A while back I said my 5th Doctor story would be in Doctor Who Appreciation Society's Celestial Toyroom. It had a delay but it's in the most recent issue.
http://www.dwasonline.co.uk/latest_issue
My copy arrived in the post today and I can't wait to read it and reacquaint myself with my story. It's my third Who story to be published after Escaping Sunbeams and The Prison Hiss in Blue Box. This one is called The Burning Human and features the 5th Doctor. My other two were 7th and 2nd if you're interested.
This one is more of a romp than the other two. Amazing fun to write and hopefully load of fun to read. If you do read it please let me know your thoughts on it.
Thanks
Monday, 26 March 2012
Friday, 16 March 2012
Web Series Interview 2: Kristi Barnett
Twisted Showcase is now in it's third week, and getting lots of great feedback for Fear of Living. In fact we've had great feedback every week, I'm very chuffed we're finding an audience for our strange tales, which roam around the horror genre a little.
One writer who embraced the horror genre for the web recently was Kristi Barnett with her hugely innovative Twitter movie Hurst, which you can find out more details upon here
Let's see what Kristi has to say about writing for the web.
Why did you want to create content for the web?
I wanted to get one of my stories produced. I’d been writing for 3 years with at that time, not even a short made. I just bit the bullet and decided that using social media would be a cheaper and more immediate way to get an audience for a story. I wasn’t actually consciously looking at transmedia or web episodes itself but rather the idea of using Twitter as a story tool. I knew no one had tried to tell a story over twitter as a character using other media like videos, photos, weblinks etc. I love twitter and am constantly on it so it seemed natural to me that Twitter could be used in this way. And it is a writer’s medium when you think about it; every tweet is a piece of writing.
I’m guessing Hurst was the first Twitter movie, did you conceive the idea for the net or did that come later?
Yes it was. I made sure before embarking on the project that it really was a unique idea that no one had tried before with Twitter. I believe the most anyone had done was tweet out a full Shakespeare story. I came up with the concept of using twitter with a live character about middle of 2010. I finally started writing the script in Dec 2010 and finished the final draft in about March 2011; (86 pages). It was something that had been brewing in my mind, wanting to use twitter, the local woods and have this fictitious character that people would follow to experience a story with. She had to come across as real for the most part and interact and tweet the way people who use twitter do. But for marketing purposes I told everyone beforehand that she is fictitious and this was the first time it had been done. More people became very interested in the idea. They didn’t seem to mind that during the 3 week event Karen Barley was behaving as though she was real; in fact most people encouraged the character and tweeted back as though she was.
How important was having the characters be part of twitter and tweeting through the events of the film?
It was the main gist of what I wanted to do. I could’ve used facebook only or Youtube only but the idea that twitter was being used as a platform to tell a story through a character and her tweets was fascinating to a lot of people. It was a challenge to think of story plots as to why she might be doing this and posting tweets to links of her videos, but twitter is immediate (as opposed to facebook) and that’s the effect I needed. She was a character who was using her followers as some kind of comfort because they could see her tweets straight away and react to them if they wanted. What she was going through in the story would not have been as affective if people only followed it on Facebook.
How did you get the word out there for Hurst?
This was one of the hardest things I did because I really didn’t have a P.R team or anything. Publicity is the key with transmedia, because it’s not as in your face as movies and there’s so much content online; really hone in on a niche that you think your story will appeal to and start contacting blogs and online websites to tell them that you have a story in line with what they’re interested in. So I went for horror as that’s very popular and horror fans just love being scared in any capacity, (and I love horror); then I contacted horror websites etc. If there’s something really unique about what you’re doing, then contact your local newspapers and let them know; this may lead onto bigger news agencies picking up on it. And try and make a trailer of some kind using your media. This will encapsulate in a very visual and real way what you’re doing and I say real because people take you more seriously when they see you’re not just talking the talk; that you actually did make something! You can see some of the hard work that paid off with publicity here: www.karenbarley.co.uk/campaign
Does this project have a life beyond the web, and was that the initial plan?
I’d love to repackage Hurst in a way that will appeal to distributers and producers so I may look into putting a kit together with the media on it and perhaps rewrite the script as a feature for a found footage type film. There’s also a good opportunity to turn it into a mobile phone app but it would need someone who’s able to take it and develop especially for that. It’s all in my head these ideas and I’m just so glad and happy that Karen Barley and transmedia gave me my first opportunity to get one of these ideas out of my mind. But the initial plan was always to present it on Twitter as the first ever twitter movie and I’m very proud that we did just that.
