Preview: "Justice"

"US legal drama revolving around the world of high profile celebrity attorneys in LA. When an estate agent to the stars is accused of murdering his wife, he enlists a top legal team to defend him. His attorneys make use of forensics, jury consultants and careful spin to defend him in court and against the press, but new evidence keeps emerging that endangers their case." Living TV


This fast moving slick courtroom drama was cancelled early last season which I think was an injustice. (Did you see what I did there?) Although I can't blame the viewers this time and I can't even blame Fox, a notorious ruthless canceller, who gave it two different good time-slots trying to find an audience for it.

It's particularly annoying in that I'm not really a fan of Jerry Bruckheimer's successful police procedurals like the CSI franchise, Cold Case and Without a Trace but I loved this unsuccessful law version. Bruckheimer productions traditionally struggle with non-police shows, for example the previous season's flop Just Legal.

Justice isn't exactly subtle but nothing threw me out of the story, like too obvious exposition, and I kept being interested in what was going to happen - which is the very least escapist TV should do.


The law premise is freshened by examining the cases that are in the media. The American Law cable channel is the law firm's nemesis, because they side with the prosecution and pronounce their clients guilty before trial. Part of the firm's work is about manipulating the jury both before they're sworn in and afterwards. It is all rather cynical at times but it's making a valid subtle point about the legal system. Look at the OJ Simpson trial. The first one. This is how the super rich are defended in commendable and scary detail.

It has a strong main character in Ron Trott, the boss of the firm, who thinks highly of himself - with good reason. He's not exactly likeable, but I think he's still relatable. In fact part of the premise is that juries don't like him and the young handsome bleeding heart lawyer is the courtroom expert.


The pilot starts with a woman lying dead in the pool and the police wanting to arrest the husband. The story starts immediately and the main characters of the law firm are introduced in their reaction to that story and not separately.

That's good way to do it but the danger with it being so plot-driven is that characterisation is neglected and the audience is left admiring the pace and special effects but they aren't emotionally engaged enough to tune into the next episode. Contrary to my own experience, that appears to be what happened with Justice - which is fair enough.


It's a very tricky balance to get right as too far in the other direction and it would be too slow and too talky.

Brilliantly, after the jury's verdict, the audience gets to see if justice was indeed served by a flash back to what really happened.

Justice is well-crafted, undemanding fun and is recommended.


Justice
Fridays, 9:00pm (starts 28 September)
Living

Red Planet Prize Update

"Competition News Update

Monday/24/September 2007 |

The Red Planet Prize screenwriting competition closed on 1st September. We’re working our way through the many many entries now and hope to inform the finalists mid-October that we need full scripts.

Due to the weight of entries we won’t be able to give individual feedback to all who don’t make it so keep an eye on the website for a general announcement.

Thank you so much for taking part!"

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

An extra two weeks to rewrite our scripts. Sweet.

Buzz: US imports special

The bidding war for US imports has got very silly over the past years, to the extent that networks were bidding for shows they didn’t want just to make another network out-bid them and pay much more money. They panic bought shows just in case they might possibly be hits and better to buy something that turns out to be a flop then allow another network to buy something that turns out to be a hit. Shows with terrible pilots were snapped up in haste and rued at leisure.

There are several cancelled shows bought last season yet to air and shows that did air but underperformed, so the networks have been a bit more cautious with the purse-strings this upcoming season. Channel 4 has gone as far to say they will be reducing the imports they buy in future and may not even renew things like Ugly Betty.

But all those extra digital channels will need content - imagine E4 without imports. All they can do is try and negotiate cheaper prices from the US production companies. There is now very little from summer and autumn 2007 worth buying that hasn't been bought yet.


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Drama


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Army Wives (Lifetime) - Living


My second favourite new show of the summer. It’s about army wives (and a army husband) on base dealing with absent partners and army rules. Quality writing.
Starts autumn 2008

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Bionic Woman (NBC) - ITV

I didn’t see much wrong with the pilot but certain commentators did. However, the ordinary public loved it. The show is being re-worked amidst behind the scenes turmoil. Top scribe Glen Morgan has resigned as a showrunner.

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The Black Donnellys (NBC) - ITV2

From last season, this early cancelled crime drama about brothers is from Paul Haggis of Crash and Casino Royale. It's quite good but it should have been a cable show as it's quite violent (one episode was considered too violent to be shown) and the criminals as main characters theme has never really worked on network TV. The quality Smith had the same problem last season.
Starts 27 September

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Cane (CBS) - ITV

It’s been called the new Sopranos but it’s closer to the new Dallas. The pilot and premise are OK, it just doesn’t grab you by the throat and insist you watch.

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The Company (TNT) - BBC

A spy mini-series with a star cast but I couldn’t finish the first episode. I just don’t care about spies and cold war toss. Turns out the demo was the oldest audience for a show ever, or something like that.

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Damages (FX) - BBC

I have buzzed this previously.

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Dirty Sexy Money (ABC) - C4

I haven’t seen it but it’s generating great buzz. It’s about a lawyer that works for an unusual family just like his father did before him.

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Flash Gordon (Sci Fi) - Sci Fi

This isn’t a bad show. It’s escapist fun - if you’re in the mood. People were hoping for a Battlestar Galactica style re-version for adults but it’s a Doctor Who style re-version for kids.

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Gossip Girl (The CW) - ITV


This is brilliant. It’s from Josh Schwartz from The OC and oozes class from the writing to the production values. It’s about the lives of rich kids in an exclusive Manhattan school but the main characters are new rich outsiders. The soundtrack is also brilliant.

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Greek (ABC family) - BBC

We follow a brother and a sister at college as they deal with their fraternity and sorority houses. The concept was deeply flawed and the writing very average but some of the characters are original.

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Hidden Palms (The CW) - Sky

By Kevin Williamson the genius behind Dawson’s Creek and the Scream franchise, this is pretty bad. I saw the pilot a while ago and can't believe anyone bought it. The CW delayed showing it until the summer and then cancelled it after only a few episodes due to the low viewing figures.
Starts 4 October

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Jericho (CBS) - ITV4

This was cancelled after the first season completed and then renewed following an audience campaign. It’s already been a hit on Hallmark. I previewed it here
Starts 3 October.

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Journeyman (NBC) - Sky

A Quantum Leap update. This was a fun romp about a San Francisco journalist, Dan Vasser, who finds he’s randomly time travelling for some reason. The only problem is it may be too random and the shifts back and forth in time can be confusing and annoying if done too much.
Starts 8 November

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K-Ville (Fox) - Five

The trailer didn’t convince me at all and the premise looked dodgy but watching the pilot online I was converted. The two main characters are brilliant and one character revelation at the end of the pilot is genius. Its début last week was the highest rating of any show on that day ever for Fox (apart from 24).
Starts January 2008

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Lipstick Jungle (NBC) - Living

Three high-powered women deal with life at the top in design, movies and magazine publishing. I had forgotten I'd seen the pilot, which says something. It’s OK, I suppose.

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Mad Men (AMC) - BBC4


Easily my favourite drama series of the summer and enters my favourite drama of all time list. The setting is the advertising industry on Madison Avenue in the early ‘60s. A lot of its appeal is dramatic irony - the characters smoke incessantly for instance – and the real sense of how people’s choices were limited then – especially women. Although the viewing figures weren't spectacular the demo of those viewers was good and so it has been renewed for another season. Unmissable.

Incidentally, HBO passed on this and greenlit John from Cincinnati. Oh dear.
Starts February 2008

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Moonlight (CBS) - Virgin 1

An Angel update about a vampire private investigator who helps humans.

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The Nine (ABC) – Five

A cancelled show from last season, I expect this to turn up on Five US at some point if not late night on the main channel. They showed Vanished after all and this was better written. It’s an ensemble piece which follows the nine people who bonded after being taken hostage in a bank robbery where something mysterious happened. It’s good but the concept was clearly flawed.

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Psych (USA) - BBC

This comedy detective show about a bloke with good observation skills pretending to be psychic has already aired on Hallmark. I can understand the reluctance of the BBC to show it, although they have already paid for it. The first season is too inconsistent and has too many obscure American references. It got better as the season goes on and season 2 is unqualified quality so far.

