Silent Scripts & NaNoWriMo Update

Right, you Lovelies - it's a quick fire round today...

First up, I'm going to tell you about a fab opportunity based in London.  If you want a 'real job' (well, on a PAYE fixed term contract or attachment; 3 days a week from 1st December '08 until April then F/T until early May if project is greenlit) and have the ability/experience to be the next Series Script Editor for "Silent Witness", click HERE for full details. What a great job!  Here - please take my right arm in exchange for the position...

Moving on. As you may know, I stupidly entered myself for this year's NaNoWriMo which started on Saturday, but I always knew I'd get off to a late-ish start as writing at the weekends is pretty much out for me.  I tried my best to get as much done after 7pm once The Kid had gone to bed but needless to say, not a huge amount of the black stuff got stuck on the page.  At least I have made a start though, and once I get the word counter thingy working on the Blog you'll all be able to spy on my feeble attempt!  I guess I am just going to have to catch up with double word counts on the two days The Kid is at nursery.  

'The Book' doesn't actually have a title yet, which is very strange for me, as that is normally the first flicker of my creative candle.  It also has a lot of sweary words, smut and bad language so far, which is very naughty of me and totally out of character. ;)

So far, I know Laura is doing exceptionally well with her word count, Elinor has gone a bit quiet, so I'm not sure how it's going over at the Convent, and after checking in to say Hi, I now know Stevyn is taking a stab at it too for the first time.  I think he started his writing on the same day as me, so it's good to know I'm not the only one! However, his word count has already whipped my ass in line. Stevyn has also decided to 'Blog his Novel' as he writes it, which was something I had considered but whimped out. Perhaps I'll do it when I feel a little happier I have produced more than 10 worthy words.

Laters guys.

x

Whooooppeeee Dooooop

I've got a ticket. I've got a ticket. And I'm going. Yes, I'm going.

Call me sad, but I was the really sad one when I realised I had totally forgotten to email Auntie about putting my name on the list for Matthew Graham & Ashley Pharoah's Q&A next week.  But lo and behold, if a lovely lady called Amy hasn't gone and granted me admission just for being at the top of the waiting list!  Wickedy-woos.  So, that means I can hopefully catch up with all 'me bloggy girlz' (and boyz) - send me a mail/leave a comment if you are going.  It would be great to catch up! 

So, not only did I manage to win at the National again (I only placed first, second, third and fourth nag...), I get to go hear about 'Bonekickers' too, which I have to admit, I am most intrigued about...

:0)

Well, well, well.

Oh jeez, it's been a long time since I posted last. Where the f*%* did those weeks go? I'll tell ya where...

Well, first of all - in a chain of stranger than the strangest of strange events - something mightily odd happened. I got a phonecall, completely out of the blue, from a friend of a friend who also happens to be an Exec Producer. Small talk aside (I haven't seen him for a year), we then get down to the nitty gritty of his call - would I be interested in meeting up with An Associate Of His to discuss being part of a writing team on a new co-pro ongoing drama destined for ITV? Bemused by everything he's said, I agreed a coffee and a chat would very much be in order, and we arranged a meeting for the very next day.

Next morning, the sun was shining, the barista got my order right, the tubes ran like a dream, and I toddled into Soho with loads of time to chill and check my 'scribefolio', but still a little perplexed by how my name had entered the Execs' radar.

Then they arrived: Blackberrys in one hand, linen jackets in the other; we did the whole Mwah Mwah thing (I really miss that) and got down to business. So, it turns out I gave a really great off the cuff pitch a year or so ago to Exec Producer (I don't really remember it to be honest) and then very heavily voiced my opinion on the lack of US-style writing teams in the UK, and purely based on that plus an early spec script, they wanted my input and attachment to their Project.

We discussed the recent bout of dramas including 'Talk to Me' (which I ended up luuuuving) "True Dare Kiss" , "Cape Wrath" , "Dirt" and "Jekyll" and then they filled me in on all the pros and cons of the Project - which is absolutely brilliant, I tell you. Well, if that wasn't all gobsmackingly fab enough, they were actually looking for a verbal commitment there and then when my mobile rang, but being in a meeting of such excitement I obviously switched the call to voicemail. To cut all the boring contractual bits out, Exec went to the loo and Associate went to get more coffee in - and I checked my voicemail. What I heard was just beyond belief.

An old colleague friend of mine had left a message telling me his kids' TV series - for which I had written a spec script or two - had now been signed and greenlighted (green lit??) and he wanted me to pen 6 Eps. I mean, can you believe it? Was I having a dream day or what? Forty eight hours later I am signing two fantastic contracts and Exec Producer is asking me to pitch "a few more ideas" in a couple of weeks.

Wow.

All that, plus a month old baby who cries for 75% of each day due to the reflux and colic he's had since the day he was born. And if you believe any of the [work stuff] above I'm a better writer than I feel at the moment...

