Optioning a book

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For about four years, I have read and re-read a certain factual memoir (now out of print) that I am certain would make an excellent and unique movie. How does someone go about optioning a book, with a view to writing the screenplay? Do I need some kind of contract? A lawyer, even? How best to approach the author, whose own life provides the details for the story? Is there a way to find out if someone has already optioned it?

― adaml (adaml), Tuesday, 30 September 2003 17:39 (twenty-two years ago)

I'd say that you'll need an entertainment lawyer, who can then do the actual liaising and such; I would assume that the party would tell your lawyer if it was already under option. I wouldn't contact the party personally, though, unless you already have some relations with them - leave it to the lawyer to be the dealmaker. You'll definitely need a contract, otherwise there's no way to prove that you have consent of the copyright holder.

For that matter, if it is in fact under pending optioning, they may also tell you when that option expires, as expiring options essentially are free money. I had an writer acquaintance who optioned off a sci-fi novel a few years back for a cool million, and they never finished developing it during the term of the option. So he basically got a million dollars from a bunch of strangers.

― Girolamo Savonarola, Tuesday, 30 September 2003 18:16 (twenty-two years ago)

What's the best way to find/get in touch with an entertainment lawyer, GS? Any idea?

― adaml (adaml), Tuesday, 30 September 2003 18:45 (twenty-two years ago)

Um...yellow pages? Do you have/know a lawyer that you trust? Maybe they know some good colleagues who would specialize in this sort of thing. You could always hire the specialists that live near where most of this commerce is - you know, NYC, LA, etc.

― Girolamo Savonarola, Tuesday, 30 September 2003 18:54 (twenty-two years ago)

Forget the lawyer, that'll cost you tons--you can do this on your own, even option the thing for a dollar if no one else is sniffing around (this is common practice). Should be easy enough to find a contract template for optioning on the internet somewhere.

― s1utsky (slutsky), Tuesday, 30 September 2003 21:29 (twenty-two years ago)

I like the sound of that, what with the how-the-fuck-am-I-going-to-keep-paying-the-rent factor n' all.

I wouldn't think anyone else is sniffing around. To my knowledge, this is/was not a popular book, and is hard to get hold of (got mine second hand).

― adaml (adaml), Tuesday, 30 September 2003 21:59 (twenty-two years ago)

I'd say if you are on a budget-optioning, then perhaps convincing the author to trade off money upfront for a percentage or something. That would cost you pretty much nothing no matter what, but would be good for the author should anything really good happen with the project.

― Girolamo Savonarola, Wednesday, 1 October 2003 00:35 (twenty-two years ago)

Exactly, you could put that kind of thing in the option agreement (presuming you are intending to produce the film, which I guess you are; though be careful not to promise the author the moon as this will make financing difficult).

I'm actually thinking of doing the exact same thing with a certain memoir too! Hope we're not thinking of the same one!

― s1utsky (slutsky), Wednesday, 1 October 2003 01:09 (twenty-two years ago)

http://www.readersread.com/excerpts/ilikeitbetterfunny.gif??

― jones (actual), Wednesday, 1 October 2003 01:36 (twenty-two years ago)

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0385483511.01.LZZZZZZZ.gif!!!!!

― adaml (adaml), Wednesday, 1 October 2003 01:50 (twenty-two years ago)

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0812929640.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

― s1utsky (slutsky), Wednesday, 1 October 2003 02:20 (twenty-two years ago)

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0815412428.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

― adaml (adaml), Wednesday, 1 October 2003 03:08 (twenty-two years ago)

that's not a memoir!

― s1utsky (slutsky), Wednesday, 1 October 2003 21:27 (twenty-two years ago)

that's what she said

― some other guy (slutsky), Wednesday, 1 October 2003 21:28 (twenty-two years ago)

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