Adapting a work of Fiction

[razormoney]

All,

I really want to adapt a book I read into a screenplay. I tried to contact the author via his publishing company and received no reply. Is it legal to adapt the screenplay and submit it (contests, pitch letters)?

I assume it is OK as long as I don't make any money from it without including the author (that is obviously many long steps from where I am now).

Problem is, without being able to contact the author, I don't know if someone already has the movie rights to the book.

Any ideas?

Thanks,
Razor

[dpaterso]

The moment you start querying, pitching, entering contests, you're subject to legal action for copyright infringement. You must obtain permission from the author or publisher, it's not your material.

-Derek
My Web Page - naked women, bestial sex, and whopping big lies. (http://hometown.aol.co.uk/DPaterson57)
Take the critiques you get with a grain of salt. Invariably, some of the critics will be kooks, bitter curmudgeons, or complete fools. ~odocoileus

[PerditaDrury]

As Derek says: Absolutely not.

And even if it were true (and it's not) that you could adapt someone's book into a screenplay just for a writing sample, why would you waste your time and energy on something you couldn't sell IF people liked it?

The author's publisher should know about the status of the screen rights. Tell them what you are after and they might steer you to the author's representative.

[Mac H.]

Unfortunately what Derek said is true.

Like you, I haven't had much luck in contacting people to get screenrights.
As with your experience, I simply don't replies.

Good luck,

Mac

[maestrowork]

Derek is right. You must get the rights to do adopt a literary work to a screenplay.

[razormoney]

Thanks all,

I will keep trying -- I might make an outline but I'm not writing a word until I hear back from the publisher or author.

R