48hr Film Challenge September 26, 2009

I’ve been asked to be involved with the 48hr Film Challenge over in Jersey at the Branchage Film Festival. I’ll run the idea past you just in case you’ve not come across this before…

*In teams you arrive at 11am to the designated meeting place.
*One member from each team will pick from a hat a genre and a title.
*You go off and write, shoot, edit, finalise and bring your film back 48 hours later.

That’s pretty much it to be honest. You hardly sleep, run around like a blue arsed fly, eat shockingly shoddy food stuffs and what’s more we’re doing it in Jersey. A pretty place. The event itself is sponsored by Vauxhall and all the films will be screened after a drive-in showing of The Wizard of Oz. On a big fuck-off screen. I’m getting quite excited now. I love working in a collaborative nature and my Lovely Boss has put me in touch (and vice versa) with a fantastic director called Gaelle Denis who makes extremely pretty things like this:

… and this…

… And who has also requested that I join her team. So along with one male actor of 35, a female actor of 24, an editor and designer, Gaelle herself and moi we are competing in this crazy task. I managed to talk to Gaelle in between her leaving from one job in Berlin at the airport before she flies back here; she’s French and I have a cold, hilarity ensued.

What’s more is that the rather nice people at Vauxhall offered to loan a new shiny car for the entire festival to one team. What’s more is that I secured it! After many phonecalls, faxes, emails and anything else this brilliant opportunity has thrown my way so far it’s done and dusted. I’m not entirely sure what I’m definitely getting but I think it’ll look something like this…

The festival looks a cracking piece of marvellous things. I entered one of the Blaines’ shorts films into it last year and they both went and had mountains of fun. Whilst out there Chris mentored several filmmakers over in the Branchage Bootcamp and out of that sprung Laura Brocken’s film, “Tell” (posted below) which is what I’ve been pushing into festivals the last couple of months.

The Blaines are no strangers to this filmmaking format. They’ve competed in the Berlin challenge which resulted in them making a comedy musical spy thriller called, “Anything Goes”. Then they flitted to Paris where they made an action horror called, “Pour Un Temps” and their other foray (my personal favourite) was their comedy, “Making Juice” which was here in London. For more info check out Johnnie Oddball’s pages.

We’re all going to be camping on one site and the idea is that because all the teams have been personally asked we can all help each other out if needs be. To be brutally honest I cannot wait to be freezing my gibbly bits off standing in a field at 3am, I mean it. It’s going to be the first time that I’ve actually been involved with a short film and after learning about it all, writing short films as a degree and promoting others I think it’s about time I got my hands dirty in the most intense way ever.

Writerly Word Of Advice (eg. A Rant) September 25, 2009

I warn you now I’m full up to the brim with cold so if this hardly makes sense I’ll blame it not on the boogie but on the snot. Snot, wonderful snot. The gloopy stuff that emits from every orifice when you’re not paying attention.

I remind myself of Agent Krajeck

Last night I sat on a panel alongside Steve Thompson, Ashley Scott-Layton and Charlotte Allum to answer questions from eager students about writing as a career. It was a pleasure to be asked to do it (and paid) and really interesting for the four of us to divulge in our personal approaches to writing. With four writers in different stages in their careers it gave the students an insight into how much hard work it can be and how things take time. The questions were varied but really well thought out and apparently it’s one of the most interesting panels they’ve run (they do panels with actors and directors too). Personally it was exciting to sit and talk about writing and give feedback which is something I revel in.

I’m at a point in my career where I’ve only recently made that pivotal acknowledgement that I do want to write so felt that by telling people how I’ve got here so far would be beneficial. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not signed to an agent or have a commission with money to follow but I’m steadily moving in the right circles and building up contacts. I’m forever chasing opportunities whether they be for stage, screen or the page. And this is something that I feel is important. One of the questions that was asked to the panel last night was, “Do you need qualifications to be a writer?” We all answered with a resounding no. We all felt that by reading scripts, frequenting the theatre, watching films (whatever your choice of medium) that warranted you a qualification. You yourself will know that you have a story to tell and you didn’t necessarily need to wait for someone to award you a shiny badge and knight you a ‘writer’.