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Pushing Daisies (ABC) - ITV



This is my favourite pilot of any in the past few years. It’s intelligent, quirky and original which would normally mean it would be cancelled within a few episodes but it’s a big hit with both critics and test audiences. Some are even saying it’s the only new show to bother with this autumn.
Starts January 2008

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Raines (NBC) - ITV3

An awesome detective series with a difference. Raines sees the murder victims and they talk to him but they’re not ghosts, they’re a by–product of his disturbed imagination due to a traumatic incident. Difficult show to sell but it makes perfect sense once you give it a chance. Few people did give it a chance and it was cancelled but we have eight glorious episodes - when ITV can be arsed to show them.

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Reaper (The CW) - C4

This is going for a similar demo to Chuck(NBC) and the suggestion is that only one can survive. Please let it be this one. Chuck hasn’t found a UK buyer yet and I certainly wouldn’t buy it (not that I've got the money). The pilot is the worst of the season, although it apparently gets better. Reaper is good to go from the pilot.

Chuck is about a bloke whose college friend, an international spy, sends him a fancy email before he's killed which puts lots of top secret data in his brain and so he now has to work for the security services and pass on the info. A re-version of recent so-so flop Jake 2.0.

Reaper is about a bloke who when he turns 21 is told that due to a pact made by his parents when he was born he now has to work for the devil. The devil wants him to send escaped demons back to hell. A re- version of recent quite good flop Brimstone.

Both shows require a lot of suspension of disbelief, but Reaper manages to be more believable in the writing and the characters so you're more willing to ignore the dodgy set-up. Reaper is naturally funny while Chuck's humour is forced and fake.

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The Riches (Fx) – Virgin 1


Eddie Izzard and Minnie Driver are the parents of a criminal traveller family who take the identity of a rich Jewish couple who die in a car crash. Driver is awesome and got nominated for an Emmy, while Izzard struggles with the accent which drags the show down. It does get better though or I just got used to it. It's certainly watchable and it was renewed for a second season but the writing is too inconsistent and the season arc looks made up as they went along.
Starts 1 October

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The Sarah Connor Chronicles (Fox) - Virgin 1

The pilot looked good but was kinda sucky, as I guessed it would be. This was going to début in the autumn but now it has been put back to spring while they re-tool the show. How can they re-tool such a deeply flawed concept? The "terminator chasing boy" story in the pilot is clearly a non-starter every week, so they want to set it in one place with regular characters, like a normal series. But even with the storylines and intrigue set up in the pilot, that's a non-starter too.
(Of course, I will be editing this section if they manage to do it and it's a big hit)

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Six Degrees (ABC) - ITV1

This early cancelled series from last season about six random characters who connect in a big city is included here more in hope than expectation that ITV will show it. They bought it for ITV1 but were put off by the cancellation in the US. It is classy and I think it would still do a good job considering what ITV1 has been showing. Co-incidentally BBC3 are about to pilot a British drama series about six random characters who connect in a big city called The Six. Spooky.

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Swingtown (CBS) - ITV

This is about swinging couples and it’s on the most conservative network. Expect a Smith style too early cancellation, although the execs are making all the right supportive noises.

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The Tudors (Showtime) - BBC


Classy historical drama.
Starts 5 October

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Viva Laughlin (CBS) - Living

Peter Bowker created the original for the BBC, which was about a bloke in the gambling business with big problems interspersed with mimed singing and dance routines to various pop songs. Bowker’s one of my favourite writers but I didn’t really get this premise at all. This re-make has one of the lowest test scores with audiences. I hope it lasts a 100 episodes and Bowker becomes a billionaire through syndication but it doesn’t seem likely at this stage.

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Comedy


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30 Rock (NBC) - Five


There were two programmes set behind the scenes of a sketch show last season on NBC. Studio 60 and this. Both were flops but this avoided cancellation because of its critical acclaim. It has just won an Emmy for best comedy justifying the faith. The first season of the US Office was similarly under-appreciated by viewers but now it is a huge hit. 30 Rock is quality and not to be missed. Five intend showing it at 10:45, which is taking the piss - unless it has a brilliant and appropriate lead-in.
Starts 11 October

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Back to You (Fox) - C4

Two of my favourite sitcom writer-producers have teamed up and while this result isn’t double the fun, it is fun nonetheless. A big TV anchor is forced to go back down the ladder to where he started but his old co-anchor stayed at the station and resents him for some reason. Had a very good début audience and most should stay for the second week.

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The Big Bang Theory (CBS) - C4

While not the most hilarious pilot ever, this sitcom about geeks who befriend their new neighbour – a hot non-geek woman – is funny, charms and has potential. Generating good buzz.

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Californication (Showtime) - Five



This is about a novelist with writer's block who is still in love with the wife he’s divorced and who shags around a lot. It's not too far from excellent and has been picked up for another season.
Starts 11 October

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The Class (CBS) - C4/E4

This sitcom about classmates who meet up at a party and remain in touch is bound to get an airing at some time, just probably not the primetime Friday slot it deserves. It was early cancelled last season and sometimes you have to accept that people just don’t get things and accept that they don't have to watch something if they don't want to. After all, there's things I don't get that other people love. However, anyone who doesn't love this show is a fracking idiot.

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Flight Of The Conchords (HBO) - BBC4


British comedy fans will be familiar with this Kiwi musical double-act who had a radio series and played the circuit over here for years. Their TV comedy début - about them trying to make it big in New York - is quality and not to be missed. Incidentally, one of the writer-directors on the series is, fellow Kiwi, Taika Cohen of the excellent Eagle vs Shark.
Starts 25 September

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The Sarah Silverman Program (Comedy Central) - Paramount


Sarah Silverman was a comedy god due to her awesome stand-up before this narrative comedy series. Now the few remaining doubters can shut the frack up and bow before the deity like everyone else. Unmissable.
Starts 4 October

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'Til Death (Fox) - Five US

From last season, traditional sitcom featuring young newlyweds moving next door to cynical long-marrieds. It's OK but not exactly appointment to view.

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Unhitched (Fox) - FX

Previously called "The Rules for Starting Over", this is from the Farrelly brothers. I really like the premise: "a group of newly single friends learning the painful lessons of starting over in their 30s."

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The best of the unbought

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Drama


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Burn Notice (USA)

This was very popular and has been renewed for a second season. I admit I had my doubts and stopped watching but with the likes of John Rogers bigging it up I gave it another chance and I'm glad I did. I expect it to get a UK buyer eventually. The only sticking point might be that one of the heroes is ex-IRA. Also in the pilot she had the most appalling ‘oirish’ accent which is likely to put people off.

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Life (NBC)


A cop is framed for murder and serves life in prison but DNA evidence frees him. Although the compensation has made him a multi-millionaire he returns to police work. He solves the murder of the week while also trying to find out who framed him in the first place and why.

I guessed this would be one of my favourites from the premise and the trailer was encouraging. Thankfully the pilot was quality. I have no clue why it hasn't been bought yet.

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Side Order Of Life (Lifetime)

A photographer gets a job on a magazine and has to deal with getting married and a friend who falls ill. This is so real and yet there’s a fantasy element where the photographer has some strange ability to see the truth that’s hidden behind the photos she takes and she uses that ability in the story of the week. I have no idea why it works but it does.

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Comedy


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Aliens in America (The CW)

An unpopular nerd at school is given a cool foreign exchange student by his parents to help him be cooler. But there’s a mix-up and the student isn't a cool English dude but a dork from Pakistan. Cue panic about terrorism, etc. The pilot was quality and while UK viewers have been negative on the boards, it’s getting great buzz in the US.

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Cavemen (ABC)


This is getting the worst buzz of any new show in the US with even people who haven’t seen it having a good old rant about it. I’ve seen it and I like it. The premise is what if cavemen were like any other racial group in the states. It’s been called the dumbest show ever but it’s actually quite sophisticated. It deserves a chance, I think.

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Samantha Who (ABC)

When you laugh at the premise for a sitcom, it’s a good sign. Samantha loses her memory and doesn’t remember what she was like. Friends and family try and manipulate her but she can only trust her boyfriend to tell her the truth. It’s getting great buzz from test audiences although I haven't seen the pilot yet.

