HarperCollins pairs with Sharp

In a push to adapt more of its books into films, HarperCollins will be joining forces with Sharp Independent, a New York-based film production company, the publisher announced Monday.

Under the new arrangement, the publisher will work with the film production company to acquire films rights from HarperCollins future and current titles, as well as its backlist. The deal is similar in some ways to a venture announced two years ago by Random House Inc., which is working with Focus Features to produce films based on books that it has published.

The new venture, to be located in the publisher’s Manhattan offices, will bring together Michael Morrison, president and group publisher of Harper/Morrow, and Jeff Sharp, president of Sharp Independent. Sharp has produced numerous films adapted from books, including this year’s “Evening.”

-- Josh Getlin