Re: RARA-AVIS: Parker/Porter (Picked a Peck...)

TERRILL LANKFORD (TOLANKFORD@webtv.net)
Tue, 16 Feb 1999 14:04:18 -0800 (PST) It's not absurd at all that Westlake makes the filmmakers change
Parker's name when he sells the film rights to the individual novels. It
keeps any one actor from being identified with the role and makes for
less entanglements when dealing with the next set of producers.

I know a number of series writers who have sold their first two or three
books to a studio and now feel they can't sell their next books to
anyone else. If the studio in question hasn't made a movie based on
their character yet they probably won't buy books four and five. This
leaves the writer in an awkward position. Sometimes the studios also
include specific language saying they own the character as well.
Westlake's deal cuts through all that nonsense.

It's not only smart, but all writers should use this technology when
dealing with the studio shysters.

TL

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