Hello, I was wondering if anyone wouldn't mind helping me make a decision on whether or not to finish a screenplay I have started. I am starting to get serious doubts as to whether or not It would be 3 -4 months of my scriptwriting time better spent on another, maybe original project.

I am going to try and not go into too many details because I really believe this project would make a great movie, In fact I am fairly confident it will happen at some point in the near future if the right screenplay can be written. But I am more than happy to share more details via PM if someone was able to advise me.

It is a novel that was written between 20 and 30 years ago and was adapted for the screen and turned into a Hollywood blockbuster a not long after - the problem is the adaptation totally disregarded the novel so much that only a very very lose and general story idea,  title and lead character's name remained. The movie of course while making some money Is nowhere near as good as the book and I am sure there is a great movie still to come from it. I have planned the screenplay and have index cards with every scene mapped out and written the first 12 pages, staying loyal to the novel's plot but adding scenes, changing story-lines etc.. to make it fit the mold of a modern screenplay.

Anyway my questions are:

Is there a time limit set when studios buy movie rights or are they for life?

Both production companies responsible do not seem to exist anymore despite many google searches I come up a blank - anyone knows what happens to rights in that case?

Even If i did find out who has the rights what are the real chances of me getting a script read by them? Or am I barking up a tree in the wrong continent?

Anything else anyone can think of that may help?

Thanks Murphy

Quoted from Murphy Anyway my questions are: Is there a time limit set when studios buy movie rights or are they for life? Both production companies responsible do not seem to exist anymore despite many google searches I come up a blank - anyone knows what happens to rights in that case? Even If i did find out who has the rights what are the real chances of me getting a script read by them? Or am I barking up a tree in the wrong continent? Anything else anyone can think of that may help? Thanks Murphy

To answer the first question, it just depends. If they bought the rights all out, then they have them for life. If they optioned the rights, that means they only paid a % of the full cost and have the rights to develop for three months. If nothing happens within three months, they loose the rights and the money they spent. If they start pre-production on it, they pay the rest of the cost for the rights.

To sum up the last two questions...if YOU don't personally own the rights, your script is basically considered a  fan fiction and very few production companies would read it, even if they owned the rights. Most of the time, if a production company buys the rights, they hire a writer to develop it. There are a lot of legal reasons as to why they wouldn't read a fan-fiction script, also.

So, it's not a 100% you won't get read, but it's very unlikely.

I write a lot of fan fiction when I'm stumped for ideas and want to stay in the habit of writing.

-Chris

Thanks Chris, It was the kind of answer I was expecting really but still disappointing. It's strange when you grow up with a book like I have with this you start to create a bond with it and i really would like to see it made into a movie.

I have emailed the publishers to ask them who holds the rights to it, you never know I guess it can never hurt to try. But I don't think i will be spending any more time on the script at the moment. Fan fiction might be good exercise but I may be better served learning how to create my own stories for now.

Thanks for your response,

Murphy.