Most companies ask for submission via agents and I'm not sure where to start re: knowing who's legit / decent. Could you recommend an agent?? I'm desperate to make it!!
Your best bet would be to go through the Artists' and Writers' Yearbook 2007/08 (or buy last year's copy on eBay) where there's a full list of agencies, and who to contact. Approach those you think are the best fit for you (they may have clients that you like/admire for example) and take it from there. Most agencies have websites so you can check out their details on a more detailed and informed level.
The big agencies are companies like Curtis Brown, PFD, The Agency, Independent Talent Group (formerly ICM), while there are many reputable agencies like Linda Seifert, Sayle Screen, Micheline Steinberg etc.
If you're desperate to make it, then start getting in the know. Read 'Broadcast' magazine or 'Screen International'. Or both. Start attending seminars/workshops. Write down the production companies/producers/writers/directors of your favourite shows. Write to them. Try to meet them. Anything. Get ahead. A lot of what you do will come down to your writing ability but that doesn't mean that if you write a great script, your career will begin. There's a lot of luck and networking involved as well as total commitment and focus from yourself to making your career happen. It's difficult, and at times soul destroying, but it's not impossible.
Sabtu, 29 September 2007
Kamis, 20 September 2007
Join the Guild
Are you a member of the UK Writers' Guild?
Yes? Great.
No? Why not?
If you're a professional writer or an aspiring scribe who's committed to a screenwriting career, then you should be a member.
It will come as no surprise to you that writers get treated badly in the business. We're essential to the process but often the bottom of the rung in terms of respect and basic courtesy.
Some common grievances: we don't get paid on time, or we don't get paid at all, and producers use their power over eager writers to get us to work for free. Contracts try to push us out of our basic rights over our material. We do more work than what was agreed or expected. We are constantly overlooked and undervalued.
Admittedly, the UK Writers' Guild doesn't have the same clout or reputation as its US counterpart but that doesn't mean there's no point in joining. The Guild has a committed and passionate team that are dedicated to building a better future for the UK writer. And it can only get stronger with more members. As they say themselves: "The more writers who join us, the stronger we become in our efforts to negotiate better minimum terms agreements, secure better deals as technology develops, and confront difficult and inefficient management."
There are lots of benefits of being a member right now. Check out their website for full details or browse through their blog.
Right now, they're running an incentive to join the Guild where Full and Candidate members win a free gift for every new writer they can persuade to sign up. And, in addition, that writer will also receive a free gift (£20 gift tokens for a variety of outlets).
The Guild says: "if you have any queries about this, or you'd like us to send you some recruitment material and/or the application forms via post, please contact Naomi MacDonald at naomi @ writersguild.org.uk or on 020 7833 0777. Deadline for receipt of applications: 31 December 2007."
So, spread the word, encourage someone to join. This is my shout out to YOU, so if you're not a member, then check out all the details and sign up. You know it makes sense. And tell them I sent you, and let's stack up on those tokens!
Yes? Great.
No? Why not?
If you're a professional writer or an aspiring scribe who's committed to a screenwriting career, then you should be a member.
It will come as no surprise to you that writers get treated badly in the business. We're essential to the process but often the bottom of the rung in terms of respect and basic courtesy.
Some common grievances: we don't get paid on time, or we don't get paid at all, and producers use their power over eager writers to get us to work for free. Contracts try to push us out of our basic rights over our material. We do more work than what was agreed or expected. We are constantly overlooked and undervalued.
Admittedly, the UK Writers' Guild doesn't have the same clout or reputation as its US counterpart but that doesn't mean there's no point in joining. The Guild has a committed and passionate team that are dedicated to building a better future for the UK writer. And it can only get stronger with more members. As they say themselves: "The more writers who join us, the stronger we become in our efforts to negotiate better minimum terms agreements, secure better deals as technology develops, and confront difficult and inefficient management."
