6 Tips for Adapting Existing IP: from Spec Scripts to OWA’s

Right now in Hollywood, IP is everywhere. If you’re mid-level in your career chances are you’re pitching on IP-based OWA’s pretty regularly, and adapting existing intellectual property (that’s in the public domain) for a personal spec can be a great way to get your foot in the door.

But once you’ve found your source material, how do you go about adapting it? How is the process different for a personal original spec vs. an OWA? What’s the most efficient way to review IP (like a 300 page novel!)  and come up with your ‘take’ before a pitch? Or, if you’re writing your own spec based on IP, what are the legal issues?

Here are 6 things to consider when adapting intellectual property:

Adapting IP for a personal spec:

Having at least one script in your portfolio that’s based on IP is never a bad thing. But, before you dive head-first into writing a futuristic horror spec based on Alice in Wonderland, here are a few things to consider:

1. Find the balance between inspiration and marketability

Too many writers try to “chase the market place” based on what IP is hot in Hollywood, and choose their spec subject matter based on that. I’m here to tell you, it doesn’t work. Execs don’t want what’s already been done, and they never know what they’re looking for until they see it. So if you’re going to commit the time and effort it takes to write a spec script, make sure you choose a piece of IP that sparks real inspiration for you. That said, watch choosing IP that’s so obscure no executive will have ever heard of it — you want them to be able to imagine your script already having a built-in audience.

2. It’s all in how you spin it

When you start searching for inspiration in the public domain (i.e. items that aren’t protected by copyright laws and are free for anyone to use). You’re going to come across a lot of stories and characters you’ve already seen in movies and TV shows. Shakespeare, Dracula, Sherlock Holmes (just to name a few). The point isn’t to just rewrite these stories ‘as is’, it’s to look at them through your own unique POV and deliver a fresh take Hollywood has never seen before. Maybe you change the time and place the story is set, the genre (like turning a romance into a thriller), or tell the story from the perspective of a side character. Find a way to spin an old, well-told story, into something that feels new and exciting again. 

3. Dot your i’s and cross your t’s

Before running with an idea, do a bit of digging to see who else that property might be tied to. Even if a property is in the public domain, its ‘availability’ can be more complicated than it seems. For example, Alice in Wonderland is in the public domain, but if you emulate anything from Disney’s Alice in Wonderland movies, you would be infringing on their trademark. So, unless you already have a deal with Disney to make your movie, the script won’t be sellable. If you have reps, tell them the property you’re thinking of basing a spec on and ask them to help you figure out if your chosen IP is free and clear. You can also find the finer details on the public domain and copyright law at the Stanford Library online.

Adapting IP for an OWA pitch:

In features, an open writing assignment (“OWA” for short) is basically a paid gig in search of a writer. When you hear about a studio looking to hire a writer to adapt an obscure 1990’s video game into a movie...that’s an OWA. 

The catch with OWA’s is that typically many writers are pitching on the same property. Which means the odds of getting the job can be slim after you’ve put in A LOT of work. (In television some folks refer to it as the “Writers Bake Off”. Click here to read my post all about how to ‘tactfully’ avoid working for free).

If you do choose to throw your hat in the ring for an OWA based on IP, here are a few tips to help you prepare your pitch:

1. Review the material efficiently

Since you are usually going up against other writers for the gig, you usually have little to no time to prepare your pitch. So, review the material as efficiently as possible. First, ask your reps what they know about the project and its history: Any extra intel is always useful. Then, review the IP (read the novel, watch the original movie, look up the video game, etc.) for an understanding of the essential story. The key relationships, the central character, the main goal, the emotional journey, the primary conflict(s), and any underlying themes. You’re not going to be able to include every single thing that’s in the piece of IP in your adaptation, so figure out the core stuff and what you connect to the most (keeping in mind most movies are primarily visually and emotionally driven). Anything in the IP that you can spin into an exciting and unique ‘take’ is fair game.

2. What are they looking for

So much of “winning” an OWA is about being on the same page as the producers and the studio. So ask your reps to set a preliminary Zoom or call with the producers before you’ve fully developed your take. A preliminary call is not only an opportunity for you to show your general enthusiasm for the project, but also to do a bit of probing into what they’re looking for. Don’t be afraid to turn the focus on them: Why do THEY like the project? Who do THEY think the audience is? Or in the case of a rewrite, find out what they think doesn’t work about the existing script. You don’t want to pitch them on a page one rewrite if they love everything about the script except the third act. Also, use a preliminary call to figure out if you even like the project! Trust me, there’s nothing worse than landing an OWA you have no interest in actually writing.

3. Remember, it’s your name on the title page, not theirs

As you put together your take don’t just pitch stuff they want to hear. Try to strike a balance between something that meets (and exceeds) their expectations, but that also excites you and feels uniquely your own. Remember, you were asked to pitch on this because they like your writing and your voice. Trust that. At the end of the day, it’s going to be your name on the title page—not theirs.

What are your tips and tricks for adapting IP? Let me know @CaroleKirsh!

For more industry info and tips check out these additional resources:

For the ultimate guide to pitching a TV show that sells, check out my e-book, The Ultimate Guide to a Killer Pitch

To learn how to create your “personal logline” read my free e-book, Tell Your Story in 60 Seconds.

For my in-depth video course on breaking into the business go to: Carole Kirschner’s Hollywood Boot Camp.

And you can find my book, Hollywood Game Plan on Amazon or at Michael Wiese Productions (MWP).