I made a point about being a writer and not acting like one. It’s not all chain-smoking and neat whiskey and the blinds pulled down low. It’s the simple fact that you need to get off your arse and actually do it. There’s no point saying “I’ve got this really great idea” and then not acting on it. You’re kidding yourself. There are a plethora of opportunities out there whether they be from getting published online to getting a rehearsed reading in a theatre above a pub. You’re in it for the craft and you’d be extremely naive to think that you get that major leg up from writing one thing. No one escapes the womb, puts pen to paper and then lives a life of luxury off a healthy cheque. No, they decide they like writing and keep doing it. Do it some more, send stuff off, get some rejections, do some more writing, learn the important technique of re-writing then repeat.

Another questions was, “Have you always wanted to be a writer?” I went to a tiny primary school (which I still live behind) and we had 60 odd kids crammed to one classroom. It was very much the case of if you’re not good at something go and concentrate on something you are good at. For me I suck royally at maths, science, history .etc. I excelled in English and art. So much so that I used to fill exercise book after exercise book with stories. My work was read out aloud by the teacher as the afternoon stories with the whole class sitting on the floor listening avidly. I was more than often doing art the other side of the room because it was slightly embarrassing but made me giddy with excitement at the same time. The only story I can vaguely remember writing from back then was a version of Romeo and Juliet where it was set in a hairdressers (Romeo had caused Tybalt to go bald, the onslaught ensued). It’s something I’ve always wanted to do because I knew I could do it and do it well. There’s also another memory I have of racing into my brothers room where everyone seemed to be and announcing proudly that I could spell ‘holiday’ by myself with no help whatsoever. I was very young at the time and way advanced for my years. One brother, possibly James, scoffed and said something along the lines of, “whoopsefuckingdo” to which my other brother Mark retaliated with, “bet you can’t spell it”. Ahhhh my brothers, how I love them. I have my teacher, Mrs Wade, to thank for pushing me on and proving to me that I could do whatever I wish. To this day I try and track her down. She had so much faith in me she sent me on writing courses when I was ten and made me read Lord Of The Flies when I was eleven. I want to meet her to tell her what I’ve done so far. (Unfortunately that’s not her in the photo above, but it was me at that school and I thankfully look a bit different now.)

Somewhere along the way the idea of being a writer has been romanticised. This allows people to think they can moan that they’re not getting recognised. If you’re not getting recognised it’s because you’re either not sending out your best work or you’re not sending it out enough. There are so many avenues to explore such as online blogs, self-publishing, zines, writers’ groups, schemes, programmes, scholarships, bursaries… The list goes on. In the past year alone I’ve grown from strength to strength as a writer where at times when I’m having a low day I can stop and look back at what I’ve achieved so far. For some people they may look at my track record and scoff at the fact that I’ve not had a production on the stage or a film made. I simply tell them to fuck off. The chances are they haven’t done half the stuff you have and have the tunnel-vision that only people that have had a run in a well-known theatre are worthy. Because on the flipside the people that are further along the career path than you will be the ones congratulating you on how far you’ve come and offering advice on what to do next. Those are called writers, the former are called bumptious time-wasters.

Two New Pieces And No Time In The Tin September 24, 2009

Very fleeting glimpse of me as I waft by…

I’ve got a new piece up at The Pygmy Giant called“To The Arrogant Man On The Tube and also earlier this week I had “Wasp” published over at Ink Sweat & Tears. Go look at their sites as they’re Lovely people and publish some great work.

Tonight I’m sitting on a panel about playwriting alongside Steve Thompson, Charlotte Allam and Ashley Scott-Layton for students interested in pursuing that as a career.

