The quote above, you may recognise, is from the old Harry Hill TV series, before he began TV burping. It refers to promises I've made to people to mention them on this blog, and that when i get chance to i will.
I promise.
With an end of year blog coming soon to rectify my lack of blogging recently and to give me a swift hard kick in the arse, normal service should be resumer, or any service at all would be nice, seems like I've dipped out with the terrestrial signal.
Sigh.
Monday, 14 December 2009
Wednesday, 21 October 2009
In/Out blog
I suppose i should mention it more, the blog I write for the In/Out website. This week I have blogged regarding the new Pixar film Up, with a side order of ranting about 3-D. You can find it here: http://www.inoutmagazine.co.uk/blogs.php?blogauthor=robinbell
Enjoy
Enjoy
Friday, 16 October 2009
How's it been? It's been a while
I'm afraid I forgot about the blog for a while back there. In that time i've finished the script of the first episode of a TV series, so putting together all the other documents to begin sending it to people. Working on finsihing a lot of stuff and am writing lots of short films.
Can't believe how fast the year, really need to get these scripts finished. And the novel.
Normal service will be resumed around here.
Can't believe how fast the year, really need to get these scripts finished. And the novel.
Normal service will be resumed around here.
Saturday, 22 August 2009
The problem with computers
Don't get me wrong, I love my computer. Or loved, because this week my laptop went kaput and stopped working, but I love my new one so lets stick with love.
The problem this catastrophe left me with was a years worth of writing stuck in limbo. Today i'll be getting the discs back rescued from my old laptop's hard drive and i'll be able to get back into it, but for a week there I was a mess.
No writing, no creativity. It almost killed me. Maybe it was the kick in the teeth I needed to show me that I need to do this. It's not something I can switch off.
The trouble is the new laptop has left me penniless and paying off my Mum for the next few months, making my job, that I hope one day the writing will lead me away from, even more essential.
At least I dont have a car that can fail on me and cost me obscene amounts of money.
OK, back to the writing, as soon as I've figured out how to re install everything.
The problem this catastrophe left me with was a years worth of writing stuck in limbo. Today i'll be getting the discs back rescued from my old laptop's hard drive and i'll be able to get back into it, but for a week there I was a mess.
No writing, no creativity. It almost killed me. Maybe it was the kick in the teeth I needed to show me that I need to do this. It's not something I can switch off.
The trouble is the new laptop has left me penniless and paying off my Mum for the next few months, making my job, that I hope one day the writing will lead me away from, even more essential.
At least I dont have a car that can fail on me and cost me obscene amounts of money.
OK, back to the writing, as soon as I've figured out how to re install everything.
Monday, 13 July 2009
BBC Writers Room Roadshow July 1st Liverpool
It was July 1st; remember that far back, it was when the sun was dragging Britain into a horrible lethargic daze. Probably the last week of our summertime. Since then I have taken a week out, on holiday, hence why the write up on the BBC writers room roadshow is a little after the fact.
It doesn’t really matter I suppose it’s not like anyone was chomping at the bit to read this, but I hope if you stumble across this you’ll find it interesting. The following contains what happened at the event, and what nuggets of information I gleamed from it which may help your writing endeavours.
The presentation began with some numbers, the writers room gets over 10,000 scripts to read per year. That number is rising by around a 1,000 each year. It takes four months from submission to getting feedback on average. If your script hasn’t grabbed the reader within 10 pages it is discarded without a full read and doesn’t get feedback. Those 10 pages are essential. If you manage to get the reader’s attention in those your script will get a full read and will be sent back with feedback.
The presentation was done with a ‘common sense’ power point, which power pointed out the obvious. If they have to point out some of the errors they did in that power point I dread to think how bad some people’s scripts are.
Apart from the power point they had a clip of Simon Ashdown’s and Jeremy Dyson’s Funland. The clip was of the opening moments of the series, and was used to outline what the writers room are looking for from those opening pages of your script. If you have the DVD, watch it, take notes.
Basically my thoughts were that the opening outlined the following:-
1. Set the tone of the series
2. Bring out the mystery, or hook to grip the viewer
3. Introduce the MAIN characters
4. Beware exposition, maybe begin with an action sequence
5. Tell the story visually
6. Focus- Give the audience a focused way into the story
Following this was the usual screenwriting book rubbish about character goals and structure. Not rubbish advice, just the kind of information which is everywhere. The real interesting stuff was in the figures. So, here we go with some percentages:-
80% Do not get past the first 10 pages, so get no feedback
17% Get a full read of their script and feedback
3% get invited to send in another script
1% get forwarded to a BBC commissioner
Not heartening figures, but all screenwriters must savour that challenge...OR DIE!
