- Producers in Hollywood are always looking
for their next big project.
When we were at Podcast Movement, Evolutions,
which was held in downtown Los Angeles,
we met people representing HBO, A&E,
and a few production companies.
And they were on the hunt for podcasters
trying find their next voice.
And being the only booth with a showcase of books,
naturally, they all swung by to say hello
and chat with us about what kind of books
we had available or on display.
And if you're wondering if your book is the right fit
for adaptation to screen, or how that would happen,
this video is for you.
(energetic electric guitar music)
Hey there, I'm Julie the book Broad from Book Launchers.
We're your professional self-publishing team
helping you write, publish and promote a nonfiction book
that will help you have a powerful impact on your readers,
and done right.
We'll help you grow your brand, build your business,
and make you money.
And the best part, you get to keep all rights and royalties.
Whether you've written a memoir,
a science-based research book, a finance book,
a book for new graduates,
there is a possibility your book could be adapted to screen.
But don't take my word for it.
While I do live in Los Angeles.
I'm a Canadian gall who's spent more of her working life
in and around real estate business
than I certainly have anywhere near Hollywood.
(laughs) No, my friends.
Take the word of a Hollywood veteran
that your book might be something
that can be adapted to screen.
Please meet Tory Foster of Underground Jam.
But the biggest question on my mind
when I first started talking with Tory
is what if the book isn't a memoir?
Can it still be made into something that can be on a screen?
Let me ask Tory.
- Hi, I'm Tory Foster from Underground Jam.
And for many years,
I've been developing treatments and scripts
to help people develop and sell and launch their projects
in the entertainment industry.
I've worked on thousands of projects over the years,
a lot for established entertainment players,
and also a fair number for emerging voices.
So, what kinds of books written by indie authors
have the best chance of making it to screen right now?
That's a great question to be asking
because it changes all the time, trends change.
We've had a really big change recently
with the COVID-19 outbreak really changing the world,
changing audience habits.
Maybe a couple of years ago,
the big hot topic was female buddy movies.
Probably, there's gonna be a big demand
for outbreak type projects.
There's a huge interest
in heroic doctors and scientists right now.
I think there's a growing understanding
of the work that they do and how important it is.
And there's probably gonna be demand for that.
Science topics, true military stories,
true police stories, social science,
and then also, hey, surprise us, you know.
- One of the big things that really stood out to me
in my conversations with Tory and her partner Megan
was the fact that when we think of this,
we tend to think big screen movie,
when we think turning your book into something.
But there's actually many ways a book can go on screen,
including reality TV,
which is really common for nonfiction books,
documentary, based on a true story movie or TV,
scripted TV, short films,
and there's actually far more options out there
than you realize.
I mean, really, you can even think about YouTube,
and a lot of the other online spaces
that are looking for content.
And the number of projects that aren't just memoir
is far larger than I realize.
There's even new networks coming out,
focusing on short content only.
- The author gets to have vision
in terms of where they send their book
and what form it ends up taking.
So, it's a really exciting part of the process,
and it is something
that my team would be happy to consult on,
to discuss where this property should go,
what would really be the best medium for it,
and the best format for it.
Those are some things that are exciting
to think about right now.
- Undiscovered voices find their way onto the screen
and have their stories told.
And Book Launchers has partnered with her
and her company, Underground Jam,
to help our clients take their book to screen.
And if you're interested in getting some sort of a deal,
I asked Tory for her best advice for all authors.
- It's really, really important that you come in strong,
and that you come in in the right way,
because you only really have one chance
to make a first impression.
And you have to be able to present your book quickly
in a language that industry people can understand,
and something that really shows them how valuable it is,
and how great an adaptation it would be.
And you wanna meet those expectations that they have
and you wanna be able to compete with established players,
so, there's a little bit of insider knowledge
that can be really helpful.
- Insider knowledge Tory is talking about is something
we're gonna cover in a second video
covering the process of adapting your book to screen,
so, make sure you've subscribed to the channel,
so that you catch that video when it comes out.
Essentially, she's talking about the fact
that you don't just start shipping your book
all around to production houses.
First, you wanna do some research
about where your book might fit into the market place.
What could be the angle or the pitch,
and most importantly, who is the audience?
Then, you get a treatment created,
which is essentially a couple-page document
covering the vision for the project.
And finally, the sales sheet. (giggles)
And with that, your project needs to find a champion
to move it forward,
because there's people with hustle in the industry
who can make things happen,
and without that person, most projects don't go anywhere.
But your project first has to connect with that person.
So, these steps are critical to helping your project
find the right person to drive it forward.
I know, it seems daunting,
and I actually feel like Hollywood
is kind of the secret society.
And so, I asked Tory, how can an independent author
miles and miles away from Hollywood ever, ever break in?
And here's what she had to say.
- When I worked at one of the major agencies in town,
one of my first jobs,
I noticed that there was just a pipeline
going from the major publishers.
They would quickly get it out
to every agent in town. (giggles)
Every big producer in town would get a look at it
before it even hit the shelves.
And so, it would end up being optioned
and being spoken for, being bought
before it was even a best seller, sometimes.
"The Wolf of Wall Street,"
that was Leonardo DiCaprio's company,
and the guy that that was about
wasn't one of the most famous people in the world,
but it was a project that that company found.
So, you wanna be that incredible find,
and you can be. (laughs)
If you're a really undiscovered author,
someone new with something new to say,
you are that special find
that a lot of people are looking for,
that no one else is gonna see.
So, you have that really great
new kid on the block thing going for you.
And that is really the key is coming in,
and communicating the value of your project,
so that it will be treated with the respect it deserves,
and so that you will be treated
with the respect you deserve in the process.
- Bottom line, in working with Underground Jam so far,
I've discovered that just about any book
can be adapted for screen with the right pitch
and the right presentation.
Whether it gets made or not depends largely
on whether it hits the right people with the right timing.
But there are things you can do
to set your book up for a better chance of success.
Liked this video?
Smash that thumbs-up button.
Go ahead, try it, it makes you feel good, I promise.
(laughs)
And please be sure to say thank you to Tory for her time
in the comments below.
Now, while you're commenting,
what is your favorite show or movie
that was adapted from a book?
Let's chat about it in the comments below.
And when you comment the day a video is released,
you'll be entered to win
some of our sweet Book Launchers swag,
like our hashtag no boring books mug,
where coffee, tea, and hot chocolate
taste better in it, guaranteed.
It has been such a pleasure to hang out with you
and I would be truly honored
to spend a little more time with you.
And I actually think you'll really like this video
on the time it takes to self-publish.
But if you've seen that,
or you're feeling like watching the newest from the channel,
then, this video is right here for you.
Go ahead, I'll get the coffee started
and we can keep hanging out in the next video.
(energetic electric guitar music)