There are lots of benefits of being a member right now. Check out their website for full details or browse through their blog.
Right now, they're running an incentive to join the Guild where Full and Candidate members win a free gift for every new writer they can persuade to sign up. And, in addition, that writer will also receive a free gift (£20 gift tokens for a variety of outlets).
The Guild says: "if you have any queries about this, or you'd like us to send you some recruitment material and/or the application forms via post, please contact Naomi MacDonald at naomi @ writersguild.org.uk or on 020 7833 0777. Deadline for receipt of applications: 31 December 2007."
So, spread the word, encourage someone to join. This is my shout out to YOU, so if you're not a member, then check out all the details and sign up. You know it makes sense. And tell them I sent you, and let's stack up on those tokens!
Selasa, 18 September 2007
More Kings News
IFTA, The Irish Film and Television Academy has announced that ‘Kings’ starring Colm Meaney, Donal O’Kelly and Brendan Conroy has been officially selected by an independent IFTA jury for submission to the 80th Academy Award(S)®, for the ‘Best Foreign Language Film’ category. This is the first time that an Irish language film is being submitted from Ireland for this category.
For a full story, go to Screenplay Europe:
"Kings" was produced by Newgrange Pictures and goes on release in Ireland on September 21.
For a full story, go to Screenplay Europe:
"Kings" was produced by Newgrange Pictures and goes on release in Ireland on September 21.
Minggu, 16 September 2007
We Have a Winner!
By 'We', I mean the 'scribosphere', nothing to do with Red Planet.
Why not mosey on over to David Bishop's joint and congratulate him for winning the short film category in this year's PAGE International Screenwriting Awards with his script Danny's Toys. Well deserved, I'd say, a fantastic achievement.
Why not mosey on over to David Bishop's joint and congratulate him for winning the short film category in this year's PAGE International Screenwriting Awards with his script Danny's Toys. Well deserved, I'd say, a fantastic achievement.
Jumat, 07 September 2007
Miscellaneous Media
Press releases have been recently dispatched announcing my involvement with a new web/tv project called Sofia's Diary; you may have seen it in various media publications. The press release states that "Danny is adapting Sofia's Diary for the UK, and he won a Bafta last year for his series The Amazing Adrenalini Brothers!" Some news sources have published the Adrenalinis as a BBC series, and mispelled the show's title. Sofia's Diary itself is written and created by Nuno Bernardo, and the format has already been successfully adapted in several countries. It's great to be part of the team that is developing it for the UK. But the mention of me and the Adrenalinis' Bafta is inaccurate.
The Amazing Adrenalini Brothers! is a CiTV show and I was part of the writing team, not the creator or main writer. The credit for winning the Bafta should go to the creators/writers Nick Ostler, Mark Huckerby, Dan Chambers, not to mention the producers, Pesky, and other key staff. So, just in case some of you are media types who've stumbled across the blog because of the misleading press release, the Adrenalinis is not "my" show, I was just lucky enough to be part of it...
On a slightly different note, the trailer for Kings is up on YouTube. It's the Irish language film I helped script edit last year, written and directed by Tom Collins. Check it out!
The Amazing Adrenalini Brothers! is a CiTV show and I was part of the writing team, not the creator or main writer. The credit for winning the Bafta should go to the creators/writers Nick Ostler, Mark Huckerby, Dan Chambers, not to mention the producers, Pesky, and other key staff. So, just in case some of you are media types who've stumbled across the blog because of the misleading press release, the Adrenalinis is not "my" show, I was just lucky enough to be part of it...
On a slightly different note, the trailer for Kings is up on YouTube. It's the Irish language film I helped script edit last year, written and directed by Tom Collins. Check it out!
Rabu, 05 September 2007
Red Planet Meltdown
*** IMPORTANT UPDATE ***
From Red Planet's website:
As some of you are no doubt aware, the weight of submissions over the weekend created some technical difficulties for us. If you received a bounce back ('mail box full' or similar notice), please resubmit your entry to:
resubmission @ redplanetpictures.co.uk
This mailbox will be open for the next ten days, but won't be accepting any new entries. On the positive side, it's great that so many people have entered.
