March Round Up

Friday, April 04, 2008

Still waiting for the boys from Norway to send me my copy of AGN.

Micheal Lehane is directing and acting in Goodbye.

Static Films have unfortunately pulled out of making The Dead Side Of Life due to other problems. The project might still go ahead sometime in the future as director Dan Fernbach had already put in a lot of work to get the film off the ground. I'll keep you updated on this one.

I've sent out a few enquiry letters to agents. I'm not holding my breath on that one.

I've booked my place at the Cheltenham Screenwriters' Festival in the summer.

Buddha Of Birmingham has gone to the BBC so we'll see what they make of it.

I've nearly completed a new short Give A Gnome A Home.

I have also started work of my children's novel again. Let's hope I can keep it up this time.

Progress

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

The BBC Writersroom have written back regarding White Knight.

Positives:

• "The writer does a good job of avoiding the creative laziness of pigeon-holing."
• "Dan, the principle character, is a complex man...the writer has judged his debut quite well."
• "The writer also has the ability to craft dramatic moments well."
• "The writer has the feel for the gritty, grimy world he is painting."
• "Dan's relationship with his sister is well presented, and represents the emotional core of the piece."

Even though I have read the negatives I won't print them here, they're for me to work on in private. The letter however, was very encouraging and illustrates why they are keeping an eye on my career.

Next I'll send them Buddha Of Birmingham.

Hard Going

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

I'm finding things hard going at the moment. My son takes up an awful amount of time and so does the house work. To my regret little writing has been done in the last two weeks.

Paper, Scissors, Stoned is being worked on, but as I've dropped one subplot that wasn't working and added another it's going to take a bit of work to get it right.

Although the Second Skin series bible is now complete I'm starting to have second thoughts about the main character. Is he too much of an anti-hero? Do I need to soften him a little, or do I stick to my guns? Maybe it's the perfectionist in me that's fighting to be heard. I really shouldn't listen to him.

Still no news on when I'll get my copy of AGN. Those Norwegians are too laid back for their own good.

The Dead Side Of Life is still in preproduction; budget being sorted, etc.

Lucy and I have set a September the first deadline to finish our novels. I had better get a shift on.

Nothing else to report. Laters, taters!!!!

Short

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Monday I travelled up to London to meet Dan the director to discuss The Dead Side Of Life. He's well keen to make it and came to the meeting prepared with a list of shots and actor ideas. We had a good chat over coffee discussing our ideas and we are very much on the same wave length.

I haven't taken payment for this script (WHAT??? I hear you cry) because there is something far more important I can get out of this relationship than money. That's contacts and future collaboration. Dan seems to be a man of ambition and I shouldn't think it long before he's directing for TV and Film. Letting him have the script for free will ensure he'll remember me so that a few years down the line when he's looking for a film to make he'll hopefully think of me. Not that I'm going to give my scripts away for nothing from now on you understand, after all I do have to make a living at this.

Casting and locations are the next stage. I'll be having input on which actors we choose, but I'm leaving the rest of the decisions to the more experienced Dan.

January Round Up

Friday, February 01, 2008

Buddha of Birmingham series bible was completed and will be sent out shortly.

Second Skin series bible is nearly done and is coming together with some lovely ideas.

I have a director interested in my script The Dead Side Of Life, and is keen to make it.

I have an offer from another writer looking for a writing partner, someone who has close ties to a well known writer/director.

AGN is nearing it's completion and I should have a copy flying it's way towards me by the end of the month. Once it arrives I'll put it up for you all to see. Sorry in advance as it will be in Norwegian and I won't be supplying translation.

Bibles & Gore

Thursday, January 24, 2008

I'm currently working on the Second Sight bible and I have to say it's coming on marvellously. Loads of ideas for episodes and way too many ideas for characters. I'm going to have to trim them down considerably, pick the best ones and maybe amalgamate one or two.

Contacted a few people about the possibility of collaboration with them on future projects, so I could see a few more of my scripts being made in the near future.

Congrats to James Moran for last night's episode of Torchwood. It had everything, gore, guns and a cracking sense of humour. Well done mate.

Buddha Bible

Monday, January 14, 2008