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Hi, Owen,

Thanks for all your efforts, researches, and brainstorming re: trying to make MASTERMINDS into 1 (or 3) movies. I really appreciate the hard work, plus the enthusiasm for my books does come through in your letters.

The fact is, though, that undertaking the job of putting MASTERMINDS on the silver screen is the kind of operation that requires screenwriters, a first-class film studio, top-notch filming equipment, and countless millions of dollars. It’s a job for movie companies, who hire the right people, find well-known actors (and the cast is enormous!), and never count the cost in either money or stomach-lining. It’s simply not practical to think such a project could be done any other way — creating the many settings alone would be a daunting job — Serenity, Denver, Chicago, Texas, and all the travel in between. Believe me when I say that it can’t be done economically.

And I wouldn’t attempt it. I’m glad you enjoy my writing style, but the fact is that prose and screenwriting are very different fields. I happen to be an extremely so-so screenwriter (my NYU Prof. will confirm this!), so even the writing would have to be done by someone else.

Sorry, Owen. It’s just not practical. Someone has to come along, find the books fabulous, and decide it will be his/her next movie. So let’s keep a good thought, and maybe it will happen.

Thanks for trying.I really do appreciate your enthusiasm for the project, and your support for my work.

                                           Best regards,                                                     —–Gordon Korman—–