Oh-mi-gosh! Made the short list...

Oh-mi-gosh! Made the short list...

http://www.bang2write.com/2011/10/4-nights-in-august-script-challenge.html

Winner announced tomorrow on: http://www.londonscreenwritersfestival.com/ehome/index.php?eventid=27766&

The London Screenwriters' Festival from Chris Jones on Vimeo.

http://www.bang2write.com/2011/10/4-nights-in-august-script-challenge.html

Whey-hey! Though the first round!

Whey-hey! Though the first round!

Congratulations to all the others also on the long list and sincere commiserations to everyone else, but remember Superscribes, it's all subjective: Keep Writing!
http://2011.londonscreenwritersfestival.com/blog/4-nights-in-august-script-comp-longlisted-entries/

(199) Monkeyvision: Writers Opportunity

There's an old adage along the lines of "If you lock enough monkeys in a room with enough typewriters, they will eventually produce the works of Shakespeare" - well, OK, Sheikspear, maybe.

Anyhow, yer dear old Auntie Beeb visited Edinburgh Zoo, put a 21st century spin on it, and trained chimpanzees to use specially designed video cameras so they can go round shooting home movies!

Apparently, the BBC report that "despite the fact that the chimps had never taken part in a research project before, they soon displayed an interest in film-making."

As they'll obviously tick all the under represented minority boxes for film funding I've sent them some scripts...

Full report at http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_8472000/8472831.stm

(196) I.F. only...

I.F. only I'd made it though, I'd be in this piccy amongst this talented group of ifeaturers!



Any Sheiky fans in there? Do you recognise anyone?

Best of luck to everyone in the twelve teams who won through to initial stage of intense development from South West Screen, BBC Films and Bristol City Council.

As you may recall, the aim is to produce 3 commercially viable films for approx £300k a piece this summer. Full details at http://ifeatures.swscreen.co.uk/

Good on 'em I say! We need more opportunities like this...are you listening Screen South? Portsmouth City council? ITV?

Like all the others, My Prod Co team, who I "met" via an ad on Talent Circle tried their very best with the process package, but alas, for us, it was not be. They simply cannot raise the capital elsewhere in these hard times.

The experience and opportunity was exciting and inspired me to write a brand new treatment. And, as you all must agree, any excuse to run with, and actually write, a new idea should be pursued and championed!

My treatment, "The Brunel Legacy" is offered on my website, and may still be made one day. If you have the Prod Co, experience and the funding, gimme a call...

Here's the list of the diverse peeps and projects under development:-

Obscura
Thriller. Martin Kiszko (Writer) Vadim Jean (Writer/Director)
Vale Park
Drama. Billy Mackinnon (Writer) Kate Swan (Producer) Joe Magee (Writer/Director)
The Bristol Job
Comedy Heist. Carol Noble (Writer) Nick Pitt (Producer)Matt Golding (Director)
Take Me Out
Supernatural Thriller. Lucy Catherine (Writer) Alastair Siddons (Director)
Flying Blind
Drama. Caroline Harrington (Writer) Alison Sterling (Producer) Katarzyna Klimkiewicz (Director)
Our Own Shadows
Drama. Matt Haynes (Writer) Conor McCormack (Writer/Director)
8 Minutes Idle
Black Comedy. Matt Thorne (Writer) Nicholas Blincoe (Writer) Sarah Cox (Producer) Mark Simon Hewis (Director)
Novikov-B
Sci-fi Thriller. Justin Trefgarne (Writer/Director)Daniel Jewel (Producer)
Over and Under
Rom-Com. D. R. Hood (Writer/Director)Simon Onwurah (Producer)
The Bristol Mix
Documentary. Mark Kidel (Writer/Director) Natasha Dack (Producer)
Sonia and Juhi
Thriller. Manjinder Virk (Writer) Neil Biswas (Writer/Director) Willow Grylls (Producer)
Bait
Horror/Coming of Age. Lucy Moore (Writer)China Moo-Young (Director)Matthew Vizard (Producer)

(177) Today!

Ohmygosh! Today! The 48hr film challenge is here! Good luck everyone!

Exciting, innit! Or terrifing?

(176) One day to go to the orf!

Ohmygosh! The 48hr film challenge is nearly here!

Are you ready? Are we ready? Am I ready?

Good luck everyone!

Exciting, innit!

Films premier Sunday 1st November New Theatre Royal, Pompey. Tickets £4 in advance, a fiver on the door. See you there for the Pompey Oscars - I'll be in me Dickie bow, Mrs S will have her brand new Red Carpet dress!*


*not actually, you know, made out of red carpets...
.

