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SCRIPT
NEWS - February 2009
Script
is continuing work on the re-focusing of the organisation
following the Arts Council's decision to cut funding
from March 2009. Efforts are underway to
ensure the continued survival of the organisation
as an agency for dramatic writers. As part
of this process, it would be useful for us to
know what Script means to you as a writer; what
services you value and what you would like the
organisation to offer in the future?
Script
Reading
As part
of our general review, from 1st March 2009, we
will increase the charges for our Script Reading
Service. This will be the first price increase
since the Reading Service came into being five
years ago and reflects rising admin costs.
For full details, please visit the Resource
page.
CURRENT
PROJECTS
Hollywood
Screenwriting: Jumping the First Hurdle
Thursday
19th March (2pm-5pm)
Birmingham
& Midland Institute
£25
(£20 concessions)
In Hollywood,
thousands of scripts land on the desks of producers,
agents, actors and studio executives every day
- how can you make sure that yours makes it past
the first hurdle? This workshop will discuss
some of the simple but fatal "red flag"
mistakes that screenwriters make - and how to
avoid them. There will also be discussion
about the differences between Hollywood and the
UK/ Ireland film industry, and an opportunity
for writers to pitch their own script and story
ideas. If you would like to reserve a place,
please complete a booking
form and send, together with your payment,
to: Script, Unit 107, Unit 107 The Greenhouse,
The Custard Factory, Gibb Street, Birmingham,
B9 4AA
The workshop will be led by James
Bartlett. James is a writer and journalist
living in Los Angeles. He is a story analyst
for Sundance, National Geographic Films, New Regency,
UCLA and the Academy of Motion Pictures' Nicholl
Screenwriting Awards.
For
further details, please email info@scriptonline.net
Emerge
Script,
in association with the Midlands branches of Equity
and the Writers' Guild of Great Britain, is delighted
to announce the launch of Emerge, a new
initiative aimed at bringing together professional
actors and talented writers across the region.
The
aim is to offer structured support to actors and
emerging playwrights through closed readings of
new scripts for the stage. The pilot scheme
will take place in three meetings over three months,
where writers will have the chance to see their
work read and workshopped by professional actors.
Script
is inviting writers to apply for this project
and have the chance to develop their understanding
of the transfer from page to stage. Twelve
writers will be selected to participate in the
scheme, and will be expected to submit work for
at least one of the three monthly meetings.
The dates are:
Saturday
4th April
Saturday
2nd May
Saturday
6th June
To
apply, please send the following documents to
Script:
The deadline for applications is Friday
13th March 2009.
Applicants
must live, work or study in the West Midlands.
Enquiries:
info@scriptonline.net
Poised
for Flight
7, 14,
21, 28 March 2009
Birmingham
Repertory Theatre
There
are just three places left on Script's screenwriting
course for disabled writers. For full details,
visit Screen.
If you would like to book a place, please complete
the booking
form and send to: Script, Unit 107 The Greenhouse,
The Custard Factory, Gibb Street, Birmingham,
B9 4AA
OPPORTUNITIES
AND COMPETITIONS...
STAGE...
The
Oxford Samual Beckett Theatre Trust Award 2010
We're
looking for a proposal that is inspired by, and
takes place in, a non-theatre space. Artists
from all disciplines are encouraged to apply.
Further
information: www.osbttrust.com
Deadline:
16th February 2009
Windsor
Fringe Marriott Drama Writing Award
Amateur
playwrights are invited to submit unpublished
one-act plays for the sixth award. Three
winning scripts will be selected for performance
during Drama Nights at the Windsor Fringe in October.
Further
information: www.windsorfringe.co.uk
Deadline:
5th March 2009
Barefaced
Theatre Company
This
new London-based company aims to focus on promoting
the work of up and coming writers. They
are seeking pieces from passionate people who
feel strongly about their work. They are
interested in pieces of all lengths, featuring
casts of all ages and sizes. Please send
submissions to:
barefacedtheatrecompany@googlemail.com
Deadline:
Friday 20th March
The
Kings Cross Award for New Writing 2009
The
Courtyard is delighted to announce the launch
of the 5th King's Cross Award for New Writing.
The Award, which is open to writers of all levels
of experience resident in the UK or Republic of
Ireland, seeks imaginative, original work which
explores the unique possibilities of writing for
the stage.
The
winning playwright will be awarded with a full
professional production by leading directors and
designers at our New Courtyard Theatre in Hoxton.
