<August News>


	SCRIPT is the West Midlands agency for dramatic writers.

SCRIPT NEWS - August 2007

SCRIPT SEMINAR AT THE DRUM

Monday 3 September

Want to write a screenplay, a stage or a radio play but don't know where to start?

Had some work produced and wondering what to do next?

Managing Director Peggy Paterson and Programmes Director Rachel Taylor, together with some of the writers whose work we have developed, will be at The Drum to let you know what we do and to answer your questions.

One-to-one sessions will also be available for anyone who wants advice.

Monday 3 September at The Drum, 144 Potters Lane, Aston, Birmingham B6 4UU

6pm-9pm

To book call The Drum Box Office on (0121) 333 2444 or visit www.the-drum.org.uk

INTRODUCTION TO PLAYWRITING WORKSHOP

Saturday 6 October

In association with Warwick Words Festival

Caroline Jester, Literary Manager at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre, leads an inspiring workshop on writing for the stage. From her extensive experience as a theatre director and dramaturg, Caroline will offer valuable advice to budding playwrights.

Sarurday 6 October

Friends Meeting House, High Street, Warwick 10am-1pm

Tickets: £12

Refreshments provided.

To book: There are only 12 places avaialable for this popular workshop - please book in advance through the box office on 01926 776 438 or visit www.warwickwords.co.uk

JOBS

LITERARY AND NEW WORKS MANAGER

Theatre Writing Partnership

Theatre Writing Partnership is currently seeking a Literary and New Works Manager to work alongside its new Director on implementing the artistic vision of the company.

The Literary and New Works Manager will also be the first port of call for emerging and established writers with whom TheatreWriting Partnership works.

A job description and person specification can be downloaded from www.theatrewritingpartnership.org.uk

REGENERATION AND CREATIVE LEARNING CO-ORDINATOR

The Willows - Wolverhampton

A part-time co-ordinator is needed to work alongside Black Country Creative Partnerships as part of a brand new school build in Bilston. Three schools are involved in the project: a primary, special school (all key stages) and a secondary school. In each school the co-ordinator will work with a designated senior member of staff to plan, broker, and facilitate a range of creative process work, projects and outcomes.

Applicants will need to demonstratea commitment to valuing the role of young people in consultation and regeneration. Initial expressions of interest, including relevant experience and an indication of specific areas of expertise along with an indication of how time would be allocated and managed are welcome.

The first phase of employment will run from September 2007 to April 2008. For this period, £5,000 has been allocated for the co-ordinator.

Closing date: 20th August; Interviews: 11th September

Contact Jeremy Brown: jeremy@dialoguemedia.co.uk for more information.

WRITER IN RESIDENCE

The Foundling Museum, www.foundlingmuseum.org.uk

The Foundling Museum is looking for a writer in residence to research and respond to the museum's stories, and to bring these alive for local young people through a programme of creative writing workshops.

The successful candidate will be expected to run a total of nine workshops with young people, spend several days in research, and write a new short piece based on the research.

There will be a fee of £1,700 inclusive of VAT and expenses.

The writer must be available for 12 days between 24 September and 5 November 2007.

For further details and information on how to apply please email enquiries@foundlingmuseum.org.uk before telephone contact.

OPPENHEIM-JOHN DOWNES MEMORIAL TRUST

Grants for writers and funding for small projects

The Trust offers financial assistance to 'deserving artists of any kind' who are based in the UK and who would otherwise be unable to pursue their vocation.

The maximum grant offered is around £1,000 and awards are made in December.

Closing date: 15 October 2007

Download the application form at www.oppenheimdownestrust.org/index.html

OPPORTUNITIES, TRAINING AND COMPETITIONS...

STAGE...

SCRIPTEASE REVEALED

...short plays, BIG revelations...

The Ashton Group presents its fourth annual 'Striptease' event. This is a cabaret-style event of new writing performed by professional actors and compered by a mystery guest.

To submit a script, send your previously unperformed 5 minute play about the theme of 'revelation' to: Rachel Ashton

The Old Fire Station

Abbey Road

Barrow-in-Furness

Cumbria LA14 1XH

Submission deadline: 13 August

www.ashtongroup.co.uk

BRIAN WAY AWARD

This year, Theatre Centre is funding and administering the Brian Way Awar - an award for playwrights who write for young people, which was established in 2000 by Arts Council England.

There is an award of £6,000 for the winner, with a runner-up prize of £1,000.

Plays submitted should be aimed at young people up to the age of 18, and must be at least 45 minutes long.

Importantly, they must have been professionally produced between 1 July 2006 and 31 August 2007 and this may be a first, second, or third production of the play in the last ten years.

Deadline for submissions: 31 October 2007

To find out more about how to apply, visit www.theatre-centre.co.uk/brian_way_life.asp

SHOW OF STRENGTH THEATRE COMPANY (SOS)

Abolition 200: Diverse Stories

Funded by ACESW, Bristol City Council and Awards for All, DIVERSE STORIES is a theatre project to mark the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade.