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Slacker Cats (ABC family)

Gross out animation about cat friends and their owners from the British writers of Hyperdrive. I like Hyperdrive and I like this and I’m not ashamed to say so. Well, I'm a little ashamed to be honest.

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Opening Weekend

As You Like It


Romantic comedy. A woman cross-dresses in disguise and a bloke finds himself drawn to her.

With Brian Blessed, Bryce Dallas Howard, Romola Garai,Adrian Lester, Alfred Molina, Kevin Kline, Janet McTeer, Gerard Horan, David Oyelowo, Richard Briers

Writer: Kenneth Branagh
Director: Kenneth Branagh (based on the play by William Shakespeare)

Kenneth Branagh interview

Production notes (including Kenneth Branagh interview)

Official site

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Clubland


Comedy. The shy son of an aging comedian tries to find a balance between his demanding home life, his new girlfriend, and his mother's second chance at fame

With Brenda Blethyn, Rebecca Gibney, Khan Chittenden, Richard Wilson, Russell Dykstra, Emma Booth

Writer: Keith Thompson
Director: Cherie Nowlan

Official site

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Essayette


Experimental drama. A woman loses her daughter in the limbo between sleep and awake.

With Alexandra McTavish, Alexander Fiske-Harrison, Ruth Smith, Stephanie Briggs

Writer: Beatriz Martinez-Gatell
Director: Beatriz Martinez-Gatell

Official site

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Evening


Drama. As Ann lays dying, she remembers, and is moved to convey to her daughters, the defining moments in her life 50 years prior, when she was a young woman.

With Claire Danes, Toni Collette, Vanessa Redgrave, Patrick Wilson, Hugh Dancy, Natasha Richardson, Eileen Atkins, Meryl Streep, Glenn Close

Writers: Susan Minot and Michael Cunningham (based on the novel by Susan Minot)
Director: Lajos Koltai

Michael Cunningham and Susan Minot interview

Official site

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Death Proof


Crime drama. Two separate pairs of voluptuous women are stalked at different times by a scarred stuntman who uses his "death proof" cars to execute his murderous plans.

With Kurt Russell, Rosario Dawson, Vanessa Ferlito, Jordan Ladd, Rose McGowan

Writer: Quentin Tarantino
Director: Quentin Tarantino

Quentin Tarantino interview 1
Quentin Tarantino interview 2
Quentin Tarantino interview 3

Official site

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I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry


Comedy. Two straight, single Brooklyn firefighters pretend to be a gay couple in order to receive domestic partner benefits.

With Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Jessica Biel, Dan Aykroyd, Ving Rhames, Steve Buscemi

Writer: Barry Fanaro and Alexander Payne & Jim Taylor
Director: Dennis Dugan

Official site

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A Mighty Heart


Drama. Mariane Pearl's account of the terrifying and unforgettable story of her husband, Wall Street Journal reporter Danny Pearl's life and death.

With Angelina Jolie, Dan Futterman, Irrfan Khan, Denis O'Hare, Archie Panjabi, Will Patton, Gary Wilmes

Writer: John Orloff (from the book by Mariane Pearl)
Director: Michael Winterbottom

Official site

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Sambar Salsa


Comedy drama. A tale of a possessive South Indian mother faced with the prospective of a Spanish daughter-in-law and the lengths the two women go to keep the man in their life.

With Rishi Kapoor, Preyanka, Ateesh Randev, Roberta Caocci, Alessia Bonacci, Colin Duval

Writer: Aditya Raj and Vasanti Sundaram
Director: Aditya Raj

Official site

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Syndromes and a Century (Sang sattawat)


Experimental drama. Revolves around assorted characters working at or visiting two provincial Thai hospitals.

With Nantarat Sawaddikul, Jaruchai Iamaram, Sophon Pukanok, Jenjira Pongpas, Arkanae Cherkam, Sakda Kaewbuadee, Nu Nimsombon.

Writer: Apichatpong Weerasethakul.
Director: Apichatpong Weerasethakul.

Apichatpong Weerasethakul interview 1
Apichatpong Weerasethakul interview 2
Apichatpong Weerasethakul interview 3

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Tough Enough (Knallhart)


Crime drama. Fifteen-year-old Michael Polischka is thrown into a gritty urban world when his mother breaks up with her rich doctor lover and they have to move into a shabby apartment in a rough ethnic neighborhood.

With David Kross, Jenny Elvers-Elbertzhagen, Erhan Emre, Oktay Ozdemir, Kida Khodr Ramadan, Arnel Taci, Kai Michael Mueller, Hans Loew, Jan Henrik Stahlberg, Amy Mussul, Stephan Grossmann.

Writer: Zoran Drvenkar, Gregor Tressnow
Director: Detlev Buck

Official site

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Yella


Thriller. Yella is estranged from her possessive and violent husband; but he can't quite bring himself to give her up.

With Nina Hoss, Devid Striesow, Hinnerk Schoenemann, Burghardt Klaussner, Barbara Auer, Christian Redl, Selin Barbara Petzold, Wanja Mues, Michael Wittenborn, Martin Brambach, Joachim Nimtz.

Writer: Simone Baer, Christian Petzold
Director: Christian Petzold

Christian Petzold interview 1
Christian Petzold interview 2 (Auf Deutsch)

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The Seven Laws of Comedy Writing

Pilot Project:

"Learn to add humour to your scripts from a comedy master and bring a smile to your face and a chuckle to your audience."

Killer Films

Slate:

"Why the new vigilante movies are a lot like the old vigilante movies."

"Revenge: Where would the movies be without it? The hero's quest for personal justice has fueled plenty of high drama and even more lowbrow cinema. This is especially true of 1970s vigilante films. In these movies, an individual at odds with "the system" does what that system cannot: take revenge on specific criminals or crime in general for the wrongs done to him (occasionally her), his family, his community. This means mustering rage and weaponry, from socks stuffed with quarters to .32 revolvers to grenade launchers (and that's just in the Death Wish series).

In recent years, a similar body of films has emerged. This trend includes modern day B-movies (A Man Apart, Four Brothers), comic-book adaptations (The Punisher, Batman Begins), remakes (Man on Fire, Walking Tall), and even Oscar-bait (Munich). Reaching a brutal climax in the last few weeks with the releases of Death Sentence and The Brave One, this cycle proves that vengeance is back with, well, a vengeance, and that the two eras parallel each other like twin dark alleys in the American imagination."

The Wireless Theatre Company

" I am emailing you to draw your attention to my new Audio Online Theatre Company, The Wireless Theatre Company.

This is a website which produces audio plays, books, comedy sketches, short stories and more to be downloaded to peoples' iPods, MP3 players, desktops and mobile phones direct from the site, for FREE - no registering, no payment, just click on the download button and enjoy the drama! This brings radio drama to the kids with the iPods, and gets older generations to enjoy the world wide web and keep this wonderful medium alive.

As an on-going project, we are uploading on average two plays a month and we pride ourselves on producing new and exciting writing, stuff you haven't heard before from new actors. We are a new company, but we're doing well so far - with a great hit rate - and we're planning to record a whole season of Shakespeare Plays along with other classics to go along with the National Curriculum.

We are interested in submissions from actors, writers and anyone who has a love for audio theatre. The Company is also interested in showcasing plays which have already been recorded, providing they are of high quality and enjoyable!

Please do have a browse around the site and have a listen to the great stuff we have on there already.

And we are open to any suggestions, feedback or indeed donations!

I hope you enjoy it.

Kind regards

Mariele Runacre Temple
Artistic Director "

WGGB BBC writersroom event

A Far Away City:

"For those of you that don’t know, BBC writersroom is the department that deals with new writers. They explain it better themselves here.

Here’s a few bullet points from the event -"

Emmy Awards 2007

Congratulations to scribe Frank Deasy for his win for Prime Suspect.

