Back To School

06 November 2006

I think it's important as a writer to realize that you don't know everything, and last weeks NO's were a little welcome back to Earth for me. It does no harm to brush up on your craft once in a while. It keeps you fresh and helps you to iron out any bad habits you may have picked up along the way.

That's why I've sent one of my scripts (Mr. Valentine again) to J.K. Amalou to run his expert eye over. I think having to pay for your work to be read and assessed is also a good way to find out if you're really serious about writing, or if you think of it as more of a hobby. Let's put it this way £250+ for page by page feedback on a script is going to put off all but the most dedicated. Money is a bit tight at the moment, but I feel it's a worthwhile expense, especially if the polish to my work and my writing knocks me up that extra level I need to get something sold.

Read Bang2Write's article and make up your own mind.

You're Not Good Enough, Carver!

31 October 2006

(1) An envelope arrives from Carnival Films returning Sins Of The Father unread.

(2) An envelope arrives from Micheline Steinberg returning Sins Of The Father and From This Day Forth, with a letter saying they thought Sins Of The Father was, "a well-realized screenplay." They also thought From This Day Forth was, "a strong piece." Yet they did, "not feel able to offer you representation at this time."

(3) Not one, but two emails from Marchmont rejecting Sins Of The Father and Mr. Valentine.

(4) An email from PFD regarding From This Day Forth. They liked it, but, "it's simply not enough for me to admire a piece of work: I need to love it if I am going to make any kind of difference."

(5) My dad phoned to tell me the vet had to put the cat down.

 

All this even after five years of hard work.

So for those of you who are just starting out and you can't stand rejection or criticism, then I suggest you try another career. Writing isn't for the faint hearted. Get used to it!

Writing Read

30 October 2006

Lucy is a fellow Bournemouth University Scriptwriting graduate, reader and trained teacher, so who better to give your script the once over. She has clients of all levels from beginners to well known professionals working in the film and television industries, and confidentiality is assured. Check out her listing on InkTip and drop her a line. Her advice is well worth the time and money. Also check out her blog.

By the way, I don't usually advertise other resources on this blog, but for Lucy I've made an exception, as she's helped me sort out a script that I've struggled with for four years. Mr. Valentine will be launched soon. I know I keep promising, but it will.....honest!

Catch Up

25 October 2006

I photocopied five copies of Sins Of The Father and sent them out. One went to the BBC Writersroom and the other four to small production companies. The reason for this is I feel it has a better chance of getting made with a smaller production company. Let's face it the gangster genre is almost played out, but I reckon that a small production company could use such a well known genre to establish itself firmly on the map. We'll soon see if I'm right.

Last week I emailed eleven agents including details of Celtic Films' interest in From This Day Forth. To date I've had two positive responses from big agencies, both of whom requested an email copy of the script (one agent I mentioned in the last blog). I have high hopes of landing an agent this time round.

The series bibles for my two new drama series ideas are coming along nicely and I hope to have the pilots written by April 2007.

The fourth draft of Mr.Valentine is finally finished after a major overhaul. Two people are currently checking it over and when I have the notes back I'll make any final changes that are needed, and give it a final polish. I aim to be able to send it out January 2007.

I've had a few enquiries about my work from fellow Shooters and two look quite promising. I will give you details later if anything pans out.

That's all for now.

Email Frenzy

20 October 2006

Yesterday I emailed ten agents in a bid to find representation, as Micheline Steinberg are taking their time to reply.

I got an instant reply from the Dench Arnold Agency, who asked me to email them a copy of one of my scripts. Hopefully they'll get back to me quickly with a decision.

I today received an email from a new producer I've had contact with over the last couple of weeks. She has read Sins of The Father and really loved it, "one of the best scripts I've read so far," were her exact words.

However, she isn't sure she wants to commit to it as it does have a drugs/gangster theme which she said she thought she wanted to avoid, but she is still interested in talking to me about it. She even suggested it could be turned into a TV film, something I'm not really sure about as I think the themes in Sins of The Father are too large for the small screen. Talks continue.

BBC Writersroom

19 October 2006

Sins Of The Father has landed on the doormat of the BBC Writersroom so now it's a four month wait to hear back from them. The other four copies I printed out will be put in the post to other production companies this week, now that I have at last finished Mr. Valentine. I must also point out that the film poster on the left has nothing to do with my script Sins Of the Father. I did a Google search and found this picture. One day my script will have it's own poster.

I have heard on the grapevine that the BBC are looking for investigative dramas so I'm going to send a copy of Where Angels Fear To Tread to them.

I have also started two new treatments for television drama series Wonderland and An English Man's Home. I love starting new projects, all those lovely new, fresh ideas to work on. Fab!

A Buddha Bad News

13 October 2006

As most of you will know I was working on a project called Buddha Of Birmingham with Belinda Evangelista. Sadly I have to announce that Belinda and I have dissolved our writing partnership.

What will happen to Buddha Of Birmingham? I don't know to be truthful, as our parting wasn't as smooth as either of us would have liked it to be. Bad words were spoken and professionalism lacked on both sides, something I deeply regret. So all that's left for me to do is contact Belinda and try and work out an amicable solution that will keep the project afloat.

Even with a degree in scriptwriting and five years writing under my belt it came as no surprise that I still don't know it all, even if I sometimes act like I do. I have learnt a valuable lesson: make sure all the details of your partnership are worked out to both parties satisfaction, then get the details down on paper and get it signed by both parties. Make sure this is done before any work on the project begins. This is important no matter how well you know your writing partner.

Hell, no one can accuse this site of not being educational.