(175) Wish I was going...

To all those friends, readers and bloggers who aregoing to SWF:-

Have a great, productive time guys!

Don't forget to blog about it!

P.S. If you have the time, mention your mate Sheiky & his website to the movers 'n' shakers...

(171) Hasta Luego Amigos

Well, as the Bunny said, that's all folks!

And as the old soldier and the good Space book said...




"Don't Panic!" for 'tis only for a short while, the lovely Mrs S and I are off on another little jaunt to the sun.

Look after yourselves, good luck with your projects, and don't break the Scribosphere as I shall need it when I get back.

See ya soon,

Sheiky


p.s. in the meantime, this was an excellent event last time, so, if you're nearby, make the effort to go along and join in. Tell them I sent you! I'll see you at the next one.
xxx

DV City Screenwriters: Wed 7th Oct - Writing the Short Film Workshop
The Arts Lodge, Angelsea Road, Portsmouth, October 7, 2009 from 7pm to 9pm
http://www.artful-lodgers.org/
Full details here

(169) Tonight!

See you there!

(168) Reminder - Tomorrow!

Reminder - Tomorrow! See you there!

From Roy's page:-

Roy Hanney - Mission Coordinator has invited you to the event 'DV City Screenwriters: Wed 9th Sept - Writing the Short Film Workshop' on DVMISSION 48-Hour Film Challenge!

DV City Screenwriters meeting this Wednesday when we will be workshoping "writing the short film" with guest Tina Walker (Doctors) who has recently completed a short film for Screen South.

DV City Screenwriters: Wed 9th Sept - Writing the Short Film Workshop Time: September 9, 2009 from 6:30pm to 9pm
Location: The Arts Lodge
Organized By: DV City Screenwriters

Event Description:
The workshop is intended to start the process of writing a short film script with the intention of submitting a first draft to the 2010 Screen South Digital Shorts programme In November this year. The workshop will include a screening and critical analysis of previous Digital Short winners from the last three years. Tina Walker (Doctors), with hands on experience of the scheme, will be in attendance to give a short talk and answer your questions. There will also be an opportunity to workshop your own “Premise Statements” as a prelude to developing your ideas further. The group will meet again to review draft scripts in October.

If you would like to attend you SHOULD FIRST join the group and then READ the guidlines: Full details here

(165) Shorts::Cut '09 screening @ No.3 tonight!

See you there!

From Dylan Pank @ http://www.shortscut.org.uk

Time: August 27, 2009 from 7:30pm to 9:30pm
Location: Central Library
Street: Guildhall Square
City/Town: Portsmouth

Event Type: short, film, screening

Our Second screening of the summer in Portsmouth's independent Arts Cinema, No.3 in The Central Library, Guildhall Square. Showing local films from filmmakers in Hampshire, the Isle of Wight and West Sussex. Some of the films shown are also eligible for The News Guide Award for best local short film.

Tickets £3 (on the door)

The Watch - directed by Guy Murray-Brown. (Drama) Reformed drug addict Joe seeks his father's acceptance, but is forced to make a hard decision when things do not turn out as he had hoped - 13 minutes.

Mark - directed by James Harrison. (Documentary) Professional BMX rider and local resident mark Webb ignores medical advice after breaking his back, and travels to China to compete in the international X-Games 10 minutes.

Swap - directed by Adam Harding. (Drama) a "Meet-Cute" by Southampton water - 7 Minutes

Donkeys leading Horses - directed by Drew Boxall. (Documentary) Nick Hall runs Sabre Sales, a treasure-trove of military history - 4 minutes

Pesticide - directed by Cameron Kerr. (Animation) Has Bob's computer been possessed by a malicious virus intent on persuading him to commit murder, or is it his own subconscious trying to tell him otherwise? - 6 minutes

Picnic - directed by John Small. (Drama) A man pulls into a deserted woodland park to eat lunch, but meets a strange jogger with some stranger ideas. (10 minutes)

Dead Air - Directed by Welsey Skelly. (Drama) The lives of a DJ and listener intermingle as things start to get creepy. A strange fate meets radio DJ George, one that may also affect his audience. - 11 Minutes

The Girl Of My Dreams - directed by Russell Oastler. (Documentary) Adam Pacitti is searching for his true love, a girl he met in a dream. (4 minutes)

Bloody Daisies - directed by David White. (Comedy) Two men are sent to a blind date with the same woman, but there's only room for one man in her life. Who will she choose? And why does she need a spade? (4 minutes)

Ballet School for Over 50s - directed by Stuart McKears. (Documentary) Open day performances and interviews with the members of the Balandis Lilley Ballet school in Bognor Regis - 4 minutes.