WRITING FOR A COMEDY
"Extras: Daniel Radcliffe," Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, HBO, BBC and HBO Entertainment,
WINNER: "The Office: Gay Witch Hunt," Greg Daniels, NBC, Deedle-Dee Productions, Reveille, LLC, in association with NBC Universal Television Studio
"The Office: The Negotiation," Michael Schur NBC, Deedle-Dee Productions, Reveille, LLC, in association with NBC Universal Television Studio
"30 Rock: Tracy Does Conan," Tina Fey NBC, Broadway Video, Little Stranger, in association with NBC Universal Television Studio.
"30 Rock: Jack-Tor," Robert Carlock NBC, Broadway Video, Little Stranger, in association with NBC Universal Television Studio

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WRITING FOR A DRAMA
"Battlestar Galactica: Occupation/Precipice," Ronald D. Moore Sci Fi Channel • R+D TV in association with NBC Universal Television Studio
"Lost: Through The Looking Glass," Damon Lindelof, Carlton Cuse ABC, ABC Studios
"The Sopranos: Kennedy And Heidi," Matthew Weiner, David Chase HBO, Chase Films and Brad Grey Television in association with HBO Entertainment
"The Sopranos: The Second Coming," Terence Winter HBO, Chase Films and Brad Grey Television in association with HBO Entertainment
WINNER: "The Sopranos: Made In America," David Chase HBO, Chase Films and Brad Grey Television in association with HBO Entertainment

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WRITING FOR A VARIETY, MUSIC OR COMEDY PROGRAM
"The Colbert Report," Stephen Colbert, Allison Silverman, Richard Dahm, Michael Brumm, Rob Dubbin, Eric Drysdale, Peter Gwinn, Jay Katsir, Laura Krafft, Frank Lesser, Comedy Central, Central Productions with Busboy Productions and Sparina Productions
"The Daily Show With Jon Stewart," Rachel Axler, Kevin Bleyer, Rich Blomquist, Steve Bodow, Tim Carvell, J.R. Havlan, Scott Jacobson, David Javerbaum, Ben Karlin, Rob Kutner, Josh Lieb, Sam Means, Jason Reich, Jason Ross, Jon Stewart Comedy Central, Central Productions LLC and Hello Doggie, Inc.
WINNER: "Late Night With Conan O’Brien," Mike Sweeney, Head Writer; Chris Albers, Jose Arroyo, Dan Cronin, Kevin Dorff, Daniel J. Goor, Michael Gordon, Berkley Johnson, Brian Kiley, Michael Koman, Tim Harrod, Brian McCann, Guy Nicolucci, Conan O’Brien, Andrew Weinberg, writers NBC, Conaco, Broadway Video, in association with NBC Universal Television Studio
"Late Show With David Letterman," Eric Stangel, Justin Stangel, head writers; Michael Barrie, Jim Mulholland, Steve Young, Lee Ellenberg, Matt Roberts, Jeremy Weiner, Joe Grossman, Meredith Scardino, Bill Scheft, Aaron Blitzstein, Bob Borden, Frank Sebastiano, David Letterman, writers CBS, Worldwide Pants, Inc.
"Real Time With Bill Maher," Billy Martin, Head Writer; David Feldman, Matt Gunn, Brian Jacobsmeyer, Jay Jaroch, Chris Kelly, Bill Maher, Jonathan Schmock, Danny Vermont, Scott Carter, writers HBO, Kid Love Productions and Brad Grey Television in association with HBO Entertainment

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WRITING FOR A MINISERIES, MOVIE OR A DRAMATIC SPECIAL
"Broken Trail" Alan Geoffrion AMC, Once Upon a Time Films in association with Butcher’s Run Films
"Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee," Daniel Giat HBO, Wolf Film/Traveler’s Rest Film in association with HBO Films
"Jane Eyre (Masterpiece Theatre): Parts 1 & 2," adapted by Sandy Welch PBS, A BBC/WGBH Boston Co-Production
WINNER: "Prime Suspect: The Final Act (Masterpiece Theatre)," Frank Deasy, PBS, ITV Productions and WGBH Boston co-production
"The Starter Wife," Josann McGibbon, Sara Parriott, USA, Hay Pop Pty Limited in association with McGibbon/Parriott Productions and 3 Arts Entertainment, for NBC Universal Television Studio

Full list of winners

Women on top of the film world

Toronto Star:

"Or at least they are at the Toronto International Film Festival. But pan out and Hollywood is showing a much different picture. Susan Walker talks with top female directors about the film industry's staggering gender gap"

"Most of the people writing in magazines and running the publishing world are female. Most of the people coming out of writing programmes are female; most English majors are female. I don't understand why male writers are dominating screenwriting." Robin Swicord

Buzz: "Damages"

"The story revolves around a ruthless lawyer (Glenn Close) attempting to win a class-action lawsuit against the former CEO of a corporation (Ted Danson) on behalf of his former workers, by any means necessary." Wikipedia

The BBC spokesperson excitedly called this FX thriller a cross between Murder One and The Firm when they announced they had bought it. No, not at all. Don't be silly.

I've been trying to think why I'm not as impressed by Damages as some people. Partly it might be because I just don't care about the characters enough. I can see the showrunner trying. The Glenn Close character is ruthless and there's an episode, which was designed to make us care about her, which showed her family problems. It didn't work.

It's even difficult to care about the fresh new lawyer, who has a few troubles, as she's one-dimensional like the rest of them.


It has a nice structure in that it starts in the present with a woman covered in blood leaving her apartment and then it goes back to six months earlier where we find out that that woman is a lawyer looking for a job. Those two timelines will eventually meet.

As well as characters we don't care about, the general treatment is rather dull and uninspired, hacky and clichéd. They have a story of the week, or red herring of the week, as they attempt to fill in 13 hours of programming with, at best, three hours of interesting story.


I appreciate that some parts of the audience just want intrigue and plot twists and don't particularly care if they make sense or if it's well written. But the important question is "are there enough of this undemanding audience?" The show halved its ratings in the US within two weeks.

By starting in the summer, Damages has managed to avoid being tarred by the same brush as Kidnapped, Vanished and Runaway, the big network twisty thrillers that were cancelled early, when it is no better than any of them. Glenn Close's presence lends an air of class to the dross - but a gold plated turd is still a turd.

With half the season gone, I couldn't care less what happens next, which is a bad sign in a thriller.

The 2007 PAGE Award Winners Announced

Congratulations to David Bishop! Yay!

SHORT FILM

Gold Prize:
DANNY’S TOYS
by David Bishop
Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland

SCI-FI/FANTASY

Silver Prize:
DNA
by Andrew Wong
London, England

----------------------------------------------

GRAND PRIZE WINNER

SOLOMON’S WHALE
by John Arends
St. Charles, Illinois


ACTION/ADVENTURE

Gold Prize:
THE B.E.S.T.MAN
by Jack Davidson
Sparks, Nevada

Silver Prize:
THE PROS AND CONS OF BREATHING
by Bill Balas
Sherman Oaks, California

Bronze Prize:
DECLINATION CONSTANT
by George Kilgore
Kansas City, Missouri


COMEDY

Gold Prize:
DEADBEAT BOYFRIENDS
by Marc Conklin
St. Paul, Minnesota

Silver Prize:
THE BOOK OF JOB
by Andy Cies
San Francisco, California

Bronze Prize:
STAR
by Ehud Lavsky
Herzelia, Israel


DRAMA

Gold Prize:
SLUGGER
by Jimmy Miller
Van Nuys, California

Silver Prize:
LIKE YO-YO
by C. Daniel Yost
Albuquerque, New Mexico

Bronze Prize:
DONOVAN’S ECHO
by Jim Cliffe & Melodie Krieger
Kelowna, BC, Canada


FAMILY FILM

Gold Prize:
AMELIA EARHART AND
THE BOLOGNA RAINBOW HIGHWAY
by Amy Garcia & Cecilia Contreras
Manteca, California

Silver Prize:
GHOUL SCHOOL
by John Stancari
West Hollywood, California

Bronze Prize:
THE PLANE CRASH PORTION
OF YOUR AMAZON ADVENTURE
by Anita Skibski
Algonquin, Illinois


