How to Turn a Book Into a Movie

I’m often asked what I look for when I evaluate books for the movie biz.

First and foremost, I look for the elements that are important to my employers–things that they are specifically looking for in terms of genre, execution, etcetera. I read for a couple of different places, and each has a slightly different mandate.

In general, in order for a book to become a movie it has to have a strong, forward-moving plot line, and a premise that you can easily picture on a poster or in a TV ad campaign. Deal killers are:

1) The story has been done before
2) The concept is “soft”–takes too long to explain because it has a lot of nuance. This is also called “execution dependent.” The Hours is a prime example of this. Generally speaking, you can only get away with a soft concept when the book is a bestseller.
3) The story is small, meaning the stakes don’t feel like they matter very much or that the obstacles seem easily surmountable.

If you have read a book and think you have what it takes to turn it into a movie–

DO NOT START WRITING.

It is imperative that you obtain the film rights to the book before you begin the adaptation.

“But Superfast Reader, what if I write it so good that the movie people just have to have it?”

The answer to that is litigation.

If the rights have already been taken, not only will no one read your script, they might actually take legal action against you to stop you from writing (and the law would be on their side). In the case of Writers’ Guild credit arbitration, which determines, in the case of multiple writers, who contributed what elements to a screenplay, only writers hired by the rights-holder will be considered. So if you think one of your ideas ended up in the movie, you’re basically out of luck–unless you know for sure that someone at that company read your script and stole your idea. These kinds of lawsuits do happen, but they are very costly to bring to court. And because of high-profile story-stealing cases like Coming to America, studios, financiers, and production companies are on their guard. Nobody, and I mean nobody, in their right mind will touch your script for their with a 10-foot pole.

If the rights aren’t available, you might think that you should write the screenplay to prove that the book would make a great movie, enticing a moneybags to option the book for you. Here, you run the risk of losing the book to someone else, which would take you back into the nightmare of the 1st situation. You’re just setting yourself up for heartbreak.

To find out rights availability for a book, the official route is to call the publisher and ask to speak to “Subsidiary Rights.” More than likely, you will get a recording requesting that you fax or email a request. Some publishers have this information on their websites as well. You are inquiring about the film rights, and in your letter you must also establish why they should give you this information. If they don’t deem you a legitimate candidate, they might never, ever respond to you.

The good news is that many writers have websites and allow you to contact them directly. Your best bet, if you really fall in love with a book, is to make your case directly to the author, and get him on your side. If you’re lucky, you’ll hit it off and she’ll option her book to you. Now you have the legal right to shop the book around, write the screenplay, and make the movie.

Last night’s work read was the new book by a best-selling author who I just really don’t get at all. His books are way too weird for me, and this was no exception.

529 thoughts on “How to Turn a Book Into a Movie”

  1. Dear Tammy,
    As Ray has already said , Publish America does a lot of things for authors. I didn’t knew about them a lot but after your post I checked their web-site. So, contact there your publishing consultant and I’m sure they will help you out. Besides, one good advice I can give you is that if you’re going to make a book signing and other events too, do this:
    Manage everything on one day and ask your friends and other buyers to buy your book on some specific day. I don’t know what your book is about but if it’s connected with some special day, ask your buyers to buy your book that day on amazon.com. This will give high ranking to your book at amazon.com and maybe it will be listed in bestsellers’ list that day – it will be additional free advertising for your book.
    And of course, having flyers and etc will help you out as well. But at last, everything depends on what kind of book you have written, and what’s your target audience. That’s why I wanted to know more about your book. but as far as it’s published by Publish America I think there a publishing consultant will offer you great options for marketing your book. And if they won’t then let us know what’s your book about and etc, so we can come up with some ideas and draw a little marketing plan.