In 2007, SOS will commission up to 10 culturally diverse writers to create short pieces of work about the slave trade and its legacy. Through a series of writing workshops in Bristol, we will develop work with first-time writers. All pieces will be workshopped in late 2007 and early 2008. Performances take place in non-theatre spaces in Bristol city centre over a two-week period in June 2008.

Most commissions are by invitation, but submissions are invited for at least one piece. SOS particularly wants to hear from BME writers in the South West.

Writers are invited to send a CV and one page outline of a 5-10 minute piece (max 2 actors) by post only to:

DIVERSE STORIES, SOS

74 Chessel Street

Bedminster

Bristol BS3 3DN

Closing date : 5pm Sunday 2 September 2007

THINGS THAT CAN'T BE SAID

re:volve and Apples & Snakes

Artists who have experience of writing and performing spoken word in front of an audience are required for a 1 hour production to tour the West Midlands.

This opportunity is for artists resident in the West Midlands and those of the following culturally specific backgrounds: Asian, Black, Chinese or more recent immigrant communities and refugee status artists.

8 applicants will be shortlisted to attend a workshop audition on Wednesday 12 September at mac in Birmingham. Applicants will be required to perform 3 minutes of prepared material on the day. 5 artists will be selected after the day to form the team for the production.

Artists will be paid a fee of £1,400 for attendance at a two-day residential retreat, the writing commission, and the rehearsal period.

For information on how to apply, please contact dawinder_bansal@yahoo.co.uk

Deadline for applications: 12pm Monday 20 August 2007

PLAY WRITING FESTIVAL

15-27 October 2007

This year, the Guildford Book Festival is holding a play writing festival in partnership with Guildford's Yvonne Arnaud Theatre.

The festival will include a rehearsed reading of three plays selected through a competition. In addition, winning entries will be awarded a written evaluation.

Entries are invited from playwrights who wish to write for the stage. The judging panel will prefer contemporary themes or the exploration of modern issues.

Entries may be either a completed One Act, one act from a longer play, or a series of scenes. Where an extract is submitted, a summary of the entire play should also be enclosed.

Visit www.guildfordbookfestival.co.uk

or www.yvonne-arnaud.co.uk

PURPLEPATCH #4

In January 2008, The New Works will be producing Purplepatch #4, the latest in an annual series of workshops and readings for young writers.

Submissions are invited from writers of all ages from across the North West of England.

Writers can send their scripts, marked 'Purplepatch', to:

Chris Fittock

The New Works

13a Hope Place

Liverpool L1 9BQ

More information is available online at www.thenewworks.com or by phoning (0151) 709 4332

FLESH POT THEATRE

Showcase for One-Act Plays

London-based theatre company Flesh Pot Theatre is looking to source one-act plays for performance at the Devonshire Arms in Kensington. They are currently favouring quirky comedies.

Plays should have no more than four characters, or have the ability for actors to double up, and should be 30-40 minutes in length. The company is unable to pay writers for their material, unless it is performed, at which time, depending on door sales, they can pay a nominal royalties fee. Material not used will be returned.

The Devonshire Arms

41 Abingdon Road

Kensington

London W8 6AH

TEN IN A BED THEATRE

Ten in a Bed Theatre seek new theatre writing to premiere as rehearsed readings at their regular monthly event in the Clerkenwell Theatre. If you are a budding or emerging theatre writer with a script that you would like produced as a rehearsed reading, they want to hear from you.

Ten in a Bed Theatre can only accept scripts submitted by post. As well as plays, they will also consider excerpts, works-in-progress, sketches, sit-coms and radio plays. As they are dedicated to new writing, they cannot consider any work that has received a full professional production.

For more information, including how to submit your manuscript, please visit www.teninabedtheatre.org

RADIO

CHANNEL 4 RADIO

Channel 4 plans to take on BBC Radio with a slate of new dramas on its forthcoming digital stations. The broadcaster won a licence from Ofcom to launch three branded radio stations, including Channel 4 Radio and E4 Radio, which are expected to feature new dramas and comedies.

SCREEN...

SHEFFIELD DOC/FEST 07

Friday 9 November - Saturday 10 November

Calling all documentary makers! Pitch your ideas at Sheffield Doc/Fest MeetMarket. MeetMarker provides an opportunity for original ideas to be pitched to buyers in a structured setting.

Filmmakers, producers and content developers must upload a one-minute pitch trailer with a clear explanation of their idea to the Doc/Fest website. These videos will be available online to local and international buyers prior to Doc/Fest. After viewing, buyers will meet with chosen filmmakers during the festival.

MeetMarket is open to documentary makers and producers from around the world. Doc/Fest welcomes everything from feature documentaries and television series to specialized genres like natural history, science, arts and cross platform.

Projects need to have international appeal, can be at any stage in their development and do not need to have existing financial backing.

