Write a book–any book–and I promise someone will say “is there going to be a movie?” Or “Why don’t YOU make a movie” (I guess because I bought that Flip video camera…)
There are a lot of misconceptions about the book business, but nothing compares to the misconceptions surrounding the book-to-movie process.
I’ve had three different film options with three different studios/production companies, and yet I still don’t know everything there is to know about how and why movies happen. But I’m going to share with you today what I do know in the hopes that maybe some of these misconceptions might go away for a day or two.
A DISCLAIMER
The very first thing you need to understand is that no two situations
are the same. This is where a lot of
the misconceptions come from, I think.
I say “authors don’t have the power or money to make a movie themselves” and you say but I read James Patterson is doing that!
I say “authors don’t have any input in the casting process” and you say but what about JK Rowling?
I say “authors have no control over the script” and you say but Susanne Collins wrote the screenplay for Hunger Games!
All of these are excpetions to the rule. All of them. And they’re all very good examples of…
TWO KINDS OF OPTIONS
Type 1: If the book is an established blockbuster on the scale of Harry Potter or Twilight when the movie deal is done then that author has far more control than usual because in that situation Hollywood NEEDS THEM.
If, like Susanne Collins, the author has a background in screenwriting then he or she might even get a shot at the script. (note: the Hunger Games script has been given to a Hollywood screenwriter for rewrites.)
These types of blockbusters are, by definition, very rare. So these types of movie deals are even rarer. They are anomolies, outliers, flukes. And they are the function of power and timing. If the deal is done before the book becomes a world-wide phenomenon, then the usual rules will likely apply (because those were the rules when the terms were negotiated.)
Type 2: If the book is not a mega-success at the time it’s negotiated or if the author is not a well-established movie draw (like Nicholas Sparks) then chances are that the author is not in a position of power.
Of course, sometimes there will be multiple studios interested which certainly helps the author, but for the most part things like script approval or producing credits are completely, 100% off the table.
Why? Because we’re book people, not movie people. Also, frankly, because Hollywood already has too many cooks in its kitchen. It takes millions of dollars to make a movie and with that come about a million hoops to jump through and people to please.
As my film agent explained to me during the Heist Society movie auction “No studio is going to invest millions of dollars in something and let the author keep the right to pull the plug on it.”
That’s why script approval is laughable for someone like me. That’s why–with VERY FEW EXCEPTIONS–no author is ever going to be involved in casting.
Really, it all depends on the terms of your…
OPTION
If there is a studio or production company who likes your book and wants to make a movie from it, they can either buy the film rights outright or they can “option” the film rights.
A film option is like putting the book in layaway. They aren’t buying the right to make it into a movie; they’re buying the right to THINK ABOUT making it into a movie.
They don’t have to make it–not at all. But they have a set period of time (usually a year or 18 months) to think about it and, most importantly, work on a…
SCRIPT
The script is king.
It doesn’t matter how well a book is doing; it doesn’t matter how awesome a book is; what matters in terms of getting a movie made is getting a script that people like and are willing to sign off on.
Because until the script is right, then there’s nothing to take to…
TALENT
This is one more example of how things in this process can and will vary. After all, sometimes books are optioned with some kind of talent “attached” to the project. (Example: Miley Cyrus was attached to WINGS very early on.)
Sometimes the book is optioned with no talent officially attached and, instead, the producers will get the script just right then possibly take it to directors and then the director will work on casting.
There is no right way or best way or “guaranteed” way to get a movie made. Hollywood is not Oz. There are a whole lot of yellow brick roads and every one of them–every. single. one–is at the mercy of…
HEAT and TIMING
Let’s say there’s a really great script based on your favorite book… Let’s say there’s an actress who is amazingly talented, very charismatic, and utterly perferct for the role… So that actress is going to get the role, right?
Maybe. Maybe not. You see, if that actress is already booked up for the next three years, then odds are the studio isn’t going to wait on her.
Or maybe they can get their first choice actress but only at the same time as their third choice leading man?
Maybe your favorite actress had a movie bomb last weekend and the studio now sees her as box office Kryptonite?
Maybe the studio has three projects in the pipeline with another actress, so they’re far more concerned with making HER a big star…
What most people fail to see is that movies aren’t magic. Movies are very expensive investments and very practical endeavors. The producers, executives, and people in charge are going to make their decisions off of more than hair color, is what I’m trying to say.
Who’s hot?
Who’s cold? Who’s getting good buzz for a project that no one has seen
yet and who had a movie that tanked overseas? These are just a few of the factors that will go into the decision. And besides, the odds of the right director, the perfect
actress, the ideal location and leading man all being
available at the exact same time are pretty rare.
Talent matters, don’t get me wrong. But it seems to me that availablity and heat matter more.
SO WHY OPTION ANYTHING IF YOU CAN’T CONTROL THE FINISHED PRODUCT?
I can’t speak for every author, so I’ll just speak for myself.
I love movies. And walking into a dark theater and watching one of my stories up there on the screen is a dream I’ve had for ages. Do I want that movie to be GOOD? Of course. Do I personally have the power to make a movie happen (good, bad or otherwise)? No. I just don’t. And very, very, very few authors ever do.
The other reason most authors are willing to option their material is simple: a movie is basically a 2 hour commercial for the book. And
it’s in most author’s best interest to give the books the chance for that kind of
exposure.
THINGS TO REMEMBER
Movies are made by hundreds of people doing just as many different jobs. And the odds of any movie getting made are oh-so-incredibly rare.
Of the writers I know, a fairly big percentage (I’d say maybe 75 or 80%) have things under option in Hollywood. Only a few will ever see anything actually made. Even once they finish a script and start talking to directors or signing stars, there are still a ton of factors that have to fall into place.
