BARBARA SCHIFFMAN

Books Into Film: 8/17 panel at Book Publicists of SoCal

2011-08-14T16:46:29Z

If you're in LA and you write books, join me and 3 other book to film panelists at the monthly meeting of the Book Publicists of Southern California -- Sportsman's Lodge in Studio City, from 8:15-10pm. There's also a dinner and networking before the program ($33 at the door).

Info: www.bookpublicists.org

We will be talking about how books get adapted to film, which books adapt well and which probably won't, and how to get your book considered by Hollywood as a feature, cable film or miniseries, or TV series.

In addition to me -- representing the script consulting and development side of the equation -- will be author Warren Adler ("War of the Roses")who's had several of his books adapted to film; Ron Bernstein (ICM), senior literary agent in the Media Rights department at ICM and former head of creative affairs for Paramount Pictures; and moderator Telly Davidson who's written books and articles about TV and film for publications and websites.

If you have a book that friends and readers say "should be a film," and you'd like a professional review, email me at LiteraSee@gmail.com to set time for a free 20 minute consultation to see if/how I can help. I can read your manuscript or published book and consult with you about its potential as well as the best ways to approach Hollywood with your "source material" (as we call books in the film/TV development process). My rates vary depending on length of book, genre and turn-around time. I'll give you a customized quote after we talk!

BTW -- a good example of a book that's been successfully adapted to film is "The Help." The backstory of how this got made includes the fact that the author is a long-time friend of the director, and optioned him the rights before the book even got published. Then when it became a bestseller, he was already attached to direct and fortunately had established his own credentials to do so along the way! But this is a big break for both author and director, and a great Hollywood collaboration!

Welcome

2011-08-14T16:32:37Z

Welcome to my blog for writers and others who work with scripts, write scripts or books, or who pitch projects to Hollywood.

Feel free to send me your questions on screenwriting -- the craft and the business -- as well as the art of adapting books into scripts.

I'm also editing books now -- specializing in self-help and spiritual development non-fiction as well as spiritual and other fiction. I'll add postings with info from other writers as well as publishers, editors and agents from time to time.

Also -- check out my interview on "The Exhilaration Effect: Building the Courage to Take Your Leap of Faith" by Kandi Phillips for her Blogtalk show. My co-author Camille Leon and I talk about our book, our approach to taking Leaps of Faith to enhance your life and career, and our experiences getting to the Top 25 out of 3000 submissions in the Next Top Spiritual Author 2010 competition!

Vote for your Favorite in the AFM Film Pitch contest thru 1/24/11

2011-01-08T22:03:00Z

Pitching concepts for films is even harder than writing scripts! Few writers are good at talking about their scripts or themselves -- as a Hollywood pitch coach AND a hypnotherapist specializing in public speaking anxiety, I surely know!

But check out the 4 top pitches selected by the American Film Market's panel of industry pro judges at the AFM's 2nd annual Favorite Film Pitch Contest last November.

You can still vote through 1/24/11 on PeoplesChoice.com for YOUR favorite of the 4 pitches -- check out Mouncey Ferguson's "Playdate," Neal Heavener's "The Dragonlore Trilogy," John Marshal Jones' "The Guest at Central Park West," Michael Lipoma's "The Lost Notebooks of Jimmy Ganootz: Culinary Secrets of a Wise Guy on the Run" (which should get "the longest title" prize for sure!).

Tell Hollywood insiders which one you'd be willing to pay to see by VOTING for it -- maybe you'll help it get the script optioned and even made! What a fun way to start the year for one lucky -- and clever -- screenwriter!

Click here to view these "top 4 pitches" (2.5 minutes each):

http://www.peopleschoice.com/pca/influence/AFM/

What will the winner get? First, he'll be able to say he won the AFM 2010 Favorite Film Pitch Award which will definitely help him get more pitches for his script -- what exec wouldn't want to hear the AFM's Favorite Film Pitch of the year? He'll also get to attend the 2011 AFM in Santa Monica CA and meet with producers and film distributors. Not bad for making a 2-1/2 minute pitch!

2010 Awards Season - Movie Marathon Months!

2010-11-08T20:12:00Z

November and December are Movie Marathon Month again for me -- I'm getting to see most of films being screened for Academy and other film awards! It's one of the perks of being in the Story Analysts Union, which I appreciate.

My favorite so far is CITY ISLAND with Andy Garcia and Julianne Margulies -- about a dysfunctional but lovable family which lives in the Bronx area of City Island. Secrets are revealed over a few days and relationships change -- for the better -- but everything that could go wrong does. If you liked LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE and movies like that, you'll like this one. See some clips here:

http://www.cityislandmovie.com/#/video

Also liked SECRETARIAT which was amazingly inspirational. Loved the underdog theme and the performances as well as the horse races.

Not sure what I think of HEREAFTER yet -- amazing opening that felt real to me. But it was more about coincidence and serendipity in our lives than about death or what comes next, however, and somewhat slow paced. But it had memorable characters and deeply affecting situations. I'm still thinking about it which means it had a deep impact regardless.

PLEASE GIVE was better than I expected -- with Oliver Platt and Catherine Keener. The character study of New York neighbors was surprising and amusing. A good reminder that the people in our lives are more important than the objects. Clips at:

http://www.sonyclassics.com/pleasegive/

IT'S KIND OF A FUNNY STORY was similar -- how people affect each other even in a mental ward. Good performances from Zach Galafiniakis and Emma Roberts, and especially young lead Keir Gilchrist who made it believable. Clips at:

http://focusfeatures.com/film/its_kind_of_a_funny_story/ focusfeatures.com/film/its_kind_of_a_funny_story/

More to come -- let me know what you think of these movies or others this holiday season!