Sorry if you felt a little envious - but there really was no need. I lied. Big fat lies. I mean, come on - when do the tubes all run on time AND a barista gets your order right? I had to have a laugh somehow as the mass sleep deprivation is really getting to me...

Plus, if thetvcontroller can do it...

;)

BAFTA Television Awards - Part 3

Another sterling quote from last night's BAFTAs.

"All that matters is the script, the script, the script" Sita Williams, Exec Producer "The Street" - Winner of Drama Series, British Academy TV Awards 2007

This morning, I received an email from "A Friend" informing me that my previous post containing the BAFTA winners was ever so slightly anal as I probably had all the results up before BAFTA did.

And?

I like the awards ceremonies, y'see, and I find they are always worthwhile attending - not to mention the laughs to be had at the 'aftershow' parties! I normally do try and get to both the Film and TV BAFTAs but bailed on both occasions this year - last night's, because I couldn't find a pretty enough tent to swathe myself in. Hey ho, there's always next year, and if I am lucky I'll make one of them without baby puke down my frock.


That is, of course, if I ever manage to get into a nice outfit again - after 6,000 complaints, Mars have withdrawn their intention to use rennet in their chocolate and ice cream and so will remain vegetarian. I was really relying on their use of rennet to put me off eating their products thus helping me battle the post baby bits.


Ah, well, I have a little while before I need to think about renting a perma-space in the gym.

BAFTA Television Awards - Part Deux

Well, quite a mixed bag this year, I thought, but well done to the Nominees and Winners all the same. I was a bit surprised 'Life on Mars' didn't manage to pick up more awards but it did win the public's vote and was up against stiff competition in all categories.

Special well done mention to Victoria Wood for her two awards for 'Housewife 49' (Best Actress & Single Drama) and Jim Broadbent (Best Actor) for his fab portrayal of Lord Longford in 'Longford'.

I am sure it'll be all over the place but here are all the runners, riders and winners:

Actor
JIM BROADBENT - Longford (Channel 4)
ANDY SERKIS - Longford (Channel 4)
MICHAEL SHEEN - Kenneth Williams: Fantabulosa! (BBC Four)
JOHN SIMM - Life On Mars (BBC One)

Actress
ANNE-MARIE DUFF - The Virgin Queen (BBC One)
SAMANTHA MORTON - Longford (Channel 4)
RUTH WILSON - Jane Eyre (BBC One)
VICTORIA WOOD - Housewife 49 (ITV1)

ENTERTAINMENT PERFORMANCE
ANTHONY MCPARTLIN & DECLAN DONNELLY - Saturday Night Takeaway (ITV1)STEPHEN FRY - QI (BBC Two)
PAUL MERTON - Have I Got News For You (BBC One)
JONATHAN ROSS - Friday Night With Jonathan Ross (BBC One)

COMEDY PERFORMANCE
DAWN FRENCH - The Vicar Of Dibley (BBC One)
RICKY GERVAIS - Extras (BBC Two)
STEPHEN MERCHANT - Extras (BBC Two)
LIZ SMITH - The Royle Family: Queen Of Sheba (BBC One)

SINGLE DRAMA
HOUSEWIFE 49 - Victoria Wood, Piers Wenger, Gavin Millar, David Threlfall (ITV Productions/ITV1)
KENNETH WILLIAMS: FANTABULOSA! - Andy de Emmony, Ben Evans, Martyn Hesford (BBC Drama/BBC Four)
LONGFORD - Peter Morgan, Tom Hooper, Helen Flint, Andy Harries (Granada Productions for C4 in assoc. with HBO/C4)
THE ROAD TO GUANTANAMO - Michael Winterbottom, Mat Whitecross (Revolution Films/C4)

DRAMA SERIES
LIFE ON MARS - Production Team (Kudos Film & Television/BBC One)
SHAMELESS - Production Team (Company Pictures/C4)
SUGAR RUSH - Production Team (Shine Productions/C4)
THE STREET - Jimmy McGovern, Sita Williams, David Blair, Ken Horn (Granada Productions/BBC One)

DRAMA SERIAL
LOW WINTER SUN - Greg Brenman, Adrian Shergold, Simon Donald, Rhonda Smith (Tiger Aspect Productions/C4)
PRIME SUSPECT: THE FINAL ACT - Andrew Benson, Philip Martin, Frank Deasy, Andy Harries (ITV Productions/ITV1)
SEE NO EVIL: THE MOORS MURDERS - Lisa Gilchrist, Neil McKay, Jeff Pope, Chris Menaul (ITV Productions/ITV1)
THE VIRGIN QUEEN - Coky Giedroyc, Paula Milne, Paul Rutman (A BBC Drama/Power co-production/BBC One)

