Book-to-screen deals are reported by the Hollywood trades in pieces that dutifully mention the novelists, directors and actors involved but often leave out the people who actually made it happen the agent or manager who hooked up the players, the producer who optioned it years ago, the book scout whose secret source shared the proposal before book publishers had even seen it.
Below are a few of Hollywood’s most important behind-the-scenes movers, shakers and connection-makers agents, scouts, managers and execs. Not all of them toil in obscurity, but each contributes mightily to the adaptation process that puts all those pages on the screen.
S&S to Publish Preschool Titles for CoCoMelon
Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing has secured the master publishing rights for CoComelon, a preshool entertainment franchise licensed by Moonbug. Simon Spotlight will release the first four books an 8x8, a tabbed board book, a novelty title, and a shaped book with working wheels in fall 2021, with a total of 10 titles to be published within the first year.
CoComelon’s content consists of animated, brightly colored videos of nursery rhymes and songs. A core group of characters, led by JJ, serve as role models to teach basic concepts, from letters and animal sounds to tying shoes and preparing for the first day of school.
WME Partner Tanya Cohen, Agents Solco Schuit and Simon Faber to Depart Agency (EXCLUSIVE) lmtonline.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from lmtonline.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
WME Agents Tanya Cohen, Solco Schuit and Simon Faber to Depart Agency
Schuit and Farber are also pursuing opportunities in managing and producing space as a pairUmberto Gonzalez | January 11, 2021 @ 1:05 PM Last Updated: January 11, 2021 @ 1:47 PM
William Morris Endeavor (WME) agents Tanya Cohen, Solco Schuit and Simon Farber are departing the agency, according to an insider with knowledge of the situation.
Schuit and Farber are pursuing opportunities in the managing and producing space as a pair. Schuit made partner last month.
Cohen, who championed female directors at the agency, is said to be transitioning into management and is in talks with one of several new management firms. She was with the agency for over 14 years and recently made partner. Cohen’s client list included directors like Gabriela Cowperthwaite (“Blackfish”), Jennifer Yuh Nelson (“Kung Fu Panda 2”) and comedy veteran Paula Pell. Cohen started her career at Paradigm and also worked at