I recently finished a hilarious book by a best selling author and feel it would make a great film or TV series due to the contemporary elements of the story and its broad appeal. Never having optioned a book before, is there anyone that could help or be interested?
Producing : Anyone successfully optioned a book? by Jonathan Kramer
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Hey Jonathan! Not personally? Though I too have read some books and thought "this needs to be a film!".
Thanks..that said, I'd like to hear personal experiences and the best way to approach the author/publisher who in this case happens to be Irish!
Royer Franck I appreciate the offer but what I'm after is how optioning gets done since I've yet to take this direction with projects. That said, I'm in the US so I'll keep you in mind if you fund projects here. Thanks
Jonathan Kramer, if the book is a best seller, the author is likely represented by an experienced literary agent. Working through counsel to propose, negotiate, and document a deal for an option/purchase of the film rights is probably your best move.
Dane Johnson Thanks..its a recent release by a best selling author from Ireland but not necessarily a best seller..its a major departure from his other books which have been mysteries and YA genre..I appreciate the advice regardless :)
Jonathan Kramer, not legal advice, but thanks. if it’s a story you think has good potential to get set up somewhere or is one you can finance, optioning could be smart. Option and purchase agreements are negotiated at the same time, so a producer should have a somewhat clear idea of what the property would eventually look as a picture or series to figure out a price that will work with the project’s eventual budget.
Dane Johnson Great advice..truth be told, I've been developing an outline for a sitcom that bears similarity to the story by replacing characters and situations to match the brand of humor that appeals to a US market