| AWARD-WINNING
SCREENWRITER BEN WELCH TALKS ABOUT INTRO TO SCREEN
In
the Summer of '06 I learnt that Script were running
an ‘Introduction to Screenwriting' workshop, hosted
by my Sixth Form, the Thomas Adams Media Centre.
I was a passionate fan of Film, but had previously
dismissed any ambition to work in that area as
fanciful. I figured that this would be a good
opportunity to test the water, and if nothing
else, learn something new.
Straight
away the course was engaging and challenging.
The exercises we went through were unusual and
light-hearted, but had the definite goal of widening
our knowledge of what makes a script work, with
a particular focus on narrative arcs, structure
and character development. The atmosphere allowed
for discussion and critique of one another's ideas,
but was hugely supportive; after a few sessions
we went away to try our hands at writing a 10
minute short.
In
the final session we had a chance to read through
our course-mate's scripts, discuss what was effective
and what needed work, and talk about the process
of re-drafting. And so, with a script I was satisfied
with, I set about seeing if it could be realised.
It was sent off to First Light, who agreed to
finance the production, a pledge also matched
by my college. Vital funding was obtained for
equipment and expertise, we cast from within the
Sixth Form and School, and shot Dirty Secret
over a week.
Some
months later I learned that the film had been
nominated for ‘Best Comedy' at the First Light
Awards, a ceremony held in Leicester Square to
celebrate the work of young filmmakers over the
country. The paps were out in force – more for
the celebrity judges than the filmmakers – but
nonetheless the day was a whirlwind of interviews,
star-spotting and free stuff. To top off what
had been a fantastic process from start to finish,
we walked away with the award. I'm absolutely
sure that if the course hadn't given me the knowledge,
momentum and confidence to start writing in the
first place, I probably wouldn't have ever got
round to it; but I've got the bug now and have
no intention of stopping. All I can say is, get
involved. You won't regret it.
Special
Features Archive
January
2006 - 'Happy Birthday Script'
April
2006 - The Script/Raw Edge Monologue Competition
winners
June
2006 - Ian Kennedy on writing for the BBC Radio
Drama 'Silver Street.
September
2006 - playwright, Alan Pollock, on the tough
choices writers have to face.
December
2006 - Brian Langtry on his journey via pop and
folk bands to writing and producing musical theatre.
January
2007 - Kate Wyvill talks about 'Going Potty'
March
2007 - Writernet ask us to Join the
Arts Council Debate
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