HISTORICAL FILM

Gold Prize:
GORGEOUS GEORGE
by Steve LaMontagne
Eugene, Oregon

Silver Prize:
PALACE OF TEARS
by Russell Gilwee
Folsom, California

Bronze Prize:
WOUNDED KNEE ‘73
by Richard Keehn
Boulder, Colorado


SCI-FI/FANTASY

Gold Prize:
TRANQUILITY BASE
by Daniel Turkewitz
New York, New York

Silver Prize:
DNA
by Andrew Wong
London, England

Bronze Prize:
REVOLUTIONARY
by Mark Glenn
Santa Monica, California


THRILLER/HORROR

Gold Prize:
THE BAKA
Maurice Brown
Culver City, California

Silver Prize:
EIGHT LITTLE GUINEA PIGS
by Shane O’Neill
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Bronze Prize:
THE COLLECTOR
by Anne Sagel
Las Vegas, Nevada


SHORT FILM

Gold Prize:
DANNY’S TOYS
by David Bishop
Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland

Silver Prize:
GROWING PAINS
by Virginia Desmond
Tucson, Arizona

Bronze Prize:
WINGNUT
by Joseph Costa
Tampa, Florida


TV DRAMA PILOT

Gold Prize:
TOIL AND TROUBLE
by Sarah Jorgensen
North Lakes, Queensland, Australia

Silver Prize:
THE HERALD
by Kathryn Wood
Los Angeles, California

Bronze Prize:
KAYFABE
by David Lee
West Hollywood, California


TV SITCOM PILOT

Gold Prize:
THE LIFE & TIMES OF JORDAN WEST
by Mark Prey
Milford, Michigan

Silver Prize:
GROVER’S HAIRY & BLUE
by Colin Preston
Woodinville, Washington

Bronze Prize:
RELIVING LIFE
by Michael Moore
Boston, Massachusetts

For more information go here.

Paul Laverty interview

Shooting Screenwriters:

Andy Conway:

"The latest Shooting Screenwriters episode is now available for your listening pleasure and this time I'm talking to screenwriter Paul Laverty all about the screenplays he's written for Ken Loach, including his latest "It's a Free World" which will be broadcast on Channel 4 this month and has just won the Best Screenplay award at the Venice Film Festival.

I caught up with Paul in a noisy bar in Edinburgh last month and also recorded his 'In Person' session earlier in the day, a couple of extracts from which I've included in the show.

This one's shorter than previous shows as I'm trying to now get them all into a nice half hour slot. Paul clocks in at a svelte 24 minutes.

If you want to listen to it (and what possible reason could you have not to?), then go here and simply right-click, and 'Save target as' and download it to your computer."

Paul Laverty:

"It was a great relief actually to be liberated from just talking about ideas and actually choose character. Imagine a person, give them a name, give them an age; the endless choices any screenwriter has to make. Where's the half of the story? Where's the premise? Where do you start? Where do you go?

And I actually found it absolutely fascinating and it was like a drug. I really did got such a high out of it. Just by the writing process. I found it really got the old neurons dancing and I enjoyed the process a great deal."


"It's a Free World" screens on Channel 4 on 24 September and is released on DVD on 1 October.

Opening Weekend

3:10 to Yuma


Western. A rancher agrees to hold a captured outlaw while he waits to catch a train to court in Yuma

With Russell Crowe, Christian Bale, Logan Lerman, Dallas Roberts, Ben Foster, Peter Fonda

Writers: Halsted Welles and Michael Brandt & Derek Haas
Director: James Mangold

Michael Brandt & Derek Haas interview 1
Michael Brandt & Derek Haas interview 2

Official site

********************************

December Boys


Drama. Four orphan friends compete for the attention of a family.

With Daniel Radcliffe, Lee Cormie, Christian Byers, James Fraser, Jack Thompson, Teresa Palmer

Writers: Marc Rosenberg (based on the novel by Michael Noonan)
Director: Rod Hardy

Official site

********************************

Disturbia


Thriller. A teen living under house arrest becomes convinced his neighbour is a serial killer

With Shia LaBeouf, Sarah Roemer, Carrie-Anne Moss, David Morse, Aaron Yoo

Writers: Christopher Landon and Carl Ellsworth
Director: D.J. Caruso

Official site

********************************

A Few Days in September (Quelques jours en septembre)


Drama. A CIA agent in Europe wants to find the daughter he abandoned a decade ago.

With Juliette Binoche, John Turturro, Sara Forestier, Tom Riley, Nick Nolte

Writer: Santiago Amigorena
Director: Santiago Amigorena

Official site

********************************

The Legacy (L' Héritage)


Drama. Three French hipsters and their translator travel through rural Georgia to claim a remote, ruined castle that one of them has inherited.

With Sylvie Testud, Stanislas Merhar, Olga Legrand, Pascal Bongard, George Babluani,Leo Gaparidze

Writers: Géla Babluani, Temur Babluani, Jacques Dubuisson
Director: Géla Babluani, Temur Babluani

Official site

********************************

My Nikifor (Mój Nikifor)


Drama. Story of the last eight years of life of Nikifor Krynicki, famous "naive artist".

With Krystyna Feldman,Roman Gancarczyk, Jerzy Gudejko, Jowita Miondlikowska

Writers: Joanna Kos, Krzysztof Krauze
Director: Krzysztof Krauze

Joanna Kos, Krzysztof Krauze interview

Official site

********************************

The Serpent (Le Serpent)


Thriller. A photographer caught up in an ugly divorce is the target of revenge by his childhood classmate.

With Yvan Attal, Clovis Cornillac, Pierre Richard, Simon Abkarian, Minna Haapkylä

Writers: Eric Barbier and Trân-Minh Nam (based on the novel by Ted Lewis)
Director: Eric Barbier

Eric Barbier interview (en français)

Official site

********************************

Shoot 'Em Up


Thriller. A man named Mr. Smith delivers a woman's baby during a shootout, and is then called upon to protect the newborn from an army of gunmen.

With Clive Owen, Paul Giamatti, Monica Bellucci, Stephen McHattie

Writer: Michael Davis
Director: Michael Davis

Michael Davis interview 1
Michael Davis interview 2
Michael Davis interview 3

Official site

********************************

Superbad


Comedy. Two co-dependent high school seniors are forced to deal with separation anxiety after their plan to stage a booze-soaked party goes awry.

With Jonah Hill, Michael Cera, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Bill Hader, Seth Rogen, Martha MacIsaac

Writers: Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg
Director: Greg Mottola

Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg interview 1
Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg interview 2 (video)
Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg interview 3
Evan Goldberg interview

Official site

********************************

True North


Drama. The crew of a bankrupt Scottish trawler turn to smuggling illegal immigrants over the stormy waters of the North Sea.

With Peter Mullan, Martin Compston, Gary Lewis, Steven Robertson, Angel Li, Hark Bohm

Writer: Steve Hudson
Director: Steve Hudson

Steve Hudson interview

Official site

********************************

Yacoubian Building (Omaret yakobean)


Drama. Multi-story about the residents of the famous Yacoubian Building,

With Adel Imam Nour El-Sherif Youssra Essad Youniss

Writer: Wahid Hamid (from the novel by Alaa' Al-Aswany)
Director: Marwan Hamed

Official site

Red Planet Prize Project - 11

Yes, I thought I'd finished as well.

Negativity

Was I the only one surprised that the Red Planet Prize had only 2000 entries? That might average out at, allowing for multiple entries, about 1000 writers. I get more visitors to my blog every week and my blog's crap!

Perhaps the negativity about the contest and about the various encouraging efforts towards it put people off. I mean, the BBC rejects nearly 10,000 scripts a year and if you times that by the past few years that's a lot of scripts just lying around, waiting to be re-written (or not) and emailed off. No fee, no printing or postage costs. Puzzling.

"One of our chief needs as creative beings is support. Unfortunately, this can be hard to come by. Ideally, we would be nurtured and encouraged first by our nuclear family and then by ever-widening circles of friends, teachers, well-wishers. As young artists, we need and want to be acknowledged for our attempts and efforts as well as for our achievements and triumphs. Unfortunately, many artists never receive this critical early encouragement. As a result, they may not know they are artists at all." Julia Cameron, The Artists Way

According to research our brains have a negativity bias. Bad news is going to have more of an impact than good news. The problem is that, like football, writing is a confidence game. Other bloggers have talked about receiving a BSSC rejection while they were writing their Red Planet script, which didn't help. Luckily, I didn't receive my 25 Words or Less rejection until after I had done a first draft or I might not have started. I had a wobble but I didn't fall down.

