Novel Film Hybrid

Check this out.  It's an interesting hybrid of novel and short films.  From Publisher's Lunch list:

"Creator and executive producer of the CSI television franchise Anthony Zuiker's series of three suspense-thriller "digital novels" (every five chapters readers are given website codes to access two-minute films that bridge to the next five chapters) beginning with SQWEEGEL, about an former FBI forensic investigator who retired after his whole family was murdered but continues to work a variety of grim cases, to Brian Tart at Dutton, at auction, for publication beginning in fall 2009, by Dan Strone at Trident Media Group (world)."

Variety says "Zuiker will write a 60-page outline for each book, then supervise a novelist who'll turn it into a 100-chapter book. Zuiker will write and direct 20 "cyber-bridges," the two-minute video segments that supplement the pages."

Sounds awkward to me but kudos to them for trying something new.  I'm guessing that if it was sold at auction, we're talking a six or seven figure advance.  And the guy hasn't even written it yet!  Must be nice to be famous...

Susan Ee
http://feraldream.com

PS - Variety says it's a 7-figure deal.