Making it Big (Almost)
I suppose I should be happy that my book was recognized by somebody, even if it was a scammer.
Songsaengnim: A Korea Diary was published 14 years ago and since then, I've received a few e-mails by people who have claimed to have ties to large publishing houses, wanting to expand distribution of the novel. On investigation, I've learned that they are small-time printing shops who want to get the rights to my book and charge me to print it.
No thanks.
Last year, someone claiming to belong to a small movie company wanted to explore putting the story on the big screen. That one seemed to actually be a legitimate production house but they had only put out one film, before, and I'd be required to front some costs.
Again, I said no thanks.
When someone who claims to be from Lionsgate Films reaches out to you, however, you tend to take notice. And that's what happened to me last week.
Of course, at first, I was dismissive. No one wants to make Songsaengnim into a movie. I mean, when I was writing the book, I imagined it from a cinematic point of view. I even thought about which actors would play what roles.
But I'm a realist, and realistically speaking, I knew that my novel was mediocre at best. It wouldn't gain wide recognition, never mind being adapted for the silver screen.
And yet, here was a message from Lionsgate, telling me that they were interested in making a movie out of my story. And they wanted to pay me big bucks, to the tune of $2.89 million, in US dollars.
I didn't even get to the end of the message. I read it as I woke up, and I had to get ready to meet with my folks and sister, to celebrate my father's birthday with a breakfast at a local restaurant. Those millions would have to wait to get more of my attention later.
I even mentioned the e-mail at breakfast. My mom got very excited when she heard Lionsgate, and her eyes went wide at the mention of the money. But I saw my father's look and the smile as he knew what I knew, that it was a scam.
"Why would he wait to tell us halfway through our meal, and be so blasé about it?" he asked her.
Even after breakfast, when I returned home, I didn't give the e-mail message any attention. I was busy, working on my YouTube video of Costa Rica to allow myself to be distracted.
 |
| Adam Fogelson (really) |
On Friday, two days after receiving the e-mail, I decided to look at it. It was sent to me, apparently, by Adam Fogelson, the chairman of Lionsgate Motion Picture Group. His photo was included with his signature and title, at the bottom of the message, along with links to the Lionsgate Web site.
I Googled Fogelson and learned that yeah, he is actually the chairman of this company, having been in the position since 2024, and had previously been vice-chair.
But why, I asked myself, would someone so high up in the company reach out to me? Surely, if my novel was being considered in any way, there are people who would do the work of contacting me.
Usually, when people have reached out to me about Songsaengnim, they've done so through my Brown Knowser e-mail address, as that one is more public (it is in my Contact section of my blog, after all). Someone must have done some searching to get my less-public e-mail contact information.
Maybe, there was something to this message?
And then I saw something that hit me right in the face: his own e-mail address.
When I worked for Motorola, I hated the long suffix of my e-mail address, which of course was the URL of Motorola Solutions' Web site, @motorolasolutions.com. I didn't like having to type out the company name when I was sending messages to co-workers, and thankfully, the address list would automatically search for the recipient as you started typing their name, so I didn't have to do it often.
When you're the chairman of a large corporation, you're going to want as short an e-mail address as possible: possibly, afogelson@lionsgate.com. Even adamfogelson@lionsgate.com would be shorter than my old Motorola e-mail address.
But in this message, Fogelson's e-mail address was adam.fogelson.chief.executive@liongateproductions.com. There's no way he was going to agree to a lengthy address like that. He's a busy man with better things to do.
Also, the suffix reads 'liongate,' and not 'lionsgate.'
The suffix also doesn't match the link to Lionsgate, which is simply lionsgate.com. Further searching showed that there are no ties between Lionsgate Entertainment, Inc. and Liongate Productions.
So much for that $2.89M USD.
If you're curious, here's the message that I received:
Project Title: Songsaengnim: A Korea Diary
Status: PASSED Production Film Adaptation - Lionsgate Production (Preliminary Stage)
Congratulations. Following a rigorous evaluation of the narrative structure, character development, and marketability of your work, we are pleased to announce that your book has officially passed the book-to-film evaluation. This signifies that the intellectual property meets the high-standard criteria required for cinematic transformation.
Market Relevance & Global Appeal
The story presented in your book possesses a unique "hook" that resonates deeply with the contemporary global landscape. Its themes are particularly potent for:
The Global Screen: The narrative taps into universal aspirations of upward mobility, the complexities of international film relationships making it highly exportable to diverse markets.
Financial Terms & Acquisition Offer
Upon fulfillment of the project requirements, the author is slated to receive an advance royalty of $2,890,000 USD under a 2-year exclusive contract. Official Contract will be released once these major documents are secured by the authors.
This substantial offer reflects the production’s confidence in the story’s commercial potential. However, to move from the evaluation phase to the active development phase, the author must secure and provide three critical documents.
The Three Major Requirements
To proceed with the acquisition, the following high-end industry assets must be secured. These ensure the project is "camera-ready" and legally protected:
| Requirement | Purpose & Importance |
| 1. WGA Certified Screenplay | A book is not a film. This is a professional translation of your prose into a technical format (dialogue, camera cues, and pacing) that directors and actors can use. |
| 2. Book Treatment | This serves as the blueprint for the adaptation. It outlines the visual style, narrative arc, and character beats, acting as the primary sales tool for producers. |
| 3. Legal & Licensing Fees | These cover the intellectual property registration, chain of title verification, and the legal framework necessary to protect the author's rights during the 2-year term. |
Critical Compliance Note
Please be advised that Lionsgate Production does not accept payments for these requirements.
As per industry standards, these documents must be facilitated through the Writers Guild of America (WGA). The author is responsible for securing the professional services of the WGA to produce the screenplay and treatment. The WGA ensures that these documents meet the "high-end" professional standards required for a major motion picture production.
Payments for these professional works must be made directly to the WGA or its certified representatives to ensure the project remains eligible for the $2.89M royalty payout. We will endorse this screenplay and book treatment, legal and licensing services to Writers Guild of America West or WGA. Should you be interested, they will update you.
Somebody sure went to a lot of effort. I wonder what other authors have been targeted, and whether they have fallen for this scam.
I've put Songsaengnim behind me. I doubt I'll ever finish the sequel. Roland Axam is finished as a character.
I'm putting my attention to Dark Water, which I had neglected for about four months but am now on the home stretch, having returned to reading and cutting, and cleaning it up for publication. And maybe, if it gets to bookshelves, and if I write more Calloway and Hayes mysteries, the series will get recognized by someone.
Someone who's not trying to scam me, that is.
Comments
Post a Comment