CONTINUING DRAMA
CASUALTY - Production Team (BBC/BBC One)
CORONATION STREET - Stephen Russell, Tim O'Mara, Steve Frost, Kieran Roberts (ITV Productions/ITV1)
EASTENDERS - Production Team (BBC Drama Production Studios/BBC One)
EMMERDALE - Keith Richardson, Kathleen Beedles, Lindsay Williams, Piotr Szkopiak (ITV Productions/ITV1)

FACTUAL SERIES
ROSS KEMP ON GANGS - Clive Tulloh, Amelia Hann, Ross Kemp (Tiger Aspect Productions/Sky One)
STEPHEN FRY - THE SECRET LIFE OF THE MANIC DEPRESSIVE - Production Team (IWC Media, part of the RDF Media Group/BBC Two)
TRIBE - James Smith, Steve Robinson, Bruce Parry, Sam Organ (BBC/BBC Two)
WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? - Alex Graham, Lucy Carter (Wall To Wall/BBC Two)

SPECIALIST FACTUAL
MUNICH: MOSSAD'S REVENGE - Anthony Geffen, Tom Whitter, Peter Miller, Calum Walker (Atlantic Productions Ltd/C4)
NUREMBERG: GOERING'S LAST STAND - Peter Nicholson, Simon Berthon, Dan Korn, Piers Vellacott (3BM Television/C4)
PLANET EARTH - Alistair Fothergill, Mark Linfield (BBC/BBC One)
SIMON SCHAMA'S POWER OF ART - Clare Beavan, Simon Schama, Basil Comely, Mark Harrison (BBC London Arts/BBC Two)

SINGLE DOCUMENTARY
BREAKING UP WITH THE JONESES - Ursula Macfarlane, Saskia Wilson, Dave Nath, Gregor Lyon (betty/C4)
EVICTED - Brian Woods, Deborah Shipley, Jeremy Wales, Katy Sheppard (True Vision/BBC One)
9/11: THE FALLING MAN - Henry Singer, John Smithson, Sue Bourne, Julian Ware (Darlow Smithson Productions/C4)
RAIN IN MY HEART - Paul Watson (BBC/BBC Two)

FEATURES
THE APPRENTICE - Dan Adamson, Sanjay Singhal, Martyn Smith, Sir Alan Sugar (TalkbackThames/Mark Burnett Productions/BBC Two)
THE CHOIR - Jamie Isaacs, Ludo Graham, Drew Hill, Sam Grace (Twenty Twenty/BBC Two)
DRAGONS' DEN - Helen Bullough, Dominic Bird, Paul Mackay (BBC Entertainment/BBC Two) THE F WORD - Production Team (Optomen Television/C4)

SPORT
THE BOAT RACE - John Watts, Tony Pastor, John McKenna, Phil Heslop (ITV Sport/ITV1)
F1: HUNGARIAN GRAND PRIX - JENSON BUTTON'S FIRST WIN - Neil Duncanson, Gerard Lane (North One Television/ITV1)
CRICKET ON FIVE - Jeff Foulser, Gary Franses, Dylan Jane, Diana Keen (Sunset and Vine Productions/Five)
WINTER OLYMPICS - BBC Sport Production Team (BBC Sport/BBC Two)

NEWS COVERAGE
BBC TEN O'CLOCK NEWS - TERRORISM PLOT AT HEATHROW - BBC Ten O'Clock News Team (BBC News/BBC One)
CHANNEL 4 NEWS - NEWS FROM IRAN - Jon Snow, Deborah Rayner, Ben Monro-Davies, Martin Collett (ITN/C4)
GRANADA REPORTS: MORECAMBE BAY - Production Team (Granada/ITV)
ITV EVENING NEWS - THE ISRAEL/LEBANON CRISIS - Julian Manyon, Mark Austin, Geoff Hill, Rob Bowles (ITN/ITV1)

INTERACTIVITY
DISPATCHES - WAR TORN: STORIES OF SEPARATION - David Modell, Cassian Harrison, Oliver Doward (Dispatches/Channel4.com)
MELTDOWN AND THE BIG CLIMATE CHANGE EXPERIMENT - Frances McNamara, Jonathan Renouf, Paul Bradshaw, Tolu Aina (Supporting BBC Four)
THE SECRET POLICEMAN'S BALL - Clive Tulloh, Lisle Turner, Mike Agnew, Adil Abrar (Tiger Aspect Productions/4Laughs/C4)
TERRY PRATCHETT'S HOGFATHER - Aidan Conway, Giles Pooley, Rod Brown, Ian Sharples (Mob Film Company/Sky One Networked Media)

