(110) Congratulations and Commiserations

Congratulations!






A bit late 'cos I've been away on hols.
Big up to the Spanish posse: Ricky, Josie, Mo, Dave & Michie, the 2 Johnnies et al.

Mrs S & I actually returned to the grey on Tuesday, but SO much to do/tired/hung over/lazy etc) only just got on the Blogosphere...

So HUGE Congratulations to all the very talented spec monkeys out there who got through to the Red Planet films full script call!

Special "well dones" to all my fellow bloggers who got though because, well, I "know" you, I follow your successes and near misses (no failures here!) like you follow mine, and I love you all.
Truly do.

Especially whoever wins. Can I write one of your "guest" writer episodes?

Now stop reading this and go polish those scripts!

Commiserations!

Commiserations to everyone else, myself and the Camels included, who got the "close but no cigar" email. Naturally the Camels really got the hump about it...

Moi?
Well, I tried my best, that's all anyone can do, and it wasn't good enough/not what they wanted/didn't have legs/whatever.



Disappointed? Yeah, course. Giving up? No, course not!
There's loads more leads to follow. Loads more comps to try. Loads more Prodcos to spec to. (We are after all, Spec monkeys, remember?)
There's "RPIII: The Revenge" next year, where your script really is the best ever. And this time they'll realise it.
And remember all the projects you were working on before RP became the be all and end all?
Yeah, those ones...Good weren't they?

Remember how passionate you were about them? Yeah! Good!

So wish all the best to your buddies who are through, get over your knock back, and pound that keyboard 'til it melts from the heat of your red hot script rather than that can of petrol!

Now stop reading this and go finish those scripts!

(109) Normal service will be resumed...

...when we get back!

Yes, 'fraid so Sheiky fans...

We're orf on another little jolly jaunt in such of some winter sun.



Love you, miss you, see you when we get back.

Shieky, Mrs S, & the Camels xxx

(86) I'm back!

Did ya miss me?

Anybody there?

(85) WRITING UPDATE

Well the old enemy the evil Dr Time and his nasty cohort Real Life, have beaten me again. Twice. Maybe, no, make that definitely, I tried to do too much. BBC Sharps, gone, dropped out. My effort's just not good enough. The idea was/is there but the execution, well deserved an execution! Without the blindfold or any last requests. It was stale, boring even. The Muse visited briefly, then taunted from a far.

Then, Bruntwood...
Missed the deadline. Can't blame the postie. It's the damn spec monkey. Didn't finish it in time, let alone polish it.
Sunshine, Pompey's cup celebrations, relationships, work, other commitments-all non screenwriting by the by, (how can that be? Am I not serious about this?) trimmed the weekly page count down to, well, to be truthful, nigh on zero in the end.

What to do?

Well, finish them both for the portfolio now the deadline pressure has passed. And work and complete one at a time. I'm not a James Moran. At this point in my writing I need to focus on one at a time.

Still on the bright side got mentioned in Blake Snyder's logline competition.
And he's Hollywood!

And even brighter, won Sister Elinor's "Story" comp! (Thanks Super-Nun!)
And she's Pinewood.
Or Cricklewood, or nearby...

And on the even brighter side I'm off on HOLIDAY tomorrow!
(promise I'll take me notebook...)
See ya all when we return!
Sheiky, xxx

(60) Have you seen this spec monkey?

No, not lately. Because he's been on holiday! Had a great time, thanks, folks, - Mrs S and I were sunning ourselves, actually on the beach, in the Costa Blanca, Spain, whilst it was Snowing here in Enger-land. Unbelievable, eh? Only 2 hours away by plane. Even better with a cheapo flight, but your arms ache from all that flapping! They have to cut the costs somehow... Anyway, a Big up to superstar DJ RICKY , living the dream, on Exite FM and the gang for giving us such a great laugh. Again! And Hola to our new superstar DJ amigo Johnny F on rival Renegade FM and Mr Entertainments themselves, Johnny Zeller, daft old feller, and Dan "the man". Quaffing Champagne (ok, Cava!)in the sun with a gaggle of local celebs: that's showbiz! But I'm back now, so how you all doing? Have I missed anything? Commiserations to Dom as it now seems his short won't get made for now.
Danny "the guru" Stack's got some golden Tony Jordan wisdom beamed straight down from the Red Planet itself.
The Lovely Luce has written another several volumes of inspired advice for me to catch up on (how does she do it-I only went away for a week and a bit?) Robin Kelly's found a free script (or scripped )software and a video cast from Commissioners, Andrew Davies and Russell T Davies, among others. Rach has conquered writers block and got entries off for this and that, and Dave's shed has got bigger and better!
Wow! You've all been busy!

I've come back with not only a tan, but a notebook full of ideas to follow up.
I also gave myself some serious notes on my play as I mulled it over now and then.
It's amazing, the subconscious, the luxury of covertly thinking it all through without actually attacking the keyboard has given the play a new, bolder beginning and more of an edge to the characters.
I've really got to crack on with writing/rewriting it now.