Please check out all this interesting stuff and don't forget to keep checking Twisted Showcase.
One writer who embraced the horror genre for the web recently was Kristi Barnett with her hugely innovative Twitter movie Hurst, which you can find out more details upon here
Let's see what Kristi has to say about writing for the web.
Why did you want to create content for the web?
I wanted to get one of my stories produced. I’d been writing for 3 years with at that time, not even a short made. I just bit the bullet and decided that using social media would be a cheaper and more immediate way to get an audience for a story. I wasn’t actually consciously looking at transmedia or web episodes itself but rather the idea of using Twitter as a story tool. I knew no one had tried to tell a story over twitter as a character using other media like videos, photos, weblinks etc. I love twitter and am constantly on it so it seemed natural to me that Twitter could be used in this way. And it is a writer’s medium when you think about it; every tweet is a piece of writing.
I’m guessing Hurst was the first Twitter movie, did you conceive the idea for the net or did that come later?
Yes it was. I made sure before embarking on the project that it really was a unique idea that no one had tried before with Twitter. I believe the most anyone had done was tweet out a full Shakespeare story. I came up with the concept of using twitter with a live character about middle of 2010. I finally started writing the script in Dec 2010 and finished the final draft in about March 2011; (86 pages). It was something that had been brewing in my mind, wanting to use twitter, the local woods and have this fictitious character that people would follow to experience a story with. She had to come across as real for the most part and interact and tweet the way people who use twitter do. But for marketing purposes I told everyone beforehand that she is fictitious and this was the first time it had been done. More people became very interested in the idea. They didn’t seem to mind that during the 3 week event Karen Barley was behaving as though she was real; in fact most people encouraged the character and tweeted back as though she was.
How important was having the characters be part of twitter and tweeting through the events of the film?
It was the main gist of what I wanted to do. I could’ve used facebook only or Youtube only but the idea that twitter was being used as a platform to tell a story through a character and her tweets was fascinating to a lot of people. It was a challenge to think of story plots as to why she might be doing this and posting tweets to links of her videos, but twitter is immediate (as opposed to facebook) and that’s the effect I needed. She was a character who was using her followers as some kind of comfort because they could see her tweets straight away and react to them if they wanted. What she was going through in the story would not have been as affective if people only followed it on Facebook.
How did you get the word out there for Hurst?
This was one of the hardest things I did because I really didn’t have a P.R team or anything. Publicity is the key with transmedia, because it’s not as in your face as movies and there’s so much content online; really hone in on a niche that you think your story will appeal to and start contacting blogs and online websites to tell them that you have a story in line with what they’re interested in. So I went for horror as that’s very popular and horror fans just love being scared in any capacity, (and I love horror); then I contacted horror websites etc. If there’s something really unique about what you’re doing, then contact your local newspapers and let them know; this may lead onto bigger news agencies picking up on it. And try and make a trailer of some kind using your media. This will encapsulate in a very visual and real way what you’re doing and I say real because people take you more seriously when they see you’re not just talking the talk; that you actually did make something! You can see some of the hard work that paid off with publicity here: www.karenbarley.co.uk/campaign
Does this project have a life beyond the web, and was that the initial plan?
I’d love to repackage Hurst in a way that will appeal to distributers and producers so I may look into putting a kit together with the media on it and perhaps rewrite the script as a feature for a found footage type film. There’s also a good opportunity to turn it into a mobile phone app but it would need someone who’s able to take it and develop especially for that. It’s all in my head these ideas and I’m just so glad and happy that Karen Barley and transmedia gave me my first opportunity to get one of these ideas out of my mind. But the initial plan was always to present it on Twitter as the first ever twitter movie and I’m very proud that we did just that.
Please check out all this interesting stuff and don't forget to keep checking Twisted Showcase.
Monday, 27 February 2012
Web Series Interview 1: Danny Stack
In the run up to Twisted Showcase a web series you may have heard of in the last week or so, I'll be running a couple of interviews with the minds behind some great web content that I've enjoyed.
First up, Danny Stack whose comedy web series Liquid Lunch gained quite a following, and a definite fan in myself. Danny is one half of the UK Scriptwriters podcast and has a great blog that is essential for anyone interested in writing, that can be found here.
