News > Agency

MySpace Collaborates With Coelho

User-generated movie in the works

June 11, 2008

-By Alex Woodson, The Hollywood Reporter


NEW YORK News Corp.'s MySpace is collaborating with best-selling Brazilian author Paulo Coelho to make a user-generated movie of his book The Witch of Portobello.

Users can submit videos focusing on one of the book's characters to MySpaceTV or Coelho's MySpace page, myspace.com/paulocoelho, and up to 15 winning submissions will be molded into a video "mash-up" called "The Experimental Witch." Users can also submit songs for a soundtrack to the film, with up to 16 selected for the project.

Coelho, speaking from Paris in a conference call with reporters, said that his agent has been approached by "quite a few people" interested in buying the finished product for a 52-minute TV film. No decision on final distribution of the project has been reached, though.

Witch is not the only Coelho title that will get a film treatment. Last month, it was announced that his 1988 novel The Alchemist would be made into a $60 million-plus film produced by Harvey Weinstein for the Weinstein Co. and starring, directed and produced by Laurence Fishburne.

Coelho, the Guinness World Record-holder for the most translated living author, said that Witch would be the only project that he's doing with his readers, though.

"I don't have any sort of idea of what's going to happen," Coelho said, "which makes the project much more interesting.

Submissions for the project, which will be promoted in 20 countries, will begin on June 16 and close on July 25, with winners to be announced on August 24. Coelho said that winning filmmakers would receive a reward of 3,000 euros ($4,638).

Coelho communicates with his readers via his MySpace page and he said he finds the service "addicting."


MySpace Collaborates With Coelho

User-generated movie in the works

June 11, 2008

-By Alex Woodson, The Hollywood Reporter


NEW YORK News Corp.'s MySpace is collaborating with best-selling Brazilian author Paulo Coelho to make a user-generated movie of his book The Witch of Portobello.

Users can submit videos focusing on one of the book's characters to MySpaceTV or Coelho's MySpace page, myspace.com/paulocoelho, and up to 15 winning submissions will be molded into a video "mash-up" called "The Experimental Witch." Users can also submit songs for a soundtrack to the film, with up to 16 selected for the project.

Coelho, speaking from Paris in a conference call with reporters, said that his agent has been approached by "quite a few people" interested in buying the finished product for a 52-minute TV film. No decision on final distribution of the project has been reached, though.

Witch is not the only Coelho title that will get a film treatment. Last month, it was announced that his 1988 novel The Alchemist would be made into a $60 million-plus film produced by Harvey Weinstein for the Weinstein Co. and starring, directed and produced by Laurence Fishburne.

Coelho, the Guinness World Record-holder for the most translated living author, said that Witch would be the only project that he's doing with his readers, though.

"I don't have any sort of idea of what's going to happen," Coelho said, "which makes the project much more interesting.

Submissions for the project, which will be promoted in 20 countries, will begin on June 16 and close on July 25, with winners to be announced on August 24. Coelho said that winning filmmakers would receive a reward of 3,000 euros ($4,638).

Coelho communicates with his readers via his MySpace page and he said he finds the service "addicting."
Post a Comment
Asterisk (*) is a required field.
* Author:
* Comment:
 

Other Agency News

a

Publicis Makes Another Buy in Asia

December 02, 2008

BOSTON Publicis Groupe continued its expansion efforts and added to its Asian holdings with the acquisition of W&K Communications, a full-service agency in China (not affiliated with Wieden + Kennedy). Read Full Article



Our ProductsOur Products

ADWEEK DAILY UPDATE

Receive a comprehensive roundup of the biggest stories of the day.

BREAKING NEWS ALERTS

Sign up to be the first to hear about the biggest breaking news stories.

SUBSCRIBE

Stay connected to what's happening in the advertising industry with delivery of the print edition and complete online access.

More VideosVideo



From print to online advertising trends, advertising professionals can read all about the latest advertising news at Adweek. Keep on top of the latest happenings in the advertising world, from online video advertising to the latest funny TV commercials. Check out our community and advertiser forums to discover and network with other advertiser and marketing professionals. Adweek provides advertisers with daily TV news and weekly ad industry editorials on a complete array of subjects. Use our advertising agency directory to find a career opportunity or to research an ad agency to fit your companies advertising and marketing needs. Explore Adweek everyday, or sign up for our Adverting Newsletter to get the latest ad industry news on demand!

Adweek Advertising Home | Advertising Industry News | Creative TV Advertising | Advertising Industry Community | Video Advertising | Advertising Data Center | Advertising Special Reports | Advertising Careers | Advertising Products | Advertising About Us | Advertising Business Statements | Advertising Contact Us | Advertising Opportunities | Ad Licensing | Advertiser FAQ | Advertising Magazine Subscriptions | Advertising News RSS | Online Ad Site Map | Mobile

© 2008 Nielsen Business Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Terms of Use  |   Privacy Policy