Part 2 - My Author to Screenwriter Journey

How I decided to do it

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The first draft of the Marquel script was written by Amy K. Green, my daughter Blair’s producing partner. Amy spun my novel into an edgy movie she would want to see.

I really liked her snappy dialogue and scene progression. However, I felt my characters weren’t themselves. – After all, I am their mother! I know them better than anyone.

Amy agreed I could use her version as a template to rewrite and organize the book into a screenplay I was comfortable with.

Collaborate.

I also wanted to keep some scenes that were uniquely hers.

I started by buying the iPad version of Final Draft (screenwriting software). I didn’t know how to use it, but I got the hang of it over time.

When I originally wrote the book, I saw it as a movie in my mind. Each chapter had cinematic progression. Even now, if I hear a certain song, the Play button goes off in my brain. I can see my book as a movie.

After several drafts, we all agreed the screenplay should be sent for script coverage. We liked it, but it needed an outside perspective.

I knew what script coverage was, because Blair did coverage for Penny Marshall’s company, Parkway Productions. Basically, coverage summarizes a script for a production company’s consideration. The script will get a grade of Pass, Consider or Recommend.

I later learned in a workshop that roughly 96% to 99% get a Pass, maybe 1% to 4% a Consider and anyone that Recommends, is usually fired.

Literally.

“A good script warrants a Consider, but you better have a damn good reason why you’d stick your neck out for a Recommend!” --The words of a working screenwriter, not mine.

To save money, I entered a film festival screenwriting competition. Fee around $50. It included coverage. Coverage can be in the hundreds, depending on the experience of the reader.

I made top 12 of 125 scripts in the contest. No prizes, but good encouragement.

The biggest complaint. Sloppy formatting. And I used industry software!

Talk about embarrassing.

Okay, I can work harder. The story was solid. Not perfect. Now I have notes.

Notes – the film industry term for feedback.

Around the same time, I was writing the book sequel to Marquel, titled Marquel’s Dilemma, when I realized a big difference in book and film opportunities.

A novel can be self-published.

An author can write, hire a proofreader, editor, designer and marketer to launch a book, but a film requires a team. And, the writer isn’t important after the screenplay is approved.

The producer is the head of the film and can fire the screenwriter (of the approved script) and start over if they deem necessary.

Thankfully, I have daughters who are producers.

I don’t think they’d fire me?

Next week - Why I am doing it

To sign up for emails or purchase books www.emilyskinnerbooks.com

My Author to Screenwriter Journey

Starting the Process

In 2012 my daughters made a book trailer for my novel Marquel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6e6O7iYqeVQ

The girls worked with industry friends to hire a name actor.

Eric Roberts was our choice.

But before they could hire him, they had to prepare a book trailer script, agree on the length, location, story board, actors, crew and budget.

My oldest daughter Marquel played the character Marquel in the book trailer. My youngest daughter Blair directed her sister and Oscar-nominated Eric Roberts, who portrayed Zach Manning.

Marquel Skinner as Marquel, Eric Roberts as Zach Manning

 

Blair Skinner, Director

The book trailer was to jumpstart book sales, make the Marquel novel relevant and serve another purpose.

It would be both a book trailer and a movie trailer. Finding readers and eventually film funding.

As with any group project, we split into two teams.

Team Book Sales (me) and everyone else in Team Film.

I’ll admit, I was in both teams.

The original Facebook page was named Marquel The Movie. A little confusing. But hey, we were all excited, expecting the book trailer to go viral, sell hundreds of thousands of books and create a demand for the movie. As they say, begin with the end in mind.

The trailer released to two-thousand-ish views on Youtube in the first months of release. A major success to us.

The Marquel The Movie Facebook page, however, had little more than 100 likes. Our friends were talking on our private Facebook pages, through email and going to the Youtube page.

Within a year of the trailer release best selling author/screenwriter Lee Goldberg found us (on our Youtube page) and said, “Best book trailer I have ever seen.”

We were elated!

Even if book sales were few to flat, I was seeing new reviews on Amazon and other bookseller sites. Confident it would grow in time.

But the question our followers kept asking was, “When is the movie coming out?”

I figured if Team Film wants to make a movie, let’s go! Let’s do a Kickstarter.

Everyone said to me, “Whoa. Kickstarter!? The first order of business is you need a script. A really good script!”

All right, I said, “I’ll write a movie script.”

But how?