Successful applications to the MeetMarket must be:

- Fully registered as a delegate for the Doc/Fest

- Available for meetings on both days of the MeetMarket

Guidelines, application form and further details are available from www.sheffdocfest.com

Closing date for MeetMarket project submissions is 14 September 2007

THE SINGLES: NEW SCOTTISH DRAMA

BBC Scotland Television Drama and Scottish Screen are launching a new slate of television plays; 60 minute single films of up to a maximum of £450,000 for broadcast on BBC Scotland.

All ideas must be submitted by a producer with a track record in film or television. Submissions should contain a detailed outline of 4-5 pages, along with a writing sample, producer's CV or company resume and details of any other key talent or relevant information.

For more information contact gaynor.holmes@bbc.co.uk

Closing date: 14 September 2007

CHANNEL 4 TALENT: 2 DAYS LATER

The competition invites entrants to devise, shoot and produce a chilling short film in less than 48 hours. Entrants can access the competition brief at www.2dayslater.co.uk.

There is also a lively community page at www.myspace.com/2dl

This year's Award Screenings and Presentations will be held on 27 October at the Georgian Theatre Royal in Margate. Awards will be given for Best Film as voted by an industry panel; Best Film as voted by the audience; Best Student Film, plus awards for Best Screenplay, Cinematography, Sound, and Special Effects.

Closing date for entries is 5pm Sunday 21 October 2007

THE RED PLANET PRIZE

Red Planet Pictures has created an annual screenwriting prize. The winner will receive:

- £5,000

- Representation

- A script commission for Red Planet Pictures

The finalists will all spend a workshop day with Tony Jordan and receive mentoring from Red Planet Pictures.

For the first round, they're looking for the first ten pages of a script, a half page synopsis, and a half page biog of the writer. Sending complete screenplays will result in disqualification.

Deadline for entries is 1 September 2007. Full scripts for those who are selected will be requested in October 2007.

For more information, visit http://www.redplanetpictures.co.uk/prize/prize.html

THE COMEDY WRITING WEEKEND

Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 August 2007

Lectures about writing are like poems about swimming: they may be inspiring but they don't improve your technique. The only way to learn how to write is by writing.

In this weekend workshop you'll participate in intensive, practical exercises that are designed to develop the basic skills you need to make your material funny in any format or medium.

Bring pencils, notebooks and a list of everything you hate about your friends and family.

Price: £150 (concessions £135), including a full script report for any sitcom completed as a result of attending this workshop.

For more information telephone 07958 244 656 or visit www.euroscript.co.uk/workshops.htm

FILM STREET INTERN

www.filmstreet.co.uk

Do you have the flair and ability to write engaging, interesting copy for primary aged children? Do you want to learn how to write for the web?

Filmstreet.co.uk is an interactive website that teaches children under 12, their parents and teachers how to get creative through filmmaking.

They are now looking for an enthusiastic and creative individual who is training to be a writer or journalist, to spend one or two days a week producing copy for their Film Mag and to keep their website fresh and relevant to the target audience.

Expenses will be paid and the intern will also get to attend screenings of children's films around the country.

For more information and to the download an application form visit the First Light Movies website www.firstlightmovies.com

SUBCULTURE FILMS SEEKS SCRIPTS

Newly formed production company, Subculture Films, is looking for a number of scripts to take to their private investors. Subculture is looking for dialogue/story-driven scripts from £150,000 budgets to £1.5 million.

As well as your script, a treatment or story (no longer than 6 pages) should be included. Please post your script and treatment to: Subculture Films, 95 Herkomer Road, Bushey, Herts WD23 3LS.

To find out more visit www.subculture-films.com

EVENTS...

BETWEEN FACT AND FICTION

5 September 2007, University of Birmingham

A one-day symposium for academics, playwrights, filmmakers, journalists, dramaturgs and directors.

Keynote speaker: playwright David Edgar. Refreshments, lunch and an evening drinks reception will be included.

For further information contact Dr Liz Tomlin on (0121) 414 5995 or e.j.tomlin@bham.ac.uk

Price: £40 / £30

Booking is now open via www.ecommercegateway.co.uk/bham/webstore

WRITERS' GUILD OF GREAT BRITAIN AWARDS 2007

www.writersguild.org.uk

The Writer's Guild of Great Britain is re-launching its writers' awards and holding a ceremony at the Writers' Guild Centre in Kings Cross on Sunday 18 November 2007.

Writers' Guild members are currently sending their nominations to the Guild office. Nominated writers must be British or work in Britain. Eligible programmes/plays/books must have been released, published, performed or broadcast during the period 1 June 2006-31 May 2007 inclusive.

WRITERS' GUILD VARIETY NIGHTS

Tuesdays 7-9.30pm at the Writers' Guild Centre

A series of regular events at which writers can showcase their work or just come along and network with each other in an informal 'industry' environment.

Performance slots are open to everyone but Guild members are given preference. Each performer will be given a five minute slot. Tickets cost £2 for Guild members and £3 for non-members and will be sold on the door.

Places are limited, so please book in advance by emailing Moe at moe@writersguild.org.uk or on (0207) 838 0777

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.

DISCLAIMER

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.

ARCHIVE

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April 2005

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