I believe Spleeny illustrates what many of us were going through here.

My Project

I actually didn't start my script until two weeks before the closing date. I usually leave it late but not that late. While the negativity affected me, there was something else blocking me that I couldn't pin down.

Time pressed on and I had no choice but to start. I had to go to the library in the end, away from phone calls, the Internet, the football and other distractions to get started on the script. I wrote half of the full script on the Saturday and then the rest on the Sunday. It was quick because I was working from an outline and the story had been in my head for a few weeks. It was about the copper with father issues who finds a dead kid. I used the example from the Project.

I submitted the first ten pages to my writer's group and I got some nice comments which showed it didn't suck too much but there were complaints about it being too slow. I love a good slow-burning drama and there is nothing wrong with that at all - except I was meant to be writing a cop drama for TV that wouldn't look out of place next to Holby Blue.

Someone said they didn't believe the father issues story. Then I realised the main reason for my delay in starting to write: subconsciously, I didn't believe it either. The main problem is that he was being a copper because of pressure from his father but he's in his mid-twenties, gone to university and done two years of probationary training and still feels compelled to do a job he doesn't want to. It's possible but it made the main character too much of a wimp and unlikeable.

That original script still sort of worked but I felt I had to raise my game. In the Projects example I suggested that maybe the copper and wife couldn't have kids as it would make life hard for them. My first draft had the wife getting pregnant and lots of witty banter about it. I wanted a contrast between the joy of having a baby and having to deal with the death of this other kid. But that was too dull and predictable and most importantly lacked real conflict and drama.

The one thing I was confident about was my dialogue - give me an outline and I can do a good first draft in next to no time. But 'good' isn't good enough. It was pointed out that I could lose 30% of my dialogue as I was repeating beats and telling not showing. I made a copy of the original file, so I could put my lovely dialogue back later if need be, and set about trying to cut 30%. Finding 20% to cut was surprisingly easy but I had to have the other 10% pointed out to me. Hopefully, I've learnt to spot it myself now.

Of course that left me with three new pages to write as well as re-write the rest to my new outline. It was fun but I kept having to assure myself that if I wasn't having a pain down my left arm, I was only having a panic attack and not a heart attack. But I managed to finish it, the fourth draft, with time to spare.

Although smugly pleased with the re-write, some of the scripts in my writer's group alone were excellent so I have adjusted my expectations of winning accordingly. I'd be pleased just to make that first cut.

But for me the worst case scenario wasn't not being asked for the full script but not trying at all in the first place. The competition has given me a kick up the arse to produce a new spec and I've learnt a lot doing so. Not only by writing it but by peer review.

I heard some grumblings by people annoyed about having to complete the full script in September - having only written the first ten pages - when they don't know if they're going to be asked for it or not by Red Planet. Surely, no writing is a waste of time. At least they will have a completed perfected spec for when the next opportunity arises.

I'm about to start re-writing my script, which is practically a page 1 re-write (well, page 11 re-write). It would be annoying if it's not requested after all the effort but, after further re-writes, it's destined for the BBC writersroom. And should the writersroom be nonplussed, I'll just start a new better one. I'd be well pissed off, no doubt, but if I want to be a writer I have no choice but to move on.

Pitching a new series

As well as writing and re-writing our scripts, I think we should also take some time to think about new series ideas to pitch, should we get that far. Worst case scenario is that we don't get that far but we have things to pitch to someone else (or to Red Planet later) when we have a better calling card script. In fact, we could write the first episode of that series as a new calling card.

It doesn't have to be a returnable series, it could be a serial (or mini-series) or a one-off. If you're not keeping a notebook then this might be a good time to start. Someone mentioned, in the UK scribosphere somewhere, keeping more than one book on the go, I believe, for characters, story ideas and dialogue. Good idea, if you're that organised.

When you brainstorm ideas the crucial thing is to write everything down and wait before judging them. The more ideas the better as it's quantity and not quality that's needed.

Think about combining ideas. If you have a 'florist' idea and you have a 'duck' idea, how about "The Duck Florist. A duck moves to a village to sell flowers but faces hostility due to his species." I know there's no copyright in ideas but if you take that one, you're dead.

One possible way of approaching it is to go back to your own interests and passions and then think of ways to make that entertaining to an audience. Can you pitch the concept in 25 words or less? Look at series on air at the moment or your favourite series and try pitching them. Can it be done easily? What's interesting about them? What makes them different?

So think about the premise and, crucially, the main characters for a while. You might have a good pilot idea but what will episode 6 be like? What would the second series be like? Does the premise have legs? Once you're sure it's a good strong concept with popular appeal and good strong relatable characters then try writing short storylines of about half a page (the same as Red Planet requested for the prize) of the first 6 episodes.

If you've done that, you've got a series bible, more or less: Title, logline, premise, main characters, episode synopses. That's all you need. The odds of a new writer getting their own series on is quite high but it's not impossible. However, it is impossible if we don't try in the first place.

By the way, Red Planet has just inked a development deal with Hollywood studio Sony so they are now actively looking for content for two continents.

_______________________________________________

Links

Steps to Overcoming Negativity and Pessimism

You Can't Create from Negativity

The Short Attention Span Screenwriter

Time Management for Writers - Lianne

How to get into the writing flow - Jurgen Wolff

Hack your way out of writer’s block

MyRay - free online CBT program

More stress busters

The Power of Positive Thinking

Beyond Self-Delusional Positive Thinking

-------------------------------------

Soyouwanna Pitch A TV Show?

The Pilot Pitch - Background - Kung Fu Monkey

The Pilot Pitch - Prep - Kung Fu Monkey

The Pilot Pitch - the Room - Kung Fu Monkey

How to pitch a TV Show idea or script

Bad Bible - Alex Epstein

Writing the Pilot - Alex Epstein

How to write a killer TV show pilot script - Paul Lines

-------------------------------------

The Secrets of Effective Brainstorming - Jurgen Wolff

Brainstorming - Mind Tools

Brainstorming by yourself without the need for a group

Three Step Creative Writing Process

The Riddle

"My pic The Riddle, a twisty mystery thriller starring Derek Jacobi, Vinnie Jones, Vanessa Redgrave, Julie Cox, Mel Smith and Jason Flemyng comes out with The Mail on Sunday this coming weekend.

The MoS bought UK distribution rights and has made the movie the world's first DVD première, with 2.5 million copies.

It is about a journalist investigating a series of modern murders that follow the discovery of an unpublished Charles Dickens novel in a Thames-side pub cellar. I hope you enjoy it!

Best,

Brendan Foley"

Brendan Foley interview
No Riddle to Film’s Success

The 5 Stages of a Successful Relationship (in a Romantic Comedy)

Cracked.com

"It's every guy's nightmare. You meet a beautiful girl and things are going well, when suddenly little details begin to nag at you: Her skin is always perfect, she never farts and how the hell can she afford a gigantic New York apartment while working as an under-appreciated secretary in a man's world? The answer: She's starring in a romantic comedy and now you are too. But all is not lost! Follow this advice and you can throw off sensitive smiles and hilariously misunderstand your way to a happy ending."

Also at Cracked:

The 8 Greatest Makeshift Movie Weapons

11 Movies Saved by Historical Inaccuracy

The 10 Most Awesome Movies Hollywood Ever Killed

Another Way In -- Indie Filmmakers Need Screenwriters

Script for Sale:

"Most people never consider Indie filmmakers as a potential market for their screenwriting. But there are opportunities there and in some cases, it is a lot easier to establish yourself with an Indie.

As you read this interview with screenwriter Michael Hockney, you will be surprised at the results that can be achieved in the Indie world."

My mother was the victim of honour killing, reveals Muslim playwright

Daily Mail:

"Britain's most controversial Muslim playwright tells the extraordinary story of her mother's murder and growing up as the daughter of an honour killing."

The 100 Best TV Shows of All TIME

Time

"TV critic James Poniewozik picks the medium's greatest. See who makes the cut, with video clips of each."

