I was contacted by a management company who says their client wants to option my book. Unfortunately, the publisher still owns the copyright (though I get 50% cut if they sell it). I am just wondering whether there is anyway I can leverage this moment to get involved in writing the screenplay for it. Am I nuts?
First a sad warning: if the company is asking for any money, the offer is quite possibly a scam. Here’s hoping yours is a legit offer.
I just had a conversation with a movie producer (no offer!) who said that generally, you submit your book to an agent who shops it around as a book.
Apparently, all Hollywood loves developing books into movies.
As I understand it, however, most of the time, the producers et al. want to choose the screenwriters. I supposed that you could hold the line and say, “I want to write it or I don’t want the deal.” I am sure plenty of authors have said that!
A related conversation:
A few years back, I heard Girl with a Pearl Earring author Tracy Chevalier discuss her book/movie deal. She, too, wanted to write her own script. She said that the way it was explained to her, the two are completely different skills. The producers and her agent convinced her readily to hand it over to the artist whose career with was to write script, Perhaps she could focus on her next novel?
Self-absorbedly: I made the same decision about recording the audio book for As Far as You Can Go Before you Have to Come Back. I have a dramatic flair — ok, I’m a total ham — and I would have enjoyed the process and the challenge. However, no matter how talented I believe I am, the pro would be better.
We are not shocked, shocked to report that Melinda turned out to be far better.
Ultimately, I was relieved not to have responsibility of recording the audio book. (Listen to the Audible sample. TW for sexual assault of a child.) I did, indeed, use the time to move forward with my novel-in-progress. From my perspective: win-win.