Featured Kaos

Kaos Films - they of the BSSC - have now announced further details of their British Feature Screenplay Competition (BFSC).  In a nutshell, the winner of this competition will have their screenplay produced (not put into development) and filmed with a pro cast & crew and budget of up to $2million.

Rules are pretty much similar to the BSSC in that the competition is open to writers from any country and screenplays must be written in English language, however, in this instance (being a feature comp!) the screenplay running time should be between 80 and 110 minutes.  The entry fee is also a little heftier too: £65 early bird; £85 before final deadline.

You've got until 12th September 2008 to get your 'early bird' script in although  I suspect a lot of people will be cracking the whip to get their Red Planet entry polished around the same time (deadline: 30th Sept).  

The final deadline for BFSC entry is 14th November 2008 and full rules can be found here.

Also, go check out Mr Beckley's short film, "Fatal" - he wrote it, directed it and 'just did it'.  Good on you, matey.

BSSC - Any luck?

So, we didn't win the rugby, football, Grand Prix or much else since my last post. I however, have been extremely busy. Not necessarily winning, but at least I've been getting on top of it all...

The Kid is growing up fast & furious - that's to say he's growing quickly, not in a fast or furious manner, or even remotely like any character in the movie of the same name. I have recently been sourcing & checking out nurseries for him to attend part-time in January as it looks as though there may be a long term contract on the horizon for me. Good-eee. More about that at a later date though - not talking details until it's signed, sealed and delivered. ;)

So, what's been happening out there? I see the BSSC finalists have been announced - has anyone I know been lucky?

I hope to be back to regular blogging sooner rather than later...ever hopeful!

BSSC - Round 2

Well, must admit, that has surprised me...I didn't get through to the next round...did you?

Now, please let me explain before you suspect I am all big headed and think I'm brillo-dillo etc. The script I submitted this year for the BSSC was far, far stronger than last year's submission...and they're not necessarily my words - but - it's all good, believe it or not! Why? Because I don't need to hand over my copyright to two shorts I really wanted to direct myself...See? There's always a reason.

So, how y'all doin' out there, anyway? And very heartfelt Congrats to those who got through into the next round - well done, me hearties! May you triumph over them all!

BSSC - Round 1

Well, it's been a bit of along time again...

Many thanks to Lucy who very kindly informed me that I have got through the first round of the British Short Screenplay Competition! Y'see, as a Mum of two, she completely knows where I am at the moment with regards to an incredible lack of cybertime - and lack of real time, come to think of it.

Well done to Lucy too, as she has also got through and many congratulations to all fellow bloggers (such as Jason and Elinor) who also got through the 1st round! Anyone else? Let me know!

The Colic Kid has been taking up far too much of my time recently. Apart from the dirty nappies (he cries as soon as he's got a dirty one and for the second time he managed to fart a poo at me during a 4am nappy change), reflux vomiting (like a fountain), vinegar breath (acid smell from the reflux), constant feeds (it eases the reflux) and colicky episodes, he is a delight. He's smiling loads, giggling, trying to say 'Hello', copies me waving, lifts his hands and arms to be picked up, loves Teletubbies and the juggling Specsavers advert, looks as though he'll be crawling soon, tries to sit up by himself and is just about to embark on his first PhD - ok, maybe not that, but he's pretty smart all the same.

Anyway, got to dash as that's my cybertime up. The Colic Kid has just finished an equation and needs his next bottle...

Whoosh...

And there goes another week. It's been a mighty busy few days or so.

I'm glad to say the short script is done, dusted and gone to the BSSC (many thanks to those who offered to read on the 'next' round on Pof3 but it was pretty much 'there'-ish - I will, of course, impose something else on you three in the not too distant future!), and much to my delight, the V+ Box seems to have had a word with itself and stopped turning everyone on TV a lighter shade of alien. It's always quite nice when technology sorts itself out.

On the other hand, I have been living in a bit of a bubble for the last few days and have not had the labotomy which would enable me to watch any BB on the aforementioned technology. But to top off all that bubble living, I have been having some major weird aches and pains which would suggest that The Kid is imminently about to make an appearance in the world - so, get the cyberchampers on ice, guys and gals.

This coming weekend is not only D-Day for me and The Kid, but it also features the most courses/masterclasses to be held over a few days, than I have ever heard of in my entire life.

If you are attending Adrian Mead's bound-to-be-brilliant course, "The Long Distance Screen Writer" or Paul Ashton's appearance & talk at the Women Writer's Network, or Vogler's "The Writer's Journey", or Living Spirit's "Making it in Hollywood", or Rona Munro's "Writing, A Survival Guide", or Channel 4's "Four Days in June" (although, strictly speaking this is on next week), then please do post a comment here or a link back to your blog so all those afflicted with the wretched scourge, "cannotmakeit-itis", can read about the fantastic day/days the panacea-discovering rest of you had.

Looking ahead to TV this weekend (and programmed into my V+ in case I go into labour - that would be typical), the first part of Danny Brocklehurst's much anticipated "Talk To Me" starts at 21:30, Sunday 10th June, ITV. You can read how the series came about here and more about the man himself, here. I'm hoping it's going to be a good one to watch.

Right, I'm off to play with the baby monitor or something.