Tony Jordan comments: 'Thanks to all who have entered for your interest and enthusiasm. We've had around two thousand entries to the competition, which is daunting but shows how much talent there is out there. We'll be working through the entries this month and those that make the next stage should be notified in October.'
So, use that email. Those of you who sent stuff to my hotmail address needn't resubmit. I'll make sure everything gets read. Sweet.
*** Below is the previous post ***
Okay. Everybody take a breath. Relax.
Due to the amount of last minute entries, the Red Planet mailbox had a few problems. Some of you received a failure message, but the entries are coming in, and we're doing everything we can to make sure all entries are received. I believe part of the failure message says this: "No action is required on your part. Delivery attempts will continue for some time, and this warning may be repeated at intervals if the message remains undelivered. Eventually the mail delivery software will give up, and when that happens, the message will be returned to you."
To be on the safe side, if you're worried, you can forward your entry to my Hotmail address: dstack30 @ hotmail . com
Don't ask me any questions in these emails, I won't be responding. Just forward your entry, making sure it has the relevant attachments, AND PROOF THAT YOU DID SEND IT IN ON TIME, NO LATE ENTRIES PLEASE, they will be ignored. Those who've emailed already, thank you, no need to re-check or follow up. If there are any problems, I'll let you know. I've got 5GB of storage on Hotmail so I don't think it should be a problem.
The email failure seemed to occur for people on the last Friday/Saturday, so while there may be a good few of you with a failure message, there shouldn't be THAT many either. I'm actually on holiday this week but seem to be doing more working than taking time off. People sniping about the set-up or sending me moany messages is not helping.
But we'll sort it out, one way or the other.
Lovely.
From Red Planet's website:
As some of you are no doubt aware, the weight of submissions over the weekend created some technical difficulties for us. If you received a bounce back ('mail box full' or similar notice), please resubmit your entry to:
resubmission @ redplanetpictures.co.uk
This mailbox will be open for the next ten days, but won't be accepting any new entries. On the positive side, it's great that so many people have entered.
Tony Jordan comments: 'Thanks to all who have entered for your interest and enthusiasm. We've had around two thousand entries to the competition, which is daunting but shows how much talent there is out there. We'll be working through the entries this month and those that make the next stage should be notified in October.'
So, use that email. Those of you who sent stuff to my hotmail address needn't resubmit. I'll make sure everything gets read. Sweet.
*** Below is the previous post ***
Okay. Everybody take a breath. Relax.
Due to the amount of last minute entries, the Red Planet mailbox had a few problems. Some of you received a failure message, but the entries are coming in, and we're doing everything we can to make sure all entries are received. I believe part of the failure message says this: "No action is required on your part. Delivery attempts will continue for some time, and this warning may be repeated at intervals if the message remains undelivered. Eventually the mail delivery software will give up, and when that happens, the message will be returned to you."
To be on the safe side, if you're worried, you can forward your entry to my Hotmail address: dstack30 @ hotmail . com
Don't ask me any questions in these emails, I won't be responding. Just forward your entry, making sure it has the relevant attachments, AND PROOF THAT YOU DID SEND IT IN ON TIME, NO LATE ENTRIES PLEASE, they will be ignored. Those who've emailed already, thank you, no need to re-check or follow up. If there are any problems, I'll let you know. I've got 5GB of storage on Hotmail so I don't think it should be a problem.
The email failure seemed to occur for people on the last Friday/Saturday, so while there may be a good few of you with a failure message, there shouldn't be THAT many either. I'm actually on holiday this week but seem to be doing more working than taking time off. People sniping about the set-up or sending me moany messages is not helping.
But we'll sort it out, one way or the other.
Lovely.
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