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3 Reasons Why BBC’s HAPPY VALLEY Scared Me Shi*less

As a child, I dreamt of being a cinematographer in Hollywood (as you do) but then real life got in the way (as it does), so I put my creative genius (!) to other uses. Then I woke up one morning a few years back, with a movie playing in my head, a story I was desperate to tell. I told myself, “This HAS to be a screenplay so I better learn how to write one.” Since that creative bomb went off in my brain, I have worked hard to expand my knowledge of the industry and develop my writing… Read More »3 Reasons Why BBC’s HAPPY VALLEY Scared Me Shi*less

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5 Weird Things We’ve Done To “Kickstart” Our Film Off The Page

I’m a big fan of Tim Clague and Danny Stack AND kids’ movies, so when I saw they’re currently crowdfunding for their kids’ feature Who Killed Nelson Nutmeg?, it was a no-brainer: I HAD to have them on B2W to share their delicious brains with you lot!! There’s some BRILLIANT advice here that **anyone** can achieve, so don’t get down in the dumps about getting nowhere, think about how you can MAKE IT HAPPEN, just like Tim and Danny. And then show your appreciation by backing them! Check out their Kickstarter page, or click the pic below. Hi Bang2Writers. Tim… Read More »5 Weird Things We’ve Done To “Kickstart” Our Film Off The Page

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What Script Editors Do AKA 5 Tips To Edit Your Own Screenplay

How To Edit Your Own Screenplay ‘How to edit my own screenplay’ brings writers to this blog every single day. So, when a plucky Banger threw down the gauntlet and challenged me to edit his pages here, I jumped at the chance! Ready? Then let’s go … To Download**: 1) First up, here is the original scene the writer sent me. 2) Secondly, here is the scene, with my notes on the actual page for clarity’s sake. 3) Thirdly, here is a “clean” version of the rewritten scene, based on my notes. (FYI – It’s really important to note these are not… Read More »What Script Editors Do AKA 5 Tips To Edit Your Own Screenplay

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What Does “The Same … But Different” Mean? A Case Study

** No Real Spoilers ** So last weekend I watched DOM HEMINGWAY (2013) with @BrideofChrist, who despite her Twitter handle is actually one saucy little minx. It’s definitely a “Marmite” kind of film: you’re bound to love it OR hate it – and a lot of people hated it, apparently  (but let’s face it, as I always say, a reaction is better than “meh”), so rather predictably then, I LOVED IT. What was perhaps most interesting about DOM HEMINGWAY however was the fact I was aware of just how *different* it was, right from the very first second. It’s these… Read More »What Does “The Same … But Different” Mean? A Case Study

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5 Reasons J.J Abrams’ STAR WARS Doesn’t “Owe” Anyone Gender Diversity

[CHRISTMAS 2015 EDIT: Okay, so this post is even more hilarious in retrospect now we know Rey is not the “token female”, but the PROTAGONIST in an otherwise male-centric franchise! But hey, apparently that’s STILL not good enough because now Rey is “too good” – yes, this is actually a thing! OMG … Well, at least you’re consistent Twitter in that you’re NEVER fecking happy. This is why we can’t have nice things or GOOD FEMALE CHARACTERS you nunchucks. CLICK HERE for a free ebook on how NOT to write female characters and if you’re one of the whiners?? DOOF! Punch… Read More »5 Reasons J.J Abrams’ STAR WARS Doesn’t “Owe” Anyone Gender Diversity

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How to Write Your Script to A Microbudget (And Not Make It Look Microbudget On Screen)

Everyone’s looking for that micro-budget breakout project. The next Following, Paranormal Activity or Blair Witch Project. But how do you make yours stand out? And how do you turn your script into a micro-budget film? We’re midway through filming our debut feature project Kidnap Me, for a budget of virtually nil, so I thought I’d share some thoughts and lessons from its development and production.  1. Have a USP Kidnap Me is a comedy. An edgy black comedy of love, sex and mistaken identity. With spanking. In a marketplace packed full of zero budget horrors, rape-revenge thrillers and Richard Curtis knock-offs, ours… Read More »How to Write Your Script to A Microbudget (And Not Make It Look Microbudget On Screen)

