Laguna Beach, CA (PRWEB) November 09, 2016
In the world of Hollywood glitz, film development startup Hornpin Media is about as plain vanilla as you get. They have a one room office, a one page website, one phone line and a zero entertainment budget in which to wine and dine Hollywood A-listers.
“That’s because, we’re not selling the sizzle,” says Managing Partner, Kevin Cooper. “We’re selling the story. Incredible, one of a kind stories, that you can’t find anywhere else. And we don’t want anything to get in the way of that.”
Hornpin Media began a year ago from a chance encounter. Kevin’s daughter volunteers for a group that teaches writing to inmates, and while guest lecturing at her school she let him borrow the book she was using as a teaching guide --- an unknown novel from a small press that she had heard of through a friend. Cooper finished the book in less than a day.
“The characters were so real and the book had such a humorous but powerful storyline, that all the time I was reading I was thinking, yes, this is the voice that is missing in mainstream publishing. And then later on I began to think --- it’s also the voice that is missing in film.”
Kevin told some of his colleagues and friends about the book and they soon all began reading it. A month later they decided to go after the film rights to that very book.
“We contacted the publisher and optioned the rights to THIRTY THREE CECILS, even before we had completely formed the company. Once we had them, we acquired two other great stories --- FAT MAN WALKING and THE LAST CLAMBAKE --- and then we stopped. With just three films. A fraction of what other companies have, but that’s all we want. Three great stories that will become three great films. And we won’t bring any more in until we find homes for all of them.”
When asked what the most frightening aspect of the last year has been, Cooper quickly responded, “That’s easy. About a month ago we turned down our very first offer from a studio. And with money going out and nothing coming in yet, that was extremely hard to do. But it wasn’t the right deal for us, the publisher, the project, or the author. So we had to pass.”
Hornpin Media is located in Laguna Beach, California. Information about them can be found at Hornpinmedia.com.