Fictional Skies

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...