Join owner/director of Adelaide production company Closer Productions, Rebecca Summerton, for an invaluable session on the process of bringing a book to life on screen.

In this talk and live Q&A, learn about translating a manuscript into a screenplay and the film optioning process for novels and non-fiction. From producing, financing and distributing, Rebecca will guide you through the timeline from first option to a film's opening night – and share what can make your work appealing to film producers.

Participants will learn:

• What makes a book appealing to a producer
• What makes a good partnership / how can a producer and writer work together
• What rights does producer take when the option your book
• What to expect during the script-writing / adaptation / development phase
• Case study of taking a book to the screen (Animals)

—Online events are easy to access! You will need an internet connection and (ideally) a device with a camera – computers/laptops or even phones can be used to dial in. You will be sent a link to join a few days before the event. The link will take you to a private digital meeting where you can join the session. You can test the link at any time to ensure you can log in. Please respect the other participants in your event and mute your microphone at all times while the presenter is presenting. Background noise in houses such as TVs, pets and children can affect the sound quality. Screen fatigue is taxing on our eyes and brains so our workshops are now presented in maximum durations of 1.5 hours at a time.

—Writers SA members must be logged in to receive the member discount. If you would like to use a workshop credit to book in, please contact [email protected] at least five working days before the workshop commencement date. Our staff don’t work full time and we don’t want you to miss out!

—Registrations will close 4pm on the Friday prior to a weekend event and 4pm the day of for an evening event to ensure all participants have the relevant links and information during Writers SA business hours.

—Members of other writing centres in the National Writers Centre Network can access our member discount. Contact [email protected] with your membership number to make your booking.

About Rebecca Summerton

Rebecca Summerton's work includes feature film Animals, an official Australian-Irish co-production which premiered at Sundance 2019, mini-series The Hunting, which became SBS' most successful commissioned drama ever, and most recently the critically acclaimed 6x 30min comedy/drama Aftertaste for the ABC. She also produced the feature documentary Sam Klemke’s Time Machine which premiered at Sundance 2015, and the innovative low budget feature 52 Tuesdays which won the Directing Award, World Cinema Dramatic at Sundance Film Festival 2014 and the Crystal Bear for Best Film at Berlinale 2014. Image credit - Jack Fenby