Keegan: Hi, just a reminder for anyone new to the blog, I’m Keegan. I’m a character in Lindy’s head. I expect to be in her novel some day. I hope. In the meantime, I’m curious about how things work in Hollywood so I’ve been interrogating – I mean interviewing her…..So, let’s move ahead. When you were at the network doing movies of the week, did you ever adapt books to film?
Lindy: All the time.
Keegan: Really? What were you looking for?
Lindy: A good concept. Something we could sell in thirty seconds. Because as a broadcaster, that’s really all the time you have to promote a show.
Keegan: What about optioning a book for a TV series?
Lindy: That’s different. That’s less about the story and more about the characters. Producers look for good interesting characters with plenty of conflict. More books are being optioned for television.
Keegan: Why is that?
Lindy: Because the broadcast and cable networks are looking for source material, and for characters and stories that are already developed. This way they don’t have to start from scratch. And if the book was a big seller, even better.
Keegan: Maybe I should write a novel and sell the film and TV rights to some big Hollywood producer. Like Harvey Weinstein. Or Scott Rudin. They buy books.
Lindy: Sounds great.
Keegan: Oh c’mon.
Lindy: I don’t think its helpful to write something hoping it will become a film. I think you have to write from your gut, and if it’s right for Hollywood they’ll come calling.
Keegan: So it’s still all about content, isn’t it?
Lindy: Absolutely. And that should be encouraging. Because if you have a great unique concept Hollywood will find you. And it can be in most any form. It doesn’t just have to be a book. Ideas come from so many places now. From a YouTube clip to a Blog to a book to a magazine article. And believe it or not, sometimes they’ll still even buy an original screenplay.
Keegan: I don’t know if I have any good stories.
Lindy: Oh, I think you do. And your character is starting to take shape. Maybe someday someone will write about you.
Keegan: That is so not funny.