Full
details may be found on the Courtyard's website:
www.thecourtyard.org.uk
Deadline:
1 May 2009
RADIO
The
Alfred Bradley Bursary Award
BBC
Radio Drama is looking for talented writers based
in the North of England with compelling stories
to tell. You could win a bursary of up to
£5000, have your work produced on BBC Radio
4, secure a six-month mentorship with a Radio
Drama Producer and have the opportunity to develop
future commissions - so get your creative juices
flowing and get writing!
The
biennial award was set up to commemorate the life
and work of Alfred Bradley, the distinguished
BBC Radio Drama Producer. It's the most
prestigious radio drama prize in the country and
encourages new radio writing in the North of England,
in collaboration with BBC Radio 4.
You
can apply if you were born, are currently based,
or have previously lived in the North of England
for a minimum of five years. You must also
have never had a play produced by BBC Radio Drama
To enter,
send a hard copy of an original 45 minute radio
drama (7000 words maximum), along with a covering
letter containing your name, address, and contact
details to:
Alfred
Bradley Bursary Award
BBC
writersroom
379
Euston Road
London
NW1
3AU
Full
Details: www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/opportunity/alfred_bradley.shtml
Deadline:
27 February 2009
P.J.
O'Connor Radio Drama Awards
RTE
Radio 1 is accepting entries from amateur playwrights
for the 2009 RTE Radio 1 Drama Awards. The
aim is to encourage new writers to radio drama
and to increase awareness of the possibilities
and scope of radio as a medium in the field of
drama. The Award is open to Irish writers,
or those resident in Ireland.
Further
details:
http://www.rte.ie/radio1/pjoconnorawards/PJ%20OConnor%20Awards%2009.pdf
Deadline:
13th March 2009
RADIO
4 COMMISSIONING GUIDELINES
If you've
ever thought about writing for Radio 4, take a
look at the BBC's Commissioning Guidelines:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/arts/commissioning.shtml
SCREEN...
Done
in 60 Seconds
Recreate
your favourite movie and win at the Jameson Empire
Awards 2009
Are
you the next Del Toro? Consider yourself a budding
director? Think you can out-think the greats?
Ready to re-make the film of your choice in one
minute? If the answer is yes to all of these
questions, then you could win a trophy at this
year's Jameson Empire Awards to be held in London.
Your
movie must be a 60-second remake of a feature
film and not involve any copyright infringement
(ie music, product placement), or nudity.
The only other stipulation we have is that since
2009 is Empire's 20th year, the film you choose
was made during Empire's lifetime (i.e. since
1989).
Further
details: www.empireonline.com/awards2009/done-in-60-seconds/
Deadline:
Monday 23rd February 2009
Euroscript
Screen Story Competition
Now
in its 15th year, the Euroscript Screen Story
Competition 2009 is an opportunity for screenwriters
to develop their scripts to a high, marketable
standard through an intensive, creative and focused
script development programme.
Further
details: www.euroscript.co.uk/about_competition.html
Contact:
su.kent@euroscript.co.uk
Deadline:
31st March 3009
Primitive
Productions: Call for Screenplay Submissions
Primitive
Productions is a newly formed production company
specialising in short films. Consisting
of established theatre and film practitioners
and an experienced professional crew, we produce
short of the highest quality. We are looking
for screenplays between 5 and 10 minutes long.
They should be plot-driven with strong characterisation.
We are looking to establish strong bonds with
writers passionate about producing quality work
and eventually work on longer and more involved
projects.
Submissions
and further details: primitiveproductions@live.co.uk
Deadline:
31st March 2009
TRAINING
AND EVENTS...
These
Four Streets
Birmingham
Repertory Theatre
12-28
February, 7pm
by Naylah
Ahmed, Sonali Bhattacharyya, Jennifer Farmer,
Lorna French, Amber Lone, Cherl Akila Payne
These
Four Streets tells the story of over 30 characters
living and working in an inner city area. It is
a collaboration between six young female writers,
inspired by their own meetings and interviews
with dozens of local people who were connected
to or affected by the Lozells disturbances of
October 2005 where the rumour of a rape sparked
disorder leading to a man's death, widespread
damage and a fracture between two communities
that had previously appeared to be living happily
alongside one another. The play explores
the power of rumour and what it feels like to
live in a place that everybody else had given
up on. It is the story of a divided community
and of the people brave enough to reach across
that divide.
Touching
a Nerve
Tuesday
24th February 2009, 7pm
Birmingham
Repertory Theatre (St Paul's Suite)
A Writers'
Guild West Midlands Event
Touching
a Nerve looks at theatre that tackles controversial
community issues. How is it handled?
