Factory News
Upcoming Writers' Factory events

Opportunities
Screen writing competitions and other opportunities

Events
Screen writing events and classes

E-BULLETIN: April 2011

Welcome to the Writers' Factory's E-Bulletin for April 2011.

These monthly bulletins contain information about future Writers' Factory courses as well as information relevant to screen writers across the UK and internationally. The Writers' Factory E-Bulletin is divided into three sections: Factory News, Opportunities and Events.

We would appreciate any feedback you have on our
E-bulletin and if you have any information that you would like circulated to our subscribers, please email this to info@writersfactory.co.uk by the end of the first week of each month.

Events
Uist Eco Film Festival 2011
Scottish Screenwriters - Welcomes New Members
De Monfort TV Writers Day 2011
Serious Screenwriting 2011 BAFTA - Screenwriters on Screenwriting Channel
Thirteen Week Course in Filmmaking
Euroscript - Screenwriting Courses and Events
Read more

Factory News

The Writers' Factory Intermediate Screenwriting Course
Edinburgh Skillset Screen and Media Academy
Location: Edinburgh, UK
Dates: 11 May - 13 July 2011

If you’ve already written several short film scripts and are confidently aware of and able to utilise basic screenwriting principles, then this is a great opportunity to build your skills and portfolio through writing longer format (up to 30mins duration) screenplays. Or you may want to develop your ten-minute screen work more fully.

This course was devised after much demand from emerging professionals. Designed to follow directly on from the Introductory Screenwriting course, the Intermediate programme is workshop-based and uses peer-to-peer review and feedback sessions with experienced industry professionals in conjunction with lectures and short film screenings. Don’t let your ideas sit there. Get them working!

Visit http://bit.ly/fS2mug for more details.

Develop your ideas into stories on this intensive double weekend course

If you’ve a head full of ideas but are pushed for time, this course is for you. It’s an express version of the Introduction to Screenwriting course and runs over two non-consecutive weekends. Writers’ Factory tutors devised the course content in response to demand from new writers who have been unable to attend the full version but want a rigorous overview of the craft from industry professionals. Over the two weekends, you’ll develop a premise and outline for a five to ten-minute screenplay.

Visit http://bit.ly/h2Fmxg for more details.

The Writers’ Factory courses have been highly successful in developing screenwriters, many of whom have gone on to produce short film scripts or pursue their interest in writing at Film School. All courses are screen-industry approved and are delivered by experienced screen industry professionals.  Courses offered through the programme include:

Introduction to Screenwriting Express
Run over 2 weekends, this course is designed to help students explore storytelling instincts and the craft of screenwriting and offers the opportunity to develop and write a commercial ten minute film. 

Introduction to Screenwriting
Delivered over 22 weeks, this course is designed to help students develop a range of skills and critical facilities in the field of screenwriting and offers them the opportunity to develop and write a short screenplay.

Feature Film Course
Delivered over 22 weeks, this course is designed to help emerging screenwriters to develop a range of skills in the field of feature film writing and offers them the opportunity to write a feature length screenplay. 

*You must have completed the Introduction To Screenwriting course or have a relevant qualification in order to participate on this course.

Training for Trainers
These courses are open to experienced screenwriters, script consultants and development producers who would like to run courses training emerging writing talent.

Visit www.writersfactory.co.uk for details on current courses

Opportunities

Scottish Mental Health Festival Film Submissions
Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival
Location: Scotland-wide
Deadlines: 6 May 2011

The Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival is committed to finding and celebrating the work of filmmakers who explore mental health in film. Its annual open film submission gives filmmakers the opportunity to share their work and ideas with audiences across Scotland and internationally.

The closing date for entries is Friday 6th May 2011. Entry is free. Please email smhaff@gmail.com for submission guidelines and entry form or visit http://bit.ly/fWlzpH for more information.

The Skillset Drama Training Programme is currently looking for people with the desire to become script editors. The partnership will offer 12 months of on-the-job training with unrivalled access to key talent and productions within Scotland.

The Skillset Drama Training Programme is a partnership between Skillset, BBC Scotland, BECTU, Skills Development Scotland and The Scottish Government & European Social Fund via the STUC. The programme is part of a cross-industry initiative aimed at boosting Scottish scripted production in both television and film through developing and nurturing content-generating producers and script editors who have an investment in living and working locally. They are now recruiting for a person with a clear focus and desire to become a script editor. Applicants must be currently residing at a Scottish address.

For a full job description and application pack please contact DTPapplications@bbc.co.uk marking the subject of your email ‘Application Request’.

The Alchemy Film and Moving Image Festival is commited to developing audiences for high quality film and moving image. This year's Festival will explore landscape and the four elements: earth, air, fire and water, whether interpreted literally, metaphorically or catastrophically. 

Submissions are now being accepted, and priority will be given to films made in the last three years, though older films will be considered if there is a close thematic link. Short films of under 15 minutes duration will stand a much greater chance of selection. They are willing to consider feature length films only if they fit closely with this year's festival theme.

For further details, visit  www.alchemyfilmfestival.org.uk

ScreenHI is going on the road this Spring and Summer to show off their fabulously talented filmmakers.  They will have a screening tent at some of the biggest festivals in Scotland including The Wickerman Festival, Belladrum Tartan Heart and Loopallu to showcase the best of Scottish short films made in the last 18 months.   Kicking off with the Celtic Media Festival in Stornoway later this month, they will also be visiting the Knoydart Festival and some further, as yet, unconfirmed events.

If you'd like your film to be considered please get in touch with ScreenHI on info@screenhi.co.uk

The Television Consultancy Company is calling all filmmakers to enter into a competition to win a £15,000 to production grant to produce the next instalment of their short film 'Entangled', a comic horror film about wires and plugs taking over the world.  