(163) Short Film Workshop

Hi ya gang!

Thought this would be of great interest to any scribes local(ish) to Pompey.

And, yep, your favourite Monkey will be there...

From the DV City Screenwriters web site:


Wed 9th Sept - Writing the Short Film Workshop

* Posted by Roy Hanney - Mission Coordinator on August 14, 2009 at 10:26am in DV City Screenwriters

The workshop is intended to start the process of writing a short film script with the intention of submitting a first draft to the 2010 Screen South Digital Shorts programme In November this year. The workshop will include a screening and critical analysis of previous Digital Short winners from the last three years. An invited guest (TBC) with hands on experience of the scheme will also be in attendance to give a short talk and answer your questions. There will also be an opportunity to workshop your own “Premise Statements” as a prelude to developing your ideas further. The group will meet again to review draft scripts in October.

When: 6.30pm – 9pm Wednesday 9th September 2009

Where: The Lodge Arts Centre
The Gate Keepers Lodge
Victoria Park
Angelsea Road
Portsmouth, Hants
PO1 3HJ
http://www.artful-lodgers.org/

Cost: we share the cost of hiring the rooms usually around £2 each.

Preparation: If you would like to contribute ideas/premises to the practical ideas development workshop you must submit one or more premise statements to the DV City Screenwriters online group in advance (by Wednesday 26th August) by responding to this discussion. You can still attend the workshop presentations and participate in the practical workshops as an observer without submitting ideas.

Screen South Digital Shorts: Digital Shorts is a UK Film Council Funded scheme delivered through regional partners. News of this years scheme will be announced in the autumn. For more information go to: http://www.ukfilmcouncil.org.uk/digitalshortdigitalnation

It is quite usual for Screen South to require applicants to the scheme to have attended an Information Day in advance of the submission date. You can find out more about where and when these are happening here: http://www.screensouth.org/content.aspx?page=67

What is a short Film: this is a very broad question since there are a wide range of formats for this form of filmmaking. Generally anything under 15 minutes is usually considered as a short film. You can find out more about what Screen South think about this topic by reading the 2008/09 Digital Shorts Guidelines (attached).

What is a premise statement: a short statement of dramatic intent usually in the form of a title and a short sentence or paragraph outlining the WHO, WHAT and HOW of the story. Sometimes called a synopsis the premise statement is an opportunity to pitch your ideas and get feedback at an early stage of development. The attached document “What is a Synopsis” was produced by the Australian Film Commission and aims to try and answer this question.

Any questions please post to this discussion.

Guides/advice attachments:

* AFC whatissynopsis.pdf, 101 KB
* Digital Shorts Guidelines 2008-9.pdf, 188 KB

(159) Advice needed...

Hi ya Peeps! Thought I'd share this with you all from the Talent Circle site:-

"DV Mission 48hour Film Challenge 2009
Posted by Roy Hanney
Deadline: Nov 01 2009 | Organisation: DV Mission
Seeking: What is Dvmission? Teams are given a film title, genre and one line of script at 7:00pm Friday night. Each team then have 48 hours to get their 2 minute film back for 6:00pm Sunday night. The Premier is at 8:30pm and the winners are announced at 10:00pm.What does it cost to enter Dvmission? It is free and you get 10 tickets per team to the premier night along with the opportunity to win a coveted 'Pompey Oscar' along with other prizes!"

View full details here

I've signed up for it and collared a talented camera girl - with a working, (albeit prehistoric camera!) Our 48hr Challenge name is 2Scribes, check us, and the competition so far, out on http://dvmission.ning.com/groups/group/list
.

So, to the nub, my friends...

This blog has many multi talented readers, many of whom have shot, edited, lit and staged their own mini-epics...

Any advice on what to do, and perhaps more importantly, what to definitely NOT do?

(156) Radio ga-ga

Everyone's gone Radio ga-ga!

A fellow DV screenwriter , friend of this blog and talented local scribe Louise is currently writing a gripping radio drama, and, coincedently the blogosphere has exploded with radio scriptwriting info.

