Hello all, I'm mulling the idea of adapting a novel (in PD) into an episodic series. I actually wrote/produced an audio drama of this title 11 years ago, which still continues to do good business on CD's and DLs... so I have the audio scripts as a base that I can adapt for TV. This is my question - I did a IMDB search and saw that this title as been "in development" with Warners for the past 8 years. Would you consider it a waste of time to proceed working on a series pilot based on this book, or is 8 years in development considered "project is cold" at this this point? About 10 years ago there was a new theatrical "Poseidon Adventure" and a TV mini-series at the same time , so maybe it doesn't matter. Just looking for some input. Thanks!
Screenwriting : Looking for opinions by Jerry Robbins
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I would pursue it if it's your passion project. Make it really good and it may actually cross paths with the other project.
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It is a waste of your Time to write an entire TV series alone.
What is your TV experience and background? Best selling novelist? Pulitzer Journalist?
I guess you can write it out and use as sample specs, apply for a Staff job, work a few years in TV, build a rep and then pitch to a Network Exec.
Then again, Mickey Fisher had 0 TV experience and he went from unknown to primetime TV in 8-10 months with Spielberg & William Morris Agency as his backers.
write the pilot. Never know until you have something to show.
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If you own it do what you want with it. :)
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Hi Dan, no TV experience, and relatively new to screenplays... finished three to date. However I have written over 470 audio dramas, which include several audio drama series (one of which ran 12 seasons, 162 half hour episodes) - so I'm familiar with editing a script down for time and content, both original and adaptation from novels (I worked with Ray Bradbury on four of his books, adapting them to audio drama projects). So I'm not a novice at story telling, but yes, new to writing screenplays. For the project I was posting about, I wouldn't go beyond a pilot pitch to see what the interest level was. My concern was about the "in development" factor, and the time it's been there. Thanks for the great response, I appreciate it.
Hi Jerry
any chance Bradbury's former literary Reps or contacts can help you?
As far as "in development", who knows? I don't. don't know if any Stage 32 Writers have created a network show.
But ideas take time. lot and lots of Time. I follow Writers on Twitter and Scott Frank tweeted after 14-years, his TV idea finally got greenlit.
Javier Marxuach is in Year 3 development of "Xena" reboot.
Hi Jerry titles can't be copyrighted, I read somewhere. So go ahead, you have just as many rights as a studio.
Hi Paulette; it's actually a book that is in PD... I wrote and produced a 7 hour audio drama version years ago, and its still a top seller for us. I love the story, and thought that it might make a good series (Like they did with War and Peace, a series based on the actual book) - and there is another I saw recently - title escapes me - which is an adaptation of a book, and they are breaking it down into at least 2 seasons. So that's what I was thinking. I'm not worried about the copyright - my concern was, if the title has been "in development" for 8 or 9 years... is that common, or does that usually signal a deal gone dead.
Hi Dan, my dealings with Ray were set up by my publisher, but we really hit it off and his agents pretty much took a back seat. He would say "Let's do The Halloween Tree. Set it up." so I would have to tell my publisher, he told Ray's agents, and they didn't seem too happy being told I guess... but Ray wanted it done. I think they looked down on audio drama.
I know it's impossible getting a series done; I guess my idea might be called a mini-series, but the book I am thinking of could run at least 12 episodes. It's an adaptation of a very famous book, so it could have that going for it. Might be a good fit for Amazon or Netflix. First thing is to write the pilot, which was the reason for my original question about "in development," as this book has been listed as "in development" since 2008 at Warners.