| SCRIPT
NEWS - April 2008
SCREEN
ADAPTATION - COMPETITION NOW CLOSED
Many
thanks to all those who applied. The submissions
will be assessed over the next two weeks and we
hope to let you know the shortlist by the end
of the month.
INTRODUCTION
TO SCREENWRITING COURSE - FULLY BOOKED
Our final
Intro to Screen course, held at Staffordshire
University on 12, 13, 19, 26 April, is now fully
booked. We have run four courses over the
last 6 months and each one has proved incredibly
popular. Here are just a few comments from participants:
"This
is one of the best short courses I have ever attended.
The tutors have been hard-working and inspirational".
"I
absolutely loved the course, very informative
and stimulating".
Keep
checking the website for news of future courses.
OPPORTUNITIES,
TRAINING AND COMPETITIONS...
STAGE...
ZEITGEIST
THEATRE SEEKS VERY SHORT PLAYS
This
is a rare opportunity to try out ideas, get immediate
feedback and see your work staged. Scripts
must be under 8 minutes in length, require no
more than five actors and have very basic lighting/soud
direction. One winner will be selected to
work with Zeitgeist to produce a one-act play
for a week-long run in May at a top fringe venue.
Twelve mini-plays will be chosen for production
in London. Plays will be chosen on the basis
of originality, wit and entertainment. NB:
Scripts more than ten pages won't be read.
Submission:
Please send your script and a short writer
CV to info@zeitgeisttheatre.com
Deadline:
15 April 2008
KALI
CALL FOR SCRIPTS
Asian
Women Talk Back Festival 2009
Following
the success of our 2006 Asian Women Talkback
Festival, we are now planning our next new writing
festival and are inviting South Asian women writers
and aspiring writers to submit a play. Plays
must be written by women from a South Asian cultural
background but can be about any subject with characters
from any cultural origin. We encourage scripts
that explore style and form that are not afraid
to tackle contentious or controversial subjects
that are presented in an interesting, surprising
or thought-provoking way, and that can create
good onstage drama. Scripts can be between
30-90 minutes. It's best to limit the script
to no more than 5 characters unless the piece
can realistically be performed by actors playing
more than one part. Writers must be available
to attend regular evening dramaturgical sessions
or workshops in London from mid-June 2008 - March
2009. All submitted works must be original,
the writer's own work and not previously published
or professionally performed. Plays must
be submitted in English, printed in black on white
paper, single sided and double spaced.
Please
send 2 copies to Kali Theatre
Company, 18 Rupert Street, London, W1D 6DE, ensuring
you include your full contact details.
Deadline:
24 April 2008
Full
Details: www.kalitheatre.co.uk/whatson/gv_festival.htm
TYPHOON
5
Yellow
Earth is launching the fifth international East
Asian play-reading festival Typhoon 5,
which will take place at the prestigious Soho
Theatre in central London, the week of 10 November
2008. The purpose of the festival is to
promote East Asian drama from aroud the world
and encourage British companies to produce the
work. This year, Typhoon 5 includes
a special feature of three new British East Asian
plays that are currently being developed as part
of the writing scheme Yellow Voices.
Yellow Earth, with the support of Birmingham Rep,
Soho Theatre and the Young Vic, is mentoring three
London based writers to produce new and exciting
plays that will be given their first public reading
during the Festival.
We are
looking for three other East Asian plays to complete
what promised to be a very exciting week of international
theatre. If you are interested in submitting
yor work, okease send it to the Literary Associate,
Philippe Cherbonnier. Your play will be
read by a selection panel of three and shortlist
of six plays will be drawn up by the end of May.
The final selection will take place by the end
of June 2008.
Hard
copies to be sent to: Philippe Cherbonnier, La
Chapeliere, 86270 Coussay les Bois, France.