So, here, just for you, Louise (no peeking by anyone else!) is a collection of valuable radio links:-

BBC Commissioning briefs :- http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/arts/commissioning_briefs.shtml

Friend of the blog Michelle Lipton's fantastic in depth guide from idea to commission:- http://michellelipton.wordpress.com/2009/07/15/radio-4-commissioning-process/

How to do it:-

BBC writersroom tips (drama):- http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/writing/tips_radiodrama.shtml

BBC writersroom tips (comedy):- http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/writing/tips_radiocomedy.shtml

BBC worldservice tips:-
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/arts/features/howtowrite/radio.shtml

Danny Stack's tips:- http://dannystack.blogspot.com/2009/07/story-vault-radio.html

Bill Ash's tips:- http://www.irdp.co.uk/scripts.htm

Robin Kelly's tips:- http://www.robinkelly.btinternet.co.uk/radio.htm

Screenwriting internet radio:- http://www.screenwritersradio.com/Intro.php

http://www.screenwritersutopia.com/ScreenTalk/

and finally, H.M. Queen, radio ga-ga

(153) Writers Opportunity

DV Mission 48hour Film Challenge 2009

From Talent Circle... Competition for Film (short)

Deadline: 01/11/2009 (call started 01/06/2009 )
Fee: FREE
Organisation: DV Mission
Contact person: Jinx Prowse

Web Site

So what is Dvmission?

Teams are given a film title, genre and one line of script at 7:00pm Friday night. Each team then have 48 hours to get their 2 minute film back for 6:00pm Sunday night. The Premier is at 8:30pm and the winners are announced at 10:00pm.

What does it cost to enter Dvmission?

It is free and you get 10 tickets per team to the premier night along with the opportunity to win a coveted 'Pompy Oscar' along with other prizes!

How to enter Dvmission

To enter the 2009 Challenge please follow the steps below:

1) go to www.dvmission.co.uk and read the rules
2) download an application form

If you are still up for taking the Challenge…

3) sign up to the Dvmission web site: www.dvmission.co.uk
4) start a group with the name of your team (include a description of your team and whether you are Pro-Tech or Lo-Tech)
5) send the application form to Jinx (Mission Director)
We are limited to 25 teams this year. Places will be given on a first come, first served basis. A reserve list will be held. Return the application form by the 2nd October 2009

Festival/Activity Information

Applications are now being accepted for the fourth annual DV Mission 48hr Film Challenge. This year we will be returning to the New Theatre Royal in Portsmouth for the premier night and after party. After the introduction of the Mission Briefing in 2008 we are now running a full one day of workshops prior to the event to support challenge participants absolutely free of charge. With support from this years sponsors, Film Hampshire and Screen South we have a new website and plan to make this the best 48 hour film challenge on the south coast.

See you there!

(151) Wanna be an executive producer?

I know you're all making your own films or webby things.

Or at least writing them.

I know you've become Angels for Sir Danny & Lady Lucy.

Now, here's your chance to be an executive producer on a very a beautiful short film drama – Ten Glorious Seconds - which will be distributed free of charge to help raise awareness of Alzheimer’s Disease.

A very good friend of mine, the talented and lovely Carol Younghusband has written this film and asked me to help out any way I can.
I might get to be a runner! She is also offering you, dear readers an amazing array of perks for helping out...

Ok, over to you Carol:-

Dear friends of Gareth,

Please help us to make a beautiful short film drama – Ten Glorious Seconds - which will be distributed free of charge to help raise awareness of Alzheimer’s Disease.

We're making it for costs only and are looking for donations to bring the film to life. In return you will receive our extreme gratitude and a special VIP perk - see below for the full list of benefits.

Ten Glorious Seconds is a 'Wall of Angels' production, and everyone who donates will be added to our photo wall of funders in the film's opening credits.

Please click on the link below and you will be directed to our film’s web page. Simply go to the Fundraising section on the left of the page and click on the relevant donation button. In addition, you can read all about the film, listen to a podcast, and check out the team.

We would just like to say an extremely big thank you for your interest and would very much appreciate it if you could email this note to your friends and family.

http://www.indiegogo.com/project/view/1646?iggref=IPJF_TTAG

Best wishes,

Carol Younghusband/Simon Pitts

Wall of Angels Production

VIP Perks for Funding Angels

$15 (Approx £10)Thank you. Every donation makes a real difference. Your photo will appear on our montage at the end of the film.

$38 (Approx £25) Thank you. You will receive the above perk.

PLUS you will be invited to the launch party.

$75 (Approx £50) Thank you. You will receive the above two perks.

PLUS you will receive a production still for you to frame.

$150 (Approx £100) Thank you. You will receive the above three perks.

PLUS you will receive a signed copy of Albert's jigsaw as seen in the film.

