HarperCollins is trying another relationship with a video producer. This time, they have “agreed to a strategic framework” with Insurrection Media to option and develop books in sci-fi, drama, and comedy for both digital video and linear television series. They will “jointly identify key titles that are most compelling and suitable for video series and then co-develop and produce shows to be owned and distributed by Insurrection in the U.S. and overseas on a multitude of over-the-top and linear video platforms.” The first announced title for development is Debra Driza‘s Mila 2.0 trilogy, published by Katherine Tegen Books. Overlooked by most outlets is that Driza’s work was […]
Film/TV
People, Etc.
LAT book critic David Ulin is leaving the paper on December 15, among those taking the company’s buyout offer. He writes to LA Observed: “This is an opportunity for me to focus further on my writing, which I have been wanting to do.” The newspaper’s book editor Joy Press left quietly earlier in the year as well (and is working on a book for Atria), and apparently also took a buyout. That seems to leave Carolyn Kellogg as the only staff member focused on books. Rob Kirkpatrick has joined The Stuart Agency as a literary agent, focusing in nonfiction, including […]
People, Etc.
Antonella Iannarino has left the David Black Agency, where she was an agent and website and social media manager for authors, after eight years to launch AI Strategic, offering consulting services to authors and companies for developing their online presence through social media, websites, ebook publishing and brand strategies. She may be reached at antonella@aistrategic.com. Claire Payne will join Parragon as senior director of mass market sales on July 3. Previously she was senior director of sales at Dalmatian Press. In the UK, literary agent Anita Land has split with partner since 2000 Georgina Capel to set up a new agency, the Bookseller […]
Scholastic and Universal in 3-Year First Look Deal; Forte To Produce
Scholastic has entered a three-year first-look deal to develop live-action feature films with Universal Pictures — which was already developing adaptations of Clifford, The Big Red Dog and The 39 Clues. Deborah Forte is leaving her role as president of Scholastic Media to develop and produce these properties through her new production company Silvertongue Films, which will operate out of offices in Los Angeles and New York. In a statement, Forte said she was “excited about the new venture” which would allow her to “focus on producing movies based on a selection of Scholastic’s treasured book series alongside some of the most talented […]
Warner Bros. Will Make 3 Movies From Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
Warner Bros. announced future “strategic content plans” at an investor conference on Wednesday that included confirmation they will make three movies out of JK Rowling’s Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. When the “expanded creative partnership” with Rowling was announced a little over a year ago, they simply said that the movie for which Rowling was writing the screenplay was “planned as the first picture in a new film series.” Now Warner indicates the first movie will be released in 2016, with the subsequent two following in 2018 and 2020. The studio will release three more LEGO-branded movies over the next […]
Universal Has Two-Year First Look Deal With Penguin Random House
In the latest expansion of Penguin Random House’s film/tv development efforts, Random House Studio has signed a two-year first-look production agreement Universal Pictures. Random House Studio, under the direction of president Peter Gethers, will serve as a producer on the projects developed and filmed under the agreement. Once again, UTA represented Penguin Random House in the deal. Universal co-president of production Jeffrey Kirschenbaum says in the announcement: “Peter Gethers’ ability to identify books that can be adapted into movies that can attract major talent makes his team a unique and invaluable addition to the Universal family.” Universal is already readying […]