Fictional Skies

I have had this sci-fi TV project since around 2007 and was quite attached to it. That was until a few months back. But what was supposed to be heartbreak turned into a kind of liberation. Origin  Inspired by TV conspiracy dramas Oktober and The Last Enemy , and novel The Bourne Identity , as well as in the spirit of doing something different. The original idea was conceived and planned as a six part mini series and had the scope for more. It was to be something unique, thrilling, relevant and with a strong emotional core. That was all well and good. However, at that point I was just going along for the story ride and hadn't really considered whether it was right or would work on screen. Back then, I could see it and feel it and that was enough. Feedback  After some time, I then pitched the TV proposal to an agent at Blake Friedmann  whilst an intern there. It was one of those life changing conversations that I wish I could have ...

For those who don't have the money to spare for a professional script reading service. Here's a way to raise the funds for one, which I'm sure for most people would be needed sometime in the near future and not today or tomorrow. If you put 50p (a dollar or euro, etc.) into a pot for every session you attend on a TV script or screenplay each week or month. By the time you complete a first draft or rewrite or two you should have saved up enough money to pay for a professional script reading service. (To use on a later, more refined and polished draft, of course.) In that respects, it's not much at all and wouldn't take much effort to raise the desired amount with at least a couple of pounds (dollars or euros, etc.) going in each week. Or it could be a continuous fund added to every time you work on a script and would result in a large amount that could see many scripts receiving the professional treatment when the time is right. If Only ... professional scr...

Major excitement at  The Untitled Pixar Movie About Dinosaurs  announcement and secret artwork from, well, the past...  [-] Great performances and script from moving real-life drama The Blind Side ... [-]   [-] Boxing goes futuristic in exciting high-concept action drama  Real Steel  from DreamWorks Studios...  [-] Many scriptwriting lessons and a compelling experience to be had in Abi Morgan's  White Girl  television script...  [-] Excitement rises as Sony announce revival of 1990s afterlife hit thriller  Flatliners , with Source Code screenwriter on board...  [-] Fresh new episode, with silly bits and new competition from UK Scriptwriters Podcast ...  [-]

In the spirit of getting into the story quick...  Upon excitement at the prospect of its learning and contact potential, I almost hit purchase by PayPal, but then it hit me.  Around a total £500 for a three-day ticket, accommodation, and food and drink for the weekend.  "Yeah, it's totally worth it."  But am I ready? As an aspiring scriptwriter, as a newbie, as a wannabe businessman? As a dude with spiky hair and glasses now all steamed upon having to make an executive decision. Have I done enough with the knowledge and projects I currently have? How many scripts, treatments and pitches do I have refined and ready to aim and fire at will? Do I fully understand my various audiences and genres? Do I have a clear scope on British television/film and its production companies and producers? Have I been writing long? Have I reached a happy medium with my writing? Do I have enough experience networking in person? Could I do ...

Not content with script analysis and feedback services, training courses, ScriptStore, offering lectures and workshops to schools and universities. Industrial Scripts have gone one step further with Talent Connector . Exclusively for unrepresented scriptwriters and filmmakers who have received an 'Honourable Mention' or above with a script or project on one of their  feedback services . The script or project will then be marketed *for free*  by Industrial Scripts to a list of industry agents, executives and producers. For those writers on the road to acquiring professional feedback and/or looking for a new way to break in, now with the added bonus of Talent Connector with Industrial Scripts, it would be in your interests not to overlook them and go elsewhere for feedback. How So?  As they only use the best script editors and development people with significant track records, their verdict on a script carries weight within the industry. In add...

Recently dug out of my old uni folder on my laptop and placed on my website to read.  My Other Half is a short dark comedy drama script filmed as a major project by a third year BA (Hons) Television Production student in 2009 at Bournemouth University . New additions to the website also include story descriptions for television dramas In My Footsteps and Angels & Ashes (formerly TV Drama Spec). For some back story on My Other Half see below or feel free to skip and head over to the script  or website for a read of the new additions. Exposition  I was approached as a potential scriptwriter for the project after the director was having trouble writing the script for a story concept he had. It sounded interesting and had a lot of potential - naturally I accepted. I had a week to turn the initial story concept into a working and entertaining short script, as well as getting on with my own third year university work. I was pumped up for the challenge and...

Some have common sense, others a great sense, few have a sixth sense, many an undesirable sense. What is your script sense?  What begun as an idea for a blog post series to offer sensible scriptwriting advice to beginners and intermediate writers didn't quite make the first post. However, it has transformed into something so much better.  I had previously planned a blog post series entitled Script Sense and had a fair amount planned for it. But something happened the moment before hitting publish on the first post.  " Why am I not one hundred per cent convinced on this? " Something was out of balance with what I was trying to attempt. I had good intentions and wanted to help but felt it wasn't quite the right way to go about it.  Then in a moment of inspiration, a desire to keep Script Sense alive and to still help others:  Twitter  met My Rejected Idea  And  This was born:  If you can't m...

A round up of the most recent discoveries in the screenwriting world that I have a duty to share... The Pocket Screenwriting Guide   120 Tips for Getting to Fade Out  The Script Lab    Screenwriting Education and Screenplay Development  Screenwriting Tips... You Hack   (And hundreds of them!)  Other recent discoveries include Scriptwrecked ,  Industrial Scripts , My PDF Scripts  and TV Writer Chat . Screenwriting blogs: Dom's World , So Fluid  and  Lisa Edwards . Happy perusing!