The last titbit of information I picked up was that the writers room will look at short film scripts as long as they are over ten pages in length. Next few weeks I will be sending through a short film of mine for them to have a look at, to begin the fight against the 20% feedback figures.
Good luck everyone.
It doesn’t really matter I suppose it’s not like anyone was chomping at the bit to read this, but I hope if you stumble across this you’ll find it interesting. The following contains what happened at the event, and what nuggets of information I gleamed from it which may help your writing endeavours.
The presentation began with some numbers, the writers room gets over 10,000 scripts to read per year. That number is rising by around a 1,000 each year. It takes four months from submission to getting feedback on average. If your script hasn’t grabbed the reader within 10 pages it is discarded without a full read and doesn’t get feedback. Those 10 pages are essential. If you manage to get the reader’s attention in those your script will get a full read and will be sent back with feedback.
The presentation was done with a ‘common sense’ power point, which power pointed out the obvious. If they have to point out some of the errors they did in that power point I dread to think how bad some people’s scripts are.
Apart from the power point they had a clip of Simon Ashdown’s and Jeremy Dyson’s Funland. The clip was of the opening moments of the series, and was used to outline what the writers room are looking for from those opening pages of your script. If you have the DVD, watch it, take notes.
Basically my thoughts were that the opening outlined the following:-
1. Set the tone of the series
2. Bring out the mystery, or hook to grip the viewer
3. Introduce the MAIN characters
4. Beware exposition, maybe begin with an action sequence
5. Tell the story visually
6. Focus- Give the audience a focused way into the story
Following this was the usual screenwriting book rubbish about character goals and structure. Not rubbish advice, just the kind of information which is everywhere. The real interesting stuff was in the figures. So, here we go with some percentages:-
80% Do not get past the first 10 pages, so get no feedback
17% Get a full read of their script and feedback
3% get invited to send in another script
1% get forwarded to a BBC commissioner
Not heartening figures, but all screenwriters must savour that challenge...OR DIE!
The last titbit of information I picked up was that the writers room will look at short film scripts as long as they are over ten pages in length. Next few weeks I will be sending through a short film of mine for them to have a look at, to begin the fight against the 20% feedback figures.
Good luck everyone.
Tuesday, 23 June 2009
Busy
No good names for the blog yet, and no time either. Been stupidly busy.
In good news, am in touch with a producer who really wants to make a short film from an idea I pitched to him. Hope that works out. Have planned most of it, to the minute detail in some of the gory details, just not sure of how to end it. It'll come to me, just have to wait and keep my mind open.
There's an oppurtunity to write an episode aimed at 6 to 12 year olds for CBBC on the BBC Writers Room, which i need to get sent off by next Monday. I'm also re drafting some things as i would like to take a script with me to the BBC writers roadshow, which i am going to in Liverpool on July 1st.
There's a mini update, back to work now.
In good news, am in touch with a producer who really wants to make a short film from an idea I pitched to him. Hope that works out. Have planned most of it, to the minute detail in some of the gory details, just not sure of how to end it. It'll come to me, just have to wait and keep my mind open.
There's an oppurtunity to write an episode aimed at 6 to 12 year olds for CBBC on the BBC Writers Room, which i need to get sent off by next Monday. I'm also re drafting some things as i would like to take a script with me to the BBC writers roadshow, which i am going to in Liverpool on July 1st.
There's a mini update, back to work now.
Wednesday, 3 June 2009
Blog Needs Naming
I've had this blog for nearly six months now and i believe it is now time it had a proper name. Any suggestions would be welcomed.
Horror film pitch idea has been sent off. Keeping everything crossed i hear something back on it, i like the idea so may write it myself after i've re drafted everything i already have. Or may be writing it if the idea is taken onboard.
Come on pitch, work your magic.
Horror film pitch idea has been sent off. Keeping everything crossed i hear something back on it, i like the idea so may write it myself after i've re drafted everything i already have. Or may be writing it if the idea is taken onboard.
Come on pitch, work your magic.
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