Sunset Lane Media Options William Neuman’s ‘Things Are Never So Bad That They Can’t Get Worse’

deadline.com:

EXCLUSIVE:  Sunset Lane Media has pre-emptively optioned William Neuman’s non-fiction book Things Are Never So Bad That They Can’t Get Worse: Inside the Collapse of Venezuela which they plan to develop into a TV series.The St Martin’s Press book explores the rich backdrop of a country in turmoil; once a gem of South America with its rich natural resources, it is now far from it.

David Beaubaire, CEO & Founder of Sunset Lane Media, will be producing with Kip Azzoni who first approached him about the project.Said Neuman, “I’m excited to work with David and Kip on a project that will shine a light on the tragic crisis in Venezuela and the suffering of ordinary people there.

In my book, I show the human cost as the country went from a bonanza of oil riches to crushing poverty, thanks to populist politics, corruption, and catastrophic mismanagement.

Venezuela is a cautionary tale for showing how extreme political polarization can be used to gain and hold onto power, while tearing down the institutions that make democracy work.”David Vigliano of AGI Vigilano Literary negotiated the deal on behalf of the author.“When I picked up Neuman’s book, I knew that his stories and backdrop would bring tremendous color, context, and depth to an important story yet to be told on screen.