How do you go about getting the rights to turn a book into a movie?

Question

i'm reading a really good book that i would love to write a movie script of. but i don't want to get into any copyright or infringment trouble. how would i go about getting the rights to develop this story into a feature length movie? can i just write the script and them present it to the author or publisher and see about getting them to back me? or do i need the rights before i write a single word? i don't want to just steal the idea, i just want in on the creation of a movie version. i think it could be a good movie.

i have a degree in film and work in the television/film industry. i have written a few scripts, and know how to make a treatment and get an audience. but in film school when ever they talked about copyrights they normally talked about music, which i also know how to get the rights to use in a film.

Answer 1

You have to buy the adaptation rights from the publisher or author. Then you can tweak the book to suit the screenplay. I guess it helps if you have money and live in Hollywood...

Answer 2

Jesse, the way it usually works is like this. A studio or production company buys the rights to a book or story from the author or publisher and then develops it into a treatment and or a screenplay. They solicit the services of a writer or screenwriter to create the adaptation.
Unless you're an established and successful screenwriter already, your influence with an author, publisher, studio or production company is going to be zip.
Writers and publishers do not sell or grant permission to would-be screenwriters to create adaptations of their work just on the off-chance that a good script would be created. They don't accept unsolicited adaptations, promote them, or "back" their authors. That's not their job.
Studios and production companies almost never accept unsolicited works, particularly adaptations of other literary works.
There is nothing to stop you from trying your hand at adapting a favorite book or story into a screenplay format for your own personal pleasure and practice, but that's as far as you should take it.
If you want to see the book filmed, write to a studio or production company and recommend it as a property. If it ever gets made, you can congratulate yourself for suggesting it.
Meanwhile, try creating some original screenplays, get in touch with an agency that handles filmwork, submit some of your work and see if they think your work is something they'd like to see more of. That's the road to take.

Answer 3

I do believe you are to contact the author first. If you write a script and someone else gets a hold of it that hasnt read the book i would imagine that would cause problems. If it were me id contact the author before putting all that work into it.