$375 (Approx £250) Thank you. You will receive the above four perks.

PLUS you will get a CD of poetry read by the cast and crew (reciting classic poems to spark memories).

$750 (Approx £500) Thank you. You will receive the above five perks

PLUS you will get an Associate Producer Credit in the opening titles.

$1500 (Approx £1000) Thank you. You will receive the above six perks including a VIP invitation to the launch party (limousine collection from home if local or nearest station and champagne).

PLUS you will get an Executive Producer Credit in the opening titles.

*************************************************************************************

So, Sheiky mates, Check out Carol's web page http://www.indiegogo.com/project/view/1646?iggref=IPJF_TTAG and help out!

(149) Great night!

Big hi to my new readers from last night!

Meet some great new peeps at the DV City Screenwriters Group meet last night.

After informal chit chatty greetings over a glass of wine in the quaint little garden bar of the Arts Centre, adjudicator Christina announced the order of play for the script feedback forum.

And the wretched, chained victims were dragged in to cower before us to be torn to shreds!

Ha! Only joking!

It was very friendly but in a totally honest-"we've been best friends for ages so if we don't tell you who will" kinda way.

Scribes were told what we thought worked about their script/treatment, which hooks grabbed us, which characters came to life etc and, of course, all the bits that were, as we say in trade, a bit "iffy".

People took their notes in the spirit they were intended; to make the script/ project the best it could be. Plot ideas were offered in open discussion and at least one scribe talked about taking their project in a new direction as a result.

Moving inside to the arty old soft leather sofas( which we strangely ignored, opting to sit round tables ) for coffees when it turned to evening chill, we discussed short films, where to pitch, peeps other projects - past and present and got know each other a tad.

A local filmmaker asked us to pitch him some ultra micro budget/no budget short scripts next time. So, watch this space on that one!!!

It was good to meet so many talented locals! (and an adopted Pompolian from NZ !- a long way to come for a meet but hey, that's dedication...)

Great peeps, good networking and I got to give away some more of my famous biz cards.

And one scribe was a fan of this blog! (So, hopefully they all will be now!)

A great, informative, fun evening and I shall definitely be going to next months one...

...have to really...

...two of my short scripts are up for scrutiny...

by real live people! In the same room as me! and my scripts!

Oh-er, Sheiky...what have you done...

(148) Esta Noche

See you there!
http://sheikspear.blogspot.com/2009/05/145-dv-city-screenwriters-network.html
Don't forget your cards...http://dvmission.ning.com/events/dv-city-screenwriters-network

(145) DV City Screenwriters Network Meeting

It's a brand new screenwriters group right here in the heart of Pompey, the Jewel of the South.

http://dvmission.ning.com/events/dv-city-screenwriters-network

"DV City Screenwriters Group networking, meeting, and feedback night.
All screenwriters welcome!

Time: June 3, 2009 from 6:30pm to 9pm
Location: The Arts Lodge, Victoria Park, Angelsea Road, Portsmouth, Hants, PO1 3HJ

Tel: 023 9287 0880

http://www.artandsoultraders.com

"DV City Screenwriters will meet on the evening of Wednesday 3rd June at the Arts Lodge in Portsmouth, at 6:30pm.
The group will then meet once a month, on the first Wednesday of each month.

Please post to the discussion forum Scripts and Treatments if you have current writing you would like to submit to the group.

We really hope you will welcome this opportunity to meet other local writers, and to share your views regarding developing this community and its links to wider industry.
Look forward to seeing y'all.

DV City Screenwriters"

I'm going along to meet them all so why not come too and meet your favorite Monkey at the same time!

(144) Writers Opportunity

How do you break in as a Scriptwriter?

Go write, take the next write, write again, and keep writing!


"THEY" (cue creepy woo ha ha music and big, deep V.O.) want your horror script and only one hero can stop them...

Cheers to the great Sir Daniel for the generous heads up on the above.

And here's a coupla opps to chase via Talent Circle (free to join).

http://www.talentcircle.org/script-supervisor-6204-job-details.aspx

http://www.talentcircle.org/playwright-6187-job-details.aspx

Has anyone else ever responded to anything on Talent Circle?

"Talent Circle has 46,000 members, making it the world's largest network of people working in independent film and production." apparently, so some of you must have. Let us know about it...

How did it work out? Great? Good? Bad?
Or as the actress said to the Bishop, Indifferent?

Still in contact?
Did it lead to better things?

Please let us know in the comments section, ta.
Regards,
El Sheiky. xxx