To enter, submit either a script (either dialogue or treatment script) of no more than 2,000 words outlining what happens next.  The winning team will win production finance to see their idea transpire to film, with the full support of an established production company.

Email your entries to helena.reed@tvcgroup.com or call 020 7535 5800.

The Grierson Awards commemorate the pioneering Scottish documentary filmmaker John Grierson (1898 – 1972), famous for Drifters and Night Mail and the man widely regarded as the father of the documentary. 

Categories as follows:

Best Documentary on a Contemporary Theme – Domestic
Best Documentary on a Contemporary Theme – International
Best Documentary on the Arts
Best Historical Documentary
Best Science Documentary
Most Entertaining Documentary
Best Documentary Series
Best Cinema Documentary
Best Newcomer
Best Student Documentary
The Trustees’ Award

The qualifying period is 1 May 2010 - 30 April 2011

For further details, visit http://www.griersontrust.org/grierson-awards-the-british-documentary-awards/how-to-enter.html 

Microwave is Film London’s micro-budget feature film-making scheme. Aimed at commissioning the next generation of film-making talent in the capital, this unique training-through-production scheme offers fledgling talent an avenue into feature production.

The scheme provides:
- Production funding
- Bespoke training and mentoring
- Professional development
- Support from script to screen

For further details, visit http://microwave.filmlondon.org.uk/

Alongside training on all aspects of drama production from casting to scheduling, students will receive direct writing experience on continuing dramas, with commissions on the shows once they successfully complete the course.

Creativity, talent and a passion for telling stories are essential criteria for those applying. Applicants must have had at least one professional commission in either television, theatre, radio or film.

For further details visit https://jobs.bbc.co.uk/fe/tpl_bbc01.asp?newms=jj&id=37966 or email ceri.meyrick@bbc.co.uk

Series four of topical comedy sketch show Newsjack begins on 7th February 2011 for six weeks and they're once again holding an open call for new material. Newsjack seeks to comically scrutinise the news, views, and issues of the day. It aims to be irreverent and satirical, a kind of younger brother to the more "grown up" Radio 4 topical shows like The Now Show and The News Quiz. The production team accept sketches and short jokes every week of the six week run. The best submissions will make it into the show. The production team read and select material on Monday and Tuesdays. The show is broadcast on Thursday nights.

Deadline for sketches: Mondays by 12pm. Deadline for one-liners: Tuesdays by 5pm. To find out more and send them your work, visit http://bbc.in/e6YIyj or email newsjack@bbc.co.uk

Encounters is one of the best-known showcases and meeting points for emerging talent, and is now the UK’s leading gateway to the world’s most prestigious short film awards.

Encounters accept short films from all over the world completed from 1 Jan 2010, under 30 minutes in length from every genre: animation, live action drama, documentary, experimental and music video, and does not have a premiere policy.

For more information, contact info@encounters-festival.org.uk

To submit, visit http://bit.ly/fOrsqj

Production company Squarebox Yellow - with access to funding and distribution - are searching for their next project. If you have a feature length script you are looking to get produced then please get in touch with them on mara@makingugly.com

For examples of their work please visit http://bit.ly/gPOsz4

Events

Uist Eco Film Festival 2011
UEFF
Location: Outer Hebrides, Scotland
Dates: 29 April - 1 May 2011

UEFF is a new 3-day film festival, screening environmentally-themed international documentary and fiction on film and video, based at Balivanich Community Hall in the Outer Hebrides.  The main themes of the festival will be climate change and sustainability in relation to island and maritime contexts in three strands – what we’ve got; how we stand to lose it and; how we can change the situation.

Confirmed headline films so far include:

-The UK premiere of Climate of Change (narrated by Tilda Swinton)
-The Wild Places of Essex (with Robert Macfarlane)
-Cape Farewell's Art from a Changing Arctic
-The Oscar-nominated  Waste Land

For more information call 01876 500240, email  arts@taigh-chearsabhagh.org, or visit http://bit.ly/hJkrtQ

Most meetings will start off with a short Industry Talk and Question and Answer session, followed by workshopping of scripts and outlines in the second part of the evening.

Meetings are suitable for everyone with an interest in learning about Screenwriting, from those with no experience at all, to working professionals. Bring along work on the night and each piece to be workshopped should be no more than 10 pages.

For details of all the meetings, visit http://bit.ly/e1EHtW

IMT Hurricane are offering a free thirteen week course in film making, including script writing, story boarding, cinematography and video editing.

You will also have the opportunity to gain practical experience within the industry working with actual film makers, and the chance to complete a short film for your own show reel.

The course is free to New Deal clients from the London and Essex area, and offered at a very competitive rate to everyone else.

To make sure you live in a funded area, visit http://bit.ly/fMwFEg email fm@imthurricane.org or call 02086911900 and ask for Ben

For more information, visit http://bit.ly/fMLcWZ

Screenwriting Courses and Events
Euroscript
Location: London
Dates: Ongoing

Euroscript’s goal is to facilitate the production of highest quality marketable screenplays for film and television. Euroscript comprises a team of experienced and diverse industry professionals including producers, working screenwriters, script consultants and film-makers

Training is at the heart of the Euroscript programme. They offer a wide range of courses and events to help develop your screenwriting, marketing and networking skills no matter your level, using experienced industry practitioners giving personal feedback on your work.

Euroscript offer a diverse range of: Day and Weekend Courses, Evening Courses, Project Development Workshops and Free Events

For all upcoming courses and events, please view the Euroscript monthly calendar http://bit.ly/h9BcMv

Writers' Factory @ Playwrights' Studio, Scotland
CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, G2 3JD
Telephone: 0141-332-4403 Textphone: 0141-332-3208
info@playwrightsstudio.co.uk www.playwrightsstudio.co.uk
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