  2. Dear friends,
    This is for those who want to turn there book into movie.
    I accidentally found this web-site which I think can be helpful for you. This is the site of one literary agency which has some worthy information on filming options .
    Go to the link:

    http://www.theglobalbookagency.com/

    and then choose Film Options from the menu. I’m not sure if it’s gonna a serious help for you but I would take a look at it… 😉

  3. Hi Kopale,

    Thanks for the post, yes sure Kopale you deserve a place in heaven, why not, you have a room in heaven, because Jesus went to prepare a place for everybody, just believe that he is the son of God that he died for our sins, and rose again on 3rd day.Thank you so much for the web for global book agency am going to visit them. thank you for talking about book signing,am preparing my first book signing next month am not sure what to expect, can you tell me everything about book signing, thanks
    God bless

  4. Hi Ray

    Thanks for the post,and thank you for answering my question, wow 2-3 years is a long time am sure will make a good movie, one day, yes is true the books take many years to be discovered, how many copies you need to sell to make your book bestseller thanks and God bless you

  5. Thanks Josephine…

    Well, I don’t know, dear friend… even on this planet I’ve lived in the hell…. 🙂 So, I don’t expect something better up there somewhere :)… but you’re right, the God is great and maybe something at least there will be changed :)))… the main is that I don’t loose the faith and maybe that’s the reason which remains smile on my face :).

    I personally had only one book signing in my life… So, I’m not very experienced in that… and even that book signing was made by other people I didn’t even know normally… but from what I know and what I’ve read I can tell you for sure that everything at last depends on the content of the book while talking about marketing it and etc. You gotta know who is your target audience and from that you’ll draw a little plan which will lead you to the bigger one. Of course it’s great if there will be people from mass media on your event, cuz that will make your event bigger and more people will learn about that. But rather than media members, there should be people from the fields which has target audience of your book. Also, try to make something very memorable for them during the event, so that they will talk about it to other people and maybe they will remember it in the future too…. it will create a great world of mouth… and this something special can be just some funny poster on your event, something very special said when you’ll be giving a speech or anything else you’ll come up…

    and I think it will be good if you’ll see this links on this matter:

    http://www.diyauthorpromo.com/.....ok-signing

    http://www.authorsden.com/cate.....8;id=41877

    Good luck and if you wanna talk about some special idea which you have for your book signing and don’t know whether it’s good or not… or need development of it… we can discuss together 😉

    God bless you all,
    Kopale

  6. HEY KOPALE!!
    With an open mind, listen to what Josephine is telling you because if you do you will find it is the greatest gift …and guess what? It’s at no cost to your soul or inner-self. (And after you see the “Big Picture”, you’ll want to tell all of your relatives, friends, and even that stranger on the street, all about the earthly, “SON OF GOD”.

    The belief is when the Universal “Spiritual” Father/Creator, (God), could no longer understand why the Devil (Satan) could so easily win over so many souls of his (God’s-children), ‘because after all he gave to them the gift of “Free Will”, to choose for themselves …well guess what? The big guy decided to walk the Earth in a physical form just to see what all the evil hoopla was about. And-thus, we have Jesus. (Part 2, of 3-Stages).
    Question: Ever wonder how the most powerful man in the history of the planet didn’t have weapons, an army, or for that matter lived day to day without any currency? …the answer, is in the “Holy Bible”, the longest best selling book in the history of the man-kind.

    Finally, after God (Jesus), experienced for himself the ways of the World and the temptations of “SIN”, he asked himself, ‘Self, when I leave here to go back to my spiritual place in the “Heavens” (The Universe), (Because a body is a Temple and all structures die), then should I destroy the planet and Satan with it …or, leave my (Jesus’s), spirit here and use it as a bridge between us? Yes, that is what I will do, bridge my spirits!’
    And-that, was the third and final step, which in Christian terms is called, The Holy Spirit”.

    Josephine,
    In order for my book, ISBN No. 1-4241-1171-4 (Softcover), to become a best seller …it would take a, “Heavenly Miracle” …because God only knows, most, No. 1 books are created through the closed minded big time publishers & all the media outlets they pay to promote them. Meanwhile, I’ll wait my turn for them to see the “Light” on some of us, small-time authors.
    Keep hitting the key-pads everyone,
    T. Ray Dickerson
    “Coping With In-Laws And Outlaws”

  7. Dear Ray and Josephine,

    Thanks to both of you… Your words and spiritual help really shines through my life… The main reason of that is that I see there are still good people in the world… Everything that had happened in my life was breaking me down from time to time… but then I learned how to be stronger and etc. But after I saw how majority people look like wolves and not human beings, I was staying away from people… and they only hope I was having was meeting people like you!

