. INTRODUCTION     (Skip to Services Menu) Humans have always been storytellers. Whether gathered around a campfire, painting on cave walls, writing words on dead trees or glowing screens—it's in our blood. Books and other storytelling formats can be noble undertakings, capable of reaching hundreds of thousands and sometimes even millions of people. But movies are the global campfires of our time. We're here to help you tell your story to those who gather around these modern campfires—any place there's a theater, television, computer or phone. We offer advice and hands-on assistance with loglines, pitches, outlines, treatments, series proposals and full-length screenplay adaptations (pilots/series and features). We will not "farm out" or outsource your project to interns or foreign "writing services." We feel you deserve better than that—so everything we take on is done by John, Jacqueline, or the two of us together, right here in Los Angeles. We can't price-match Bangladesh, and you wouldn't want us to. Our pricing structure offers options designed to work within your budget and timeframe. Phone conversations can be recorded and sent to you for future reference. If you need something in a hurry, we also offer "express service" for expedited turnarounds. If you're looking for something not listed here, let us know. To ask a question or get started with one of our services, just send us an email. If you're considering our services but would like to discuss your options by phone, we'd be happy to schedule a free call; just shoot us an email and we'll make it happen. If you'd like to know a bit more about us, check out our bio page. When it comes to adaptations, we literally wrote the book. .                                 . We'll read or listen to your story, manuscript or book and follow up with a one-hour phone consultation to discuss your work's screen potential. Topics covered will include concept, story, character, dialogue, pacing, structure, style, genre—and which (if any) of these elements might be modified to make your book or other story more screen-friendly. The call can be recorded and sent to you for future reference. PRICE: $2.00 per page  (1 page = 250 words). If your story is not in book or manuscript form, contact us for pricing. TURNAROUND: 3-4 weeks     (Need it faster? Express service available) •  Contact us to submit or ask a question.            Adaptation Menu back to top . When going from a tale that might fill 300-plus book pages (or a mere two dozen comic book pages) to the 120 or so pages required of a feature screenplay, major changes are called for. Starting with what you have now, we'll work closely with you to develop a comprehensive development outline or "Story Map" for your adapted story. When finished, the Story Map will detail every significant event of the new (or revised) storyline, from opening scene to fade out. The Story Map will guide the adaptation, so everyone involved will know exactly where the story is going before the first word is typed—avoiding blind alleys, misunderstandings, and endless rewrites that could cost weeks, months, even years. The Story Map is most appropriate for those wanting to who intend to do the actual writing themselves, but want a solid roadmap before they begin. Price shown includes up to 20 hours of phone time; most adaptive Story Maps that begin with a finished book-length manuscript are completed in 20 hours or less. Additional hours (if required) are billed at a discounted rate. Turnaround time varies with client preference; most prefer ten calls of two hours each, spread over 6 - 12 weeks. PRICE:   $1500 (up to 20 hours phone time) TURNAROUND:   Varies with client preference; generally 6-12 weeks.     (Need it faster? Express service available) •  Contact us to submit or ask a question.            Adaptation Menu back to top . A full-length adaptation of your story, book or manuscript into feature screenplay format. We’ll consult with you and agree on screen story details before we begin, and check in with you along the way for review and comment. At the end of the process, you’ll have a feature-length screenplay (typically 105-120 pages, depending on genre) and a Pitch Sheet to go with it. PRICE AND TURNAROUND TIME vary by project, and depend on what kind of shape the story is in now. While we can cite ballpark figures, a Story-to-Screen-Consult will allow us to give you a more accurate price and timeline. You can also contact us to discuss your specific project. Average turnaround is 90-120 days, but we can pace things in accordance with your needs. Express service is available. •  Contact us for pricing, or if you have any questions.            