Email
copies to be sent to: philippe@yellowearth.org
Deadline:
27 April 2008
CENTO
- CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
Cento
Productions, in partnership with Script Yorkshire
and The Carriageworks are looking for new writers
and new writing to contribute to the third in
their successful series of seasonal mini-festivals
of new writing for theatre. We will consider
submissions in any style or genre, for one to
five actors, of 5-20 minutes performance time,
based (loosely) on the theme of "Summertime".
Pieces should involve one simple, single setting
with minimal furniture and only absolutely necessary
props. Pieces must be written using a recognised
industry format, eg ScriptSmart, which is available
to download free at the BBC Writers Room: www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom.
Screenplays and TV scripts will not be considered.
Submissions will be shortlisted in eary May and
further developed with the Creative Team for fully
staged, script-in-hand performances at The Carriageworks,
Leeds, on 10-11 June 2008
Please
send submissions to: summertime@cento.org.uk
Please
include a brief synopsis and full contact details
including name, address and telephone number.
Contact:
jomccareyegan@aol.com
Deadline:
30 April 2008
THE
DYLAN THOMAS PRIZE FOR YOUNG WRITERS
A £60,000
prize designed not only to richly reward the best
young writer in the world, but also to serve as
a focus for and incentive to all young writers
throughout the English-speaking world.
The
2008 Prize is open to young writers of any nationality,
from anywhere in the world, writing in English.
Writers must be under 30 years of age on 3rd April
2007. The following Genres are all eligible
for entry: novels, collections of short stories,
poetry, screenplays, radio and theatre plays.
To be
eligible a Literary Work must have been commercially
published, for the first time in the English language
between 27 April 2006 and 30 April 2008.
For TV writing and theatrical films, the script
or screenplay must have been commissioned between
27 April 2006 and 30 April 2008.
Deadline:
30 April 2008
Entry
Fee: £100. Please make cheques
or money orders payable to Dylan Thomas Prize
Ltd
Selection:
A panel of judges will review all submissions
and select a Long List by June 2008. The
Short List will be publicly announced in September
2008. The winner of the Dylan Thomas Prize
will be awarded £60,000 at a ceremony to
be held in November 2008. All applicants will
be notified by letter of receipt of their entry.
Application
Form: Click
here to download
Further
information: www.dylanthomasprize.com
G160
2008
The
World's Only International, Interactive, One Minute
Play Festival
Now
in its fourth international year, SCreaming Media
Productions in association with Leeds Metropolitan
University, Leeds University, Brooklyn College
and BBC Big Screen are proud to present G160.
On 12 June 2008, one hundred brand new pieces
of theatre will be performed: 50 in the UK at
Stage One @ Leeds Univesrity and 50 in the US
at The New Workshop Theatre, Brooklyn College.
Each venue will premiere 50 new plays, each lasting
no more than sixty seconds in length. Selected
pieces will also be screened over the summer on
the BBC Big Screen in Leeds.
G160
is open to everybody; all you need is an idea
and an internet connection. In the last
four years the festival has premiered 400 new
pieces of work written by people of all ages and
backgrounds from all over the world.
Full
information can be found at www.screamingmediaproductions.net
Deadline:
1 May (midnight)
THE
ROYAL COURT YOUNG WRITERS FESTIVAL
The
Royal Court's Young Writers Festival has an unrivalled
reputation for discovering new voices for the
British stage, showcasing the very best young
talent. If you are 25 or under and have
an original play up your sleeve, in a drawer or
burning a hole in your pocket, send it into the
Young Writers Festival. Your play can be
of any length and on any subject.
The most exciting plays will win a production
at the Royal Court in Spring 2009.
Further
information: http://www.royalcourttheatre.com/ywp_festivals.asp
Deadline:
31 May 2008
SWAN
PLAYWRIGHTS SEEKS THRILLER SCRIPTS
Have
you a one-hour thriller in you?
Swan
Playwrights are inviting submissions from writers
for a one-hour Thriller. 2 plays will be
selected and performed in the main house of the
Rose Theatre, Kidderminster in September 2008.