INTERNATIONAL
ENTOURAGE - Doug Ellin, Mark Wahlberg, Steve Levinson (HBO/ITV2)
HOUSE - David Shore (Heal and Toe Films/Shore Z Productions/Bad Hat Harry Productions in assoc. with NBC Universal Television Studio/Five)
LOST - JJ Abrams, Carlton Cuse, Damon Lindelof, Jack Bender (Buena Vista International Television/Sky One)
MY NAME IS EARL - Greg Garcia, Marc Buckland, Bobby Bowman (Twentieth Century Fox/C4)

ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAMME
DANCING ON ICE - Production Team (ITV Productions/ITV1)
DERREN BROWN: THE HEIST - Derren Brown, Andy Nyman, Simon Mills, Ben Caron (Objective Productions/C4)
HOW DO YOU SOLVE A PROBLEM LIKE MARIA? - Production Team (BBC Entertainment/BBC One)
THE X FACTOR - Richard Holloway, Claire Horton, Andrew Llinares, Siobhan Greene (TalkbackThames in association with SYCO TV/ITV1)

SITUATION COMEDY
GREEN WING - Victoria Pile, Dominic Brigstocke, Tristram Shapeero, Robert Harley (TalkbackThames/C4)
THE IT CROWD - Ash Atalla, Graham Linehan, Derrin Schlesinger, Ben Fuller (TalkbackThames/C4)
PULLING - Sharon Horgan, Dennis Kelly, Phil Bowker, Tristram Shapeero (Silver River/BBC Three)
THE ROYLE FAMILY: QUEEN OF SHEBA - Caroline Aherne, Craig Cash, John Rushton, Phil Mealey (Granada Productions/BBC One)

COMEDY PROGRAMME
THE CATHERINE TATE SHOW - Gordon Anderson, Aschlin Ditta, Geoffrey Perkins, Catherine Tate (Tiger Aspect Productions/BBC Two)
LITTLE BRITAIN ABROAD - Matt Lucas, David Walliams, Matt Lipsey, Geoff Posner (BBC Comedy/Little Britain Productions/BBC One)
LITTLE MISS JOCELYN - Gary Reich, Jemma Rodgers, Gareth Carrivick, Jocelyn Jee Esien (Brown Eyed Boy Productions in assoc. with Pozzitive Television/BBC Three)
THAT MITCHELL & WEBB LOOK - David Kerr, Gareth Edwards, Robert Webb, David Mitchell (BBC Comedy/BBC Two)

PIONEER AUDIENCE AWARD
CELEBRITY BIG BROTHER
DRAGONS' DEN
LIFE ON MARS
PLANET EARTH
THE ROYLE FAMILY: QUEEN OF SHEBA
THE VICAR OF DIBLEY CHRISTMAS SPECIAL

THE ACADEMY FELLOWSHIP - RICHARD CURTIS
THE SPECIAL AWARD in honour of Alan Clarke - ANDY HARRIES

Congratulations to all! May your hangovers be large ones in the morning.

BAFTA Television Awards - Part 1

"Love your writers as much as your partners, children and pets. All hail to those who face the blank page every day." Andy Harries, British Academy TV Awards, 2007.

All hail to Andy Harries - congratulations and excuse me if they're not your exact words!

Odds & Sods

"The best time for planning a book is while you're doing the dishes" Agatha Christie

A couple of quickies today...

Something I heard about a fair old while ago (and therefore many people may already know about it!), has hit the press in the form of "Broadcast".

I am glad to report the greenlit formation of Fremantle Media's international drama development unit to develop UK concepts for returning drama series. A team of 'UK's most talented scriptwriters', to be based in London, will be recruited by Ann Harris (herself recruited by Fremantle from Sony Pictures Television Int) to start working on various drama projects.

Fantastic news - more companies should be considering this move.

If you do happen to come by a copy of today's "Broadcast" there is an interesting article about Writers and their working spaces; how we are able to choose where to do our jobs and how to go about them. Tony Grounds ("Gone to the Dogs", "All in the Game", "A Class Apart") is quoted as saying he works in the smallest cell-like room in his house and then sadly says "...but then being a writer is a life sentence." :(

So, here's a thought: given the choice of anywhere (but within reason!) WHERE would you choose to write? Please take into account Broadband is probably not widely available on the silky, white beaches of Mauritius :0)

UK Vs US?

In today's Broadcast there is a really interesting interview with Stephen Merchant, who is looking to try his hand at writing drama.

The article states "...he'll be looking to the US rather than British drama for inspiration." It then goes on, "...there's an incredible sense of personality and vision. They [the U.S.] take the genre and invest it with a whole new depth and I just feel like in British drama, we've become a little complacent." He then mentions the 'formula and copycat shows' on British TV, but the article does note "his reluctance to criticise his peers".

What do you think about the differences - if any - between our own homegrown and American drama? For better or for worse? For richer or for poorer? Do 'they' really do it better? Or do they just have more filthy lucre available? Do you think 'The Writing Team' (U.S style) may be the way ahead for UK writing?

Answers on a postcard. Or you could just post a comment here.