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One year ago today I signed with my #screenwriting agent and quite a year it's been. Before then I spent ages not knowing what I was doing. Lots of people & resources helped me along the way. I still don't really know what I'm doing, but I know what helped, so now I present...
THE BIG HELPFUL #SCREENWRITING RESOURCES THREAD (particularly relevant for aspiring #screenwriters in the UK/Scotland)
(NB: this is not 'advice'. It's what I personally found to be helpful. It's also far from exhaustive. There's loads out there. Use what works, bin the rest)
(NB: this is not 'advice'. It's what I personally found to be helpful. It's also far from exhaustive. There's loads out there. Use what works, bin the rest)
Podcasts/Youtube/Newsletters
1. Scriptnotes-The granddaddy of screenwriting podcasts. Writers John August & Craig Mazin plus loads of special guests take you through every aspect of writing for film & TV. There's over 400 episodes so pace yourself http://scriptnotes.net/#
1. Scriptnotes-The granddaddy of screenwriting podcasts. Writers John August & Craig Mazin plus loads of special guests take you through every aspect of writing for film & TV. There's over 400 episodes so pace yourself http://scriptnotes.net/#
2. The UK Screenwriters Podcast - Hosted by writers Tim Clague & Danny Stack, this show gives a UK perspective on the industry with interviews with some of our top players and practical tips about how the UK industry works. https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/uk-scriptwriters/id384710944
3. @BAFTAGuru podcasts - Covering all aspects of the British film & TV industry, these podcasts are often recorded at BAFTA Guru events (more on these later) and feature a great range of guests and topics https://podcasts.apple.com/sa/podcast/bafta-guru/id1339732058
4. @ChildrenofTendu podcast - Back in the USA, writer/producers Javier Grillo-Marxuach & Jose Molina pass on the lessons they've learned in 40 years of working in TV. Great for tips & for understanding how shows actually get made (or don't) http://childrenoftendu.libsyn.com/
5. @onthepage podcast - Staying in the US but still helpful for UK writers, Pilar Alessandra and her guests cover screenwriting from every possible angle. Film, TV, craft, pitching, networking. It's all in there https://www.onthepage.tv/on-the-page-podcast/
6. Lessons From The Screenplay - There are loads of Youtube channels dedicated to screenwriting. This is my favourite. It shows how scripts are crafted, how what is written is realised on screen & covers a huge range https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCErSSa3CaP_GJxmFpdjG9Jw
7. Philip Shelley's newsletter - Philip runs the Channel 4 Screenwriting course and also produces a regular newsletter covering all kinds of helpful advice, interviews and insights. Sign-up via his website http://script-consultant.co.uk/
8. Vinay Patel's Patelograms - A newer newsletter that used to be a blog ( https://vinayskpatel.wordpress.com/ ) from playwright & TV writer Vinay Patel delivering honest & reflective insight into life as a working writer in the UK. Sign up here http://www.tinyletter.com/patelograms
That's it for podcasts/newsletters/Youtube. I'm noticing this list is very dude heavy. I bet there are some great podcasts/channels etc. from female writers. If you know some let me know.
Now, on to...
Now, on to...
Script Resources (screenplays, bibles, outlines etc.)
1. @bbcwritersroom Script Library - This massive library of scripts provides endless reading opportunities & includes some of the BBC's biggest shows. Sherlock, Line of Duty, Happy Valley-all in there https://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/scripts
1. @bbcwritersroom Script Library - This massive library of scripts provides endless reading opportunities & includes some of the BBC's biggest shows. Sherlock, Line of Duty, Happy Valley-all in there https://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/scripts
2. Shore Scripts TV Bibles - Scripts are quite easy to find online these days. Bibles, outlines & treatments - not so much. This site ran by the Shore Scripts screenplay contest has a good selection of TV bibles from a wide range of (mostly American) shows https://www.shorescripts.com/tv-series-bibles/
3. John August & Javier Grillo-Marxuach - Podcast hosts John & Javier kindly share their scripts, pitch docs and outlines on their respective websites, including both produced & unproduced work https://johnaugust.com/library - http://okbjgm.weebly.com/downloads.html#
Schemes & Training Opportunities
(There are lots of university screenwriting courses & paid training/mentoring out there. Here I'm going to stick to the free/less obvious stuff).
(There are lots of university screenwriting courses & paid training/mentoring out there. Here I'm going to stick to the free/less obvious stuff).
1. @bbcwritersroom again - As well as the script library & their open submission system, the Writers Room also run regional events, including talks with writers & networking with producers. The producer mixers the Writers Room in Scotland held helped me make my first contacts..
...in the world of production, which then led to my first meetings. Tickets are usually free & v.popular so sign up to their newsletter & alerts so you don't miss out.
