Rights and Licencing - Reviewing Proposals

[Prof. Sky Alton]

You next find yourself in the rights and licencing department. You were expecting this to be rather dull but as soon as you step in, you find yourself surrounded by life-sized cutouts of book characters, all winking and waving at you. The tables are strewn with interesting products, each vaguely related to a book in some way. You’re really not sure what to make of the Gilderoy Lockhart tea towels…
The only team member around explains that they’re in charge of handling requests from companies who want to create things based on people’s books. It’s an important job – they need to get a good deal for the author and the publisher, while also making sure what they approve doesn’t harm the book’s reputation (you wisely decide not to ask who approved those ghastly tea towels…)
Task:
In 100 words or more, create a proposal from a company who want to licence one of the publisher’s books to create a product. It could be for a line of magical merchandise or an adaptation in another media, like a series on the Wizarding Wireless Network or even a muggle movie. They need to describe the project in detail and persuade the publisher it’s a good deal.
Post your proposals below by 11:59 PM HOL-time on 26 October. You'll earn 20 beans for this task.

[River Fenwick]

Dear publisher,

We are writing to express our interest in obtaining the audiovisual rights to a film adaptation of a book you currently represent: The Mystic Menagerie by Eliza Wheelsburgh.

We are particularly captured by the story's potential for world-building and visual storytelling, especially in bringing the magical creatures and the secretive atmosphere of the hidden zoo to life.

Our team has an extensive background in filmography, particularly in authenticating fantasy settings and producing quality storylines. We believe The Mystic Menagerie would be a good fit based on our previous experience, and we will approach the project with respect for the novel's tone and themes. We are open to working with the author and your company to ensure the project is of high quality.

We look forward to hearing from you about our proposal and how best to proceed. We are happy to submit any additional information on our vision and how we hope to bring the story to life.

We appreciate your consideration,
Hallow Entertainment

[Aisling Lestrange]

Dear Publisher,

We are writing to propose a collaboration to adapt Whispers Beneath the Waxing Moon by Elsbeth Graeves into a documentary series exploring the ghost stories, charms, and superstitions of Britain’s northern wizarding communities.

Our vision is to blend scholarly commentary with haunting reenactments and field recordings gathered from remote villages, creating a sense of stepping directly into the tales Graeves describes. Each episode would focus on a particular legend, examining both the folklore itself and the cultural beliefs that shaped it.

We believe this project would honour the tone and intent of the book while expanding its reach to audiences who connect more deeply through visual storytelling.

We would love the opportunity to discuss rights and creative collaboration further.

Kind regards,
Silverveil Productions

[Janne Halla]

Continuing the story of Auroras and Antlers, which also includes its description.


Dear Flourish and Blotts,

We at Enchanted Critters Ltd. would love to create a line of interactive plush toys based on Aksel Korhonen’s Auroras and Antlers. The collection would feature soft, cuddly versions of the creatures that are found in the book, such as the frost elk and aurora foxes.

Each toy would be enchanted to make it behave uniquely. For example, the frost elk's antlers would glow in the art, aurora foxes would have colour-shifting tails, and snow sprites would make a gentle chiming sound when you squeeze them. We’d use high-quality, durable materials so they’re safe and long-lasting.

These toys will come with 'Creature Cards' detailing each creature’s magical abilities and lore. They'd be collectible, ensuring that perhaps children would want to have the full set, and also educational.

We think this line would be a perfect companion to the book’s release, giving readers a way to bring a bit of the story home. It would boost excitement for the story, encourage creative play, and make Auroras and Antlers stand out even more.

We’d be thrilled to talk about design ideas, production details, and how to make this collaboration as beneficial as possible to all of us.

Sincerely,
Enchanted Critters Ltd.