead for nearly 20 years, and the story was written nearly 30 years ago. It has since been published in several anthologies, by different publishers. How do I find out which of these publishers holds the rights, if any, to the story, and how do I proceed to secure the option?
 
I'd start by finding out who is responsible for the writer's estate. The most recent publisher is probably the best place to start searching for that info. From there you contact the executor of the estate to find out of the rights are available. If they are, then you make an offer based on whether it's a short or feature, your proposed budget, and the popularity of the writer. If we're talking about an obscure short story to be adapted into a short film, you might obtain rights for at little as a few hundred dollars - or maybe even free if the estate is handled by family who simply wish to see the work on screen. If you're talking about a very popular short story that would make a high concept big budget summer blockbuster, you might be talking 7 figures.
 
Hairy Lime is absolutely correct on how to approach this. Only thing I can add is that, unless you're really well-funded, you should project emphatically "poor but passionate" and request the rights for a no more than a year or so, with an option to renew after the term expires.

--msg
 
Thanks guys. I've sinced looked up the pieces in question in Studio Systems and found that all except for one story are available. And I found someone who had the contact info for the estate. Now it's time to do the real work!
 
dougspice said:
The author has been dead for nearly 20 years, and the story was written nearly 30 years ago.
Click to expand...
If he could go right to the author, he'd have even a better story!!!! :Drogar-BigGrin(DBG)
 
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