2. @BAFTAGuru events - BAFTA holds an annual regional Guru days that cover all aspects of film, TV and games. I've been to 3 in Glasgow and all have been brilliant. Recordings of previous events and loads of advice are available at http://guru.bafta.org/ And speaking of BAFTA..
3. BAFTA Career Starter Membership - Both Scotland & Wales offer this special reduced rate membership. With it you get access to weekly BAFTA screenings (in Glasgow & Edinburgh - not sure where in Wales), networking & special Q&As. It's £50 for a year and I'd say that's a steal
4. Scottish Screenwriters @scotscreenwrite - Really want to get to this more. Scottish Screenwriters host a monthly meeting in Glasgow where you meet other writers, submit scripts for a table read, make friends & get feedback from your peers. Writing is lonely - this helps :-)
5. The Edinburgh TV Festival - This is one of UK TV's big annual events. Full tickets are expensive but individual tickets to a small number of talks are released each year. Watch out for these in the run up to the festival (Mid August)
Also, most of the talks each year are recorded and posted on the Festival's Youtube Channel. Last year's include insights from the writers of Derry Girls, A Very English Scandal & Save Me. Now on to... https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_bbrKG3Jqj_zDxnkGNoNjQ
UK Screenwriting Contests
Contests can often promise a lot. And can often charge a lot. And often you'll wonder why. Some are scams. Be careful, be ready, be sure. With that proviso, the contests I've found to be genuinely helpful/worthwhile are...
Contests can often promise a lot. And can often charge a lot. And often you'll wonder why. Some are scams. Be careful, be ready, be sure. With that proviso, the contests I've found to be genuinely helpful/worthwhile are...
The Red Planet Prize - free to enter, well respected ( http://www.redplanetpictures.co.uk/the-red-planet-prize)
Channel 4 Screenwriting course - free again, excellent track record ( http://script-consultant.co.uk/channel-4-script-submit/)
Edinburgh TV Fest New Voices Award - affordable entry, great people ( https://www.thetvfestival.com/talent-schemes/newvoiceawards/)
Channel 4 Screenwriting course - free again, excellent track record ( http://script-consultant.co.uk/channel-4-script-submit/)
Edinburgh TV Fest New Voices Award - affordable entry, great people ( https://www.thetvfestival.com/talent-schemes/newvoiceawards/)
BAFTA Rocliffe New Writing Competitions - with categories inc. film, TV Comedy, TV Drama & YA/Childrens these awards have something for everyone http://www.bafta.org/supporting-talent/rocliffe
Finally - not really a contest - those great folks at @bbcwritersroom hold annual open, free submissions for both drama and comedy scripts. Competition is intense but people make it through every year. Next year it could be you.
P.S. I have never won any of these contests. Don't give up. They are helpful but not essential. Now, onto the last category...
Finding places to send your scripts.
Getting people in the industry to read your scripts is hard. Many people don't read unsolicited submissions and there are good reasons for this. Respect them. Helpfully, Phil Gladwin's Screenwriting Goldmine site produces an annual booklet...
Getting people in the industry to read your scripts is hard. Many people don't read unsolicited submissions and there are good reasons for this. Respect them. Helpfully, Phil Gladwin's Screenwriting Goldmine site produces an annual booklet...
...called Connect which lists lots and lots of UK agents and production companies that do accept unsolicited submissions. When you are ready, it's a good place to start looking. https://www.screenwritinggoldmine.com/connect/
And that's it! I could go in to screenwriting books but then I'd be here all day. Again, this is not advice. You don't want to take advice from me. I still don't know what I'm doing. But these things have all helped me so hopefully at least some of them will help you too.
So originally I didn't put books on this thread but a few people have asked me recently and I've had a good week so here's a selection from my shelf. These are the screenwriting/writing books I've found most helpful or return to most often.
Some notable mentions from the stack: Great for fans & non-fans, Stephen King's 'On Writing' is part writing manual, part biography and full of straight forward practical advice which can perhaps be boiled down to 'tell the story simply, clearly &, 1000page tomes aside, quickly'
99 Ways To Tell A Story by Matt Madden is great if you're stuck on setting a scene or mixing in exposition. The idea is simple - he shows you 99 different ways to structure & present a very simple sequence - but the result is the freedom to try, try and try again
Still the champion. It contains the only rule worth remembering - 'nobody knows anything' . Plus, unlike many writing books, it's fun to read and full of great stories.
This by Scottish director/writer Alexander MacKendrick is my current read. It's a collection of course handouts from when MacKendrick taught film at Cal Arts. Again, very practical & to the point. And with AM's humble approach it's a great antidote to the auteur perspective
Finally, this is where it all started for me. I bought this book in Borders in Inverness back in 2009. I've never heard anyone else reference it but for me it was a perfect entry level text and I still occasionally go back to it. So thank you Ray Frensham!
