October 6, 2013

12 Little Screenwriters

By suehealy

I’ve been X-Factored. Or, at least, I’ve been chosen as one of twelve screenwriters selected from the East of England region for a script development scheme which will feature mentoring and round eliminations, a structure reminiscent of X-Factor (albeit sans Cowell).

Write2screen’s “Script HotHouse” is supported by Creative East and the National Writers’ Centre. And in late September, we, the selected dozen of writers, were given an initial intensive day-long workshop by Michael Lensfield and Christabelle Dilks, both highly experienced film industry professionals. In fact, many of us have been previously tutored by Michael at UEA where he lectures in screen adaptation. What Michael taught me about plot and story back then has influenced all areas of my writing – so if I don’t get any further than that one day workshop we had in September, just having another opportunity to attend a class led by Michael was worth it. Seriously.

We now have to submit a revised synopsis and the first thirty pages of script by Oct. 25^th. Thereafter, only six will be selected to be ‘hot-housed’ to completion of the script. And from this half dozen, only three scripts will be chosen to have their work presented to industry professionals and film-makers. I’ve already written a draft of this script so I’m currently revising the first act in accordance to what we gleaned from Michael and Christabelle’s workshop.

So, here’s hoping my ‘act’ makes it through to the next round. I’m certainly giving it my best shot. Action!

About suehealy

From Ireland, Sue Healy is Literary Manager at the Finborough Theatre, London, a full-time Senior Lecturer and Programme Leader in Creative Writing at the University of Lincoln. "70 Years At The Court" is her upcoming book, due to be published in 2026 by Methuen Drama, which she is co-writing with Prof. Harriet Devine. Her previous book "The Literary Manager's Toolkit" is on theatre literary management is published by Routledge (2023). Sue is an award-winning writer for stage, TV, and prose writer. TV Her current project, a 6x60minute TV series, is under option. She is under commission with Lone Wolf Media, producers behind PBS’ “Mercy Street”, to co-write the pilot and treatment for a six-part TV series. Stage Her most recent stage-play, Imaginationship (2018), enjoyed a sold out, extended run at the Finborough and later showed at the Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough. Her previous stage productions include Cow (Etcetera Theatre, 2017) and Brazen (King’s Head Theatre, 2016), funded by Arts Council England. Sue’s short plays have been performed at the Criterion (Criterion New Writing Showcase), Arcola (The Miniaturists) and Hackney Attic (Fizzy Sherbet Shorts). Radio Her radio work includes nine plays broadcast on BBC Radio 4 (Opening Lines winner), WLRfm and KCLR96fm. Prose Sue has won The Molly Keane Award, HISSAC Prize, Escalator Award, Meridian Prize and has been published in nine literary journals and anthologies including: The Moth, Flight, Tainted Innocence, New Writer, Duality, HISSAC, New European Writers. She has been writer-in-residence on Inis Oírr, Aran Islands, and at the Heinrich Boll Cottage on Achill Island. She has also benefitted from annual artist residencies at the Tyrone Guthrie Centre, and at Ginestrelle, Assisi in Italy. An academic with a PhD in modern theatre history, specifically the Royal Court Theatre, Sue has presented her research internationally. She spent eleven years in Budapest, editing Hungary A.M. She has a PhD in modern theatre history (Royal Court Theatre) and is a UEA Creative Writing MA alumna. View all posts by suehealy

This entry was posted on Sunday, October 6th, 2013 at 11:41 and tagged with "The Hole in the Moon", Christabelle Dilks, creative east, Michael Lensfield, screenplay, screenwriting, sue healy, WCN, write2screen and posted in Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.