Make Your Idea a Property

Some of you asked me to explain in more detail about the process of turning your idea into a property. I mentioned that a couple of weeks ago in my post about Protecting Your Idea. Here's a story that illustrates the point.

When I was in Hollywood recently I spoke to the producer developing a movie version of the TV show 'Baywatch.' They commissioned different writers to create story treatments but haven't yet found one they like. He was planning to meet with more writers this week.

Some of you may be surprised at this sequence of events, but it's actually quite common in the movie business. The producer owns the property -- the right to produce a movie based on 'Baywatch'. He doesn't currently own the specific idea of the movie: what story will they tell that will appeal to today's audience without offending the core group of 'Baywatch' fans around the world?

Most people I speak with about their programs believe the idea is the most important thing. But anyone can have an idea. Producers and writers pitch ideas to executives, and executives suggest ideas to writers and producers. Your idea is just the beginning of the process.

For example, say you've always wanted to make a film version of your favorite TV show, 'My Mother the Car.' You turn that idea into a property by finding out who owns the rights to 'My Mother the Car' and licensing the right to make the movie from them. Instead of just having an idea that anyone can have, you now the property 'My Mother the Car.' All the studios that are hot to make this blockbuster have to deal with you, and only you, because you own the property.

Properties are not limited to old TV shows. They can be novels, short stories, songs, news stories, personal stories, poems (remember'Beowulf'?) spec screenplays, and even board games. Properties command respect; ideas are a dime a dozen.

Turning your idea into a property can take time and money. After all, Thomas Edison wasn't the only person who thought about making an electric light bulb. He was the only one who had the determination and resources to keep going through failure after failure until he made one that worked. As he famously said, "Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration."

So if you really want your idea considered, turn it into a property.

And if you want to take a crack at the 'Baywatch' script, have your agent contact the producer. Don't have an agent? That's a subject for a future post.