Notes From The Prod Co.

It seems, currently, that there's a lot of writing activity going on in the Blogosphere. Novels or screenplays, laptops or crayons, people look like they're getting their heads down and scribbling. More power to your elbows, kids.

For my part, I got the notes on "Stuck Between Stations" from the prod co. I met on Monday. My limited experience of these things seem to go "I love the script. It's perfect. Now, here's everything that's wrong with it."

And you know what? They're completely right. I went through the list and agreed with everything they said. You learn early on in this game that you're not going to make the best script you can on your own. You need that outside input. You're making this for other people to watch, so you need to know what other people are thinking.

I've sketched out a rough treatment for the new draft. I'm sad that some of my favourite jokes are going to have to fall by the wayside, but you've got to be ruthless, no matter how good that Scooby Doo joke is. Luckily, most of it is going to just be moving furniture around to help the pace and set up future episode plotlines. I'm chomping at the bit to get started and really excited. I'm actually writing something I'm really proud of and, for once, don't think I'll be wincing when I read it back in a few years time.

I couldn't do anything last night because the printer died, but that's okay. I've made a pledge not to write on Tuesdays because that's Battlestar Galactica night and I just feel really bad comparing my writing to that show.

I don't know for sure, but this might be the meaningful thing that I've been trying to write. And I've managed to retain some knob gags.

Let's all keep it up!

Screenwriters' Diary Newsletter Launches!!!

For those of you reading this on the website, you'll notice a nice shiny new box above this post.

And if you put your email address in this box, then you'll be the proud recipient of the Screenwriters' Diary Weekly Newsletter. Every Monday morning, it'll contain all the new opportunities posted onto the diary and reminders for the week's upcoming events, in an easy to digest format.

So, if you have something you want to tell people about, click on the "Email Me!" link on the website and let me know.

Don't worry, to avoid inbox carnage, I'll limit it to once a week unless something very urgent and important pops up mid-week. And I won't be doing anything dodgy with your email addresses. Partly because I'm a nice guy, but mostly because I'd have no idea what to do with them...

If you have any problems or suggestions, please get in touch and we'll work through this together.

Remember that you can also stay up to date with the daily posts by clicking on the RSS or email feed over on the right hand side of the website as well!

I shall be having a little launch party of my own tonight, which will involve a can of bitter and "Battlestar Galactica". I know how to party...

Screenwriters' Diary Update

You'll be pleased to know that I sat down last night and wrote the first scene of "Four Horsemen". Then watched "Battlestar Galactica", sulked over how my writing isn't as good and then re-wrote it.

But, anyway, like the fabled Ferrero Rocher ambassador (which country was he actually ambassador for?), the screen agencies are spoiling you Northern writers with the launch of Northern Laughs. The deadline is 18th March 2009 and prizes include mentoring from Jeremy Dyson and Armstrong & Miller. Brap!

But us soft southerners shouldn't feel left out with the 2 Days Laughter short comedy film competition. You have 48 hours to go out and shoot and edit a comedy or the D.A. takes your badge. Or something. Then sit back and watch the commissions from Channel 4 roll in...

UPDATE: As Piers has very kindly pointed out, Jeremy Dyson is the only confirmed mentor so far. Neither Armstrong nor Miller are involved and I obviously can't read properly....