    God bless you both, and every kind people! Thanks to both of you.

    Unfortunately all the pressure and workload I have at the time on my shoulders doesn’t let me to think about my books … 🙁 I finish working at night when it’s 3 o’clock… and sometimes if I have left a little energy I write something and fell asleep on the papers soon… but you gotta both try very much!!! and I can give you a little advice, maybe it’s not gonna work but I think it’s worthy to try… on facebook or myspace, try to search for people who work in media, who are in publishing world and try to make friends with them… 😉 If you’ll be able to do that, you’ll do two great things at the same time : 1) you’ll have new friends 2) it will be good for your success… 😉

  8. “kopale & everyone else …
    ‘Don’t let writer’s block get
    the best of you.’

    The common term, “Writer’s Block”, tends to happen when an author either has too much, “Stuff”, going on in their life or they’re beginning to have doubts about their story/book-project. It happens to every serious author. (My feelings are, we dwell so much on
    the project at hand that we end up burning out
    our brain’s decision-making process) …well, kinda-sort of.
    Sometime it’s good to step away from our writings for a week or two and when you sit back down to write again you’re (any of us), are starting with a clean slate. Or in today’s terms, note-pad. (And hopefully, full of fresh ideas!)
    So no matter how bad things may seem, ‘never-ever, permanently walk away from what it is you’re trying to create’. (And-Hell, I have to tell myself this all the time).
    Boston-Author:
    T.Ray Dickerson
    “Coping With In-Laws And Outlaws”: `2007

    Note: My present book project title is yet to be
    determined.
    Release date: Also is undetermined.
    Progress made after a year and a half: 93-Pages edited, with allot more to go.
    ‘But to me, writing is like therapy so I’d have to say I’m having lots of fun.’
    Take Care Everyone…

  9. Thanks Ray,

    You’re right… we all need a break from what we are doing. and if you don’t do it – your work isn’t something special to you after awhile… and it isn’t gonna be therapy any more, like it is for me too…:) very often writing was helping me to survive the terrible stresses and I have been always using a pen instead of pills 🙂

    God bless u man and I’m sorry that I’m not in USA at the time and can’t order your book right now, and I would love to read Josephine’s book too. But everything changes… maybe next year I’ll be back in USA and will have access to your books 😉

  10. I have been trying to find a way to submit a book as a possible movie. I have been stonewalled for years. The book is Poppy by Barbara Larriva. It is short (150 pages). The whole book could easily fit into a movie. It would make a great family film-very magical/spritual. All it would need was a script, not a rewrite. Can anyone help aim me?

  11. Steve,
    Try kopale’s uncle …no, never mind about that. But what you have in mind then well, it all depends on whether or not you plan to spend extra money, (invest) in your plans. Except, I’m always looking to explore in new literary adventures and since yours, or, (B. Larriva’s) book is a short – short-novel …then for a modest fee, I could turn it into a script and help you search for a studio. With that said, there is a couple of “Hollywood East Studios”, here in the Boston area whom we could start with.
    Are you the, “Ghost Writer”, of this book or is it a relative or friend’s project?
    Anybody…
    *Questions about the “Old West”?
    *Outlaws and Lawmen?
    *American Civil War and its heroes? (North & South)
    *Injecting Past, and Present writing scenarios in your story …how to?
    *Trying to create personalities for your historical non-fiction/fictional novel?
    Contact (Tom)-T. Ray Dickerson at:
    tray1881@aol.com …and-I, will be happy to assist in any way possible. And any fees would only be for my research time (if necessary, and the rest is for the fun of it.
    Hope to hear from you Steve, kopale, Michele, Tammy, AJ, etc.! (Or any other fine writers).
    “Coping With In-Laws And Outlaws”
    ISBN No. 1-4241-1171-4 (softcover)
    Note: The price just jumped …again, and this time, up!