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5 Reasons Bullying Happens At School

Today, my youngest ever Bang2writer, Harri (just 12 years old!) is talking about his new book and why he thinks kids get bullied at school and how bullies are created … This is a great opportunity for adult writers to see school from a kid’s perspective – I found number 5 particularly useful, I’d never thought of this being a useful way of avoiding bullies! So make sure you check out the post and Harri’s sites and profiles — and buy his book! Enjoy! It’s About Being “Different” … 1) Talents For example, if you’re particularly good at something like… Read More »5 Reasons Bullying Happens At School

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5 Reasons Why Compromising Can Lead To Creativity As A Writer

In February 2012 at The Guerilla Filmmakers’ Masterclass, Chris Jones encouraged people to stand up and make a commitment to make something and despite having no intention of doing so when I arrived, that’s how the journey, of my feature film of ‘The Journey’ began. Now yes, I am a writer/director, the story behind this film is quite a complex one and I learned a great deal from it. In any creative role, you should always admit that you never stop learning. Once you embrace this as an ideology, creativity will always work with you, not against you. From the… Read More »5 Reasons Why Compromising Can Lead To Creativity As A Writer

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7 Dark Loves Of Cinema

Many thanks to Bang2writer Ian Martin, who has provided our first Bang On Themed Guest Post on the topic of “Love”! As I’m always going on about unusual characters and scenarios, Ian’s sharing his thoughts on those love stories with a difference from his favourite films (also, make sure you check out Ian’s thought provoking questions at the end of each one to ask of YOUR stories).  Enjoy peeps! (Want to write a guest post for our “Bang On” series? Check out the details). “He kill them wi’ their love. Wi’ their love fo’ each other. That’s how it is,… Read More »7 Dark Loves Of Cinema

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Is “Good” Characterisation Really About Change?

Characters SHOULD change? At first glance, it would seem the answer to this question about character change is obvious. It’s oft said so-called “good” characterisation is about change by writing Gurus, script readers, editors and educators. It’s said that a character – usually the protagonist – must make a personal realisation or change something physical (or indeed, both), whilst DOING something else (usually the situation apparent). What’s more, the notion of  “arc” and “character development” is drummed  into writers of ALL descriptions, but especially screenwriters. Since the advent of transmedia and convergence of all the mediums then, it makes sense that novelists… Read More »Is “Good” Characterisation Really About Change?

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5 Inspiring Monsters

Many thanks to Lorna Freytag (and the lovely David for facilitating) in bringing the awesome Sock Monster to mine and my WGs’ attention! I love the simplicity of the story and find the notion of storybook apps really interesting, plus my girls Emmeline and Lilirose adore the Sock Monster and have been searching for one in their bedroom all week to feed *their* socks! What I love about Lorna’s post  is how she demonstrates how the existing “pre-sold” monsters helped inform her story, yet also make hers stand out too: the “same, but different” in action! Over to Lorna … Enjoy!… Read More »5 Inspiring Monsters

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6 Reasons Sweden’s Bechdel Cinema Rating Idea Is A (Well Meaning) Mistake

So, you probably read this week Sweden will be installing a rating system on whether a movie passes The Bechdel Test. Just in case you’ve been hiding under a rock for the last thirty years, The Bechdel Test refers to the comic strip by Alison Bechdel, Dykes To Watch Out For, where she joked back in the 80s she only watches a film if it “features two women talking to each other about something other than a man.” Thus, The Bechdel Test was born. And here it is: I’ve had quite a few exchanges over Twitter the past week about… Read More »6 Reasons Sweden’s Bechdel Cinema Rating Idea Is A (Well Meaning) Mistake

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