AboutRoger S. H. Schulman Expertise I can answer questions on the creative aspects of writing for features and television comedy: brainstorming, character development, plotting, story structure, dialog, rewriting, editing, etc. I can also address the business side of show business: pitching, writing and presenting treatments, "taking" meetings, common pitfalls, etc. I'm also well versed in the relationship between screenwriting and computers: software for scriptwriting, brainstorming, presentation, outlining, an d general organization. I'm also a producer, and so can answer questions regarding the ins and outs of television production, specifically the half-hour arena. Visit my scriptwriting blog at http://scriptwriting.blogspot.com.
Experience I have been working in Hollywood as a screenwriter for both TV and features for many years. I'm an Executive Producer and "showrunner" who has run several prime-time and cable comedies. I've written several featurs and contributed to many more for several major studios.
Organizations Writers Guild of America, West
Publications Newsweek, BusinessWeek, GQ, Connoisseur, UPI, New York Daily News, please visit my blog at http://scriptwriting.blogspot.com
Education/Credentials I have a Masters of Science in Journalism from Columbia University.
Awards and Honors Academy Award Nomination, Best Adapted Screenplay
British Academy Award, Best Adapted Screenplay
NAACP "Image" Award, Best Television Comedy
"Annie" Award, Best Animated Film
Question Hi. I recently had my first book published entitled 'Red Cloth, Yellow Cloth' which very basically is about an Armenian terrorist and bank robber, Kamo, at the turn of the century. The book has amassed quite a few favourable comments on <amazon.co.uk> and also <amazon.com> with many suggesting that this would make a great film. It was something that I'd never considered. My question is, if you would be so kind, how could I attract the possible attention of scriptwriters or film makers. How do I say to them, look at my book!
Regards, Ron Tufft.
Answer Ideally what you need is a literary agent. Call the major talent agencies (Endeavor, CAA, William Morris, Paradigm, etc.) and ask for the names and mailing addresses of the agents who handle book adaptations. Even though the agencies are headquartered in California, most of these specific agents work in New York City. Then craft a cover letter in which you briefly introduce yourself, laud your book (include a snippet of a review or two if possible), and express your interest in having this book represented by the agency for purposes of optioning for feature adaptation. Include your contact information and say that you will be following up. The cover letter should accompany a copy of the book. In a few weeks, call to see if they received the package and if you can speak to someone about it.
I should tell you that odds are, if an agency was interested in the book, they would have contacted you already, because these agents get pre-publication galleys of virtually every appropriate book published. But you never know!
Here's a gimmick I just thought that might help: if you have the book in PDF form (or any digital form that you can turn into a PDF), include in the package a cheap USB drive that has the book on it. Write the name of the book on the drive. That way an agent or book reader can take a look at your book on his or her laptop or Kindle. That high-tech approach might just tweak their curiosity in a way that a low-tech book might not. More convenient for them, too. Of course, it does require a small outlay of money.