  12. Hahaha, yep don’t try my uncle, for sure… 🙂 He wasn’t any help to me too… :))) But Ray can be… cuz if the book isn’t turned into a script, it will never be turned into a movie… and here comes ur chance… Let Ray help you… That’s for sure the shortest way to reach your goal…

  13. Thanks kopale …but do you ever get the feeling you and I are the only two contributing to this website?

    Tammy, Josephine, AJ, AG, Steve, and all of you other potential movie script producers I assure you, kopale and I are not one and the same, (person) …I say this because I have received several e-mails suggesting that we are.

    See, he and I started out on the wrong foot in-which I didn’t understand his need to be so poetically in-depth and-nor, could he understand my dry sense of humor. Turns out, he (kopale), is from the honorable and somewhat new country of Georgia and I, (T. Ray Dickerson), am a lifetime citizen of the Boston area.

    But I’ll tell you what, if he ever does make it back to the STATES, then I’m sure we could create some great movies together. (And kopale, you never told me where it was you were an exchange student)!!

    Question: The infamous American Lawman Wyatt Earp had four brothers so out of the five of them, whom lived the the longest, was never even grazed by a bullet, and did not produce offspring? ‘Isn’t non-fiction stranger than fiction?’
    The answer is: Wyatt, and strangely enough because everyone was gunning after him his brothers: Virgil Earp took a shotgun blast and lost his arm, Morgan took a bullet in the back and died, James (The oldest, was wounded and handicapped during the Civil War and never a gunfighter, and the baby brother Warren, was ambushed and killed in a saloon in the early 1890’s. Wyatt died of (Colon Cancer?), in the 1930’s and his wife of 50-some odd years, was by his side.

    LOVING IT!! …(Tom)-T. Ray Dickerson

  14. Yep, Ray I’ve found this blog long time ago and I was so sad that it wasn’t active :((( Then you showed up and made it alive 😉 Good job brother!!!

    Well, I’m so happy that at last we found the same language of relationship… Actually every great friend I have right now was in misunderstanding with me when we started relationship :). You know how hard it is to trust people, and when u don’t know them, it’s twice harder to understand what they mean while saying things… 🙁 But well, now I’m happy that we brotherly understood each other!!! and your posts are very helpful and inspiring for everyone! Good job man!!!

    I was an exchange student in St. Louis, Missouri. Then I came back to the Republic of Georgia and after two years I went back to St. Louis. I was working there in a morning radio show: “DC and the Family”.

    To tell you the truth, I really miss America… If you won’t be offended, my friend, I would even say that America is like my second home country… cuz I love it very much… It has the values I appreciate most of all and I have really great friends living there which I miss to death, especially Bobby Hickman, which is a member of that radio show as well. We met at high school and since that we truly brotherly love each other .

    The only thing that keeps me here at the time is university. I gotta finish studies here, or move over there to continue studies… I would really love to work on movie projects with you. Love people like you, people who believe and stream towards there aims… besides you’re very energetic person and I’m sure we would make it! 😉 So, let’s see brother… Let’s try… maybe we will really make it! Dreams should come true! – That’s why we live for 😉

    here is my e-mail address for you: kopale777@yahoo.com and here is my myspace page: myspace.com/kopale This is just in a case we loose contact on this blog… 😉

    Ok, brother, I gotta go to the church right now…
    Take care and God bless you
    God bless you all people!

  15. I wrote a book about my harrowing life, it is about being gay, being addicted to drugs and alcohol to the point I almost died, and numerous suicide attempts. I think it would make a great movie. I self published, I don’t know if that would make a difference though.