Submissions should be sent anonymously, with a
cover sheet showing name and contact details of
the writer to:
E. Parkes,
14 Winchester Drive, Oldswinford, DY8 2LH
Please
keep a copy of your script as we regret that we
will be unable to return them. Should you
require an acknowledgment of receipt, please enclose
an S.A.E.
Entry
Fees: £15 (to include a year's
membership of Swan Playwrights) £35 (if
you would like feedback on your script)
Deadline:
31 May 2008
Swan
Playwrights is a group which meets monthly at
The Rose Theatre, Kidderminster to foster, encourage
and produce local playwriting for performance.
BRUNTWOOD
PLAYWRITING COMPETITION
The
Bruntwood Playwriting Competition is a unique
opportunity for anyone, aged 18 or over, to enter
their original, full-length screenplay in a competition
which aims to reward the best plays by writers
across the country. You can be anyone, of
any experience, living anywhere in the UK and
Ireland. You might never have written a
play before. Or, you might have written
lots. Entry is anonymous, so the competition
is absolutely fair and inclusive to everyone.
The Bruntwood Playwriting Competition will offer
awards of £15,000 as a First Prize, £10,000
for Second Prize and £7,500 for Third Prize.
There will also be a special Bruntwood Prize of
£5000. This competition represents
one of the world's biggest awards for playwriting.
For full details of the competition, including
how to submit, please visit the website:
www.writeaplay.co.uk
Deadline:
13 June 2008
THE
ROD HALL MEMORIAL AWARD 2008
The
Rod Hall Memorial Award is presented every two
years to an outstanding new playwright.
This award is intended to launch a writing career
- the winner will receive a £5000 commission
to write a play for renowned new writing company
Paines Plough, and representation from the The
Rod Hall Agency. We are looking for playwrights
aged 18-30 who are not, nor have ever been, professionally
represented. Writers must be UK residents
and qualifying plays must be over 60 minutes running
time.
How
to apply: All entries should be submitted
unbound with a covering letter detailing experience
to: The Rod Hall Memorial Award, c/o Paines Plough,
4th Floor, 43 Aldwych, London, WC2B 4DN.
Entries cannot be returned, so please do not send
master copies, Email entries cannot be submitted.
Deadline:
1 June 2008
The
winner will be announced in October 2008
RADIO
TILT
Tilt
is a new topical sketch show that takes you behind
the week's news. And then mucks about with
it a bit. It's being recorded live every
Wednesday night from 26th March - 1st May and
it's broadcast on BBC7 on Thursdays at 11.30pm.
Right now they're looking for topical material
from new writers to support the core writing team.
In particular, they're looking for one-liners
in the shape of headlines (real or fictional,
but funny in either case) and stand-alone sketch
topics.
Make
sure you submit your sketches in radio script
format, and send only your very best sketches
- no more than three in any one week. Make
sure that those three sketches have been written,
edited, rewritten, honed and polished until you
are convinced that they are as good as they can
possibly be.
If you would like to try writing on
a non-commissioned basis for Tilt, email your
sketch or sketches to: tilt@bbc.co.uk
Deadline:
Every Tuesday by 3pm
RADIO
4 COMMISSIONING GUIDELINES
If you've
ever thought about writing for Radio 4, take a
look at the BBC's Commissioning Guidelines:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/arts/commissioning.shtml
SCREEN...
BBC
COLLEGE OF COMEDY
The
BBC invites comedy writers to apply for a place
in its new College of Comedy. The scheme
will run for 12 months, and six successful applicants
(writing pairs will be treated as a single applicant)
will be attached to an existing production and
mentored in the creation of original work.
The scheme is open to writers of half-hour narrative
comedy and to sketch writers.
