Arvon Foundation Courses

I have to recommend these highly - I've been on two (one tutored and one untutored) both helped me onto the next level with my writing.They are pricy but have incredibly generous bursaries for students and low income people.

more info here

Book as soon as possible as they fill fast.

10 Commandos of Screenwriting by David Cairns

Top ten format mistakes

from the 'Format Nazi' - take note ESPECIALLY giving camera directions - one which particularly enrages producers and directors of my acquaintance.

Creativity is like a water table under the earth. It's not limited to writing or to painting; it's everywhere. It's a life force: You tap it with energy and effort, and it wells up through you. No matter what you do, the first step to tapping creativity is showing up. If you're a writer, you tell yourself that you're going to write for 10 minutes, and then physically move your hand across the page for that amount of time. Maybe you'll produce only one good line, but that's a lot more than you would accomplish by just sitting there. When you're pursuing a particular objective, you have a mind like a pistol. But the harder you chase something, the faster you go -- and the less you're able to let life meet life. If you're having difficulty coming up with new ideas, then slow down. For me, slowing down has been a tremendous source of creativity. It has allowed me to open up -- to know that there's life under the earth and that I have to let it come through me in a new way. Creativity exists in the present moment. You can't find it anywhere else.

Natalie Goldberg

Her book Writing Down The Bones has had a huge effect on me as a writer. If coming up with new projects this year is hard perhaps her words will help.

short film writing and submission deadlines

Light and Shade have a great guide

The Script Factory

They are just launching their 9 month Practical Screenwriting Programme.

Which looks interesting but most of the programme will be taught in London.

Syd Field: “Screenwriting is finding places where silence works better than words.”

Interesting article on Syd Field 'teaching' screenwriting at Netribution.

Finding screenwriters

Accidentally I found myself at a performance writers event in Edinburgh last night. I met up with a friend with half an eye for developing screenplays for him to direct. He had already spoken to one of the writers who wrote in a very action orientated non interior style about getting him to adapt it into a short screenplay script.

It really is worthwhile attending writers events locally to where you live to see if there is any untapped writing talent who may not have thought of writing for the screen and you are trying to find material. I found out about this event by word of mouth but worth looking out on the web, local libraries, arts venues, theatres to see if there is a writers group holding an event. It could be dire or it could be untold treasure.

Screenwriting Express Course at end of May - delivered by The Script Factory and The Long Distance Screenwriter will be taught by Adrian Mead on the 9th of June in Edinburgh.

Mike Figgis

'I made a decision a couple years ago that I'd start inventing my own golden rules. One is that all film is science fiction, all film is black comedy, and character is plot. And the over-emphasis on plot is a waste of time. Because at the end of the day, people don't really give a fuck about plot. They want it to work, they want to believe that it's believable, but outside of that, what they really want to identify with is character. And they enjoy seeing character development, and a really great actor portraying a really great character can mesmerize an audience for an entire movie, with virtually very little happening: could be just going fishing, telling a few stories, that's what we love. '

On writing Time Code

"So back on that train -- I'm stuck on this train and I love trains; they're very creative. I had abandoned my laptop some months earlier, because I got so pissed off at it, crashing and running out of batteries at times of intellectual orgasm. So I had gone back to my favorite system of fountain pen and huge notebooks. And so I started using this notebook and it's all there on about 4 pages on this train journey -- the entire story structure, what kinds of notation to write the script and so on. "

More from this interview here. I was googling to try and find out more about the Digital Film-Making book he's just written when I came across this.

5 ways to find the inspiration for a short film

Ok you want to write a script in fact you are desperate to write a script and you sit down and stare at the computer or notepad and nothing… nada. Here's some ways of accessing the muse.

1. 
   Carry a notebook and pen with you at all times. Something which can be shoved into a pocket or a bag easily. The writer Anne Lamott keeps index cards about her person at all time. This way when you are struck by something say an overheard conversation in a bus you can quickly jot down the idea and capture it.
2. 
   Give yourself space for the muse to visit. Ie allow yourself a bit of living and what I call noodling time. Give yourself to walk between appointments, do something you’ve always thought might be interesting or fun to do. Somehow allowing ourselves to play and have fun keeps the imagination alive.
3. 
   Don’t just go to the cinema any thing you write will then be influenced by what you see rather than being original - mix in museums, theatre, music- the off beat. In the same way vary your inputs – don’t just read film books browse the other sections of the library and bookshop. My first film came out of reading a review copy of a non-fiction book in the publisher I worked in.
4. 
   Become known as a screenwriter in your circle. Once people know that you are a writer they will offer you stories – I kid you not. Again take notes (one of my short film scripts was a heavily revised and changed take on a friend’s really weird childhood).
5. 
   Do what writer/director Adrian Meade does - go through newspapers not nationals but local papers tear out all the weird and off beat and intriguing stories. 'Two brothers transport their dead dad in an ice cream van.' He puts them in a large trunk so he knows that if he runs out of ideas that he can always look in it.Strangely enough he never has. (This does't work with online papers as the serediptious factor is taken out - they must be real old fashioned paper papers).