Adaptation Menu back to top . Series adaptations are different than feature adaptations. With a feature, everything the buyer needs to know about the two-hour story is right there in the screenplay. Because a series can go on for years, buyers want to know more: who are these characters, which ones will be regulars, where are things going after the first episode—and is there enough “meat” here (concept, story world, compelling characters) to fuel multiple seasons? Because of this, you need a “series bible” to go along with the pilot script. The pilot sets things up (establishing main characters and situations). The bible contains a summary of each first-season episode, detailed character bios for main and recurring characters, thoughts on future seasons, and sometimes a note on the world of the story (if different from our own) or overall story tone, or other materials—and of course a short pitch. (The pitch gives the person who likes your series package a quick way to pitch it to producers, actors, and executives.) Our Series Adaptation Package gives you all of this.As with feature adaptations, we consult with you before work begins, and check in along the way for your review and comment. PRICE AND TURNAROUND TIME vary by project, and depend on what kind of shape the story is in now. While we can cite ballpark figures, a Story-to-Screen-Consult will allow us to give you a more accurate price and timeline. You can also contact us to discuss your specific project. Average turnaround is 90-120 days, but we can pace things in accordance with your needs. Express service is available. •  Contact us for pricing, or if you have any questions.            Adaptation Menu back to top . Personal consultation and coaching are available for those looking to brainstorm story points, those who prefer an intensely personal approach with constant two-way communication as they write and revise, and for those whose needs not addressed by our other services. We'll work with you via phone, notes, email, or any combination of these—whatever suits your style. Pricing is per hour of time spent on the phone, writing notes, emailing, etc. We can usually schedule an initial consultation in 5 - 10 days. PRICE:   $75.00 per hour TURNAROUND:   See above     (Need it faster? Express service available) •  Contact us to submit or ask a question.            Adaptation Menu back to top . No one can read everything. Busy book and film industry pros decide which works to read based on loglines and pitch sheets. The logline is a ten-second pitch of your story's basic concept, designed to make the reader want more. A good logline tells the reader three things: WHO the story is about, what their GOAL is, and the nature of the OBSTACLE that must be overcome in order to reach that goal. Here are four sample loglines we wrote, based on popular movies (three of them adaptations): •  A fugitive doctor wrongly convicted of killing his wife struggles to prove his innocence while pursued by a relentless U.S. Marshal. (The Fugitive) •  A family struggles to escape a remote island park whose main attractions—genetically restored dinosaurs—have been set loose by a power failure. (Jurassic Park) •  In a society where criminals are arrested before their crimes are committed, a cop convicted of a future murder goes on the run to prove his innocence. (Minority Report) •  An emotionally shuttered Wall Street tycoon hires a vivacious hooker for the week, falls in love, and struggles to form his first meaningful relationship. (Pretty Woman) We'll read your book, screenplay or other material and write you a logline to use when pitching your project to agents, managers, editors, and film company execs. If you choose our budget-minded phone option (see below), we'll cut the price by 20%. And if we've already read the complete story in the past 60 days (because you purchased an Evaluation, Annotation, Second Look, Line Edit or Polish), we'll cut the price to $100. PRICE:   $125 for a script of 125 pages or less  (uncheated, in FD or MMS**) / $350 for a book of 350 pages or less (1 page = 250 words); $100 (script or book) if you choose the phone option, or we've recently read the same work for another service (see above) ADDITIONAL PAGES:   $1 per page (book or script) PHONE OPTION:  We'll speak with you by phone, and write the logline based on the information you provide, without reading the work itself. Please note that if you do choose the Phone Option, we cannot guarantee (because we haven't read the actual manuscript) that the Phone Option Logline will represent the actual work with 100% accuracy; it will be as accurate as possible, based on the information you provide. TURNAROUND:   One week on scripts and short-form fiction  /  two weeks on books.     (Need it faster? Express service available) •  Contact us to submit or ask a question.            