So, here's the interview.
You made a genre specific web series , a comedy, we’re going for psychological horror, do you think you have to be blatant with the genre for a web series or should this be a platform to try new things that would never be commissioned for TV and film?
I think it's probably a little bit of both! Genre always helps to classify what kind of show you're doing, and why an audience would be interested, but the internet gives you the freedom to do whatever the hell you like. So, yes, by all means, experiment or really push the genre boundaries. It all depends on the story, though. Stick to story as much as possible. Forget about gimmicks. Or at least, let the gimmicks feed or compliment the story, rather than distract or undermine it. Liquid Lunch was unashamedly a straight forward comedy web series - two blokes chatting in a pub - and I deliberately shot it like a comic strip (like panels in a newspaper). Kept it very simple, and let the story/dialogue be the focus.
Why did you want to make a web series?
I really liked the idea of Liquid Lunch, and knew that I could achieve it on a no-low budget. So, I did it! Initially, it was supposed to be a short film but early on, I realised that the style & story would be far more suitable for a web series.
How does your writing change when writing specifically for the net?
Your style of writing doesn't change (i.e you don't become a different writer), but the nature of webisodes has you looking at story in a slightly different way, in terms of pace and story development. Ideally, web audiences like things short and snappy, and nicely visual, too. And always try to end your webisode on a hook, to keep 'em interested.
What do you think you can achieve with a web series that can’t be achieved in other mediums?
You can do whatever the hell you like! You don't have to wait for permission. You don't need a lot of money. You don't need ANY experience. You can just do it! That's terrifically exciting. The internet is ours! Let's own it. It bothers me when budding filmmakers complain about what's on the internet. DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT THEN! Show us what you got.
Are you targeting a different audience on the web than you would be for TV?
Slightly. Probably. Or, more precisely: the audience is the same, but the audience expectation is different. Web audiences can be more forgiving on rough production values, and give something a go based on the idea, and if it's any good. And preferably if it's short. This way, they can feel like they've "found" something, and attach ownership on it, and share it with their mates/network etc, and that's cool. On the flip side, web audiences can be very savaging on what they perceive to be bad acting, script, direction etc. But that's the internet for you.
Will Liquid Lunch have a second series?
Possibly! We could do it 'one year later', when Alex has returned from his travelling. Hmm... Am currently developing it as a pilot for a sitcom, as I still believe in the idea, and think it has loads of potential.
I'd like to thank Danny for the interview, and make sure you check out Liquid Lunch and don't forget about Twisted Showcase which launches on Thursday March 1st.
First up, Danny Stack whose comedy web series Liquid Lunch gained quite a following, and a definite fan in myself. Danny is one half of the UK Scriptwriters podcast and has a great blog that is essential for anyone interested in writing, that can be found here.
So, here's the interview.
You made a genre specific web series , a comedy, we’re going for psychological horror, do you think you have to be blatant with the genre for a web series or should this be a platform to try new things that would never be commissioned for TV and film?
I think it's probably a little bit of both! Genre always helps to classify what kind of show you're doing, and why an audience would be interested, but the internet gives you the freedom to do whatever the hell you like. So, yes, by all means, experiment or really push the genre boundaries. It all depends on the story, though. Stick to story as much as possible. Forget about gimmicks. Or at least, let the gimmicks feed or compliment the story, rather than distract or undermine it. Liquid Lunch was unashamedly a straight forward comedy web series - two blokes chatting in a pub - and I deliberately shot it like a comic strip (like panels in a newspaper). Kept it very simple, and let the story/dialogue be the focus.
Why did you want to make a web series?
I really liked the idea of Liquid Lunch, and knew that I could achieve it on a no-low budget. So, I did it! Initially, it was supposed to be a short film but early on, I realised that the style & story would be far more suitable for a web series.
How does your writing change when writing specifically for the net?
Your style of writing doesn't change (i.e you don't become a different writer), but the nature of webisodes has you looking at story in a slightly different way, in terms of pace and story development. Ideally, web audiences like things short and snappy, and nicely visual, too. And always try to end your webisode on a hook, to keep 'em interested.
What do you think you can achieve with a web series that can’t be achieved in other mediums?
You can do whatever the hell you like! You don't have to wait for permission. You don't need a lot of money. You don't need ANY experience. You can just do it! That's terrifically exciting. The internet is ours! Let's own it. It bothers me when budding filmmakers complain about what's on the internet. DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT THEN! Show us what you got.