All
applicants should be able to demonstrate a record
of achievement. They may have had their
work broadcast on television or radio, received
a script commission, had a theatrical or filmed
performance of their work, be a writer-performer,
or have completed or be attending a writing course
in a recognised institution. Writers applying
to the College should submit the first ten pages
of a narrative comedy script or a portfolio of
six sketches, together with a CV. A shortlist
of 12 writers will be invited for interview on
13 May. Applicants will be notified as to
whether or not they have been successful the following
day. The successful writers will attend
a workshop week of masterclasses in June in London,
before embarking on their programme. A second
workshop will be held in Manchester halfway through
the scheme.
To apply,
please email your CV and related submissions to:
collegeofcomedy@bbc.co.uk
Deadline:
14 April 2008
EVERY1SACRITIC
- COMEDY WANTED
Producers
Declan Hill and Simon Wright have just won a fringe
award for Best Encouragers of Talent, for their
work developing sitcom scripts. They're
now working with the Arts Theatre in the West
End to promote new work and are actively looking
for new sitcom scripts or character-based comedy
of no more than fifteen minutes long. Scripts
must be self-contained, and the premise, situation,
and characters must be immediately obvious to
an audience. Each week there will be an
evening of either sitcoms, group sketches, or
character comedy. They compete against each
other and the audience will vote for one that
will go through to that month's Final, with the
producers and a guest judge deciding on which
of the runners-up will join them.
To find
out more and apply, see: http://every1sacritic.com/Home.html
First
Deadline: 15 April 2008
BBC
DRAMA WRITERS ACADEMY
The
next generation of TV writers are being sought
be the BBC for its prestigious Drama Writers Academy,
a unique course that equips writers with the skills
to work on BBC flagship continuing drama programmes.
The Academy is the only course in the world that
guarantess writers the opportunity to work on
prime time television. Established by BBC Controller
of Drama Production John Yorke, its aim is to
create a pool of writing talent to work on some
of BBC One's best-loved and most popular shows
- Eastenders, Casualty, Holby City and Doctors.
Alongside training on all aspects of drama production
from editing to scheduling, students will receive
direct writing experience on continuing dramas,
with the aim of transmitting their finished scripts
on BBC One. Creativity, talent, and a passion
for telling stories are essential criteria for
those applying. Applicants must have had
at least one professional commission in either
television, theatre, radio or film.
Applications
are open from Monday 14 April until Monday 12
May.
For
further information, visit the BBC Jobs Website:
https://jobs.bbc.co.uk
INTRODUCTION
TO SCRIPT EDITING
A good
script editor is crucial in helping a writer turn
his or her script into something memorable and
excellent. Script editing requires enormous
creativity, as well as a profound interest and
pleasure not only in the process of screenwriting,
but in working with writers. It's a fascinating
job, often used as a stepping stone to other aspects
of TV or film production, but extremely involving
and satisfying in its own right.
Dates:
22, 29 April, 6, 13 May (6.30pm-9.30pm)
Cost:
£185
Contact:
andrew.clifford@euroscript.co.uk;
07815 183121
Venue:
London Welsh Association, 157/163 Grays
Inn Road, London, WC1X 8UE
WRITE
A TEN-MINUTE SHORT FILM SCRIPT
Embarking
on a 120pp feature-length script can be daunting
for any screenwriter so why not take some time
out and write a short? Not only is it more
likely you'll get the script finished; you'll
also stand a greater chance of getting it made
and seen. This one-day course focuses on
narrative storytelling, not experimental film-making.
Intensively hands-on, by the end of the day you'll
have completed a rough first draft of a short
film script and you'll have improved yor basic
scriptwriting skills in order to give you greater
confidence when writing longer lengths.
Date:
Saturday 26 April 2008 (10.30am-4.30pm)
Cost:
£85
Venue:
The Drill Hall, 16 Chenies Street, London,
WC1E 7EX
Contact:
fenella.greenfield@euroscript.co.uk;
07515 381586
BRITISH
FEATURE DOC COMPETITION
The
Festival is now open for feature documentary film
submissions (over 70 minutes). Films can
be about any subject and set in any country.