There are six UK shows on there, Brideshead Revisited, The Prisoner, I Claudius, Prime Suspect, The Office and Monty Python.

It would have been more honest if it was titled The 100 Best TV Shows of All TIME That I Have Seen Here in America Which Tends Not to Be Much Foreign Stuff and Certainly Nothing non-English Speaking Like "Heimat" or "Das Boot".

But fans of US TV history should have a blast.

Buzz: "City Homicide"

City Homicide is a new show from Channel 7 in Australia and it's the best new detective drama I've seen in years. I've been thinking about creating a new police series myself but worried I didn't have a big enough gimmick. But there's nothing original to the City Homicide premise at all - a dead body is discovered and detectives find out who killed them. You might have seen that before.
What makes it original and interesting are the characters and their relationships. They just seem like real people who react like real people to things happening. That really shouldn't be so unusual but it is. And rather than being a po-faced bore as much of the genre is, City Homicide is quite funny. You can have humour while still having respect for the loss of human life.

There is conflict with the inter-departmental rivalries and within the homicide-team itself but the focus is on the story of the week, which I now realise, through the feedback on my Red Planet Prize script, is more important than I thought. But I'll post about that another time, probably.

John Hugginson and John Banas, the creators and writers of City Homicide give some pretty good pointers in creating a show in an interview on the official website (with some good advice for new writers). Also the writer's blog for the show is excellent.


Having to travel back and forth to Australia each week to watch it is really putting a strain on my bank balance so I urge UK broadcasters to snap it up quick. They may think the obvious home would be on one of their digital channels but this quality drama deserves a chance on prime-time on a main channel.

It's bonzer, cobber!

Official site

Southend Writers Competition

The Palace Theatre Guild:

"The Palace Theatre Guild is proud to launch the first Southend Writers’ Competition. Entrants must submit a radio play with a running time of 25 – 30 minutes on any topic. The cast of voices will be performed by 6 professional actors (3 male & 3 female). Scripts may be for a smaller or larger cast (by doubling or trebling of roles). The play must be suitable for transmission on day-time radio.

Submissions must be made in printed format, by post, and accompanied by a cheque for £5 registration fee, payable to The Palace Theatre Guild. (£5 per play).

Closing Date for Entries: 20 September 2007"

Heads up from Phill

The BBC have said they will read the winner but even if they loved the script there's nothing they could do with it as there are no half-hour one-off slots.

If you're going for it, I suggest making it a half-hour comedy-drama pilot for a series. That way, if you're successful, you can get the workshops and feedback and at the end of it have something more likely to be commissioned. If you're unsuccessful it's not a complete waste of time as you can re-write it and submit it to the BBC yourself.

Word of Mouth: "Run, Fat Boy, Run"

Months ago I asked a friend what Simon Pegg's next movie was going to be and he said, "Run, Fat Boy, Run". So I punched him in the face. We still laugh about the misunderstanding today.

Anyway, I’ve been a fan of actor-writer Michael Ian Black’s for a while. I enjoyed his work with Stella and his addition to the Ed cast was brilliant. However his movie Wedding Daze kinda sucked which was a big surprise to me.

Simon Pegg, accomplished and successful screenwriter of features, has adapted Black’s New York set script and set it in London (it was a finance thing) and while it is entertaining enough I think he’s restricted by the original source material.

The structure is fine, I think, it’s just that the elements that make it up are very familiar. All writers would be able to predict the exact ending well before it happens but I think maybe the general public will be able to as well.

Having said that it’s not too shabby. In the re-writing it helped that director David Schwimmer insisted that the laughs came from reality and there are laughs to be had, although they’re not really consistent enough.

Although it’s interesting as we kill ourselves trying to find an original joke never heard before that the biggest audience laugh came from an old gag I first heard on I'm Alan Partridge.

By keeping it real and going for natural laughs, you’re not thrown out of the story. However, note how many pratfalls there are. People falling over and banging into things is a more acceptable way of gagging up a script than lots of hacky banter but writing funnier material is a much better way.

It generates goodwill due to the good characters and the convincing emotional truth of what happens (and the excellent performances) so I think it's worth seeing - but lower your expectations first.

Opening Weekend

Atonement


Fledgling writer Briony Tallis, as a 13-year-old, irrevocably changes the course of several lives when she accuses her older sister's lover of a crime he did not commit.

With Keira Knightley, James McAvoy,Romola Garai, Saoirse Ronanm, Brenda Blethyn, Vanessa Redgrave

Writer: Christopher Hampton (from the Ian McEwan novel)
Director: Joe Wright

Christopher Hampton interview

Christopher Hampton article

Official site

***************************************************

Reprise


Two competitive friends, fueled by literary aspirations and youthful exuberance, endure the pangs of love, depression and burgeoning careers.

With Anders Danielsen Lie, Espen Klouman-Høiner, Viktoria Winge, Henrik Elvestad, Christian Rubeck

Writers: Joachim Trier, Eskil Vogt
Director: Joachim Trier

Joachim Trier and Eskil Vogt interview
Joachim Trier and Eskil Vogt interview (audio)
Joachim Trier interview
Joachim Trier interview (video)

Official site

***************************************************

Rise of the Footsoldier


Follows the inexorable rise of Carlton Leach from one of the most feared generals of the football terraces to becoming a member of a notorious gang of criminals who rampaged their way through London and Essex in the late eighties and early nineties.

With Ricci Harnett, Terry Stone, Craig Fairbrass,Roland Manookian, Frank Harper, Billy Murray

Writers: Julian Gilbey, Will Gilbey
Director: Julian Gilbey

Official site

***************************************************

Run, Fat Boy, Run


A chunky, clueless guy leaves his pregnant fiancée on their wedding day only to discover -- 5 years later -- that she is his one true love

With Simon Pegg, Dylan Moran, Thandie Newton, Harish Patel, Hank Azaria

Writers: Michael Ian Black & Simon Pegg
Director: David Schwimmer

Simon Pegg interview 1
Simon Pegg interview 2
Simon Pegg interview 3

Official site

***************************************************

Small Engine Repair


Doug, an aspiring country singer, has spent his life as a loser in a non-descript small town with nobody believing in his heartbreaking voice and talent as a musician. His wife has left him and only his best friend believes in him. But he has one last chance to make it.

With Iain Glen, Steven Mackintosh, Stuart Graham, Laurence Kinlan

Writer: Niall Heery
Director: Niall Heery

Niall Heery interview 1
Niall Heery interview 2

***************************************************

Someone Else


When thirty-something David isn't working as a photographer at a high-street photo studio he is stressing over his love-life. Torn between his rather-too-agreeable girlfriend Lisa and the exciting but tricky Nina, he has serious decision to make.

With Stephen Mangan, Susan Lynch, Lara Belmont, Christopher Coghill, Shaun Dingwall, John Henshaw, Lydia Piechowiak, Lydia Fox, Bridget Fry.

Writers: Col Spector, Radha Chakraborty
Director: Col Spector

Col Spector interview
Col Spector and Radha Chakraborty interview (video)

***************************************************

Preview: "Men in Trees"

"Finding a good man in today's world isn't as difficult as some women think. They just have to watch out for the signs, and it's the job of Marin Frist (Anne Heche) as a relationship coach and best-selling author to help women to find the right men. She travels the U.S. to give women help about how to find the right guy, using her personal life as a model. Now that she has a fiancé, she just released her new book meant to help women find the right men for a great marriage. Before the wedding, she has one little conference in Alaska. On the plane, she discovers her love life isn't going that well at all as she finds out her fiancé has been cheating on her. She now has to forget everything she has learned about men and gain new knowledge about love and relationships." (TV.com)


I enjoyed this female skewed romantic dramedy, created by Jenny Bicks, but many hated it from the get-go and it remained 'on the bubble' all season, in danger of cancellation.

It was better than average and well written, but there were some annoying contrivances, like the raccoon getting in a locked cupboard in the pilot, for instance.


Episode 2 is better and if you don't like that then the show's not for you. It introduces the main relationships and issues for the series but again, why would an hair dryer do what it does in this episode?