Aside from that I’m still arranging stuff for the 48hr Film Challenge which I’ve yet to blog about. When I’m more settled and am sitting down for more than ten minutes I may just tell you a bit about it. Till then stay shiny.

Please Give This Lady Red Wine Please September 19, 2009

It’s been a busy busy time in Katieville recently. I’ve had to make lots of decisions with regards to what I actually want to be doing and what work goes where and who sees what. All those annoying (potential) big decisions that seem the biggest you need to clamber over but once it’s done the deed is indeed done and then you realise you were being an overly dramatic mopey walrus (just me huh?).

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So I decided to send the second play* I wrote for the Invitation Only group whilst at the Royal Court ahead to Simon Stephens in prep for the Arvon course in November. It was a tough call as it was either make one theatre script super duper worked on and shiny or choose the lesser worked on and newer project and then have the end result being two shiny projects to work from. So I opted for the latter choice which should be good as I’ve not even looked at that script since I handed it in earlier this year. Reignite the passion is the plan and what better way to do it with Simon Stephen’s guidance.

*I realise it would make sense if I actually called them by their names. First play is called, “Thursday’s Child” and second play is called, “Within Grasp”.

The dangling (first) script* from the Introduction Group is one that keeps pestering me to rewrite the next draft but I really can’t be bothered. I have no motivation for it at present and I keep getting annoyed at this factoid. So much so that I’ve hastily sent it to someone who wanted to read the next draft just so I could wash my hands of it for a while. I haven’t been stupid enough to send them a draft they’ve already read, I’ve sent them the fuller textured third draft although I was planning on sending them the fourth. Meh. Sometimes I am a tad impatient. But if it gives me a clearer head for a while and I don’t feel too guilty for not working on it then it can only be good.

I’ve been on a roll recently with short story submissions here, there and everywhere and when they’re up and ready to be perused I will submit the links on this very blog. I also recently did a guest stint over at Lucy Vee’s blog which be here. Lucy’s blog is rammed with information on reading, writing and more importantly is a healthy scriptual kick up the arse as to what you should be doing. She’s a Lady with a keen eye to help you with your script and comes with added humour and not at a very large price either (for reading your script that is).

Workshops have started for “The Yellow Wallpaper” and as ever these kids are fantastic. Unfortunately because it’s that time of year where they go off to uni to begin their further education of late nights, lack of proper stationery and alcohol the two excellent guinea pigs won’t be able to be involved in the final project. They were bloody marvellous and I wish I could develop the piece more with them but we also have two bloody fantastic stand-ins to step up the game and see the piece to fruition. Since I’ve started this out-of-the-blue adaptation route it’s been interesting. To take the structure and layer your own neatly cut pieces to make a new shiny colourful beast is a great feeling. And I love the collaborative side of a project like this; when you’re on a roll and you all share the same vision. It’s fantastic when the eyes light up and you all realise you’re thinking the same thing. Brilliant, I cannot wait to really get my hands dirty.

I will be doing so after I’ve whipped up another script of mine I haven’t touched for a while for the Rocliffe New Writing Forum at BAFTA. I made myself re-read my script and can admit I’ve fallen back in love with it and instantly knew which bits needed to be culled and reshaped. It was like sticking two fingers (and a fucking big knife) up to the person who basically defecated on my script and said some vile irritating things about my work. This wasn’t a case of me not handling feedback well (anyone who knows me will agree) this person said some rather unwarranted and holy inappropriate comments and made me angry for at least a week. I still can’t hold a proper conversation with them but I’m proud of this script and his comments are slowly being erased from my mind.

…

And to top it all off my script that I’d completely forgotten about in the BSSC competition made it through the beatings to make the first round. Let’s see if I can beat my personal best this year.

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There’s plenty more to babble about but I’m well hungry and gasping for a cup of tea. Really I want a red wine but I have none. Really I should have done this as a videoblog so you didn’t have to read this much. But it’s cold and I would have looked like I was desperate for red wine.