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8 Ways For Screenwriters To Get Collaborating & Making

Many thanks to Matthew, who asked me this question via email recently: “I’m an aspiring screenwriter and have written a number of short film scripts that could be made on a low budget or for free … I’ve been searching Google furiously for ideas, but I’ve yet to find a way of getting in contact with anyone who might be interested in using my scripts. As I don’t have any writing credits yet, it would be good to just get something made, and I enjoy the collaborative process of making films. I can do the writing part fine, but I have no idea about… Read More »8 Ways For Screenwriters To Get Collaborating & Making

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FREE Workshop With Laurie Hutzler at @WildseedStudios (Bristol)

Free Screenwriting Character Mapping workshop, January 11th 2014 The details: January 11th 2014 Arnolfini, Bristol FREE 10am – 6pm [with a chance for networking at the end with us and each other] This workshop with screenwriting luminary Laurie Hutzler will enable you to create a visual map for your fictional character’s emotional journey and your script’s dramatic structure. You’ll probably also generate further plot as a result. You’ll learn how to chart your character’s internal conflicts and emotional transformation – this process takes you deep inside your character. Devised by Laurie, the ‘Character Map’ pulls stories from characters rather than… Read More »FREE Workshop With Laurie Hutzler at @WildseedStudios (Bristol)

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Script To Screen: BASIC INSTINCT

Understanding the changes that invariably happen “script to screen” (and why) is a paramount part of learning to be a writer. NO screenplay ever makes it off the page and into production without changes, whether they are significant for logistical reasons or subtle due to the process of collaboration. In short, it is IMPOSSIBLE for a screenwriter’s “absolute” original vision to be realised as a produced film, EVEN IF that screenwriter is also its director. This is why reading scripts, then seeing the movie is absolutely essential if you want to work in the industry and why London Screenwriters Festival… Read More »Script To Screen: BASIC INSTINCT

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#LondonSWF 2013 – On My Way!

So I’m off on my travels all day today to London for the fourth annual London Screenwriters’ Festival! Tonight I’ll be at the networking and registration drinks. Come and find me and practice your networking skills or pitches on me. That’s right – I ASKED FOR IT, C’MON! But before you do, watch out for these pitch killers or I’ll blast a klaxon in your face! FRIDAY Tomorrow, in the morning I will be in the Final Draft Marquee, ready to answer delegates’ questions as an LSF Roving Expert. There is a whole fleet of us, you can’t miss us:… Read More »#LondonSWF 2013 – On My Way!

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How To Get The Most Out of #Londonswf: BE PREPARED!!

So 95 days until London Screenwriters’ Festival. That’s loooooooooads of time, right? No need to think about all that stuff right … … OMFG ARE YOU SERIOUS?? Dudes, if you want to get the most of the fest this October? You gotta be prepared. And I mean SERIOUSLY prepared. To the max. And you gotta get started NOW, like an uber-efficient girl or boy scout that never sleeps Zombie-style but is a lean mean writing machine like that bloke out of that thing. TBH I was never in the scouts, but had I been, I would have been an EVIL SCOUT and… Read More »How To Get The Most Out of #Londonswf: BE PREPARED!!

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BBC Future Fiction Summit: What Next For Drama?

The energy, commitment and sheer track record of the speakers at this week’s BBC Future Fiction Summit left one thing in little doubt: The digital revolution is not just here, its rapid expansion is fast setting the agenda for screenwriters, independents and major broadcasters alike. An opening Q&A with YouTube’s Rosie Allimonos (Head of Content Partnerships) brought home the impact online viewing is having on drama production. A recent addition to its viral and VOD platforms, YouTube’s original content via its funded channels is extending the platform’s reach far beyond its traditional user base. And, judging by the views they’re… Read More »BBC Future Fiction Summit: What Next For Drama?

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Bang2write Resources

FYI, there’s now dedicated B2W Resources AND Free Downloads pages at the top of this blog, under the banner! Or click > HERE I get lots of questions about One Page Pitches, such as how “best” to lay them out, what to put in them etc, so have created a new resource at The B2W Required Reading List. Download The One Page Pitch Reference Guide as a PDF here … And as a .doc here. Here’s another 6 Tips on writing a one page pitch for your script or novel. Other B2W resources that may be of interest: The B2W… Read More »Bang2write Resources

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On Writing: The 3 Cs Versus The 3 Ps

Bang2writers ask me quite frequently for my “top tips” on  surviving the writing process and this industry. Before now I always felt that it depends on the person, what they’re doing, how they work and who with. But actually, having worked on a variety of projects now with various people over the last ten years, I think there are 6 things all writers of ALL formats need to know and live by, whether they’re screenwriters, novelists, playwrights, journalists, transmedia writers, the works. That’s right – just 6. But they mean SO much – literally everything. 1. THE WRITING You need the… Read More »On Writing: The 3 Cs Versus The 3 Ps

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The Lone Wolf’s Guide To Collaboration by Samuel Caine

Some excellent advice here from Sam on collaborating – I’ve seen many writers (and also directors and producers) fall down on these points. It’s very tempting to want to do things your own way, but Film and TV *is* a collaborative medium. Don’t forget you can find others to collaborate with via Film Shorts Club. Enjoy! LV After the recent discussion of collaboration at the Bang2Write Facebook and Twitter, I’ve decided to write my own a guide to collaboration. This is a guide for people like me: the bad collaborators; the children that don’t play nice; the lone writing wolves.… Read More »The Lone Wolf’s Guide To Collaboration by Samuel Caine

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Can Scriptwriting Be Taught? By Samuel Caine

I’m trying to resist the temptation to shock you all now, by saying ‘I don’t think it can’, but I can’t resist and I’m going to say it anyway: no, I don’t think it can. I still think writing courses are very useful though. If you think I’m mad, get in line, but hear me out first. Here are 6 problems with teaching scriptwriting, but why you should do a writing course ANYWAY: 1. Talent is innate … This is an oft-cited criticism of creative courses. ‘You can’t learn to be an artist’. As cynical as I am, I’m not… Read More »Can Scriptwriting Be Taught? By Samuel Caine

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Guest Post: "Up Close" workshops by Helen Bang

Bang2writer and aptly-named Helen Bang has kindly provided us with the insights she learnt at a workshop this weekend just gone. Enjoy!——————————–Up Close was a day of free workshops organised by the Playwrights’ Studio Scotland held at the Centre for Contemporary Arts in Glasgow. I attended the workshops on radio drama, further skills for playwrights and demystifying television. The radio workshop was led by BBC radio producers David Ian Neville. He began by outlining the stations which broadcast radio drama (Radio 3, 4, Radio 7 and Radio Scotland, and asked how many people in the audience listened to radio drama… Read More »Guest Post: "Up Close" workshops by Helen Bang

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LOST Workshop Notes

Here are the notes for last week’s LOST workshop at BAFTA, courtesy of my contest winner Nicholas Horwood. Enjoy!————————————————————-Day one: With no memory of what strange force brought me here I find myself at BAFTA HQ along with a hundred or so shell-shocked and strangely geeky looking people. Who we were and what brought us here is no longer relevant…we are born again. We are of course here for the LOST workshop with Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse hosted by Eastenders’ producer whose name I didn’t catch. The workshop begins with a five minute “Best of LOST” clip. This is… Read More »LOST Workshop Notes

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