Independent Film News

Focus Features Deals with Random House

In the first deal of its kind, Focus Features and publisher Random House have come to a co-ownership agreement regarding the goldmine that is books-into-movies. Author Deen Koontz is the latest to benefit from the deal, two other books have already been tagged to become films. Announced Monday, Focus plans to turn a third as-of-yet unpublished novel, The Husband, into a movie as well.

The novel (pun intended) new idea from the ever-innovative Focus Features means that both the studio and the publisher will own the films, which also means they'll both finance the productions. It's a crafty approach to an industry standard--films are adapted from previously written work all the time. Now, Focus has an in when it comes to the next best seller from Random House and any of its imprints.

The first two films the companies have marked as potential films are both set in the MidEast--Yasmina Khadra's "The Attack," and Bob Drogin's "Curveball," a non-fiction book on the war in Iraq. "The Husband" follows one man's torment after an afternoon phonecall from a stranger. An article from Reuters quotes Koontz praising the studio: "...the people at Focus understand both story and subtext; they make narratively engaging, intelligent movies. Their creative but faithful adaptations of books into films have been remarkable."

Tags:

Posted by Lisa on April 5, 2006 10:51 AM
Permalink | Email to a Friend | Add to del.icio.us | Digg This

More Recent Stories:
• Palm and Netflix Pen Messy Deal for Rockumentary
• ShoWest Panel: How Indies Got Their Groove Back
• Tribeca Announces 2007 Lineup
• Casting News: Howard in "Teardrop Diamond"
• Two Spanish Films To Find U.S. Screens
• Director Craig Brewer Talks to IFC
• Friday Festival Frenzy: HotDocs and AFI Dallas
• Casting News: Ethan Hawke in "Staten Island"
• Film Racing: How Fast Can You Shoot?
• 2007 Independent Spirit Awards: Sunshine Sweeps


Web	Filmfodder