Networking

Went to New Writing South's first Writer Hub at the New Theatre Royal in Portsmouth, last night, and meet some new writers.

Mmm, lots of "News" in that sentence.

Always great to be back at the NTR. As well as a quick catch up with some of the people I'm working with on the Living Memories Project I got to meet loads of talented, exciting local writers I didn't know about.

Which, was, of course the whole point of the night.

Writers, poor lonely, souls, need to break the chains on the laptop and talk to real people sometimes. Instead of just conversing with all those voices in their heads...

I'm ok. The lovely Mrs T always hides all the knives when she goes out.

Over forty writers across all the genres and disciplines turned out. A great response, and lovely surprise to the organisers, as they only expected up to twenty: But Portsmouth has talent! (New Simon Cowell vehicle there?)

So the coffee had to be rationed and only the fittest and quickest got a biscuit.

Two discussions were led to see what we, the writers, wanted from the Hub. Ours included a sort of impromptu tour of the magnificent theatre as our leader (tour guide?) the NTR's Director herself, the warm, witty and approachable Caroline Sharman, attempted to find our group a "quiet" space - whilst the Youth Theatre Group rehearsed on stage...

The resulting lists from each discussion were correlated to plan the next series of hubs. New Writing South are committed to organising the first three Hubs, including providing guest speakers, and then the plan is the Hub, or group, will run itself.

The evening duly drew to a pleasant close with informal chatting and quick draw business card gun-slinging.

There were only a few scriptwriters among us, so we gravitated to the corner of the bar in the time honoured fashion of our profession.

Most unfortunately there wasn't any actual alcohol available...

Upon the swapping of said bizzy cards one nice chap I was talking to, the friendly and witty comic writer Tom Pinnock, was delighted to discover he'd now actually met the "famous" Sheiky!

OMG - the reader.

Tom has just finished his degree in Comedy Writing, - the first in the country, apparently.

Staying (sorta) in the realm of the blogosphere I also met a friend of the our very own Lucy Vee - the esteemed Bournemouth Uni's senior lecturer in scriptwriting Dr Craig Batty, who is another very nice chap.

If you're reading this Dr Craig (yeah,yeah, he's another fan...) don't forget to browse my webby sitey: http://garethturpie.yolasite.com/

More networkery bizzy card swappery today too.

This afternoon I've been invited to attend the sold out Cibas/Screentime event at Portsmouth Uni (really excited!) and tonight is the Wrap Party (really looking forward to it!) for
Conway Street - the award winning radio soap I co-wrote 22 episodes for.

As the fat exec with the large cigar always says: "That's show biz for yer..."

Dug up a film called Buried

Dug up this film called Buried.

Wow! What a film!

Claustrophobic. Obviously. This poor feller gets buried alive in a coffin.

Terrifying. Some poor feller gets buried alive in a coffin.

Gripping. Surprisingly. A poor feller gets buried alive in a coffin!

Writer Chris Sparling delivers a master class in scriptwriting.

A short, tight script that takes you somewhere you've never been before. Hopefully;- Some poor feller gets buried alive in a coffin.

Great title: This movie does exactly what it says on the cover.

Low budget: One actor. (yeah, all right, a few v/o's and an actress video phones in a scene or two). One location - did I mention? This poor feller gets buried, alive, in a coffin.

See it. Next day you'll buy an everlasting torch. A spare battery for your mobile. And invent a pocket shovel...

BBC Films

My, aren't BBC Films are flying high at the mo?

They seem to have uncovered the most closely guarded secret in the fabled Alchemist screenwriter's secret file: How to combine quality scripts with commercial appeal.

Very clever of them. Note to Reader and self: Read those scripts. Learn from them.

In the meantime, the lovely chaps and chappettes at the Writersroom have put on a little showreel of success.

Just for you...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/writersroom/2011/01/bbc_films_showreel.shtml

Psst! Wanna see a script?

Psst!

Yeah, I'm talkin' to you. The screenwriter.

Wanna see a script?

Wanna see the script of the moment?

http://www.deadline.com/2011/01/exclusive-david-seidlers-full-screenplay-for-the-kings-speech/

How do you feel about your writing job?

I had to deliver a parcel today, so I rang the recipient to secure a mutually convenient time.

"Any time is fine." the lady says. "I'm in all day as I work from home."

Ever ready to network, er, I mean befriend a fellow scribe, I jump straight in with the question: "Are you a writer?"

"Good lord, no!" she says.

"Oh dear, is she that I upset that I might suspect she's a keyboard basher?" thinks I.

"Nothing as exciting or glamorous as that!" she adds...

The year ahead...

Get with the picture

"Come on Gaz, get with the picture" they said.

"Sure thing" says I. "Where do I sign?"

Fun place to work?

This looks like a fun place to work! Hope they love my scripts at http://garethturpie.yolasite.com/

Day one: Make the most of it!

Day one: Make the most of it!

Wishing a Happy and prosperous New Year to all us dreamers.

Believe in your dreams. Set your Imagination free.