Adaptive Screenplay

P

pepsidude32

Member
How would one go about writting a screenplay based on an existing book? Should I try to aquire the rights to the book myself before marketing the script??
 
You cannot adapt it without permission...at least not legally. What you need to do is find the representative of the author and request an option...the amount you may be required to pay can depend on the book and how big it is but the information that you will require should be in the opening pages...

If you get an option, it usually has a time limit at which point if you have not secured anything the author or his rep can either grant you another option (at a price) or give it to someone else or even keep it to themselves...if you do happen score a sale of your adaptation, you will then be required to pay the full amount of the rights...an option is usually a small percentage of the full value...sometimes 10%...

Hope that helps some...

Best,
Stan harrington,
www.xristosproductions.com
www.igfdb.com
 
Stan's advice is spot on. I would add that you should write a great original spec (or ten) and pitch them to producers. Once you find a producer who likes your writing and wants to work with you, then you can mention to the producer that you want to adapt this novel. It's much easier for an established producer to secure the rights to a novel then it is for an unproduced writer, and it won't have to foot the bill for the option.
 
If the book is pre-copyright era, you are free to adapt it however you may wish. I myself considered a Lovecraft adaptation.
 
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