Two interesting but US based writing blogs I've found.

The Screenwriting Life

Andy Coughan

and one in the UK

Danny Stack

Arvon Foundation

They run 4 1/2 day courses across the UK at the various centres they run. All in gorgeous locations. The courses are intense but a great way to get into writing over a concentrated time with likeminded people. Normally a small group and two tutors. Here is a list of the screenwriting courses they run this year. They are pricy but they have a very generous bursary scheme for students, low income, and on benefits.

The Script Factory

The Script Factory was set up to help develop writers and to this end they hold a series of master classes and seminars across the UK and Europe. Its worth surfing over if you are a writer or director/writer to see if there is anything coming which could provide inspiration or help. For example they have pitching sessions coming up to hone your skills.

Paul Abbott's Writers Studio

"The talent base needs to grow," said Paul.

Which is why he's set up his own Writers' Studio, taking up to five new writers at a time, and teaching them how to hone their craft.

"The Writers' Studio is an obscenely expensive experiment that I've put together, a building where people are trained. They don't go home at the end of the day but they stay there for five or six days, so everyone is talking about the project all the time. It's a completely different, unique experiment. I almost staple people into the building, and bring out the best in them!" he explains.

"Writers don't talk to each other, which I don't think is right," adds Paul. "Writing is a really weird job to take on. I work an average of 10 hours a day and usually I'm on my own, although you have to learn to be on your own with 500 voices in your head. And it's one of the toughest jobs in the world.

"You have got to learn to sit on your own and put your heart on paper. You really do have to give a lot of yourself every time you write a script, so you have to be tough with yourself," he explains.

Asked by Lynne McCadden how would-be writers could get involved in the Writers' Studio, Paul's reply was simple. "Write a top-notch script and get it to us," he says. "The ones who are determined to get through, get through."

More at Netribution.

writing scripts + coffee = inspiration?

There is something in it. Some people find writing alone too damn depressing and the life and noise of a cafe is comforting. I have a student who books herself into a lobby of boutique hotel one day a week with her laptop, orders coffee and has a marathon writing session.

The other great proponent of writing in cafes is Natalie Goldberg. Her seminal writing book Writing Down the Bones isn't geared specifically to screenwriters but her basic techniques can be imported over. Basically -practice a lot.

Screen writing courses

Adrian Meade occasionally holds them in Scotland and London. I've done Adrian's course before and so have several of my friends. He's inspirational and motivational. More about making a living as a screenwriter and writing TV more than just short films though.

"These classes give an insight into the business side of things (which I think a lot of writers tend to ignore or not think about). Adrian shares his industry knowledge and expertise, and while giving an honest overview of current trends / demands still manages to encourage his audience. His passion for the industry shines through and is deeply infectious. As such, these events not only provide you with loads of insider knowledge, but inspire and encourage. Even if you decide against trying your hand as a writer for TV, many of the tips are equally applicable to other career aspects! Having done both of these classes I came away fired up and probably bored my friends rigid as I couldn't stop raving about it for weeks! I can't recommend this enough!"Jane Walker, Edinburgh

More info at the MeadeKerr website.

Getting down to write that short script

I tend to get myself madly scribbling down stuff by hand at first. I try and use a cheap cartridge pen from woolies. They write fast and your thoughts aren't slowed down by the slowness of getting the words out.

Then when I've got a few pages down and an idea of where I'm going I hit the computer. As I copy type it up I edit as I go - usually loosing verbiage - cutting down speeches. Try not to as one US director said write 'Talkies' they are supposed to be 'Movies' ie there should be action rather than static globs of people standing around talking (or perhaps you should be writing for the theatre?). Then I just carry on writing the first draft at the computer. When its finished I some times put it away for a few weeks come back to it fresh and then rewrite. Or I take it to someone who has a good eye for scripts and get their feedback and rewrite.

A short film script can go through many drafts and changes working with a producer/script editor. The aim is to get out the best version of the story as possible. This means removing assumptions about how the story will pan out. The aim for a first or second draft is to write something good enough to get someone else on board to get your film made.

My first script I wrote at 6am each morning before going to work - it wasn't discipline but enthusiasm which got me up so early writing.

I used a screenwriting template which I downloaded free from the web. Go and get one for your self. Google screenwriting template shareware. Its essential to use some kind of screenwriting template / screenwriting programme as without it you will have no idea the length of the screenplay you are writing. Knowing the length accurately is important because it affects what kind of budget you will need, whether it is eligible for certain competitions. Also after a while you can scan a script without reading it 'properly' and see if its any good. Seriously pick up a script and if you flick through and see vast chunks of half page dialogue it will not be a goer. I once read 120 short scripts over a long weekend and I can attest to this.

Script smart

Found this link at the BBC to free downloadable screenwriting template software.

There is also a blog at the Writers Room which has some info about the open submission process at the BBC if you are interested in writing for TV.

Screenplay format

Article from Netribution with links to free downloadable templates to take the pain out of setting out the script.