Girl, Interrupted

I apologise for the lack of entries, but normal service will resume fairly shortly.

That is, after my BSSC short has completed and posted itself; after the V+ box stops turning my new TV picture green; after my back has stopped aching so much I can use my laptop for more than 5 minutes; after my successful labotomy which will allow me to watch Channel 4 after 8pm; after I stop moaning - no, I won't take that long.

I thank you.

Power of Three Alert

Actually, more like a Power of Three request.

Yep, 'tis that time. Red Pen has been really busy - but perhaps not busy enough - so I would really appreciate 'P of 3' volunteers please! A few lovely people have offered in the past but as I don't know their schedules I thought I'd just "chuck it out there".

The screenplay is a short (although at 15 pages, it's a 'borderline short') and it is one of my possibilities for entering into the BSSC.

Muchos gracias, in advance.

Where's the Pause Button?

"Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did. She just did it backwards and in high heels." Linda Ellerbee

Too many demands on my time, not enough hours in the day and and no energy to write into the wee small hours. That's the week so far.

I have been desperately trying to turn round the most recent short for submission to the BSSC, but it managed to take on a life of it's own whilst I was contemplating my belly button still being an 'innie', and is now running at 18 pages. Too long for a short? Not sure - it's borderline. Red Pen needs to come out to play, I think. I also completed two more outlines over the weekend/this week so far, but I have put them away for now as I need them to fester a bit. I may pop them and Red Pen into my hospital bag so Red Pen can do it's most damning whilst I'm in labour. Perhaps not.

Talking of labour, I am increasingly having strange pains here and there and apparently the head is 3/5ths engaged - what that really means with regard to timescale, is another thing. All I know is, I feel as though I am really working against the clock. A clock that will permanently scream, cry, want feeding, help and constant attention. And that'll just be The Glenster ;0)

So for now, instead of blogging I am going to get Red Pen and do some short shortening - until next time, here's a freebie: Broadcast is re-launching itself with a new look and content, and from 17th May to 3oth May the website will be free to access.

(P. S. Yippee for Eastenders. Le Mitchell is going to be able do something other than dunk Beale's head soon! I am totally beside myself.)

Ground Control to Major Tom...

Definitely another planet. And that's where it deserves to stay. Far, far away, in another Universe. It really has been one of those weeks, and that's as much as I'm saying. End of.

On a brighter note, I've managed to get loads of reading/notes done (really sorry for those who had to wait a bit), drafted and then re-drafted the aforementioned short AND we've gone and got all HD on ourselves this week too. After [far too] many months' deliberation over which LCD or plasma TV to buy, we eventually bit the bullet and bought one. It's fab. The only problem is it seems so big that last night I thought Phil Mitchell was going to submerge my head in Ian Beale's greasy washing up bowl too. (And when are they going to think of another less public school prank for Le Mitchell to play?)

We also had a V+ box installed today and have access to the BBC HD preview channel to ogle over - I was really not sold on the 'vast' difference between 'normal' digital transmission and HD - but now I'm a convert. Just watched a couple of minutes of BBC's "Bleak House" which is available to watch as HD. As the episode starts in the court room you can virtually make out the writing on scrolls/papers 20 foot below the camera on crane. Programme & film makers are going to have to watch out what they randomly pick up and use quickly for props if HD is really that clear! No wonder the airbrushed actors of the US were going mad when HD came out - all those pores and imperfections. Tsk tsk.

Yuk, now just think what we're going to espy when Le Mitchell shoves Beale's head down the Queen Vic bogs in the future. On that note, I'm off to ogle my TV and check out the curry menu for later.

What's for you...

It has been a weird day. I have gradually been coming to terms with the fact that I may not ever be able to put pen to paper/fingers to keyboard again due to creative dissolution, but then, today I found myself not only completing a majority rewrite of one of my midi scripts (too long for a short), I also went on to outline a new short which I think will be destined for the BSSC. I'm not going to put myself under any undue pressure as a) I could viably give birth at any moment; b) I have 53 days left before the comp closes and, c) if I push it too hard the idea may lose it's appeal. Which leads me to Good Dog's place and the fact he's been assessing the merits and pitfalls of the "wait and see what happens" theory.

Reading his most recent post got me thinking and reminded me of a Scottish saying my whole family chant - "Wit's fur ye'll no go by ye" - translated as "what's for you will not go by you". My Gran says it a lot. My Mum even more. One Aunt even has her own version - when you want something so bad, "give it up to the Universe". In otherwords, sometimes focusing too much on one thing causes it to go another way, and that's usually in the opposite direction to the one you wanted. I don't know why, but it's true.

Take acting, for example. I have had some wickedly fantastic castings in the past, and in particular for roles in some really big blockbuster movies. The castings have gone like clockwork, I have made all the right noises at the approriate moments, I have gelled really well with "leading man X", I have had screentests which have been received with so much glee by directors and producers alike, I thought they might release that alone as the movie. But I didn't get the roles. Maybe I focused so much of my energy on winning those roles, I actually drove them away from me? Then there are the "good, but couldn't care less if I get them" jobs - they always come through. Makes you think, huh?

Finding that fine line divide between really caring and thinking, "next", is a difficult one - but it is a balance that should be practiced. Or should it? Afterall, wit's fur ye'll no go by ye.