THE COVER for Jay Bell's acclaimed novel, ‘Something Like Summer.’
‘Judas Kiss’ director, producer re-team for adaptation of one of 2011′s Best Books
SEATTLE — The makers of this year’s acclaimed scifi fantasy, Judas Kiss, are teaming with Seattle-based Jade Knight Productions to adapt the bestselling coming-of-age love story, Something Like Summer, for the screen.
The new project will be helmed by director J.T. Tepnapa, with screenwriter Carlos Pedraza penning the screenplay, based on the book by author Jay Bell. Tepnapa’s and Pedraza’s Los Angeles-based company, Blue Seraph Productions is a co-production partner.
“I’m honored that Jay Bell and producer Tom Ly have asked Blue Seraph Productions to turn the critically acclaimed novel into a movie,” Tepnapa said. “The life of the main character, Ben, mirrors so many moments in my own life, I cannot help but want to treat his own journey with care. I love this story, and I want to see it come to life.”
ABOUT THE BOOK Something Like Summer traces the tumultuous relationship of Ben and Tim, secret high school sweethearts who grow over the years into both adulthood enemies and complicated friends.
The novel is Bell’s second and most acclaimed, earning a spot in Amazon’s Best Books of 2011 list, with a customer rating of 4.7 out of 5, and outstanding reader reviews on the popular literary site Goodreads.
BEST ROMANCE 'Something Like Summer' is one of five novels nominated for a prestigious Lambda Literary Award.
UPDATE Something Like Summer was named a finalist on March 20 in the prestigious 2012 Lambda Literary Awards. The other books nominated in the Best Romance category were: Every Time I Think of You, by Jim Provenzano; Settling the Score, by Eden Winters; Split, by Mel Bossa and Tinseltown, by Barry Brennessel.
The awards celebrate achievement in lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender writing for books published in 2011. Winners will be announced June 4 in New York.
Queer Magazine Online said the novel “not only has lots of passion, humor, angst and twists and turns, it also takes an in-depth look at how the choices we make in life affect not only ourselves, but everyone around us.” The Alpha Reader review commented: “Jay Bell has written one of the most heartfelt and sincere romances I have ever encountered.”
The book was optioned by Jade Knight Productions of Seattle and producer Tom Ly. With Blue Seraph Productions on board, the project moves into development immediately.
KEY ART for Blue Seraph Productions' 'Judas Kiss,' distributed in North America by Wolfe Video.
IN DEVELOPMENT “We are on track to have the screenplay ready by Spring 2012,” screenwriter and co-producer Pedraza said. “J.T. and I are looking forward to translating the magic of this story from page to screen.”
“I’m very excited to have the opportunity to work with J.T. and Carlos,” Jade Knight producer Ly said. “I was so impressed by what they accomplished with Judas Kiss. I know they’ll take us to the next level with Something Like Summer.”
Author Bell had similar praise for Judas Kiss.
“I was blown away after seeing the film in Germany this year,” he said. “My heart was pounding when I left the theatre and I knew that this was the right creative team for a Something Like Summer movie. Ben, Tim, and Jace are in very safe hands, and I can’t wait to see them on the big screen.”
Something Like Summer will be Tepnapa’s and Pedraza’s second feature film, following quickly on the heels of their debut, Judas Kiss, the genre-bending scifi fantasy released in 2011, garnering critical acclaim and multiple awards from film festivals around the world. The film is in distribution worldwide, and continues at the top of the sales charts in its genre.
Blue Seraph Productions is a Los Angeles company headed by Tepnapa and Pedraza. Their work has been featured in the New York Times, BBC, Variety, The Advocate, Edge Magazine, ATV Network, Frontiers, Fab magazine, the Today Show, MSNBC, and other international news outlets.
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LINKS
- Something Like Summer Facebook page
- 24th Annual Lambda Literary Award Finalists Announced
- Amazon’s Best Books of 2011
- Goodreads reviews: Something Like Summer
- Jay Bell Books
- Director J.T. Tepnapa’s IMDB profile
- Writer Carlos Pedraza’s IMDB profile
- Judas Kiss reviews | press kit