How do y'all feel about screenplay adaptations? I noticed that there aren't any in the Unproduced Screenplay threads, why is that? If I submitted a screenplay adaptation of a popular book would people critique it? Just curious because I'm working on one right now and am pretty pleased with what I have thus far.

There are adaptations here. They just do so for fun and/or to sharpen their skills as a writer.

~Zack~

If you want to adapt a book in a screenplay you need to obtain the book rights, something very difficult , i think. I prefer to write original scripts .

But if you have the rights of a popular book its a great opportunity to write something good .

Quoted from Dimitris If you want to adapt a book in a screenplay you need to obtain the book rights, something very difficult , i think. I prefer to write original scripts .

That is actually incorrect. You can write anything you want. You can not make money off it though.

You would also be surprised how little you can buy the rights for unless it's a very successful book of course, but many smaller books you can get the rights to write a screenplay for almost nothing.

Well it's a popular fantasy series that has been going since the late 1980's. The author himself said he wished his books would be made into a movie series but nothing was ever announced. Anyways, I'm doing this more for learning and fun. if it turns out great then perhaps I can contact the author or his publishing company.

Yeah, I would think it would be better to convince an author to sell movie rights if there's a decent draft to show him how it can be done.

Also, how does one go about protecting a screenplay with something like WGA? Can adaptations be protected?

Protecting through WGA/LOC and/or copyrighting (they all are interchangable, to be honest) is not likely for any adaptation until you get the movie rights.

Quoted from Grandma Bear That is actually incorrect. You can write anything you want. You can not make money off it though.

You are right you can write anything you want , but i was talking for an adaptation that you want to make money.

Quoted from Grandma Bear You would also be surprised how little you can buy the rights for unless it's a very successful book of course, but many smaller books you can get the rights to write a screenplay for almost nothing.

This is an excellent information. I was always thinking that noone will sell to you his rights unless you are allready a big name.

Thanks for this.

I started adapting a short story into a short screenplay a while back. But halfway through I got bored with it. I just felt like I was going through the story and picking and choosing the bits I'd use and the bits I'd discard, as opposed to coming up with ideas myself. It didn't feel the same as writing my own story.

Fatty_Lumpkin, I am working on an adaptation myself. I asked the same questions that you are asking. I am doing it for the experience, but also if it turns out well then I might approach the author about the rights. I also feel I am going through the book and picking out the pieces that I want to use. I want to be true to the book, but the book is too long to use everything. The name of my script is "All The Pretty Dead Girls" and it is posted in the WIP section. The author and  the book are not well known, that is  why I picked it. I think you should go ahead with the project if you like the book.  Marvin.  

thanks marvink, I'm doing this mainly because I love the stories and as practice for future screenplays I want to write. I'll post it here as soon as I have it completed and did some rewrites and corrections in later drafts.

Quoted from kendg8r Protecting through WGA/LOC and/or copyrighting (they all are interchangable, to be honest) is not likely for any adaptation until you get the movie rights.

Not true. Regardless of whether the script is an adaptation, a remake or an original, you can always copyright/register it. The fact that the script is based on previously released material does not change the fact that you (the author of the script) wrote it - and therefore own the copyrights to the script. You just can't sell the script without acquiring the rights for the source material.

I noticed it hasn't been brought up yet, so I'll mention it.
There is one pure and sure safe bet.

"Public Domain"

And when I mention those two words I mean the intended definition thereof.  i.e."in the context of intellectual property law", such as some work based on King Arthur, Shakespeare, a story from the Bible, Robin Hood (oh, wouldn't I just LOVE to read "Sheriff Of Nottingham" from a few years ago before H'weird got thier butterfingers all over it and turned it into that....thing...we witnessed last May....) but you get the idea.

I have noticed "fan Fiction" over here, and while I'm not entirely opposed to it, The way I feel about most of it is that if one has enough drive to write something that they do not have the rights to, then they should have enough steam to write something that isn't based, in whole or in part, on other people's characters. I thought about giving it a go myself, but if I did, it would be in terms of a short script so it could be filmed as a 'fan film'. But I would also treat it like an adaptation. I would also treat it under a general spec guideline.

I would also wonder, even if I was passionate about the characters, if it is worth my time. What is more useful to me - registering a "fan" script under WGA or the copyright office for 20 dollars or so on something that won't sell and (aside from a fan film short) will have no chance of being made? Or would I shell out the fees for something which, in the future, I CAN sell or show to an agent?

I forget who wrote it, but I do recall one spec of the DC character Wonder Woman  that was being shopped around without prior consent. There was more buzz when WB and the producers of that still in limbo project bought that spec script. They did not intend to make it, they simply wanted to put a lock down on it so the writers (it was a writing team, if I recall) could stop showing it around. I think that is the exception to the rule.
Those fellas probably hit the blackjack tables at Vegas shortly after and got zapped by lightning. It's that rare.

I'm not opposed to fan-based scripts regarding current TV series, because they should be regarded as specs- and there's also varied script comps that feature TV scripts. Thus people can workshop these items and get them prepared for such submissions.

