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Money Talks: Film Budgets

Following a comments thread over at Michelle’s about budgets and then Potdoll’s about Commercial vs. Mainstream film recently, I thought I’d give my thoughts on money stuff in film an airing. I should mention first it’s not something I’ve ever been specifically taught; more picked up on from various conversations, meetings, articles and books I’ve read, talks I’ve attended. Also, on many script reports including Scottish Screen’s, they will ask about budgetary considerations/restraints, so it’s something I’ve had to learn a little about “on the job” so to speak, but I’m certainly no expert. As with all things scriptwriting and… Read More »Money Talks: Film Budgets

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12 Character Journeys We Can Learn From (No Real Spoilers)

We hear lots about films that get Oscar-Nominated; lots about films with mega stars in. Yet every now and again a film comes out that is simply excellent – yet does not seem to get the mentions it deserves. It might appear on a critics’ list of faves or there might be a short flurry of attention – then it might seem to sink without a trace or get forgotten with the passage of years. Other times, you will be completely unaware of the film until it turns up in the DVD bargain bin. Yet I find often it’s these… Read More »12 Character Journeys We Can Learn From (No Real Spoilers)

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FILM PRODUCTION COURSE – Don’t miss out, it’s FREE!

Mahua Productions have been in touch to tell all Bang2writers about its FREE training course (my fave price) in Film Production. Apparently it covers all aspects of producing, including budgeting and scheduling, fund raising and sales and distribution. If you’re a budding producer or want to understand more about how the film industry works, this sounds a great opportunity. Unfortunately I won’t be able to go as I’m busy on the dates below already, but if you do go, let us know and write a report about it! If you don’t have a blog of your own, I’ll gladly post… Read More »FILM PRODUCTION COURSE – Don’t miss out, it’s FREE!

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Bang2write’s Most Frequently Asked Questions

I get loads of emails from people and some get repeated quite frequently, from stuff about my reading services, to craft and even “agony aunt”-style advice, so I thought I would compose a list of my most frequently asked questions via email. Enjoy!——————————————————————————– Just so you don’t go boss-eyed, I’ve listed and numbered the questions for easy referral. I wanted to link them so they went up and down the page so you needn’t scroll too much, but I’m afraid I don’t know how to do it. Soz! When I do, I’ll change it for you. Enjoy… ON SCRIPT READING:… Read More »Bang2write’s Most Frequently Asked Questions

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Welcome To Rom Com Hell: 8 Awful Ways To Write Romantic Comedy

Rom Com / Real Life Hell Rom Com was always one of those genres I avoided through my teens and early twenties. Being a Goth, I was way too cool for boy-meets-girl, obviously. Besides which, by 18 I was a total cynic … I had after all been the girl who’d met the boy, then got knocked up and ripped off by him! I’d been left with a broken heart, a wailing baby and a man-hating attitude problem for approximately five years.  I was also of the (not unreasonable) belief that post-FOUR WEDDINGS in the late 90’s/early noughties that all… Read More »Welcome To Rom Com Hell: 8 Awful Ways To Write Romantic Comedy

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Warp Films: Want To Be In A Feature?

Following my post back in August about indie film funding via asking members of the public, it would seem this tactic is now making it on to the likes of Facebook too. What interested me about this one was the relatively low figure asked for (£25) and the big talent involved, though there is much detail on what your £25 gets you – though presumably if you email they will tell you. If you’re interested in funding the next potentially big indie film then, check out this initiative by Sheffield-based Warp Films:———————————————————————–CHRIS MORRIS JIHADI COMEDY £25 to fund and appear… Read More »Warp Films: Want To Be In A Feature?

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If ALIEN Were Made in 2008…

It’s hard to believe that Alien will be thirty years old next year. Barring a few special F/X and props, I think it still looks better than some movies produced only ten or fifteen years ago and story-wise it is still one of my faves. Here’s my tongue-in-cheek look at some of the elements that make up this great film and how they might be viewed from today’s perspective by a (totally barking) script reader… The first thing that really jumps out at me is the fact these characters seem really larger than life. All of them have unlikable traits,… Read More »If ALIEN Were Made in 2008…

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Specs I’ve Seen # 3: Technicolor By Martin Adams

Technicolor, a feature by Martin Adams is a particularly interesting project for me, not only because I have been script editing it on London Metropolitan University’s Metlab course, but because it originally came to me as a short film script well over a year ago. Martin is a particularly able short film writer – it’s a style I have never mastered myself (I find it difficult to think “small” enough, if that makes sense) – and when Technicolor first came through the doors of Bang2write, it was approximately ten minutes long. The tale of a man haunted by the ghost… Read More »Specs I’ve Seen # 3: Technicolor By Martin Adams

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Sometimes Your First Idea Is The Best One

It’s largely accepted that things change – and get better – as you draft and redraft. I’d be a nutter if I didn’t say that feedback helps one’s writing, not only because I am an actual script reader, but because I have seen my portfolio of specs literally grow and improve thanks to the tireless of efforts of other professional readers I go to, plus of course my beloved Po3ers. Yet sometimes one can go off the boil whilst rewriting. Just as it’s possible to be blind to a particular device’s faults in your script, it is possible to reject… Read More »Sometimes Your First Idea Is The Best One

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All About Dramatic Irony And Twists In The Tale

All About Dramatic Irony Dramatic irony is a tool I see often in produced and published works, but hardly ever in spec scripts or unpublished novels. Recently I was talking with Uber-Agent Julian Friedmann and mentioned how much I love Yves Lavender’s book Writing Drama. Segnor Friedmann replied how much he loves the book’s section on dramatic irony, lamenting the fact that so few screenwriters actually use this fantastic device. His comments really struck a chord, so I think I’ll have a good look at what makes dramatic irony so great. What is Dramatic Irony? First off however, what is dramatic irony? Well, this… Read More »All About Dramatic Irony And Twists In The Tale

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The Future Of Feature Film Funding?

My Dad got a letter from Carnaby International Films Plc recently. Given that my Dad is a retired jewellery maker, this was more than a little surprising since he knows absolute zilch about filmmaking, though I suppose he must have ended up on some sort of mailing list from something or other. Since they’re sending out letters to random people like my Dad whom they’ve never contacted before, I can only suppose they won’t mind me reproducing the letter here: Dear Lucy’s Dad (arf), Carnaby, named by Screen Finance magazine as one of the UK’s most prolific film production companies… Read More »The Future Of Feature Film Funding?

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Script Mistakes # 2: Don’t Care Characters

SPOILERS: ALIEN TRILOGY Some characters are indelible. They leave their mark, as if they’ve been seared on to our brains lasting even though S/FX, technology, props or sets may end up looking dated. Sometimes it’s because of their integrity and survival instinct, like Ripley. Other times it’s because their self denial reminds us of what WE should really be doing too, like Miles in Sideways. Sometimes it’s because they’re a classic hero, protecting the innocent like John Book in Witness; other times it’s because they are both protagonist AND antagonist like Riddick. Often a memorable character is memorable because they… Read More »Script Mistakes # 2: Don’t Care Characters

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