European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - July 23, 1978, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Producer David Gerber probably first one in television to commission original by Jerry Buck associated press the Bonds Between television and the Book pub Lishing Industry Are growing novels and which once automatically went to the Novie Are now being snatched up or the networks As soon As they come off the sometimes Best Sellers like blood and Centennial and Friendly fire Are headed for television in versions ranging from three to 2s stretching the plats Over several Boon has Al Lowed to producers to Olter tag Money More Usu for Thomas Thompsons blood and Money for film roots was a perfect blending of the two to rights were bought even before Alex Haley finished writ ing the history of his family from Africa to the Book was published shortly before the 12hour mini series arrived at Abc in january 1977 and both became big hate is at work on about his 12year quest for his parts of that about Haleys own Are being incorporated in roots the next in production for release next an Abc mini series based on Gerald greens became a bestselling paperback before the first episode aired in following the trend set by motion other to movies and series Are being turned into the newest twist is Herteg to write books to be adapted Lor Tus Sounra in the foot Steps of Robert who  Mario poo to write the producer David Gerber of Columbia pictures television is deeply involved in this new he flew to utile last year to persuade author Dee Brown to postpone retirement Long enough to write one More he hired author of Bury my heart at wounded to write a novel tracing an Indian family through four or five generations to about 1900 j was also looking for a Book about a dynastic Texas ranching family from the turn of the Century to the Nieman Marcus he he came upon such a Matthew Brauns lord of the but it ended in he purchased that Book for then commissioned Braun to write a Gerber is negotiating for a third a police drama stretching the plots Over several hours has allowed to producers to offer big Money for film july 1978 to be made into a feature motion and is consider ing a a spy youre betting on the says it has merchandising and its a property that could become a Best it Bas that kind of Gerber pays the authors out of his network Advance its enough Money to get the author he then he can take the network Deal to a it appeals to a paperback publisher to know theres a net work  put up the Money and Gamble and it is a commissioning novels int Industry wide most producers still prefer to commission an original screen play and then let any novel grow from making novels from particularly in the motion picture has become a multimillion Dollar the release of eight books will coincide with the release of us to million production of they include a novelization of Mario puns screen a Book on the making of the film and various books on the Superman 1 think pm probably the first one in television to com Mission original says Bob Evans did it with the godfather when he was the head of production at look what happened to 11 was a screen play then they turned it into a novel and its a big Best co this whole idea of interchangeable aspects of television and the print Media is becoming a big Busi for the for the Gerber will get a Cut of the Book royalties but the property that can be made into a feature fur television is what in Ernest who won an Oscar for writing the screenplay for the French is writing a four hour labor onion Story called Power thai Gerber he  get a Book Deal because they said it was too much like Gerber As soon As we got the Abc Deal sewed up he immediately got an offer for the when i commission a Book it gives me a thrill Dee Browns a Beautiful if he came Back with a Best something he could be proud and if Tor some reason it didst get made for cd still be proud of suppose the Book int a Best but its still Well you can then put a recognized screenwriter on you get two shots at the concept is yours and youre pretty much in the Ballpark knowing where youre Gerber says he keeps hands off once the author starts to its like growing he it takes a Long we dont want to plunge into something and then Hurt it by not waiting for what May be a piece of outstand ing work if the author can Lake his time the stars and stripes Page 9