Next week - How I Decided To Do It

To sign up for emails or purchase books www.emilyskinnerbooks.com 

Emily Millikan Blair

Two of the 12 notebooks written by Emily Millikan Blair

   I am a novice genealogist of late, undertaking the task of presenting my great, great grandmother's diary to the world.
  Emily Anne Millikan Blair was a well-read, educated, disabled, anxious Quaker wife and mother of five. She and my great, great grandfather John Addison Blair hail from a long line of Millikans and Blairs who intermarried throughout the Revolutionary War, Civil War and first World War.
 In my initial research I discovered praiseworthy highlights that both families saved Patriots from the Tories, were known abolitionists, as well as founding members of Randolph County, N.C.
  I am named for my grandmother Emily Hayden Blair, who was named for her grandmother Emily Anne Millikan Blair, the diarist.
 However, Emily Millikan Blair seems to be the opposite of the family heroes? Reading and transcribing her handwritten self-talk, my great, great grandmother repeatedly doubts herself, while also thanking God for helping such an unworthy soul through illness and insecurity.
   I confess, I was wondering if it I was reading the words of the self-absorbed. Then came an entry 9th month 1st 1890 that put everything into perspective. A tragic moment, whereby she stopped writing for eight months.
   Was I as judgemental as those who may have given her this insecurity?
   What was it like to be a Quaker woman?
   A Quaker who obviously had a passion to write and an obligation to be a model female in Quaker social circles.
  Who else judged her? What was her standing in the community? There are clues throughout her diary.
   So I hope you will pray for me as I do my very best to honor this courageous soul. In her words, she exposed her thoughts to "...be an inspiration to others to press on..."
   

The War Room

Every writer has their space. Sometimes it is a mobile space and other times it is a room in their home.
This is my place to write in the evenings and on weekends. It also doubles as my home office. Most things are there: files, inspiration, clutter, organization and comfortable furniture.
Since advertising sales takes up the larger portion of my week, I will often travel to a local coffee shop or my porch to write.
I'm distracted easily in my home office. A potty break can lead to a few client emails and I'm no longer the writer, but the rep.
As a rep, I'm task driven and it is easy to keep track of time. I am constantly looking at the clock and trying to determine the best time to reach clients and prospects. The clock is my friend.
As a writer, I find the clock disappears like a Dali painting. I have no idea what time it is and six hours can pass in what feels like 30 minutes. When I switch to full right brain, I'm a time traveler. I'm transported to a dimension where my ancestors are present and the beasts of my nightmares roam. Anything is possible.
However, I do wonder if my dream of being a full time writer is ever realized, will the taskmaster rep  find a way to structure my time?
Will I morph into a James Patterson writing machine or struggle with my inner artist and produce little to nothing?
Time will tell.

Happy 4th

I've spent a lot of time on Instagram, Facebook and my website. It is time to get back to blogging!
I hope to reconnect, share lots of past and current publishing activities and just have fun with you. Stay tuned!

Stay safe today and please keep in touch.

Thanks,
Em

Wondercon March 2016

I thought I had it all figured out.

Wondercon in Los Angeles was my first West Coast con.

I've done several in Florida, Georgia and Tennessee.

The fans of Wondercon are a great crowd. Those who are regulars to this con are used to it being in Anaheim -- so I'm not sure how many were attending Wondercon in LA for the first time?

I know I was.

Comic cons are where I sell my YA supernatural/paranormal books, the St. Blair series. And, for the most part, I have been growing response and sales with each con.

So here is what I have been measuring and learning as an author:

• A small con of 2,000 people won't equal the sales of a con of 40,000+, but could still be profitable.
• However, an artist alley table could equal the sales of a larger booth, if the location is in a high traffic area.
• Location is king.
• Booths that are positioned at the end section of a convention center, away from celebrity signings and a food court, are the road less traveled. Unless! it is a rainy day and conventioneers are stuck there.
• Signs and banners must be positioned very high up and should be double-sided as the best option (I need double sided banners).
• Better table display makes for improved sales.
• Pricing should be easy to locate on items and signs.
• Let people approach your table and browse before engaging in conversation.
• Recognize the person who has taken the time to come to your table, as they could be elsewhere.
• Thank people for their opinion.
• Have candy for hungry shoppers.
• Have an email signup.
• Make notes by the person's name on the email list (Blogger. Producer...) so you'll remember who they are. You won't remember once you travel home.  
• Give something free. I give away bookmarks.
• Enjoy yourself!

 So how was Wondercon? It was good.

It was topnotch professional. Awesome fans.

The help the Wondercon staff provides at load-in and load-in is THE BEST!

Sales were low for the booth size I had.

I've had the same 10x10 in 4 conventions and near the same volume of traffic or greater at Wondercon. The only difference was location and visibility. My Wondercon location was further away from the action, but near the food court (a plus). It seemed like a great location. But once all our neighbors had their booths up, it was a competition for attendee attention. I'm not complaining. I was very impressed by the creativity of the other vendors. We can always improve.

I still scratch my head on this one. It seemed to have greater potential.

I'm not sure why sales weren't at least the same as other large conventions? But the fans were great! We met a lot of fun people and hope to keep in touch with them.

Nevertheless, it was a wonderful experience. I think I'll try again, if they'll have me.

Loved the LA Convention Center.

Me with Blair, my filmmaker daughter.

 

Note to self: Get a bat signal to call attention to my booth. 

 

 Omini Hotel deals for Wondercon were WONDERFUL. These two would agree.

Con rule #1: Dress appropriately.