From collecting dust to new life on Substack

Most film projects never make it to production. As professional writers we know the deal, we do the work, we move on. And yet, with some projects, we keep hoping against hope that, one fine day...

Every professional writer will have a list of screenplays that became films, and they will also have a (far longer) list of screenplays that never made it that far. Of all of those that might have been, I occasionally keep thinking of just one assignment - it was the assignment to write the screenplay adaptation of David Liss’ historical novel The Coffee Trader.

I was hired for that gig in 2005 and delivered several drafts, widely differing drafts because of your usual development-hell reasons and then, eventually, the whole project fell apart. Everybody loved the script, but financing never came together. This story, set in 17th century Amsterdam, commanded a considerable budget and the producers never managed to package it.

The film: A forbidden Jewish love story in 1650 Amsterdam; a man’s fight for survival in a high stakes secret trade at the world’s first stock exchange; a cast of epic characters in a tale of double crosses and hidden agendas; and the fear of murder and excommunication constant companions. The story is set against the backdrop of the uncertain lives of Jews who had fled the Inquisition for the freedom Amsterdam promised. Every action is guarded, every player is watched, the rules of both the Dutch and Jewish leaders ensure that distance remains and conflict is avoided. This is a world of rules that is anathema to the very nature of the story’s protagonist, young Jewish trader Miguel Lienzo. He learns of the coffee fruit - barely known at that time in Europe - and comes up with a scheme that could make him rich beyond measure. All he has to do is outwit everyone and break every rule along the way.

Here’s the synopsis as it was pitched to raise the necessary finances

So, here we are, the script’s as ready as can be - and has been collecting dust more than a decade by now. In this Substack I’ll simply share my journey from getting the gig to adapt the novel, to the project falling apart. No hard feelings on this, as mentioned, this is entirely the norm. Some films get made, most don’t. And yet, may The Coffee Trader has a different future. Maybe, one fine day, someone will come across these articles and mention them to someone with the means to make the film happen.

Join me on the epic journey that was The Coffee Trader project. Here’s how it all began: “You want me to do what!?”