Are you targeting a different audience on the web than you would be for TV?
Slightly. Probably. Or, more precisely: the audience is the same, but the audience expectation is different. Web audiences can be more forgiving on rough production values, and give something a go based on the idea, and if it's any good. And preferably if it's short. This way, they can feel like they've "found" something, and attach ownership on it, and share it with their mates/network etc, and that's cool. On the flip side, web audiences can be very savaging on what they perceive to be bad acting, script, direction etc. But that's the internet for you.
Will Liquid Lunch have a second series?
Possibly! We could do it 'one year later', when Alex has returned from his travelling. Hmm... Am currently developing it as a pilot for a sitcom, as I still believe in the idea, and think it has loads of potential.
I'd like to thank Danny for the interview, and make sure you check out Liquid Lunch and don't forget about Twisted Showcase which launches on Thursday March 1st.
Thursday, 23 February 2012
Twisted Showcase Launch & Writers
Today the TWISTED SHOWCASE website launched with the tantalisingly teasing teaser trailer. Already I've had questions about it. What's the guy staring at in the garden? And what is going on with Gareth David Lloyd's hand? Being the main two so far.
I urge you to check it out when the series launches next Thursday, March 1st. A lot of hard work from myself, Rhys Jones, Leigh Jones as well as everyone else who helped on the series, has gone into this.
Not to mention the writers. Where it all starts, and where it began on this blog nearly a year ago with a call out for scripts.
So it seems to make sense to announce the writers on teh same blog that the opportunity launched. Writers on series 1 include me and Rhys Jones. But enough about us, what about the other writers.
Well, we have Richard Holland who runs an amazing website Uncanny UK on the paranormal.
And Leslie Cummins, who describes herself as a writer of comedy and horror, and a social hermit.
I'm practically fizzing with excitement from the news stories about Twisted Showcase today. Please tell your friends and gather around next Thursday to watch Episode 1 Peter & Paul.
I urge you to check it out when the series launches next Thursday, March 1st. A lot of hard work from myself, Rhys Jones, Leigh Jones as well as everyone else who helped on the series, has gone into this.
Not to mention the writers. Where it all starts, and where it began on this blog nearly a year ago with a call out for scripts.
So it seems to make sense to announce the writers on teh same blog that the opportunity launched. Writers on series 1 include me and Rhys Jones. But enough about us, what about the other writers.
Well, we have Richard Holland who runs an amazing website Uncanny UK on the paranormal.
And Leslie Cummins, who describes herself as a writer of comedy and horror, and a social hermit.
I'm practically fizzing with excitement from the news stories about Twisted Showcase today. Please tell your friends and gather around next Thursday to watch Episode 1 Peter & Paul.
Monday, 20 February 2012
Twisted Showcase is near
The web series we've all been working on is approaching.
How do I know? Well apart from being part of the team that put it together and meeting up last Saturday to organise the launch, there is also www.twistedshowcase.com to tantalise you.
Behold our glorious logo designed by Jonathan Edwards. I urge you to have a look through his website www.jonathan-e.com and his blog I Heart Pencils at www.jonathan-e.blogspot.com They are both full of brilliant stuff.
There will be loads of news on Twisted Showcase in the coming weeks so keep 'em peeled.
How do I know? Well apart from being part of the team that put it together and meeting up last Saturday to organise the launch, there is also www.twistedshowcase.com to tantalise you.
Behold our glorious logo designed by Jonathan Edwards. I urge you to have a look through his website www.jonathan-e.com and his blog I Heart Pencils at www.jonathan-e.blogspot.com They are both full of brilliant stuff.
There will be loads of news on Twisted Showcase in the coming weeks so keep 'em peeled.
Monday, 6 February 2012
100th blog announcement - Script in development
Hello, and welcome to this my 100th blog post, and with it some fantastic news. I have a film script in development. It's with North Bank Entertainment who can be found here
It's an exciting time and I hope to share with you some insights into the process along the way. For now I'll reveal it's a horror script, oh and it involves a werewolf.
It's an exciting time and I hope to share with you some insights into the process along the way. For now I'll reveal it's a horror script, oh and it involves a werewolf.
Wednesday, 1 February 2012
Red Planet Prize - Picking yourself up
Today was the day, if you entered the Red Planet Prize, you found out if you were successful or not. If you were, congratulations, I got through last year and it feels great but this year I am one of bitter people rejected.
