This is also makes me question/side-eye production companies owned by minorities. This would be a perfect route some of these companies could go. Also it just feels like there needs to be a stipulation added about the shelving issue. Just like residuals, writers rooms, holding the writer hostage, etc. This shelving issue is becoming a big thing and it’ll just keep growing.
Not all Black and Brown production companies are like this. Sampson Street (Kerry Washington) and JuVee Production (Viola Davis) have been working their a*** off getting Black adaptations and original stories on screen in the midst of DEI rollbacks in the industry.
The shelving issue is unavoidable with these studio deals. That’s a larger exec issue that affects everyone down the pipeline.
I agree. I think shelving is always going to be an issue when it comes to studio deals. And I think sometimes it has to do with studios competing with each other. Sometimes, a studio may buy the rights to a book just so someone else doesn’t make it. Two things I think that may help are : 1.) authors should avoid selling their rights for smaller amounts or possibly even insist on being an executive producer. 2.) Now that we’re moving into an age where creators have direct relationships with their audience and are more in control of monetization, should authors be thinking more like studios and take control of the production of their own books to screen?
This is also makes me question/side-eye production companies owned by minorities. This would be a perfect route some of these companies could go. Also it just feels like there needs to be a stipulation added about the shelving issue. Just like residuals, writers rooms, holding the writer hostage, etc. This shelving issue is becoming a big thing and it’ll just keep growing.
Not all Black and Brown production companies are like this. Sampson Street (Kerry Washington) and JuVee Production (Viola Davis) have been working their a*** off getting Black adaptations and original stories on screen in the midst of DEI rollbacks in the industry.
The shelving issue is unavoidable with these studio deals. That’s a larger exec issue that affects everyone down the pipeline.
I agree. I think shelving is always going to be an issue when it comes to studio deals. And I think sometimes it has to do with studios competing with each other. Sometimes, a studio may buy the rights to a book just so someone else doesn’t make it. Two things I think that may help are : 1.) authors should avoid selling their rights for smaller amounts or possibly even insist on being an executive producer. 2.) Now that we’re moving into an age where creators have direct relationships with their audience and are more in control of monetization, should authors be thinking more like studios and take control of the production of their own books to screen?
I agree. It makes me feel a way. Like are they doing this to buried it.
Can’t wait to see “Children of Blood and Bone” by Toni Adeyemi. That should be a good one.
Nice Article!