Basically, the odds of getting a movie made are long. The odds of getting a GOOD movie made are miniscule.
But we keep trying…
We keep trying all the time.
-Ally
Hey I love your book and if u made it in to a movie I would
Love it and if there open casting call I’ll be there In a heart beat
I LOVE the GG books SO MUCH and I think it would be so awesome if they were made into movies, but I understand how hard it is to make a good movie, but please please please keep trying and persuading different studios into making the movie, I would buy the DVDs and watch every single one everyday! But thank you soooooooooomuch for making these books and making me the happiest girl in the world just to be able to read the books, I LOVE YOU ALLY CARTER! (P.S. You should totally option Tom Cruise for Joe Solomon)
Oh my gosh– Tom Cruise would make a fabulous Joe Solomon. But I feel like he doesn’t quite meet the description…
i really think you should make a move
Hi Ally!
If there will be a movie, you probably haven’t even thought about what I’m going to ask you. But would there be open auditions for anyone, even in any country (I’m in England, you see) and would there be auditions like the Glee project where you enter your audition on a website or would you want experienced actors already in the film business?
I know you probably are not going to see this, but oh well!
Take your time with the movie contracts and ignore the fans who might be angry if you are not gonna make a movie.
Okay so we get that you don’t have much power when it comes to the movie but they will inform you about whats happening right? so can you inform us of casting calls or who got the part
okay… idk if your reading this but, I agree with the actor thing…..It’s soooooooo important to get the right actor. I would HATE for the director to pick a bad Zach or Cammie, or Bex, or Liz and Macey……
Ally,
I really admire your writing and hope to maybe be an author myself one day. I think I may enjoy your books so much because Cammie is who I’ve always wanted to be; but it’s not reality. Your books pick me up and fly me far, far away from where I am now. I can’t wait for your 6th book so I can finally find out Cammie’s destiny, Your books would make great movies, and all of those movie studios would be stupid NOT to make a movie out of them. Keep trying, Ally! Persevere. That;s what Cammie taught me.
-Taylor
A Gallagher Girl at Heart
But why is percy jackson so bad. it was a hit book at the time, what happened?
OMG! I absolutely LOVED the Gallagher Girls series and have reread it at least a thousand times. I love you and Jennifer Lynn Barnes so much I can not even express. I’m nowhere near an author, but I’m in the process of writing one book that you helped inspire. I LOVE TO READ, and I want to share your work with my friends, but they don’t enjoy reading nearly as much as me. So, if you can do anything to help make this series into a movie, I would greatly appreciate it. So would my friends, but they don’t know it yet. Thank you for being so amazing.
Hi ally!
First of all, I’m super stoked that your amazing books are possibly turning into movies! I read your post, and I was just wondering since it is 2015 now, are you not being optioned by tonik anymore? In your post you said 18 months or a year. It has passed more than a year since your first announcement post. It would still be really awesome just to have them as books, but I was just wondering if there was any further news on movies. OK that’s all, thanks so much!
I really want cinder to become a movie, is that possible.
Thanks so much for a great post, Ally. Your tips are spot on!
I’m both an author and work in the movie business in my day job so I have a better than average idea of how (and why) movies get made.
Another thing authors need to consider is that everything is budget dependent. As much as every author wants the current hottest A-list stars in their movie, or the most recent Oscar winning director, the reality is that the kind of budgets required to make their kind of movies are massive, and unlikely to be attached to a book written by a mostly unknown author.
The reality is that IF your movie gets optioned and IF the actual option becomes a movie, chances are there will be budget constraints and the actors might be people you’ve never heard of. The producers might change the setting from an expensive location to a much cheaper one, or scale down some of the scenes (like that epic stunt you wrote into the book’s dramatic climax).
But that’s okay. Because at least you’ll get a little extra income you wouldn’t otherwise have had, a little extra exposure, and hopefully a whole lot of bragging rights!
Hello Mrs. Carter. I understand the chance that your book gets picked will be rare as rare as finding a four leafed clover. However, Mrs, Carter, people find four leafed clovers and then they get lucky. Mrs Carter, your an amazing author. Ur character BeBex was so much like me it stunned me. And your amazing twists and thoughts made me think I was solving a math puzzle, and made me want to become a better author.
Mrs Carter, I can understand the rarity. I understand how your book might never be a film. But Mrs Carter, if your book never becomes a film, I will faint from shock.
I understand the how uncommon it is to have a the perfect script. I understand to find the best characters it’ll be a struggle. I understand that making a movie is extremely expensive and that if your book doesn’t become a blockbuster (which I doubt 100%) you’re producers are losing out on money if that happens. However, for the rarity of a perfect script you can always get a screenwriter. For the problem of having the best characters, you have ur fans. I read many of the comments, and so many people are willing to be one of ur characters. And I bet you’ll find someone who’s a miny Cammie. And who has serious talent. And for the problem of your film being a blockbuster…Mrs.Carter, there is no way in this world that your film won’t be.
So Mrs.carter. trust me. Your bookbook will be a film. I feel it in my bones. There is no way it won’t be. Because your book is a four-leafed clover, Mrs Carter. And when the producers and screenwriters and etc pick it, they will be lucky. Because your book will be a crazy blockbuster. I just know it.
mrs. carter, also, you made book trailers ;). And they were awesome! 🙂
Wait so if movie rights are bought and not just optioned that means it IS going to be a movie?!
Please help… genuinely confused
Do you guys know anything about if Cinder the movie is coming out?
There needs to be a movie for the “Lunar Chronicles”
There NEEDS to be a movie for The Lunar Chronicles. All TLC fans HAVE to agree!
THE FREAKiNG LUNAR CHRONiCLES NEEDS A MOVIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!