Also came with, what I and Mrs S think, is a blinding idea for a new TV quiz show. Got the all notes, but how do you write that up as a presentation/spec idea for the Prod Co's?
Any ideas/advice/examples around, anyone know?
And, apart from the obvious of noting the company/producer/etc at the end of current quiz shows, anyone know of any that seek/accept unsolicited ideas?

Any comments gratefully accepted!

Well, got to go now...
I have a hot date!
No, not really, Mrs S wouldn't allow that!
I'm having a "luvvie" lunch/coffee with the successful PRO WRITER!
Yes, we've finally found a tiny gap in our busy schedules and are actually going to meet! Fingers crossed I don't disappoint or bore her to death with too many, probably really stupid questions!
Mustn't forget my business cards...

(59) WRITING UPDATE

Hope you all had a great bank holiday weekend! As I said, we had freinds to stay, so the writing had to take a back burner for a few days.
Fortunately, the passion's still there, so I couldn't wait to get back to pounding the keyboard.
Unfortunately, as "real" work takes up the day (but pays the mortgage and provides the beer tokens) this meant late night coffees and screenwriting by candlelight!

So, began with a wee tad of Spec movie and Spec TV drama rewriting to get my alcohol befuddled brain back up to "show, don't tell" speed ( it was a great weekend!).

The Spec drama rewrite is helped enormously by helpful notes from Dom, who, funnily enough has a blog about rewrites here.

Then, the drama buds suitably enticed for more, I launched into the play.
Got to beat that June deadline.
And I mean really beat it, as I'm away the week before it, so mine has to be polished and in well by then.

Still, a bit pressure eh, can't kill you, can it?

Oh, apparently it can...
Well, it makes for good drama. Hopefully.

The plays shaping up well, in m.h.o. and is like nothing I've written before.
So, that means it's good! (lol)
The begining needs a tweak or two, but sets it all up nicely, and I actually like all the characters, including the weaker one (who needs working on)and I especially like the tormented baddie.
I have the middle and end plotted and on my ideas file, but, obviously being an organic entity still in it's creative flow, reserve the right to change all this in the rewrite(s).
It's on course, it's exciting to create it, I'm learning more as I write, and above all, I'm writing!
Which has to be good news!

But now, time, once again, has caught up with the page.

Yeah, yeah, I know we just had a long weekend...
But, as Mrs S said, flights are expensive on bank holidays, and cheaper the week after...so...

...we're off for a week of cheapo Sun!
I shall take my note book, of course, and will be thinking of you all.
I might even do a bit of writing if I get a bit of a lull in between all that exploring new waterholes and resturants...

Anyway, see you when we get back.
As you can see Her Majesty's packed her clothes, so I've now I've got put my shorts and 2 t-shirts in my holdhall. Good job it's only a week...

(12) Return of the Sheik

Just got back from saucy week in the sun.
Way-hey!

The cheerful Fun Friday pics will resume next week.

Just got time to say thanks to Sir Robin Kelly whose offer of feedback on two of my new script outlines I was gratefully accepted here at the Oasis.
His feedback was, as ever, very informative and pointed out a few “think agains” as well as the ever needed encouragement.
Thanks again, Robin. (See in my “all you need to know –UK” alongside for his top blog/web sites.)

Also a big thank you to the lovely Liz Hobbs from Movie scope Mag who’s sorted my free subscription that I won on the divine Miz Vee’s (should be) award winning blog site.

The first iss (vol 1 no6) has an interview with Sir Steven Moffat…top TV screenwriter ( the 2 best ever Dr Who’s; “Blink” , “The girl in the fireplace” etc etc).
He’s now being courted by Hollywood….a chap called Spielberg or something has signed him for the big budget new Tin Tin movie…

And there's a 2 page article bythe great W.C. Martell of sex in a sub fame!
It’s a top mag . Try a teaser at http://www.moviescopemag.com/

Upon my return I managed to catch a certain Mr James Moran’s “Torchwood” episode…
Excellent.
Loved the way it related to today’s troubles.
Beware, they are amongst us. Plotting.

But hopefully their plots are not as good as James’s
Was going to pop over to his blog to congratulate him but, you know, an ironic 69 people have already said all there is to say and apparently his head is expanding.
Apparently he wrote a film too… See http://www.jamesmoran.blogspot.com/

Also caught up with this great (FREE!) offer on top blogger (new dad and all round nice bloke) and the first UK screenwriter to have his own web page, Dom Carver’s blog
http://www.doms-world.blogspot.com/

Check it out.

He’ll give you a report on your script’s dialogue if you’re one of the first five in his inbox.
He’s got 7 years experience and that fancy Uni degree so this is an offer not to miss.
Go on. Send it now! (One of mine’s hopefully in so there’s only 4 spaces left-hurry!)

His excellent web page, with his script samples etc is at http://www.thescriptwriter.co.uk/

I’ll post a writing update Monday including news on of a possible….
Nah, I tell you Monday!

Regards, Sheikspear

(11) Holiday!

My! How quick time runs out!

Was going to do an update on writing progress but too much has happened and time just gone. Will do update when I return from chasing the sun, instead of chasing the commission!

As you can see Mrs S has packed the bags, so ta ta for now, I really must fly!