I'm not trying to discourage anyone. I'm not attempting to shoot folks down with a volley of arrows.
I'm simply weighing in some thoughts here.

If the novel, short story or whatever is not in public domain you need to check to see if the owner of the copyright is prepared to let you work on their story. Now the owner of the copyright may not be the author, they may have sold it.

Many film companies buy the rights and never use them, sometimes just to prevent competitors from access to the material.

Of course there is nothing to stop you from writing anything based on anything as long as you do so for yourself only and never show it or publish in anyway, even on a writer’s community website.

Nothing is what it seems to be even if it seems to be nothing.

http://www.ronaberdeen.com

Quoted from Ron Aberdeen Of course there is nothing to stop you from writing anything based on anything as long as you do so for yourself only and never show it or publish in anyway, even on a writer’s community website.

Hello Ron,

Are you saying its illegal to even post an adaptation here without optioning the rights?
Am I reading this correctly? Thanks for any clarification you can provide.

Regrads,
E.D.

Quoted from Electric Dreamer Hello Ron, Are you saying its illegal to even post an adaptation here without optioning the rights? Am I reading this correctly? Thanks for any clarification you can provide. Regrads, E.D.

Let’s say for the sake of an argument you based your script on Harry Potter and published it on here or any site, JK Rowling would not hesitate to take you to court to protect the integrity of her creation.

And from what I know of her, she would, as would Warner Brothers. They have a commercial interest and right in keeping their product clean from amateurs messing up a multimillion dollar image they have invested millions in.

The same applies to lesser known and established products but it is still a risk if you touch any product from any source.

When you complete a script and post it on sites such as TriggerStreet or Zoetrope watch your reaction when people criticise your work or even make suggestions of how you could improve it, and your work won’t be an established commercial property.

Can't speak for Ron. But I can give you my opinion. I'm sober too. Makes a change.

Okay. Here's the thing. The movie business is, first and foremost, a business. It's there and still exists because movies can make money.

The old adage Time Is Money also applies here.

The main thing, the whole point, as far as the business side is concerned is the Bottom Line. As I'm fond of saying to macho blokes in pubs - It's always about the Money, Honey.

Fact is few care what any of us write about as long as it isn't for profit. They are hardly gonna spend time, effort and money issuing warrants and the like to somebody who posted a story based on another story. As long as it doesn't profit the writer or anyone else they don't care. Bigger fatter fish to fry.

Fan fiction usually gets ignored. The same ignorance applied to people who record television programmes and films from broadcasts. Technically they could sue. They don't. There's no point and there are too many people at it.

You can write what you like. But if it's gonna get filmed and there's money behind it you gotta play the game and get the rights right.

That's what I think. As Da Sock would say "Hope that helps."

R xo

;)I am making a screenplay adapted from a story I myself wrote. It is called VX Super Force. The script will be made soon along with another script.

Quoted from Ron Aberdeen Let’s say for the sake of an argument you based your script on Harry Potter and published it on here or any site, JK Rowling would not hesitate to take you to court to protect the integrity of her creation. And from what I know of her, she would, as would Warner Brothers. They have a commercial interest and right in keeping their product clean from amateurs messing up a multimillion dollar image they have invested millions in. The same applies to lesser known and established products but it is still a risk if you touch any product from any source. When you complete a script and post it on sites such as TriggerStreet or Zoetrope watch your reaction when people criticise your work or even make suggestions of how you could improve it, and your work won’t be an established commercial property.

I know this is old but in actuality they are more likely to issue a Cease and Desist order - if they cared.  Then you would take the script down with no court involved.    This is how copyrighted material is usually handled - except maybe for Disney.    

So the answer really is to write what you want but don't expect to sell it unless you have rights for it.  Also, if you post it, be prepared to take it down if there are any copyright complaints.  

Cornetto is right. Anyone can write whatever they want. You just can't make any money on other's work. That includes painting a picture of Mickey Mouse on your little building in a little town where you plan on open a little daycare center. (happened in my town. Disney was all over that one)

The biggest issue lately with scripts has been the trading of scripts for movies that haven't even come out yet. Like Fox suing that woman for 15M.

Quoted from Grandma Bear The biggest issue lately with scripts has been the trading of scripts for movies that haven't even come out yet. Like Fox suing that woman for 15M.

I have to side with Fox on that one.  The script is Fox's property.  If we, the little guys, want our rights protected against intellectual property theft, we have to support the same for the big guys.


Phil

Looks like nothing significant developing further in that case.
http://jathomaslaw.com/blog/?cat=5
Second entry.

Included are a few other industry articles of interest as well.


Here's a snarky (decent) argument about the the incorrect use of the fair-use act:
http://sites.google.com/site/20thcenturyfoxversus10does/latest-news/amilliondollarlawsuitthatmakesnocents
Likely relevant in for this thread on derivative fan fic.

Quoted from RayW Looks like nothing significant developing further in that case.

These things take time.

http://sites.google.com/site/20thcenturyfoxversus10does/latest-news/mcilvaineanswers