Licensing and Rights

Book Option Contracts, and What Authors Can Expect During the Process

Greg Victoroff, Esq. — Fri, 17 Mar 2023 16:36:31 GMT

Current Revision posted to Licensing and Rights by Greg Victoroff, Esq. on 3/17/2023 4:36:31 PM

Contracts are difficult for most people to decipher without the assistance of attorney, and contracts related to publishing or optioning a book are no different. Per attorney Greg Victoroff, when a party is interested in either publishing your book or optioning your book, there will be a contract involved. An option is when a party wants to exploit your book in a different medium such as a film or television series. They acquire the rights from you for a set time to try and get the content developed for the screen. The typical option contract lasts 6, 12, or 18 months and can be extended. There may be an offer for money up front, and then set payment amounts if the content is ultimately developed. He cautions authors not to sign option contracts that offer nothing upfront. You should negotiate an amount that will at least pay any legal bills incurred as a part of having the contract reviewed by a professional. You also don't want your book to be tied up with someone who isn't serious about getting it developed.

www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../BookOptionContractsandWhatAuthorsCanExpectDuringtheProcess.mp4

Tags: fiction, Nonfiction, video

What it Means When a Book or Manuscript is Optioned for the Screen

Natasha Gatlin — Fri, 20 Jan 2023 19:20:40 GMT

Current Revision posted to Licensing and Rights by Natasha Gatlin on 1/20/2023 7:20:40 PM

Many authors dream of seeing their stories on the big screen, whether as a movie or tv show, and the demand from Hollywood for interesting ideas and stories has never been greater. Producers and studios love to find adaptable content in books. The challenge is that most authors don’t understand the book adaptation process or what makes Hollywood want to option a book and develop it for the screen. Natasha Gatlin, Content Development Manager for Fuzeframe, a company that options books for adaptation, shares what it means when a book is optioned, and what authors should know about the book-to-screen process.

www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../WhatitMeansWhenaBookorManuscriptisOptionedfortheScreen.mp4

Tags: fiction, Nonfiction, video

What to Expect Regarding Creative Control When a Book is Adapted for the Screen

Natasha Gatlin — Fri, 20 Jan 2023 19:12:40 GMT

Current Revision posted to Licensing and Rights by Natasha Gatlin on 1/20/2023 7:12:40 PM

Many authors dream of seeing their stories on the big screen, whether as a movie or tv show. Maybe you've envisioned certain actors or actresss to play your major characters, or you've imagined being on the set providing creative input. While these are great for inspiration and fun to think about, they are far from reality when it comes to the book adaptation process. Natasha Gatlin, Content Development Manager for Fuzeframe, a company that options books for adaptation, explains why authors have little to no input when a book is optioned for adaptation to the screen.

www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../WhattoExpectRegardingCreativeControlWhenaBookisAdaptedfortheScreen.mp4

Tags: fiction, Nonfiction, Subscriber, video

What to Expect Regarding Creative Control When a Book is Adapted for the Screen

Natasha Gatlin — Fri, 20 Jan 2023 13:04:28 GMT

Revision 1 posted to Licensing and Rights by Natasha Gatlin on 1/20/2023 1:04:28 PM

Authors shouldn't expect to have much, if any, creative input if their book is optioned for adaptation to the screen, per Content Development Manager Natasha Gatlin.

Tags: fiction, Nonfiction, Subscriber, video

What it Means When a Book or Manuscript is Optioned for the Screen

Natasha Gatlin — Fri, 20 Jan 2023 13:00:28 GMT

Revision 1 posted to Licensing and Rights by Natasha Gatlin on 1/20/2023 1:00:28 PM

Content Development Manager Natasha Gatlin explains what a book option is and what it means for the author.

Tags: fiction, Nonfiction, video

3 Reasons Hollywood Buys Content - podcast

Philippa Burgess — Mon, 17 Apr 2017 11:36:56 GMT

Current Revision posted to Licensing and Rights by Philippa Burgess on 4/17/2017 11:36:56 AM

Philippa Burgess of Creative Convergence, Inc. explains how to sell your book rights for film and TV projects. She also shares what motivates Hollywood executives to option your story by pointing to why buyers buy. She expounds on the three things Hollywood seeks when evaluating books: competition, elements or attachments, and corporate mandate.www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../PodcastATEPhilippaBurgess3ReasonsHollywoodBuysContent.mp3

Tags: fiction, Nonfiction, Subscriber, podcast

3 Reasons Hollywood Buys Content - video

Philippa Burgess — Mon, 17 Apr 2017 11:36:50 GMT

Current Revision posted to Licensing and Rights by Philippa Burgess on 4/17/2017 11:36:50 AM

Tags: fiction, Nonfiction, Subscriber, video

Tips for Selling Your Story to Hollywood - podcast

Luke Sandler — Mon, 17 Apr 2017 10:17:44 GMT

Current Revision posted to Licensing and Rights by Luke Sandler on 4/17/2017 10:17:44 AM

Luke Sandler, literary manager with the Gotham Group, shares tips on selling a book to Hollywood. He explains what executives are seeking when considering buying a book as the basis of a film project. Before you send your book off to Hollywood, it's important to realize that a movie producer or agent is not going to read your book. You must do the work for them by creating a powerful, two-sentence pitch. It's also necessary to show that you have thought about the marketplace and how your movie would fit into a market.

www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../ASIALCATELukeSandlerTipsforSellingYourStorytoHollywood.mp3