If only it was that easy.  Almost a year ago (and the rest)  I drafted a blog post, which I never published. I do this often. This particular one was entitled " The Mentor and The Apprentice ."  Again this new draft (re-imagining) is an old one but now I feel is important to mention.  The original post began...  " Some time ago the new and improved  The Scriptwriter's Life  diagram went live and it featured a specific point that got my attention. It was something that I hadn't been conscious of until it was spelt out right in front of me.  So I realise that within  my great passion for writing, a small unknown frustration and longing had started to materialise..."  However, I realised that the then approaching dark cloud wasn't something that I should beat myself up over or view as a weakness in my ambition or resolve. But that it was perfectly natural to feel that way.  I just had a lacking element in t...

If you're writing a screenplay (like any other script) it will need to have an underlining structure to it which means outlining and planning, not rushing in without an endgame in sight. To help us along the way there are some structural guidelines and practices to take into account. The Three-act structure is widely taught in screenwriting books and courses for beginners. However, John Truby has a different view and outlines  in detail and length "Why 3-Acts Will Kill Your Writing." The fundamental problem is that the structure isn't at all about character. How are we supposed to structure character growth?  Here is where a number of useful and insightful character development structure guidelines come into play. For instance, John Truby has his 22 Steps  in The Anatomy of Story -  Joseph Campbell  developed The Hero's Journey - others have their own ways, steps and points but will require some research and experimentation to see which one...

" DreamWorks Pictures ' "War Horse," director  Steven Spielberg 's epic adventure, is a tale of loyalty, hope and tenacity set against a sweeping canvas of rural England and Europe during the First World War. "  ( YouTube )  Novel  Based on the 1982 novel by English author, poet,  playwright  and award-winning children's author  Michael Morpurgo . It  is one of his most celebrated novels (turned celebrated stage play ) and was runner-up for the Whitbread Book Award (now the  Costa Book Awards ) in 1982.  Amazingly, Michael has written more than 120 books and has released at least one new work  consistently every year since 1974. Release Dates  The film will open in USA on December 26, 2011 and in the UK on 13 January 2012. For the rest of the world see the film's release dates . I'm looking forward to this! It's going to be one to remember.

Screen grab courtesy of Danny Stack. Liquid Lunch came to life after a bet  Danny Stack and a few friends agreed to at the London Screenwriters' Festival in Oct 2010. The bet was to make a short film to a specific criteria and to a deadline. However, Danny lost the bet - but won with Liquid Lunch instead! For those who are strangers to the term Liquid Lunch (i.e. Teetotallers, under the age of eighteen, etc.) here is a little education . If you haven't heard of the six-part comedy web series (webcom to the savvy) or can't remember how the story goes, which is unlikely, here is a reminder: Ollie and Alex regularly meet in the pub to break up the monotony of their working day. But when they realise life is passing them by, they decide to do something about it... Three Ways to Watch You can watch the complete web series at the  Main Website , on the Facebook page , or over at the YouTube channel . *Warning, the youtube channel autom...

So my TV Drama Spec script didn't pan out for a suitable Emmy scriptwriting competition entry. But a new script was decided a few months back and is almost done. It's a sixty page family drama and road trip type affair written specifically for the  Sir Peter Ustinov Television Scriptwriting Award 2011 .  Every script starts out with the best intentions and has an ideal way forward. But due to various factors they can sometimes fail to materialise how and when you wish. However, this one arrived at the right time, took me by surprise, by the heart, and demanded (by way of emotional blackmail) to be written before anything else. I had to comply.  What begun as a fleeting glimpse of an unbreakable bond between two characters developed into a larger story and a collective journey of discovery. It's a story about the fragile but wondrous nature of childhood and family, the vicious inner workings of assumptions and fear, the destructive and irreversible...

Are you rewriting away at your competition entry or have only just heard of the competition? Either way, the deadline is in just under three weeks time on Friday 1st July 2011. If you're not aware of the annual script competition held by the Emmy Foundation ,  here are the details: Entry Requirements (Basic)  Entry is for non-American novice writers under the age of 30. To write a half-hour to one-hour television drama script (stand-alone or pilot). It must be for a family audience. Entries must be submitted by email to  foundation@iemmys.tv , and to include the following documentation: Submission Requirements The script attached as a .pdf, .doc, or .rtf file A summary of the script, totaling no more than 250 words, but no less than 100 words A signed copy of the entry/release form (scanned & emailed, or faxed to +1-212-489-6557) A one (1) page resume or biography of the writer New to the Competition? Maybe you already have a completed s...

During the process of writing a script, new things are learnt, new layers and ways of doing things are found. Upon completion, each draft, revision, and finished script brings you closer to identifying and employing the various elements that a script comprises of and to creating a well executed story, plot and characters. But just as important for new writers is the friction created between ourselves and the outside forces, and importantly what is learnt in the ensuing conflict, before and after embarking on a script.  With the first draft of an overdue and long  TV Drama Spec  complete ( the follow up script is well under way ) and the process and writing experience faded somewhat from my memory. Fortunately I had pre-assembled a list of the main self-development points that I encountered and rediscovered along my journey in the beginning stages of this project. 1) Putting Things Off For sometime early into 2010 I he...

It's official. I've not only moved blogs but have settled on a template, a look and even a title! There were many sleepless nights I can assure you. I'm rewarding myself now with some chocolate digestive biscuits and a cup of tea. Well earned. If you're reading from a feed reader, or listening through the podcast , then come and pay the blog a visit and check out the new look in person. A picture (or podcast) are no substitute for experiencing the real thing! You may have noticed the Twitter logo in the left hand corner. That's right. I'm now connected to the tweet network. Feel free to follow me and receive blog updates and whatever else is going on, or not going on. Hopefully I'll pick it all up in no time but if it takes me awhile, any tips? You can also join the blog's new  Facebook   Fan Page  to show your appreciation and interest; receive blog updates and comment on the posts themselves, spread the word and likes , or start a relevant...