  16. No, it won’t make a difference if you’ll find a script writer which will turn your book into a screenplay and will help you to find a film-studio for filming it… check the posts above and read Ray’s comments… Good luck

  17. Hey Kenneth,
    If you are short on funds there are some good books in the library on script writing …and, since you did write a bio about yourself then this tells me you’re doing okay. But the truth is, unless your book first becomes a script then 99% of movie reviewers won’t even look at it. And as I write my second book, I’m simultaneously working on doing just that with my first. (Turning it into a script-“Coping With In-Laws And Outlaws” ISBN No. 1-4241-1171-4 softcover and available in hardcover and large print as well). Yes, it’s tedious and sometimes I ask myself, ‘what the Hell am I doing’? But I suppose for the studios, when it comes to taking a chance on one of thousands of authors then so goes the entertainment field. Good luck, and if you need any assistance I will try to help point you in the right direction. (Away from kopale’s uncle).

    kopale, I’ll be contacting you soon by email or my-space my friend, and keep up with your studies.
    Boston Author …(Tom)-T. Ray Dickerson

  18. Hi Kopale

    Thanks for the post, and thank you for the author promo web give you some iea, you were luck to find someone to prepare your book signing for you, for real you and Ray you make this web alive because you have so much information you are so mature in everything, I guess without you and Ray can be so boring because I enjoy reading your post because is so funny,welcome back to our best country USA God bless it always, I understand how much you miss it because USA have something other countries dont have, will never have. can I ask you something what church you attend there in your country.one more thing American degree is better that other degrees because American degree U can used it everywhere but other country degree when you come to our country is like high school, is better to continue your studies here than there.God bless you brother.

  19. Hi Ray

    Thank you so much for the post, and thanks to you and Kopale who makes this web fun your post are so funny I just enjoy reading them you have much information which is so helpful,thanks for the laugh. God bless you and have a nice weekend.

  20. Well kopale, ‘Josephine said it …not me.’
    But for the most part the U.S. doesn’t recognize some professional degrees, (from certain countries), such as the medical, law, and-yes, some literary areas, yet this is because with all the ever-updating of technology and communications going on then even here, it’s hard to keep up with these fields. So brother, it looks like you are going to come back here sooner than you thought. Then again, many foreign writers, producers, and especially musicians have made their way here and with much success. (I’m guessing this is because they didn’t have relatives telling them what to do …like, uncles maybe?

    Josephine, thanks for your compliments about our postings and yet somehow, I find them to be fun as well. I’m still surfing the web to find any “Gypsy” movie studios or producers to read our novels but in case I need a back-up I’ve started setting mine up/preparing, both of my books as scripts. (While simultaneously writing the second one). And as you now know, I’m as quick as a Tortoise.
    T. Ray D. – `2009

  21. Thank you to everyone. I’m so sorry I have not been on. Things at home are a little crazy right now, but I’ll be on this weekend to read everything. talk to you soon

  22. “Coping With In-Laws And Outlaws”
    Soft-cover ISBN No. 1-4241-1171-4
    By Boston/South-Shore Resident Author:
    T. Ray Dickerson

    ~ Attention History & Mystery Enthusiasts ~
    A 1912 Kansas City – Missouri, Divorce and Murder Mystery …’Based-on, a real Jackson County court case records, and the Kansas City Police- files’, ( also, found in the K. C. – Star, and K. C. – Times …Newspapers of the era’.

    Cordelia and Volney King, (married 14-Years), owned a boarding house in which Volney, didn’t like the way some of the elderly male tenants looked at his wife or in other words, were being too friendly towards her. With his jealous violent ways ruining their business Cordelia with her family in mind, throws Volney out and files for divorce…
    …turns out, the old men staying there aren’t just anybodies but instead are former “Wanted” outlaws, and fine-line outlaw/lawmen from America’s old west …18 65 to the 1890’s.
    For Volney King, this fact along with not being able to go near his home or 4-Children sheds a whole new outlook on life and it’s one that forces him to seek out everyones past , and his own as well.
    Allot of deceitful and deadly twists and turns from the beginning, to …THE END.