What is the potential, what are the pitfalls?
Does the playwright divide or unite communites
by his or her examination of sensitive issues
within them?
We will
be joined by Janet Steel, artistic director of
Kali Theatre Company, who has worked with over
50 new Asian Women writers. In 2004 she
directed Bezhti, a play that provoked
violent protests from the Sikh community when
it was staged at The Rep. The theatre was
forced to cancel the play on safety grounds and
playwright Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti fled into hiding
after receiving death threats.
Now
Birmingham Rep is presenting These Four Streets,
a play focussing on the Lozells riots of 2005.
One of the writers, Naylah Ahmed, will be discussing
the writing and production of the play.
Naylah was one of the winners of this year's Bruntwood
Playwriting Prize at the Manchester Royal Exchange
Theatre and is a producer on Silver Street, the
radio soap opera on the Asian Network.
Using
these two experiences as a starting point, we
will discuss the role of drama in tackling community
issues. How far should community views inform
the piece, when does sensitivity become self-censorship,
what is the role of theatres in these areas?
Is it a matter of freedom of speech or of community
rights?
Anyone
interested in drama (or other writing) that explores
complex community issues should find this a stimulating
and possibly provocative evening.
Please
let us know you are coming by emailing Jenny Stephens
at: WMidWritersGuild@aol.com
Cost:
Free to Guild members. £5 to non-members
(payable on the door)
Plays
We Don't Dare Do
Tuesday
3rd March, 6.30pm
Birmingham
Repertory Theatre
What
plays do young people really want to see?
Are
some subjects inappropriate for young audiences?
Is
there a difference between plays developed for
young audiences in the UK and the rest of Europe?
Are
we more frightened in the UK of programme challenging
plays than in other European countries?
Should
we fictionalise real events when creating plays
for young people?
The
Rep, in parnership with Company of Angels, will
present a reading of Lutz Hubner's play RESPECT
that was showcased at Theatre Cafe 2007.
The reading will be followed by a discussion.
Based on a true story of an honour killing, Lutz
Hubner's hard-hitting play is about sexual attitudes,
provocation and intercultural confusion.
But are plays like RESPECT
and These Four Streets (above) what young
people want to see? Join us on Tuesday 3rd
March to see the reading of RESPECT and
be part of this important debate.
In
order to book a ticket for this free event, please
RSVP to Ryan Wootton: ryan.wootton@birmingham-rep.co.uk
Tickets
are limited and will be issued on a strictly first
come, first served basis, so please book at your
earliest convenience to avoid disappointment.
Science
Fiction, Fantasy and Magic: Writing the future,
the past and other worlds
Saturday
7th March 2009
De
Montfort University (Leicester City Campus)
This
one-day event for budding scriptwriters will include
keynote speeches from Steven Volk (creator and
lead writer if the award-winning ITV drama series
Afterlife) and Graham Joyce (currently
commissioned to work on the storyline for the
computer game DOOM 4), together with a Q&A
panel with guests including Phil Ford and James
Moran. The event will conclude with a presentation
on writing for online drama by writers Melanie
Martinez and Neil Mossey.
Cost:
£65 (including lunch, refreshments
and car parking)
Bookings:
http://www.dmu.ac.uk/faculties/humanities/postgraduate-courses/courses/ma-television-scriptwriting/tv-scriptwriting-workshop-2009.jsp
The
Absolute Beginner's Guide to How to Write a Screenplay
14-15
March 2009, 10.30am-4.30pm
The
Red Room Walkabout, 136 Shaftesbury Avenue, London,
W1D 5EZ
If your
ambition is to write a film script, or you simply
want to find out how a screenplay is written,
then this intensive, hands-on workshop will give
you an introduction. By the end of the weekend
you will have worked on your first short film
script and will be given advice on how to get
it filmed. The course is designed for a
wide range of people: those who write for other
media; those who's never written anything before;
or those who work in other areas of the film business
and would like to understand how the film script
is written.
Cost:
£150 (£135 concessions)
Further
information: www.euroscript.co.uk
DO
YOU HAVE SOME NEWS YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH THE
SCRIPT MEMBERSHIP? If so, then e-mail
info@scriptonline.net by the end of the month
and it will go into the following month's Newsletter.
Script
asks you to note: These listings are drawn from
varying sources, all current at time of publishing.
Script
endeavours to investigate and validate all information
and opportunities listed here. We advise you to
make contact with companies before submitting
scripts.
ARCHIVE
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previous editions of Script News, please click
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2008
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