(for those feeling bummed by the industry's lackluster responses to, and reviews of, their unpublished manuscripts)
I am currently in talks with an American studio who contacted me recently about the novel I have on view here. They wish to option both the movie and merchandising rights to BOT--and its sequel--in order to adapt the work for film, possibly to sell to the Scyfy Channel if the producer can get those folks to quickly bite. While not a mega-million affair, the studio's initial offer ain't too shabby, IMHO, considering the work is unpublished and I don't have to write a script myself. What's more, I would retain all the publishing rights, including digital.
So...don't know if I will sign on the dotted line or wot, and certainly this ain't a typical scenario at all, in fact it's kinda reversed of how things are *supposed* to happen, but it demonstrates the unpredictable nature of this business and so should provide yet another incentive for not getting discouraged or, even worse, doing something rash (like yanking your book previews from the internet).
On this same subject, HarperCollins, I pored over your advice threads this week, but could find NO information whatsoever about optioning novels or tips on how to negotiate optioning terms if a film studio contacts you about buying your story. I was surprised by this dearth of info, since clearly this does happen once in a blue moon. You should remedy that, I think. I'm a bit of a research buff, that is true, I quite like investigating things, but in the present case I've been required to respond very quickly (back and forth) and to be on the ball at all times about a subject that, as an independent, I was not all that familiar with, so it would have helped immensely if I could've just studied on these forums first instead of fishing all over the web. It's cool, though, no probs (so far) but...
Just saying.
E.R.
I'll provide an update to this post, if any, either here or on one or all of my webbies.
Posted: 29/04/2012 14:23:44
Last Edit: 29/04/2012 14:25:01 by Eponymous Rox
report abuse