I'm working to expand my offers the next time they ask "What else have you got?" I've written and self published five novels and thinking about adding them to the options. Anyone have any experience in pitching film adaptations of their own novels? Anything you've learned along the way, what to do and what NOT to do would be greatly appreciated.
Screenwriting : Pitching an Adaptation by Bill Albert
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Interested in following this Bill. I have also recently started adapting the first of my books.
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Hi Bill,
I think from a producer's perspective the allure with a screenplay based on a book is that it's based on IP with an inbuilt audience.
So I guess the question will be, how successful is the book that the screenplay is based on?
Otherwise, as pessimistic as this sounds, there's no difference between a spec and a screenplay based on an unknown novel. IMO you should concentrate your efforts on marketing and finding advocates for your book, before pitching a screenplay based on it.
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Expand your marketing universe. Grow an audience. Determine a 'following' number with at least 4 noughts in it and then approach the smaller, indie filmmaking studios.
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What Eoin said. Basically they are buying the novel's audience and recognition by those who may not have read it.
But, if the book has an amazing high concept story that can be made on a reasonable budget, it still might be something that you can pitch. A mind blowing idea that can be made inexpensively has a value. If you have a Horror story like HILL HOUSE or HELL HOUSE or earthbound science fiction like the original INVASION OF THE BODYSNATCHERS or one of those classic TWILIGHT ZONE episodes, or a romantic comedy like 50 FIRST DATES or PEGGY SUE GOT MARRIED, or something else where the idea is amazing but the cost of making the film is not - someone might be interested.
Then it's up to the execution. Just like with a script.
But mostly they only care about novels if they come with a few million loyal readers.
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Hi Bill. If you are pitching something based on another IP (including your own) be upfront with facts and figures about the number of copies sold, the size of any online fanbase and if it has been translated and sold in other languages as these will be the first things you will be asked about. These facts from the executive's point of view tells them that the concept is proven to an extent and lets them know the size of any pre-existing fanbase that can be used as a platform for marketing.
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Bill - I recently adapted a book series, of which I'm the author, into a TV pilot and series bible and successfully pitched and optioned the project. Here's some hopefully helpful advice. Of course, if you combine my advice with a five dollar bill, you'll just be able to buy a coffee at Starbucks. Maybe. Don't order the Venti. And try to tip your barista.
Anyway...
On the title page, add a sub-title that clearly states the script is adapted from a novel written by you. (adapted from the novel "X" by Bill Albert)
(BTW - if you're fortunate enough to option a script adapted from your own work, DO NOT give up the rights to the original IP just to get the option. That book has the potential to be a goldmine if the feature/series takes off. If you're at this point, you need to be talking to an entertainment attorney.)
Next, have the sales figures, social media followers, email list numbers, etc. available and don't even think about padding them to make your work seem more popular or more widely known than it is. That said, if you're on Amazon and participate in the Kindle Unlimited program, be sure to calculate the historical number of pages read against Amazon's page count for the eBook and include those as sales numbers. (40,000,000 pages read divided by 527 pages per book = 75,901 copies read as KU, PLUS the number of actual sales of eBooks and Paperbacks. DON'T forget Audiobook sales and rentals as a unique category)
On to writing the adaptation itself. I've optioned three scripts so far. One is the adaptation I mentioned above, the other two are original stories. IMHO, adapting your own work will by far be the hardest thing you've ever done. You will have to forget all the detail and nuance that went into the book. That doesn't work in a screenplay. You have to show what your characters are thinking and why. You may need to add or remove or completely change characters. The story will likely change. You should consider locations, events, CGI, size of cast, etc that could bloat a production budget and make your script unattractive to a producer. Don't necessarily shy away from going big, but there'd better be a compelling reason for it and the potential producer had better be able to see what the payoff will be for the expense. If you're writing a character drama that's set on an alien world, for example, ask yourself how important the alien world (which will make a producer see $$$ flapping out the window) really is to the story. Can it be set in a coffee shop on Miami Beach instead? A cabin in the forest?
You may have the best script, the snappiest characters and the perfect dialogue, but as a new writer you're bludgeoning your chances for a sale if it's going to cost millions just to produce the teaser. You must consider YOUR audience, and by that I mean the studio execs who will be putting themselves on the line to spend money to produce your project. Don't give them an easy NO because of the budget.
Don't let anything I've said deter or discourage you. There's no better feeling than signing an option agreement for a script you've adapted from your own novel, but it's a journey and a very different mindset. Just remember, you're adapting something that was written with few constraints so the reader can form an image in their mind into a very specific blueprint for the creation of an actual image for the viewer to see. Oh, and I did 18 rewrites before my adaptation was good enough to be optioned.
Sorry for the long rant. I got carried away. Hope there's something in here that will help or inspire.
Always forward, forward always! Good luck!
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Thanks for your advice. It's a lot more complicated than I expected and I see just how much it's asking a producer to commit to. Especially since it doesn't have a really big built in audience to back it up. I'm going to have to do some rethinking on this one nd spend some time trying to expand the audience and promote the novels. At least I can get something ready if things get picked up.
Got a notification today that my pilot script was selected for the Cannes Film Awards. Hoping at least getting selected for something like that will at least give me a little clout when I pitch the scripts.