Happy Birthday

Friday, April 07, 2006

Today I am 37 years old. For my birthday pledge I am making it my mission to be a commissioned writer by the time I am 38. Day One and I'm feeling very positive. As usual I shall keep you updated on my progress.

On Tuesday, 4th April 2006 I took the plunge and entered Sins Of The Father into the Final Draft Big Break Competition 2006. It's the first competition I've entered outside this country so it'll be interesting to see how a British script will be received by an American audience.

TV Super Star

Thursday, April 06, 2006

On Saturday, 8th April 2006 I make my Norwegian television debut on the Frokostblanding show on TV Vest.

My good friend Mr. Arne Reidar Mortensen shot a commercial for the breakfast show while he was visiting a couple of weeks ago. I've no idea what it's going to be like as by the time we got around to shooting we had both had a drink or two, but hey, how many English people can say they've been on Norwegian TV?

To check out my performance click on the link TV Vest and click on Frokostblanding. I hope you find it amusing.

Funny Bone

Tuesday, April 04, 2006

After my last effort Sweathearts I was reluctant to re-enter the realm of sitcom. A new writer from New York, USA, Belinda Evangelista emailed me asking for some advice on writing after reading my website. One thing led to another and now we are writing a sitcom together. This is my first collaboration and I have to say I'm enjoying it very much. Things are coming together very well indeed. I'll keep you posted on this one.

After reading Danny Stack's blog about being invited to a writer's workshop for Eastenders I decided to write off to the producers of a few of my favourite programmes and see if I can blag a writing gig. The answer will almost certainly be a negative one but nothing ventured nothing gained. The two shows I'm most interested in writing for are Doctor Who and Two Pints Of Lager And A Packet Of Crisps.

The Norway Invasion Part 2

Thursday, March 30, 2006

Mr. Arne Reidar Mortensen has been and gone, but while a lot of alcohol was consumed over the last five days business was also discussed. Arne and a few of his friends at TV Vest are planning to make several short films for broadcast over the coming months. Arne asked me to submit some of my work. I've sent him I Do? a ten minute romantic comedy. I'm looking forward to the collaboration and I hope it'll lead to bigger things for both of us.

I also met up with another old university friend, Will Columbine, who gave me several pages of notes for Where Angels Fear To Tread. They will prove very helpful during the rewrite.

A copy of From This Day Forth is printed off and waiting to be posted to World Productions. I've also had a three more replies, all rejections, including a very nice hand written letter from Neville Wortman at Wortman Productions UK giving me plenty of advice on how to break into the business. Thank you, Neville.

The Norway Invasion

Friday, March 24, 2006

On Monday (20th) I posted out ten treatments for my 90 minute drama From This Day Forth. Today is Friday (24th) and I've already had three replies.

The first was an email from Clive Parsons at Film and General Productions Ltd who sent a very short but direct, 

 Fair enough. The second was from Zenith Entertainment Ltd who reminded me they don't accept unsolicited scripts. The last was from World Productions who requested a copy of the script. Persistence pays. I shall keep you updated.

Tomorrow is the day I've been waiting for. At last my very good friend, TV Presenter, Cameraman, Reporter and all round entertainer Mr. Arne Reidar Mortensen arrives. Arne and I spend three fun years living together at Bournemouth University where he studied TV and Video Production. Arne now works for TV Vest in his home town of Stavanger, reporting for, and sometimes presenting a Saturday morning show. To watch his show go to the TV Vest site and click on Frokostblanding. The site is updated every Saturday and even though it's in Norwegian it's worth watching just for the interesting faces Arne pulls. He's usually on about ten minutes into the programme. I can't wait until the big guy arrives.

Postcard From The Edge

Wednesday, March 22, 2006

A nifty little postcard dropped through my letter box today from the BBC Writersroom. My script From This Day Forth had arrived and the card informed me that I should hear from them within four months. I began to wonder what process scripts go through at the BBC Writersroom, so I decided to investigate.

I found this handy little flow chart on their website detailing what the stages your script is likely to go through. I hope you find it helpful.

3 days to go now and I'm so excited. The clue in the last blog was 'Hei, Hei'. It's Norwegian if you didn't know. I promise I WILL reveal all on Friday.

Hei, Hei, Mr. Postman

Friday, March 17, 2006

As I sit here nibbling at a slice of cheese on toast ten letters have been written, ten treatments have been printed, ten envelopes addressed, all they need now are the stamps then they can be posted. Last month I sent out Sins of The Father and this month it's the turn of my calling card script From This Day Forth. After a couple of rewrites I'm finally pleased with this script so I hope it'll attract some strong interest. A copy of From This Day Forth is still with Celtic Films after they requested the script back in December.

I'm going to enter some of my scripts into as many competitions as I can. Reading other people's stories of how they got into the business I have realised that the more successful writers all won competitions and then went on to get work, using that script as their calling card. Can't help but try.

8 days to go now and for once I've given you a clue in this blog's title... and no, I'm not becoming a postman.