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 | North East Post A Voice of the Free Press |
12:00 AM 25th October 2024
arts
Major TV Industry Event Announced For Writers Across The North
Sponsored by North East Screen, Screenwriting Weekender takes place at the Live Theatre in Newcastle from 31 January to 2 February.
It features leading screenwriters, such as Tony Schumacher (The Responder), executives from TV production companies such as Clerkenwell (Baby Reindeer), Merman (Motherland) Warp (The Virtues) and RED (It’s a Sin) as well current opportunities from BBC Writers.
It will also showcase tips on how to break into TV scriptwriting from agents at Curtis Brown and Casarotto.
The event features a keynote speech from the critically acclaimed screenwriter, Peter Straughan.
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Peter Straughan
Tony Schumacher, behind the hit Liverpool drama, The Responder, starring Martin Freeman, based on his own experiences as a Merseyside police officer, will be in conversation with the South Shields-based screenwriter, Emile Robson, exploring his inspiring story, how he navigates the industry and his approach to writing.
“We are delighted to be sponsoring New Writing North on The Screenwriting Weekender which has an impressive line-up of world class talent.
“Stories are the lifeblood of our industry and the region has a rich history of storytelling in all its forms. However, for years we have lacked a visible local screen industry. That is starting to change with the North East seeing an 89% increase in film and TV production over the last two years, and a fourfold increase in commissions from the region. For anyone who wants to make the most of these new opportunities to get their untold stories in front of global audiences, this event is a must.”
The weekend will explore a range of topics from demystifying writers’ rooms and creating iconic characters right through to pitching.
The entertainment company, FilmNation TV, is supporting 10 bursary places to support northern writers who would otherwise be unable to access the event to take part.
“I’m delighted to be involved in this exciting event amongst such wonderful local talent, and to be part of the renewed wave of enthusiasm for our fantastic region.”
"I am determined to make the North East a powerhouse of creativity and culture, because that will open the door to opportunities that can transform people's lives. Screenwriting Weekender shows how we can make this happen, by helping people find routes to get ahead in the film and TV industries.
"We have a proud screenwriting legacy with the likes of Dick Clement, Ian La Frenais, and Peter Flannery bringing iconic shows like Auf Wiedersehen Pet and Our Friends In The North to TV screens. As Mayor I want the North East's diverse new voices to be heard and seen across the world by helping unearth a new generation of talent."
The writer John Higgs, who specialises in finding unsuspected narratives that can change how we see the world, will give a session on how to maintain your creativity and optimism in a market-driven industry and uncertain world. Higgs’s books include explorations of James Bond (Love and Let Die) and Stranger Than We Can Imagine: Making Sense of the Twentieth Century.
Jo Schofield, Senior Talent Executive, Screen Yorkshire and former script editor at Emmerdale and Coronation Street will chair a conversation with Northern writer Jackie Okwera, who has worked in writers' rooms for HBO Max, Netflix, Apple TV+, Sky, and Channel 4, and drama commissioner Phil Dodds, about their experiences of navigating the industry and working in writers’ rooms.
Jess Loveland, Head of New Writing at the BBC and Kirstie Macdonald, Creative Director, FilmNation TV UK, will discuss how writers can create a spec script that will wow agents and production companies.
Malak El-Gonemy, Development Executive at Tiger Aspect, will chair a conversation with screenwriters Mark Brotherhood (Ludwig), Jason Cook (Hebburn) and Ashley Storrie (Dinosaur) on how to break into writing comedy for the screen.
“It’s a chance to hear from those working at the coal face of TV, with invaluable insights and exercises, from creating an unputdownable opening for your script, to sessions with leading agents on how to break into the industry, to learning to pitch ideas with leading development producers. There’ll also be a focus on the writing itself – how to navigate audience trends, maintain creativity and generally, be inspired. There will also be an opportunity to network with other writers, as well as producers and funders at mixers throughout the weekend.”
On hand are representatives from North East Screen, CreativeUK, Film Hub North, BBC, BFI NETWORK, and the Film and TV Charity, as well as execs and producers from regional production companies keen to build networks with northern writers.
Other speakers include development producer Emma Millions, who has created hundreds of pitch decks, and written for the likes of Ant and Dec, and Alex Cameron from Parrot Analytics, who uses data to explore the tension between writing what you think an audience wants, and what you as a writer want to say.
Topics will also explore mental health and wellbeing for writers, and ways to improve the often financially precarious and emotionally challenging experience of being a working writer for TV.
New Writing North’s mission is to break down barriers to opportunities for northern writing talent, helping to identify, support and create career-changing opportunities.
The charity leads the development of creative writing and reading in the North of England. Based in Newcastle, the Arts Council Portfolio Organisation has developed new writing talent since 1996.
It runs numerous awards and writer development programmes to support screenwriters, including the Channel 4 Writing for TV Awards which offers packages of support to emerging writers from the north, including placements at film production companies Bonafide Films, Red Production Company, and Rollem Productions.
Book: https://newwritingnorth.com/event/screenwriting-weekender/