Make Your Story a Movie: Adapting Your Book or Idea for Hollywood - Softcover

Marlow, John Robert

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1250001838 ISBN 13: 9781250001832

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin, 2012

Synopsis

.

$50 Billion of Advice in One Book*

Have you ever wondered why some books and stories are adapted into movies, and others aren't? Or wished you could sit down and pick the brains of the people whose stories have been adapted--or the screenwriters, producers, and directors who adapted them?

Author John Robert Marlow has done it for you. He spoke to book authors, playwrights, comic book creators and publishers, as well as Hollywood screenwriters, producers and directors responsible for adapting fictional and true stories into Emmy-winning TV shows, Oscar-winning films, billion-dollar megahits and smaller independents. Then he talked to the entertainment attorneys who made the deals.

He came away with a unique understanding of adaptations--an understanding he shares in this book: which stories make good source material (and why); what Hollywood wants (and doesn't); what you can (and can't) get in a movie deal; how to write and pitch your story to maximize the chances of a Hollywood adaptation--and how much (and when) you can expect to be paid.

*This book contains the distilled experience of creators, storytellers and others whose works have earned over $50 billion worldwide.

Whether you're looking to sell film rights, adapt your own story (alone or with help), or option and adapt someone else's property--this book is for you. 

Visit the Make Your Story a Movie blog for sample chapters and additional content.

About this title

About the Author

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: John Robert Marlow is an award-winning novelist, screenwriter, and adaptation consultant whose nonfiction articles have appeared in the Screenwriter's and Playwright's Market and the Novel and Short Story Writer's Market (both published by Writer's Digest Books), The Writer, Writers' Journal, the Self Editing Blog, Backspace, Women On Writing, Writing-World, Fellow Script, Parade, and numerous other print and online publications. He recently closed a Hollywood script deal--an adaptation he wrote and will executive produce, with an estimated budget of $60 million.

Visit the Make Your Story a Movie blog for additional content.

Reviews

Anyone following movie trends can see that adaptations are hot right now, with hit films being culled from best-selling book series (such as Harry Potter or the Hunger Games), comics (Marvel’s The Avengers), or even theme-park rides (The Pirates of the Caribbean films). Novelist and screenwriter Marlow has penned a helpful guide to turning an idea or a book property into a screenplay and getting that script sold. The writing basics are here: Marlow breaks down the elements of a commercial script and offers tips for writing the all-important logline. But Marlow also details how consultants can aid those who need help honing their screenplay, and offers suggestions for hiring a screenwriter for those who would rather have someone else pen the idea. He educates readers on the roles of managers, agents, and studios, as well as explaining the difference between an option and a sale. Featuring quotes from Hollywood success stories such as screenwriter Paul Haggis and producer Gale Anne Hurd, this is a comprehensive and practical guide for aspiring writers and producers. --Kristine Huntley

Edition details

• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
• Publication date: 2012
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1250001838
• ISBN 13: 9781250001832
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 294