For full details, including terms and conditions,
please visit the website: www.britdoc.org/festival/applyfor/britfilmcomp
Deadline:
Friday 9th May
FOUR
DOCS SHORT DOC COMPETITION
The
Festival is now open for documentaries under 30
minutes running time. Films can be about
any subject set in any country. For full details,
including terms and conditions, please visit the
website:
www.britdoc.org/festival/applyfor/shortfilmcomp
Deadline:
Friday 16th May
CO-OPERATIVE
YOUNG FILM-MAKERS
You
might be a group of friends from a school, college
or youth club. You could be a youth worker,
teacher or tutor working on a film project with
young people. Entries in Welsh, Gaelic and
other languages, particularly those of local ethnic
communities, are welcome, as are first-time film-makers.
Think about changing the world with your film.
Be co-operative, be creative and express yourself.
Tackle an issue that concerns you such as climate
change, fairtrade, animal welfare, healthy living
or education. Tell others about your life
or community, make an original pop video or change
the world through laughter. It's entirely
up to you. Your film must be under 6 minutes
long and films under 3 minutes are particularly
encouraged. You must be 21 or under (or
working with young people aged 21 or under).
For full entry details, rules and regulations
and selection criteria, download our entry
form.
Website:
www.youngfilm-makers.coop/enter.html
Deadline:
Friday 27 June 2008
BRITISH
SHORT SCREENPLAY COMPETITION
The
BSSC, regarded internationally as "the best
and the most presitigious short screenplay competition
in the world" is now accepting submissions
for the 2008 competition. This year, the
BSSC is being split into two competitions: LIVE
ACTION and ANIMATION. Two winning Live Action
screenplays and one Animation will go into production.
No other screenwriting competition in the world
offers a bigger prize package to one winner, let
aloner three!
BSSC
is the only writer-let programme that puts the
writer first and offers writers access to the
'A-list' of the British film industry. All
the finalists are personally read by eminent film-makers
like Kenneth Branagh, Sir Alan Parker and Stephen
Woolley.
The
early deadline for entries is Friday 28
March 2008 and the final closing deadline
is Saturday 28 June 2008.
For
rules and entry forms, please go to www.kaosfilms.co.uk
POSTGRADUATE
DIPLOMA IN WRITING FOR PERFORMANCE
The
Postgraduate Diploma in Writing for Performance
embraces the concept of collaboration; it reflects
professional working models and facilitates awareness
of how actors, producers, mentors and directors
can bring a writers's single idea to life.
We will introduce you to, and empower you in,
approaches to writing for theatre, radio and film.
At the heart of each script is the writer, the
focus of this intensive course is enabling you
to produce your own work with a developed sense
of what the writing process actually involves.
Contact:
Victoria Muir
Email:
vmuir@ccm.ac.uk
Website:
www.thearden.ac.uk
Tel:
0161 279 7257
EVENTS...
BORDERLINES FILM FESTIVAL
28
March - 13 April
Welcome
to the Borderlines Film Festival, a mouth-watering
selection of 75 great films, spread out over 17
days and 25 cinemas throughout Herefordshire,
Shropshire and Worcestershire.
For
full details of programme and venues, please visit:
www.borderlinesfilmfestival.org
Or write
to: Borderlines Film Festival, 31 Watling Street,
Leintwardine, Shropshire, SY7 0LW
WOLVERHAMPTON
DISABILITY FILM FESTIVAL
18-20
April 2008
You
are invited to the Launch of the Wolverhampton
Disability Film Festival on Friday 18 April at
the Light House Cinema at 7pm. Book your
FREE ticket in advance now on 01902 716055.
Light House is fully accessible.
Check
out the website: www.disabilityfilmfestival.eu
for a full programme of the weekend.