It's tough, After January which must be the years toughest months, dark mornings and evenings and it seems to go on forever until your post Xmas pay day, on top of that the annual cold usually strikes, then February starts and this. Sigh.
Makes you feel like you want to give in, right?
Well, here's how to pick yourself up. You ready for this starling piece of advice.
KEEP WRITING.
You have to concentrate on what you've got, it could be another script, just go for what ignites you in this moment.
Usually for me after a rejection I work on something other than the rejected script, fearing that if I look at the script too soon I'll resent it. Not sure if that would happen, but what that opens up for me is that I instantly work on another script, or if I don't have something else I can turn to it's a great time to write a new script.
Something to really fire you up would be to write a short film script that YOU could film. Then you know you're writing something that WILL be made. There are plenty of film festivals to send it too and you're cutting out someone making a decision on your script. That doesn't mean you be careless about it. You still have to rewrite and rewrite and rewrite. No getting out of that.
If you're writing a lot you should have plenty of scripts to send off places. If you've just had a rejection, make sure you fire something else off.
Use the rejection as fuel to keep you going. Every time you get one send something out, then if that comes back as a rejection send another. Keep ticking over.
Finally, and this is what I find hardest about rejection, let's confront the bewilderment about being rejected. This year I submitted a script I believed in more than any other I've written. Even more than my script which made the 2nd round last year, but it was rejected. As I said I've not revisited it, but I am bewildered by its rejection. Aptly it is a detective script, because I really want to get to the bottom of this. So maybe I should get this script read by someone, get some professional feedback. There’s loads of great people on the blogosphere and twitter who could help with that and it's only going to make the script better. So that's something else you could be doing.
After this initial burst of creativity this rejection gives you, go back to the rejected script work it up and send it out other places. Red Planet Prize only comes around once every year to 18 months, so get sending everywhere else you can.
My main point is FOCUS ON THE POSITIVE. If you're writing a lot you'll have other scripts that could be doing something for you. Don't waste time sulking about your rejection (or writing a long blog about it) because that’s time you could be writing.
If you read this thanks, it was partially to myself as well. So I'm off to break someone's neck, but fortunately for the world it's in a script.
It's tough, After January which must be the years toughest months, dark mornings and evenings and it seems to go on forever until your post Xmas pay day, on top of that the annual cold usually strikes, then February starts and this. Sigh.
Makes you feel like you want to give in, right?
Well, here's how to pick yourself up. You ready for this starling piece of advice.
KEEP WRITING.
You have to concentrate on what you've got, it could be another script, just go for what ignites you in this moment.
Usually for me after a rejection I work on something other than the rejected script, fearing that if I look at the script too soon I'll resent it. Not sure if that would happen, but what that opens up for me is that I instantly work on another script, or if I don't have something else I can turn to it's a great time to write a new script.
Something to really fire you up would be to write a short film script that YOU could film. Then you know you're writing something that WILL be made. There are plenty of film festivals to send it too and you're cutting out someone making a decision on your script. That doesn't mean you be careless about it. You still have to rewrite and rewrite and rewrite. No getting out of that.
If you're writing a lot you should have plenty of scripts to send off places. If you've just had a rejection, make sure you fire something else off.
Use the rejection as fuel to keep you going. Every time you get one send something out, then if that comes back as a rejection send another. Keep ticking over.
Finally, and this is what I find hardest about rejection, let's confront the bewilderment about being rejected. This year I submitted a script I believed in more than any other I've written. Even more than my script which made the 2nd round last year, but it was rejected. As I said I've not revisited it, but I am bewildered by its rejection. Aptly it is a detective script, because I really want to get to the bottom of this. So maybe I should get this script read by someone, get some professional feedback. There’s loads of great people on the blogosphere and twitter who could help with that and it's only going to make the script better. So that's something else you could be doing.
After this initial burst of creativity this rejection gives you, go back to the rejected script work it up and send it out other places. Red Planet Prize only comes around once every year to 18 months, so get sending everywhere else you can.
My main point is FOCUS ON THE POSITIVE. If you're writing a lot you'll have other scripts that could be doing something for you. Don't waste time sulking about your rejection (or writing a long blog about it) because that’s time you could be writing.
If you read this thanks, it was partially to myself as well. So I'm off to break someone's neck, but fortunately for the world it's in a script.
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