Tags: fiction, Nonfiction, podcast

Tips for Selling Your Story to Hollywood - video

Luke Sandler — Mon, 17 Apr 2017 10:17:26 GMT

Current Revision posted to Licensing and Rights by Luke Sandler on 4/17/2017 10:17:26 AM

Tags: fiction, Nonfiction, video

Tips for Selling Your Story to Hollywood - podcast

Luke Sandler — Mon, 17 Apr 2017 10:17:23 GMT

Revision 2 posted to Licensing and Rights by Luke Sandler on 4/17/2017 10:17:23 AM

Tags: fiction, Nonfiction, podcast

Things Every Author Should Know About Rights Management - video

Andrea Adams — Thu, 13 Apr 2017 19:56:08 GMT

Current Revision posted to Licensing and Rights by Andrea Adams on 4/13/2017 7:56:08 PM

It is critical that all authors understand whether or not they own the rights to their written work, as this can greatly impact the money to potentially be made. As Film Track Director of Sales, Andrea Adams, explains, in most cases authors do own the rights, unless they've sold the rights or have signed an agreement to have it optioned for film or television. She strongly recommends that authors hire a lawyer when reviewing any type of contracts related to their work and if an author has multiple projects that he or she is trying to manage, consider using a software to track the rights for the material. Knowing your rights will empower you to make decisions that will ultimately drive revenue.

www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../Things-Every-Author-Should-Know-About-Rights-Management.mp4

Tags: fiction, Nonfiction, Subscriber, video

Things Every Author Should Know About Rights Management - video

Author Learning Center — Thu, 13 Apr 2017 19:55:14 GMT

Revision 4 posted to Licensing and Rights by Author Learning Center on 4/13/2017 7:55:14 PM

www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../Things-Every-Author-Should-Know-About-Rights-Management.mp4

Tags: fiction, Nonfiction, Subscriber, video

Advice for Selling Film & TV Rights - video

Ken Sherman — Mon, 27 Mar 2017 13:27:26 GMT

Current Revision posted to Licensing and Rights by Ken Sherman on 3/27/2017 1:27:26 PM

Agent Ken Sherman explains how to sell the film and TV rights for a book. He advises that authors get to know the market they want to sell to and the people involved in the process. His advice to authors is to do the market research and have quality material to sell. He gives the example of his client Anne Perry and how her book series is being turned into a contemporary television series.

www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../KenShermanAdviceforSellingFilmTVRights.mp4

Tags: fiction, Nonfiction, video

Advice for Selling Film & TV Rights - podcast

Ken Sherman — Mon, 27 Mar 2017 13:27:24 GMT

Current Revision posted to Licensing and Rights by Ken Sherman on 3/27/2017 1:27:24 PM

www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../KenShermanAdviceforSellingFilmTVRights.mp3

Tags: fiction, Nonfiction, podcast

Understanding Film Options - podcast

Donna Levin — Sat, 25 Feb 2017 12:31:04 GMT

Current Revision posted to Licensing and Rights by Donna Levin on 2/25/2017 12:31:04 PM

Author Donna Levin explains how film options for books work and some of the key considerations if you want to turn your book into a movie. If you wish to pursue this goal, make sure that your literary agent has co-agents in Hollywood. Film deals usually start with a producer offering you a film option contract. An option is when producer gives you an amount of money to hold the film rights for your book for a given amount of time. It's no guarantee that the film will be produced. The good news is, even if the option never turns into a movie deal, you still keep the money from the option.

www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../DonnaLevinUnderstandingFilmOptions.mp3

Tags: fiction, Nonfiction, podcast

Understanding Film Options - video

Donna Levin — Sat, 25 Feb 2017 12:30:51 GMT

Current Revision posted to Licensing and Rights by Donna Levin on 2/25/2017 12:30:51 PM

www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../DonnaLevinUnderstandingFilmOptions.mp4

Tags: fiction, Nonfiction, video

Things Every Author Should Know About Rights Management - video

Andrea Adams — Fri, 03 Feb 2017 19:18:58 GMT

Revision 3 posted to Licensing and Rights by Andrea Adams on 2/3/2017 7:18:58 PM

www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../Things-Every-Author-Should-Know-About-Rights-Management.mp4

Tags: fiction, Nonfiction, Subscriber, video

Things Every Author Should Know About Rights Management - video

Andrea Adams — Fri, 27 Jan 2017 21:55:55 GMT

Revision 2 posted to Licensing and Rights by Andrea Adams on 1/27/2017 9:55:55 PM

www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../Things-Every-Author-Should-Know-About-Rights-Management.mp4

Tags: fiction, Nonfiction, video

Things Every Author Should Know About Rights Management - video

Andrea Adams — Tue, 24 Jan 2017 14:45:35 GMT

Revision 1 posted to Licensing and Rights by Andrea Adams on 1/24/2017 2:45:35 PM

www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../Things-Every-Author-Should-Know-About-Rights-Management.mp4

Tags: fiction, Nonfiction

3 Reasons Hollywood Buys Content - video

Philippa Burgess — Mon, 09 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Revision 1 posted to Licensing and Rights by Philippa Burgess on 1/9/2017 12:00:00 AM

Philippa Burgess of Creative Convergence, Inc. explains how to sell your book rights for film and TV and what motivates Hollywood to option it. She points out three things Hollywood is looking for when evaluating books: 1. Competition 2. Elements or Attachments 3. Corporate Mandate

www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../ATEPhilippaBurgess3ReasonsHollywoodBuysContent.mp4

Tags: fiction, Nonfiction, Subscriber, video