Summary
Learn from John-Paul Sarni owner of book to screen production company Dimma, recently announced in Deadline!
JP has worked on book deals with HBO, ABC, MTV, and Laurence Fishburne’s Cinema Gypsy Productions, and recently led Stampede Ventures’ global book-to-screen adaptations!
Walk away with a sample term sheet and a step-by-step, actionable process to option your first book for film or TV with confidence!
Every year, thousands of books are published, and hidden among them are stories just waiting to be adapted for film or TV. In this exclusive Stage 32 webinar, you’ll learn how to spot high-potential titles, confidently approach authors and agents, and turn the right book into a project that excites producers and audiences alike. You’ll gain a clear roadmap for navigating the optioning process efficiently and strategically.
More than two-thirds of last year’s top films and TV series were based on existing IP, often starting as a book. Books provide a tested story and built-in audience, making them a strong foundation for adaptation. Securing the rights doesn’t have to be intimidating when you know the right steps, and JP will teach you the full process—from identifying valuable titles to making offers and closing deals.
Your host John-Paul Sarni has almost two decades of experience as a international producer, executive, and writer. He recently launched the book to screen production company Dimma, which was announced in Deadline that specializes in optioning books for the film and TV screen.
He is the former EVP, Head of International Content & IP Acquisitions at Stampede Ventures, where he oversaw a global slate including a first-look deal with CBS Studios International, a joint venture with KOJO Studios in Australia, and projects across 15+ countries. He executive produced GOLD DIGGERS (ABC/CBS Studios, AACTA nominee) and THE DARKNESS (Síminn/CBS Studios, dir. Lasse Hallström). He has also held senior roles at HBO Films, aid+abet (working on PARIAH and UNA NOCHE), Sonar Entertainment, and Laurence Fishburne’s Cinema Gypsy Productions, developing BLACK-ISH and Emmy winner SNOWY DAY for Amazon. Originally from Andover, MA, John-Paul splits his time between Italy and California and is a member of the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
By the end of this webinar, you’ll understand how to evaluate books before reading them, plan your approach to authors and agents, structure and negotiate offers, and manage the optioning timeline. You’ll walk away confident, equipped with insider strategies, and ready to bring your project to life!
PLUS! You will receive the following handout to help you:
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Sample Term Sheet
What You'll Learn
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Discovering The Books
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Where to begin your search
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How to recognize competitive development
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Identifying public domain titles
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Key book memos and websites for tracking opportunities
Networking & Connecting With Authors And Agents
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How to check rights
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Contacting the author directly — when to try it and how
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Types of agents and how to work with them
When A Producing Partner Makes Sense
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Case Study: The Darkness (CBS Studios)
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Studios vs. producers vs. production services
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Knowing your territory
Doing Due Diligence Before You Spend Money
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Reviewing previous adaptations and options
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Understanding attachments
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Considering returning characters
Papering The Offer
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When to engage a lawyer or agent
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Option Agreement vs. Shopping Agreement
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Key deal terms:
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Option price vs. purchase price
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The term
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Credit
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Producing fee
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Bonuses
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Negotiations
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Navigating competitive situations and timelines
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Knowing your limits
The Ticking Clock
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Clarifying when the option begins
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Staying on top of expirations
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Understanding force majeure (e.g. COVID-19)
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Collecting materials for submissions
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Creating target lists (writers, directors, actors)
Live Q&A With JP
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Who Should Attend
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Producers looking to secure books or IP for their next film or TV project
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Writers or directors interested in adapting published works and learning the optioning process
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Development executives seeking to expand their knowledge of IP acquisition
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Anyone curious about the step-by-step journey of turning a book into a screen project
Executive
International producer John-Paul Sarni most recently served as EVP, Head of International Content + IP Acquisitions at Stampede Ventures. In that post, he curated and looked after a development slate including a first-look deal with CBS Studios’ international division, a joint venture with Australia’s KOJO Studios (The Alliance), and projects across 15+ countries. He served as Executive Producer on the comedy series, GOLD DIGGERS for Australia’s ABC/CBS Studios (AACTA Nominee for Best Comedy Series), and THE DARKNESS for Iceland’s Síminn/CBS Studios from director Lasse Hallström.
He began in development at HBO Films before moving on to aid+abet as an executive working on such films as PARIAH (Sundance 2011) and UNA NOCHE (Berlinale 2012). As VP of Development & Literary Acquisitions at Sonar Entertainment, he oversaw an extensive slate of series, miniseries and feature films produced and acquired for the international market.
At Laurence Fishburne’s Cinema Gypsy Productions he served as Head of Development and Current, developing new properties for the company, including their award-winning ABC series, BLACK-ISH as well as Emmy winner, SNOWY DAY for Amazon.
Originally from Andover, Massachusetts, he lives between Italy and California. He is a member of the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.