Usually, novelists get paid something when they sell their film rights, then the project can end up in limbo for years. But Author Jonathan Lethem has a better idea.
Lehman is offering to “give away” the option for his new novel “You Don’t Love Me Yet” — but only if the filmmaker coughs up 2 percent of the movie’s budget as a fee, and releases “ancillary” rights such as distributing the project online or adapting the story for the stage.
The book was published today by Doubleday.
Lethem, a National Book Critics Circle Award-winning author, is certainly correct that artists should have a say about how content is commodified, instead of just leaving it up to media conglomerates. Why shouldn’t authors get a piece of the box office and be able to set some conditions?
This was also a brilliant bit of publicity by Lethem and Doubleday — offering to “give away” the film rights in exchange for a percentage. That virtually guarantees a film will be released within five years.
Here's a novel way to plug your book: 'Give away' the film rights
Lehman is offering to “give away” the option for his new novel “You Don’t Love Me Yet” — but only if the filmmaker coughs up 2 percent of the movie’s budget as a fee, and releases “ancillary” rights such as distributing the project online or adapting the story for the stage.
The book was published today by Doubleday.
Lethem, a National Book Critics Circle Award-winning author, is certainly correct that artists should have a say about how content is commodified, instead of just leaving it up to media conglomerates. Why shouldn’t authors get a piece of the box office and be able to set some conditions?
This was also a brilliant bit of publicity by Lethem and Doubleday — offering to “give away” the film rights in exchange for a percentage. That virtually guarantees a film will be released within five years.
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