Angie Thomas, Andrew Aydin, Jeffrey Yu, Bernie Lawrence-Watkins: From Page to Screen, Panel to Play

Whether you're an author dreaming of Hollywood, a storyteller curious about comics, or a creative ready to explore interactive worlds, this panel is your backstage pass to the art and business of adaptation.

Featured Panel Segments & Speakers:

From Manuscript to Movie: Turning Your Book into a Screenplay

Panelist: Angie Thomas. New York Times Bestselling Author

• Discover the key differences between novel writing and screenwriting

• Learn what makes a story cinematic—and how to shape yours for the screen

• Explore when and how authors should be involved in the adaptation process

Building a Visual Narrative: Comics, Graphic Novels & Storyboarding

Panelist: Andrew Aydin, New York Times Bestselling Author

• Collaborate with illustrators to bring your story to life visually

• Transition from prose to sequential art while preserving narrative flow

• Tap into the booming graphic novel market and what publishers are looking for

Game Design & Interactive Storytelling: Bringing Books to Life Through Play

Panelist: Jeffrey Yu, Visual Development Artist

• Translate your book into immersive, interactive experiences

• Understand how narrative choices shape gameplay

• Learn how to collaborate with game developers and contribute meaningfully to design

The Business of Adaptation: How to Get Your Book in Front of the Right People

Panelist: Bernie Lawrence-Watkins, Esq., Attorney

• Navigate rights, licensing, and negotiation essentials

• Identify key partners—agents, publishers, and production companies

• Craft marketing strategies that make your book irresistible for adaptation

About the Moderator

Lisa Ferrell is the CMII Professor of Practice at Georgia State University, where she connects the Creative Media Industries Institute with the media industry, coordinates production projects involving students, and leads curriculum focused on media-producing careers. She brings years of experience from roles at CBS, Lifetime, NBC, and TBS, and contributed to films like The Lord of the Rings and The Polar Express while at Giant Studios. She co-founded Chattahoochee Studios, producing high-quality content across film, TV, digital, and commercial platforms. Ferrell is the Past-President of Georgia Production Partnership and serves on the boards of ASIFA South, Film Impact Georgia, and re:imagine/ATL.