Friends

Hi,

A few friends have decided to join me in the blogosphere. Firstly, Richard www.richardholland-spuriosity.blogspot.com He hosts a Daily Quote, has tuneful tuesday a stunning saturday matinee movie poster and more.
Then Jim joined http://thereisspaceshipsoverdeeside.blogspot.com/ Find him there, he's currently listing the top 10 opening riffs.

Meanwhile I've been sending stuff off, I have a pitch and a short story entered into Big Finish competitions. My TV drama script submitted to BBC Writersroom. A short story submitted to a upcoming collection. Still looking for a home for a short story entitled Witch Ball. My favourite which is a bit worrying considering its lack of a taker so far.
Also joined a writers group, Northwest Playwrights. See how that goes. Got a 4 minute scene to submit for next month, will fill you in on how that went.
Pressure's on to keep this entertaining with all the new competition from friends. so remember check their blogs out, and go and re watch my short film The Quarry. You know you want to.

THE QUARRY

I've made a short film. It's only a little experimental thing. When walking on the weekend, we were lucky enough to stumble on this weird abandoned quarry. I took a few photos and filmed a few bits.

WAIT! I should be saying this is disturbing found footage, that's what sells films nowadays. Anyways, I edited bits together and put some music over the top and, hey presto, a film. Sorry to deconstruct the magic.

Hope you enjoy, THE QUARRY.

Good Friday Catch Up

Been a weird few weeks, or is it just a week since I last blogged. My mind is all over the place. Maybe it's being distrupted by the time vortex as a certain Doctor returns to our screens tomorrow night 6:25pm.


So, within the last week have been to Amsterdam for a few days, where I went to Anne Frank's House, which was utterly heartbreaking and then to the Rijks Museum where I got to see the Night Watch.

It looked more impressive, and bloody huge, up close. Heidi couldn't stop thinking the guy at the front was Bill Bailey. Also just heard Peter Greenaway's new film is based on this painting, so may have to check that out. I'm a glutton for punishment.

My next blog for In/Out magazine, link is on the sidebar, confronts this gluttony in looking at extreme films, name checking Gummo, Irreversible, Visitor Q and more along the way. But the focus is an extreme film which defeated me, Kirby Dick's Sick: The Life and Death of Bob Flanagan, Supermasochist.

You're lucky that I chose that picture, the alternative was him nailing his cock to a stool with a hammer. Do a quick Google search you'll find it. I won't harp on too much about it my thoughts can be found in my In/Out blog, hopefully be up next Tuesday.

Finally, I've decided to give Script Frenzy a miss this year. Main reason is I've got too many other scripts vying for attention. Need to get a few things finished before i can move on. Saying this I'm considering writing a radio drama during this month. Idea has been in my head for ages and is called The Trees.

Have a good Easter weekend and enjoy Doctor Who saturday night. You may be able to tell I'm a little excited.

To Scriptfrenzy or to not Scriptfrenzy?

Last year I had a wonderful, and stressful, but eventually joyous April as I Script Frenzied my way to a 100 page script. After 3 drafts it's still a mess, I suppose that's reason number one for not doing it this year. On the other hand I have an idea i really want to get into and that I feel has more focus than last years idea. But, I already have scripts coming out of my ears that i either need to finish or grow the balls to begin sending off, and I've also got loads of stuff to write with my new writing partner. Also Doctor Who's going to be back on the TV so that's hours of watching, re watching, analysing and discussing which is going to take away from my writing time.

What to do?

GOREZONE 4BIA

Hello,

Just a wuick note to let you know an article of mine is in the current issue of Gorezone magazine (Issue 53) www.gorezone.co.uk

The article concenrs Thai horror portmanteau 4bia, which is available on DVD soon. Here's the link to purchase it if you want to http://www.play.com/DVD/DVD/4-/9730616/Phobia-4BIA/Product.html

Lots of writing is still being done here, will inform about that soon.

In the meantime I'd really like to recommend this magazine, if you're into Doctor Who, especially the magazine throughout the years it's a must buy.

www.vworpvworp.co.uk

1 month down

A flurry of snow and January is over. I've recycled that line from my blog at In/Out (Link's on the side) I feel so cheap for recycling a line. Not done that in a script yet, I'm sure there will be a time when i do. A good line will fir somewhere else.

Currently i haven't set any concrete writing goals this year, but i have sent a few submissions and made some good contacts, written an article on Michael Haneke's Cache for Splice magazine, been commisioned for another article, and hopefully other stuff happening there.

Got loads to redraft and I've promised myself not to write something new until april, where i will consider another year of Script Frenzy.

Slowly getting excited by this year, if you're a writer I'd love to hear what you're upto and discuss writing and maybe even collaborate if we find something we could work on together.

So, Get in touch.

A lookback at 2009

So last year was my first year taking my writing seriously, and boy it was tough. At first completed a first draft seemed a struggle, until i realised how much work needs to be done afterwards. Now i have lots of first drafts lying around which i need to work on.

I made some writing goals for myswelf in 2009, so I'll juct check through those and see how i got on, after that i can develop some writing goals for this year which i will post up in the next week or so. I also intend to post up my favourites of 2009, albums, TV shows, films, etc.

But here's the writing goals from last year.

1. Finish redrafting my childrens novel and send it off to publishers, agents etc

Didn't achieve this one, it was always the next job in line, an kept getting pushed back because it's such a big job to undertake, this is a priority for this year.

2. Write the sequel to above novel. (First Draft)

Again not done, one chapter in.

3. Write two film screenplays.

Half achieved this one or actually, quarter achieved this one, i wrote one first draft, which has now undergone 4 drafts and is a bitch to get right, and have another one all planned out and ready to write.

4. Write a full tv series.

Two episodes of a drame written, one kids TV pilot, one sitcom pilot, and another thing i'm playing with but i'm not sure how it'll turn out, but again nothing completed.

5. Write a tv pilot out of an unfinished novel I wrote a couple of years ago.

Not started but too many other things on the go, may come back to this idea in the future.
6.Write a short film

I full achieved this one, writing at least 3 short film scripts, this year i hope to get at least one made, i will keep writing the odd short film script, they are quicki and usually fun.

7. Write a t least 5 short stories, finish one I started last year.

No.

8. Build a portfolio of stuff.

I'm getting there.

Need to up my work load this year now i kow how much of a challenge this is.
Positive points of the year: Commisioned articles for Splice magazine, which has continued. The In/Out blog which has continued, and the fun of creating new characters and stories, just need to knuckle down and get things finished and start approaching people with them.

Will sort out goals for this year soon, need to push myself. Let's hope for a good year, for everyone.