    Publish America – Baltimore
    publishamerica.com

  23. Millions of children worldwide are bullied ever day
    This book may help

    “Trust Me” by John Fisher

    My story is a simple tale about a 49 year old man who goes over to his friend house and touched his latest
    invention and suddenly finds himself in the year 1969. Invisible to everyone around him except for one person.
    His 11 year old self. He remembers how shy and bullied he was as a child and convinces his younger self to let him navigate him though his rough times. Teaching how to dress, talk and walk. Greatly Improving his relationship with his mother and father.  Then it on to his 4th grade mean teacher. Making small leaps through time, he’s in middle school completely rocking the school with his knowledge of sex, dealing in a positive way with four bullies. PE coaches and their paddles.  In high school, he advises his younger self how to connect with his first crush. Saves his girlfriend and other girls from an evil boy. Though out my book, my character grow more confident and helps more of his classmates.
       Several opportunities to laugh and cry. My character returns to a world much nicer and more just

    http://www.publishamerica.net/product85214.html

    ISBN 978-1-61546-266-7

  24. Hey John Fisher,
    Your book sounds like a fantasy most people have and that is, the ability to be able to go back and straighten ourselves out …good job!
    Your next step, (to turn it into a movie), would be to write it as a manuscript in order to get producer/director types to even look at it. Myself, I’m attempting the same process with my book, “Coping With In-Laws And Outlaws’, ISBN No. 1-4241-1171-4 (soft cover), as well as doing the same thing for my next novel which is 75% complete. Good luck and hang in there yet think of it this way …it’s only, another step in gaining creative notoriety.
    Also, as I’ve written previously there are some (radical) movie studios out there willing to take on turning a book into a movie but the key is in finding them. Alas, my search is continuing and I’ll keep others on this sight posted when I do.
    All The Best,
    Fellow P.A Author,
    (Tom)-T. Ray Dickerson
    ISBN No. 978-1-4489-1535-4 (hard cover).

  25. I am the author of a trilogy Scilia, Salina and Trajan’s War all part of a series but no one book dependant on the other, however all related through the characters, different stories, different action, all historical fiction romance with adventure, action, etc –all have been and are in print and can be found on the web at any online bookstore simply by searching for books by karen mayberry . My problem is that I am an unknown and I am trying to find ways to become known and get attention drawn to my novels so that i can become a more successful writer. Trajan’s War would be the next Braveheart movie and a good one at that but i am and unknown and simply have no idea how to get the attention i need to get him in the correct hands for a review for even a shot at a movie. Does anyone have any advice at how an unknown published author can help herself become known? Are there advertizing agents that will work with novelists to help them become known and get their books known and out world wide?

  26. To: Karen Mayberry,
    First of All …STOP, saying You’re an “UNKNOWN”, and need to be “KNOWN” because right away this approach turns off any publisher looking for confidant clients. But instead refer to yourself as an accomplished writer and instead of saying “i”, say “I”. And believe me you’re in the same shoes as most of us which isn’t a bad thing. We’re all just waiting our turn.
    Fellow Author,
    (Tom)-T. Ray Dickerson
    “Coping With In-Laws And Outlaws”
    ISBN No. 1-4241-1171-4

  27. “Who Was Mysterious Dave Mathers?”
    In Wyatt Earp’s younger days while riding the trails, Dave was his loyal riding partner from Dodge City-Kansas, to Las Vegas-New Mexico. Except when the Earp’s and John “Doc” Holliday left for Arizona, Mysterious Dave decided to remain in Dodge …and-thus, lost out in the infamy of the OK-Coral, and as Wyatt’s closest friend.
    Funny thing about Dave who, while as the Deputy Marshal when sitting in his favorite saloon, on the hour would take fire practice at the church steeple bell across the street …and once he missed his target then he’d turn to the bartender and other occupants, to announce, ‘well that does it for me boys, I’d be of no use to any of you if things were to get out of hand now’. Then Dave would go home, and when he did not a drinking patron in Dodge would dare to disturb him cause someone would get shot.
    Finally, one day Dave Mathers rode away from Dodge never to be seen again. But he’s in my book, “Coping With In-Laws And Outlaws”,which has been recognized as a story about the forerunner to the U.S. Government’s, “Witness Protection Program”, back in 1881 to 1914. ISBN No. 1-4241-1171-4

    Hang In There!
    T. Ray Dickerson

  28. I checked out a screenwriting book at the library and have read it, and am ready to start writing my sreenplay. They recommend a couple of preferred software sites, but the software is very expensive. I searched on-line and there are a couple of free software sites. Are they any good, or is there any you would recommend?