Adaptation Menu back to top . Once you've hooked your reader's interest with the logline, it makes sense to follow up on that interest immediately. The pitch sheet starts with (and includes) a logline and takes things one giant step further by presenting the major elements of your story in a fast, easy-to-read "teaser" format. Like a movie trailer, the pitch sheet is designed to make the reader want to dive into the story you're selling. It gives them a sense of confidence in your ability to expand on the logline and flesh out the concept into a full-blown story. Ideally, it persuades them to ask for your script or manuscript or, if they already have it—to read it right away. A good Pitch Sheet can have the same effect on the public. John's publisher (St. Martin's Press/Macmillan) liked the Pitch Sheets he used to sell them his first two books so much, they ran them word-for-word on the back covers. We'll read your book, screenplay or other material and write you a Pitch Sheet (with logline) for use when pitching your project to agents, managers. editors, and film company execs. In fact, we'll write you an alternate logline as well, just for good measure. If you choose our budget-minded phone option (see below), we'll cut the price by 20%. And if we've already read the complete story in the past 60 days (because you purchased an Evaluation, Annotation, Second Look, Line Edit or Polish), we'll cut the price to $150. PRICE:   $200 for a script of 125 pages or less  (uncheated, in FD or MMS**) / $425 for a book of 350 pages or less (1 page = 250 words); $150 (script or book) if you choose the phone option, or we've recently read the same work for another service (see above). ADDITIONAL PAGES:   $1 per page (book or script) PHONE OPTION:  We'll speak with you by phone, and write the Pitch Sheet based on the information you provide, without reading the work itself. Please note that if you do choose the Phone Option, we cannot guarantee (because we haven't read the actual story) that the Phone Option Pitch Sheet will represent the actual work with 100% accuracy; it will be as accurate as possible, based on the information you provide. TURNAROUND:   One week on scripts and short-form fiction  /  two weeks on books.     (Need it faster? Express service available) •  Contact us to submit or ask a question.            Adaptation Menu back to top . If you're looking for help with something not covered here,one yourself, etc., feel free to give us a shout; not all services are listed. •  Contact us with any questions.            Adaptation Menu back to top . Express Service is available for an additional fee. Regular and express prices and delivery times appear below. For those with more urgent needs, special arrangements can often be made; please contact us with your requirements. Unless included as part of the service described, express consult time is billed at $100/hour; standard (non-express) consult time is billed at $75/hour. SERVICE STANDARD EXPRESS Story-to-Screen Consult $2.00 per page  /  3 - 4 weeks $3.00 per page  /  1 week Story Map (Outline) $1500  /  6 - 12 weeks (avg) $2250  /  1 week Adaptation Varies w/ project (note)  /  90 - 120 days (avg) Varies w/ project (note)  /  30-60 days Consultation / Coaching $75 an hour  /  scheduled calls $100 an hour  /  same-day availability Logline  (script) $125 up  /  1 week $185 up  /  1 day Logline  (book) $350 up  /  4 weeks $525 up  /  1 week Pitch Sheet  (script) $200 up  /  1 week $300 up  /  1 day Pitch Sheet  (book) $425 up  /  4 weeks $635 up  /  1 week . NOTE:   Adaptation prices and turnaround times are affected by a number of factors, the most important being the present state of the source material (book, story, etc.). If the existing material is incomplete or has major problems, the adaptation process will require more work and more time to complete. If the source material is already in decent shape (or better), things move more swiftly. While we can cite ballpark figures, a story-to-screen-consult will allow us to give you a more accurate price and timeline. Contact us to discuss your specific project. * MANUSCRIPT FORMATTING NOTES: Manuscript page count is calculated using the industry-standard formula: 1 page = 250 words*). Other standard formatting tips: 12-point font (times roman, arial, or courier), double line spacing, 1.25" margins all around, title and author name at the top of every page, with each page numbered at top right. Format can be DOC, DOCX, or RTF. Manuscripts received in other formats will be imported into and edited or annotated in Microsoft Word or other word processing software. . If you're not in the market for adaptation services right now, you'll still find plenty of free advice on this site. John also tweets as John_Marlow. . To ask a question or get started with one of our services, just send us an email. If you're considering our services but would like to discuss your options by phone, we're happy to schedule a free call; shoot us an email and we'll make it happen. Our address is: Service Menu back to top

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