PACKERS
Zip
Theatre is proud to present this brand new comedy
by Alex Jones. Set in the heart of what
was once the cradle of industry, The Black Country,
Packers centres around the lives of five
women working in a small packing company for an
unprincipled boss. It follows their struggles,
hopes and aspirations as they deal with hypochondria,
hypothermia and murderous intent on the run up
to Christmas. But most of all Packers
is a life affirming tale of ordinary people dealing
with the highs and lows of life, love and packing-tape!
Newhampton
Arts Centre: 18 April (1pm, 7.30pm) 19
April (7.30)
Box
Office: 01902 572090
Forest
Arts Centre, Walsall: 19 April (7.30pm)
Box
Office: 0845 1112900
Old
Joint Stock Theatre: 24, 25 April (7.30pm)
Box
Office: 0121 200 0946
Newhampton
Arts Centre: 29 April - 1 May (10.30am,
1.15pm)
Box
Office: 01902 572250
Glasshouse
Studio Theatre, Stourbridge: 2 May (7.30pm)
Box
Office: 01384 399430
Ridware
Theatre, Rugeley: 3 May (8pm)
Box
Office: 01889 504380
Swan
Playwrights present:
HOT
STUFF!
Warm
yourself with Swan Playwrights latest miscellany
- a collection of short plays, sketches and monologues
that explore tempers rising, hot flushes, contemporary
tensions, sexual tensions and celebrity under
the spotlight.
The
Rose Theatre, Kidderminster: 30 April,
1, 2 May (7.30pm)
Box
Office: 01562 743745. Tickets: £6.50 (Wed-Thurs)
£7 (Fri)
Worcester
Arts Workshop: 3 May (7.30pm)
Box
Office: 01905 421638. Tickets £6
SHORTS
ON WALLS
28
April 2008 (6.30pm-8.30pm)
Schmooze,
screen and shout about your animated shorts with
fellow animators after work as Animation Forum
WM crashes headlong into The Rainbow this April.
Whether or not you actually make short films,
Shorts on Walls is a great chance for animators
to meet and network after work with other freelancers,
animation companies and professionals over a mid-week
beverage. Entry is FREE and to confirm your place
simply RSVP to: david.luke.allen@bcu.ac.uk
Please
also get in touch if you would like to screen
an animated short at the event. The less
shy animators out there will also be invited to
introduce their short if they choose to.
Venue:
The Rainbow, Digbeth, Birmingham, B12
0LD
MISC
PENSIONS
FOR ARTISTS SEMINAR
Herbert
Gallery, Coventry
29
April 2008
The
highly successful pensions for artists seminar
programme has provided free advice to 600 artists
to date. Arts + Media Training and Coventry
City Council are please to announce that they
will be hosting one of 10 new seminars being delivered
across England this Spring. These sessions
are supported by Arts Council England and are
FREE to anyone working in the arts, but there
are limited places, so please register early!
Booking:
www.pensionsforartists.org.uk
WRITERS'
RETREAT
If you're
looking for the ideal place to finish that play
without distractions or disruptions, look no further
than this small cottage nestled in the Brecon
Beacons. With a panoramic view of the Black
Mountain, the cottage had a wood-burning stove,
dishwasher and television. Otherwise, the nearest
pub is 1 mile away and the neighbours consist
of kites, buzzards and horses.
Sleeps
7.
Further
information, contact Mark: mar@hingham.force9.co.uk
Tel:
020 8653 0933
Photos:
Exterior
1, Exterior
2, Living
Room, Valley
View
DO
YOU HAVE SOME NEWS YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH THE
SCRIPT MEMBERSHIP? If so, then e-mail
info@scriptonline.net by the end of the month
and it will go into the following month's Newsletter.
Script
asks you to note: These listings are drawn from
varying sources, all current at time of publishing.
Script
endeavours to investigate and validate all information
and opportunities listed here. We advise you to
make contact with companies before submitting
scripts.
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