  29. Kenneth,
    Before you do anything else, check out all the college bookstores in your area concerning the this subject matter because they may be able to give you the same info and/or software you’ve found …except, for a lot less money.

    Who was, “Arkansas” Dave Rudabaugh?
    Next-time,
    T. Ray Dickerson
    ISBN No. 1-4241-1171-4
    “Coping With In-Laws And Outlaws”

  30. Kenneth,
    Before you do anything else, check out all the college bookstores in your area concerning this subject matter because they may be able to give you the same info and/or software you’ve found …except, for a lot less money.

    Who was, “Arkansas” Dave Rudabaugh?
    Next-time,
    T. Ray Dickerson
    ISBN No. 1-4241-1171-4
    “Coping With In-Laws And Outlaws”

  31. Hello Precious: Wow! Thank you. Please help me obtain a movie deal for my autobiographical book entitled, The Strange Life of Anna Prince, By Anna prince: http://www.publishamerica.com. The book is published and solely owned and written by me. The true story is potent and moves well. It begins with a nine year old Anna girl sitting in a tree with her older angry brother attempting to chop the tree down with her perched high in it. Anna’s grandfather old Doctor Prince dies. Anna’s young father Ulysses Prince goes little wild and becomes a religious snake handler, trying to perform miracles and almost gets himself killed. He risks his own life handling wild deadly snakes while his terrified family looks on. Even wrose, he stores his boxes of live snakes under Anna’s bed at night. Anna becomes a street singer to draw a crowd for her father to preach to. The mom hates Anna girl because of the relationship with her preacher dad. The brothers are taught to hate Anna and constantly pick fights with her. Yes the story is wild, exciting and dangerous. Anna becomes a country singer, television producer. She also became an established country music BMI songwriter for a Grand Ole Opry legend with three hit songs internationally on RCA. The story bangs with a huge romantic ending. Compare this story to a mix between
    Little House on the Prairie and Oh Brother Where Art Thou. Each book’s chapter is written as an episode meant to be easily adapted to a television series. Now will you please hlep me make a movie. Respectfully, Anna

  32. Any book these days is capable of becoming a movie, I mean they turned that piece of garbage by Tucker Max into a film. Just blow some snot onto a napkin and submit it to the powers that be, it might get picked up. You never know.

  33. I am wanting to know how to turn my screenplay into a novel? Where do I start and what is the cost? Now I am serious I have been scam but I am real careful with peoples now. So I am serious and I just do not have time to play games. Thanks, for your help!

  34. I want to write my first book which I think will make a very good movie, so nobody has told us how to get or buy the film rights first. What is the best way to own the film before writting the book??

  35. If its your story, you own the rights. If you dont write the film(or book) theres no rights to own, its just an idea or a dream in your head. So I guess without sounding like a smart ass you own anything thats in your head and not written.

  36. Anyone who is looking for an agent you need to make sure they are members of AAR: Associated Authors Representatives. Type in AAR literary agents and it will come up.

    The organization’s mission is to make sure agents are reputable. There are guidelines a literary agency must follow to become a member.
    Do your homework before accepting representation. A bad agent can be worse than not having an agent.

    Best,
    Tambra Kendall
    author, public speaker and creative writing instructor

  37. i am writin a book about domistic violance,my ex boyfriend was not my hustband, he served 17 years in prisoni will tell you are intested, he is a very informas person, he got 32 years and served 18 and i am a stockbroker,he beet me 5 times, and i can tell you about the people he got out of prision and thay was with out the intimdation,,,,i hope you pice is message up it will make us a lot of money,,koran

  38. It seems that everyone has an idea for a novel. I wrote my novel about a year ago and now would like to turn the book into a move.

    Just today, someone approached me about a movie. I guess the first thing for me to do is find an agent. Thanks for the information. Oh…the novel is entitled, “Behind the Velvet Curtain.”

