When Walt Disney decided to make his first movie, he went to the public domain to find a story he wouldn’t have to buy the rights for: Snow White. Next came Cinderella. And Disney continues this today. The lesson for breaking into the industry is this: You can make your name and your first big publishing score by re-imagining a character or story that is already loved by thousands. We’ll discuss the benefits and the risks, the pitfalls and the first steps for re-crafting stories so old and beloved that they already belong to all of us.