Episode 3 about a charity auction has similar dodgy plotting. Both the A and B stories require someone paying much more money than they need to as dramatic romantic gestures but the lack of believability undermined the genuine drama there was.

While the plotting is dodgy at times the show has great characters, interesting relationships and witty dialogue.


It was interesting to see how a good idea for a one-off romantic comedy movie could be stretched to a full season and they didn't do too bad a job. In fact they earned themselves a surprise new season and a promotion to a better time slot. Rather than it being all about the main character and her journey, it became more of an ensemble and the original fresh characters kept enough people watching.

Men in Trees is a generally well-written undemanding relationship comedy-drama that was one of the better shows last season and it's worth catching the first three episodes at least for study if not for entertainment.

Jenny Bicks blog

Men in Trees
Living TV
Thursdays 9:00pm
(repeated Tuesdays 8:00pm)

Now the Weather

Mr Biffo's Blog

Paul Rose reached the stage of getting a non-broadcast pilot made of his single camera comedy "Now the Weather" but it wasn't picked up by the networks.

"Just a quick note to say thanks to everyone who said something nice about the 'Now The Weather' script extracts. I've lost track of all the comments, so apologies if I've not thanked you personally.

It's a big shame, naturally, but we got turned down by Channel 4 back in January, so it's hardly new news for us. It's been getting interest from other broadcasters ever since - which is why I've not been able to talk about it - just not sufficient interest from the people who make the final decisions.

It happens. It's the nature of the game. You just have to move onto your next thing, and hope that eventually your tastes will gel with those of the channel controllers.

In the meantime... I've plenty of other stuff going on. Not all of which I can yet talk about. Onwards and upwards."

You can read the script extracts on the links below:

Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 4

(Heads up from Mark at BSG)

Fetch a Sketch

Deadline: Friday 7 September

Hull Comedy Festival

"Do you watch Little Britain, Catherine Tate or Mitchell and Webb, and think – "I could write better than that"? (We sometimes do!) Well, now's your chance.

The Hull Blokes, along with BBC Radio Humberside and the Hull and East Riding Mail are giving would-be writers a chance to have their material seen by hundreds of people at The Hull Comedy Festival.

You are invited to write a comedy sketch that will be performed by The Hull Blokes - one of the North's leading comedy/writing/drama groups - at their festival show on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th of November at The Northern Academy of Performing Arts on Anlaby Road.

So, whether you're a Dead Ringer or a Monty Python in the waiting, put pen to paper and enter. Here are the rules:

1. It has to be comedy
2. It will be no more than 5 minutes in length
3. It will be performed on stage, so don’t include a cast of thousands, elephants, flying bananas etc.
4. The Hull Blokes will be the judges, and their decision will be final. It may be drunken, deluded and warped, but it will be final
5. The sketches need to be submitted by 7th September to allow for the extensive rehearsal time your sketch deserves (and because it takes the Blokes that long to learn lines)

Scripts can initially be sent to hullblokes@hotmail.co.uk

London Comedy Writers meeting - Tuesday 4 September

Tristán White:

"Yes, I know there's a tube strike, but London Bridge is on the Jubilee and Northern Lines and those are the two lines that are not affected. Although they'll be busy until later on when rush hour finishes, so the best thing you can do is come to the OLD KINGS HEAD, Kings Head Yard, London SE1.

Get a drink (BEFORE 7, as the happy hour ends at 7 and the pints go up from £2.20 to £3), bring it upstairs.

We start at 7pm upstairs and I promise you that you're going to have a good time. We will be listening to one of our member's half hour comedy scripts, then giving feedback. We also share industry news, competition details, and discuss a script we are planning on writing as a group.

We've been running for 6 years and many of us have had quite a bit of success through the group. Turn up this Tuesday, no booking necessary and it's free, but please don't be later than 7.

We have scripts booked for the next 2 months but come and get your name down and we should be able to fit you in soon. However, after Tuesday we can't guarantee you will get your script read in 2007, so you MUST come along!!"

www.londoncomedywriters.com

Dates for your Diary

Light and Shade:

Arguably the best UK scribosphere resource, this has been updated.

Lots to keep us occupied while we wait for the Red Planet Prize results.

Control wins best Screenplay award for New British Film

The List:

"Forget all the other festival awards, there is only one that counted this year and that was The List and The Writers' Guild's Edinburgh Writing Award for Best Screenplay of a New British Film. There were eleven UK films at this year's Edinburgh International Film Festival and contenders for the prize included crowd pleasers like And When Did You Last See Your Father and Hallam Foe, as well as Gallic language film Seachd: The Inaccessible Pinnacle and Scottish comedy My Life as a Bus Stop. Competition was fierce and the decision was not an easy one."

The Queen: Writer Peter Morgan Tackles a Risky Subject

Emanuel Levy:

“What’s most daring about it is that it isn’t a satire. It’s a story that dares to paint people in power as complex, rounded, conflicted human beings just like you and me. There’s real no tradition for this sort of thing outside of comedy.”

Screenplay (pdf)

"The Queen", Sunday, 9:00pm, ITV1

A mountain to climb

The Guardian:

People with disabilities get a raw deal on TV. That's why Mark Haddon wanted Coming Down The Mountain 'beamed into the nation's living rooms'

"I started working on Coming Down The Mountain about seven years ago, as an afternoon play for Radio 4. It's so long ago I can't even remember how the idea came about. Something about the voice, probably. In this case the voice of a teenage boy called Ben with Down's syndrome. It's nearly always something about a voice. Like most writers, I'm repeatedly being asked how I get inside people's heads. But I rarely feel that I'm inside a character's head. Being in the same room, that's the secret. Hearing them talking. Knowing what they're going to say next. Get the voice right and you can make an audience believe almost anything."

"Coming Down The Mountain", Sunday, 9:00pm, BBC1

Soundtrack

I've been blog-tagged by Pillock to name five genres or sub-genres, and say which song or songs I'd put on the soundtrack.

Romantic Comedy

At the end when the main character realises they are about to lose their true love...

Snow Patrol - "Open Your Eyes"




*******************************************


Science Fiction

A spaceship crew are stranded on an unknown planet and see aliens at work in the distance...

Tujiko Noriko - "Fly"



*******************************************

Drama

Main character goes back to their home town for a funeral...

Au Revoir Simone - "Sad Song"



*******************************************

Thriller

The copper has pursued the suspect into a packed nightclub...

Justice - "D.A.N.C.E."



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Horror

A couple gather weapons to tackle the undead...

Enter Shikari - "Sorry You're Not a Winner"

Back Up Your Files Day

It's the first of the month which means it's Back Up Your Files day.

If you're just finished your Red Planet Prize script or are still working on it then copy them across to your flash drive or external hard drive or email them to your webmail account.

The worst case scenario for me was my computer crashing after all the work I had put into my entry so I had lined up alternative computers to use with the backed up files. But trying to prevent my computer crashing in the first place also needs doing.

I like collecting pictures of Paris Hilton but one site I went to infected my computer. A friend said they bet it's not the first time someone found Paris Hilton and got a virus. He thought that was funny. It wasn't and so I killed him. OK, I only blanked him but he deserved to die.

I have an Internet security suite and firewall which prevents the really nasty malicious stuff but was a bit rubbish with adware and spyware. The result of the infection was that I would click on a link and the link would take me somewhere else entirely and there would be annoying pop-up adverts (is there any other kind?).

Anyway, my anti-virus software detected there was a problem but didn't know how to get rid of it. Technically adware isn't a virus and so I shouldn't complain but I complained like mad - loudly and using lots of swears. What was I to do? SuperAntiSpyware to the rescue.

SuperAntiSpyware is a free adware and spyware removal program. I have since upgraded my security suite but I'm still using it. You can right-click on a file you have downloaded and scan it for adware/spyware.

This PC World magazine download page has lots of free software to help keep your computer healthy, like registry cleaners.

Also defragmenting your hard drive on Back Up Your Files Day would also be a good idea. It might take a long time but it has to be done regularly. This is how to do it on a mac.

Don't delay, do it today. It's Back Up Your Files Day, hooray!

How to decide what data to back up

Back up manually or use Windows XP Backup utility

How to choose an external storage format for backup files

Mac OS X: How to back up and restore your files