  39. I just finished my first novel that has been published. I believe this novel “Ginger the Gentle Giant” would make an excellent movie for the following reasons:
    First it is a timeless story for all who love animals, (there are two dogs, a cat, and a miniature horse and donkey, as ‘support characters‘). But mainly the story is about a family who lives in Prescott, Arizona that rescues horses. When they rescue Ginger, a Belgian draft horse, their lives are transformed. Ginger embodies the best animals have to offer us, companionship, trust, and love and in return, our world is enlarged, more vibrant, and caring place to live; and we become better for it.

    The enduring love and relationship we have for our animals is a universal theme. The setting is in beautiful Prescott, on a ranch that becomes the symbolic representation of the struggles we face as individuals in fulfilling our hopes and dreams. In the process of rescuing ‘Ginger’ (a real horse) the community of Prescott comes together meeting a purpose that transcends indifference and ignorance to pour out their support and love on a horse that is neither beautiful or graceful but captures the hearts and imagination of those she touches with her enduring personality.

  40. Happy New Year to everyone! My Name is Rebecca Tilson and I need help looking for an agent that would like to turn my book “Betrayal” into a movie. It is published and ready for the big screen.

    ~~~~~~”Betrayal”~~~~~~
    Katie Mathison was once an energetic, young woman with her entire life ahead of her. Her grades were exceptional, she was engaged to a bright, young professor and she had the support of her family. Katie’s life was everything she had dreamt it to be until the day her fiancé was murdered. Her once sharp, intellectual mind had become forgetful and her nights were filled with recurring, unexplained dreams.

    A mysterious illness has taken over Katie’s life and the doctors had been unable to diagnose it. Katie had begun to give up hope when a new doctor helped her find the truth behind her illness. Katie soon learned that those closest to her had the biggest secrets to hide and trusts can be broken in an instant.

    As the death toll mounted, what Katie thought she knew was only the beginning.

    Thank you!

  41. My story IS like none outher,”The Covered Bridge” A family .Where the Children want to go on VACATION,,When the Parents are Workaholics,,They finly Get them to Go, They live In MASS. and Go up to Vermont,.The story Leads them to a Covered Bridge,..Thy pass Through it to Find, Them selfs in A small Town Diffrent from Anything they have Known, What they Find There, Changes There Lives..This A a Christien Story,They enter in ,The Bridge its Name ETERNITY, and when Leaving It says now Leaving PARIDICE..,I will not Give away its contents..But this story Will suprise, and Give you a worm heart ,,IF you can help I would be Greatly Willing to Share all, I have Many books I have Writin down,,But Have not the $$$ to get them any where If you are one who can help Email me, Dennis Would Make A great Short Movie also…Thanks and GOD Bless any one that can help,me

  42. My Book was just published this past September, and I believe that this book that I wrote, “The Letter” would be a wonderful, exciting hit to the American People. It’s a fiction book basked on too young people in love, and you can visit my website too get details about the book. My dream would be for this book to become a movie, and I hope and pray that someone will read this book, and turn this love story into a wonderful, romance.

  43. I was wondering how to obtain the rights if your Author is Dead. . he passes away some time late 1995. Who do the rights belong too, now. . next of kin? (Author Roger Zelazny) I want to write and Direct a Series of his, but I fear that One, someones else will take the Idea of this. -That is why I haven’t said what series-
    And two that if I go to the people who hold the rights they’d say Shove off, because I’m inexperienced. . although I’m determined and talented. . So what should I do?

  44. Looks like there are plenty of authors who’d like to see their book turned into a movie. I am one of these samizdat authors and for what it’s worth I’d like to tell you about it.

    I have rediscovered the spectacular Plevitskaya story, so it has not been done before. It is based on a true story (Logline: A Gypsy Singer in Tsarist Russia and in Exile), and my readers have told me that it has Zhivagoesque qualities. That’s the good news; the bad news is that I am in Australia, and they only do Australian stories, so I must look for a US, Chinese, European, or Russian contact to sell an option.
    I control all rights, can delete all offers 24/7 so that the tie-in book which comes out parallel to a movie will appear fresh. The movie company can also then have some control and profits from a publisher of their choice. I cannot send around books (16.09 USD at lulu.com) but will refund tenfold from the option.
    (I love living in Australia, but their movie industry parameters do not gel with my story.)

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