The cogs have been turning again this week - well actually this day. Cranked out another great little short script yesterday, about 18 pages worth, on a story I prepped the day before. Came to me in a flash (as do most things) as a supernatural, hyper-real ghost story about a man haunted by a presence he can't get rid of. Blah, blah, blah I hear you say.........but you have to read this baby to believe it. It really will take you for a ride and leave you reflecting on the imagery you've just had floating about in your head. That wasn't what I thought it was, was it?
Keep an eye out on the short film circuit in 2009/10 for this one - TRANSPARENCY.
Nick
Thursday 24 July 2008
Monday 14 July 2008
And The Road Leads..............To Somewhere?
OMG what's going on? This last week has been a major "in the zone" week for writing and I've rattled off 95 pages of a new script in just over two weeks. That would ordinarily be brilliant but for two things:
1) I'm only just half way through the story!
2) I can't complete a 180 page script and hope to cut it down to 90 pages. That's impossible!
I know, I know, I can hear you all moaning..."But it can't be very good if you've done it in two weeks, can it?" The simple answer is "Possibly not....as it sits at the moment". The fact remains that at potentially 180 pages it's waaaaaaaay too long for a single feature despite the fact that the premise is very exciting, and I've just let the story flow out of my head onto the paper as it needs to.
I have been very conscious of brevity as I've been writing so it is a fast read for sure. However it is most certainly more suited, at its current length and that which I assume it will complete at, as a two part TV drama. The only problem with that is the story is very heavy - emotionally - and deals with issues that, without putting too fine a point on it, signal the end of mankind. And all in a way that is very real, and worringly, very possible.
There is so much to this story, and so much more I have had to leave untouched, that I am tempted to reconfigure the story to be a three or four part narrative, which then becomes much more suitable for serialisation. The hero is someone very identifiable, in an all action way, but clearly flawed by personality and experience. Supporting characters could be further fleshed out to provide alternative insight to the backstory surrounding the main premise.
It's a fascinating opportunity to really go beyond what I would normally do in a feature script, simply because it carries with it elements of political conspiracy and the hot topic of the Middle East, subjects that are constantly changing, and being debated the world over. I'm not quite sure how to pitch it, or if to pitch it to executives looking for the next serialised drama. I'd love to finish it first but that might mean 5 or 6 '60 minute' odd scripts for producers to wade through.
Perhaps I should do a good 'Part One', and then plan out the rest of the story in smaller treatments. In that way it could be seen as the realists 'Cloverfield' were it to be interpreted in a 'handy-cam' sort of way. That in itself is very exciting for sure.
Anyway watch this space. When I've made a decision you'll be the first to know. Nick
1) I'm only just half way through the story!
2) I can't complete a 180 page script and hope to cut it down to 90 pages. That's impossible!
I know, I know, I can hear you all moaning..."But it can't be very good if you've done it in two weeks, can it?" The simple answer is "Possibly not....as it sits at the moment". The fact remains that at potentially 180 pages it's waaaaaaaay too long for a single feature despite the fact that the premise is very exciting, and I've just let the story flow out of my head onto the paper as it needs to.
I have been very conscious of brevity as I've been writing so it is a fast read for sure. However it is most certainly more suited, at its current length and that which I assume it will complete at, as a two part TV drama. The only problem with that is the story is very heavy - emotionally - and deals with issues that, without putting too fine a point on it, signal the end of mankind. And all in a way that is very real, and worringly, very possible.
There is so much to this story, and so much more I have had to leave untouched, that I am tempted to reconfigure the story to be a three or four part narrative, which then becomes much more suitable for serialisation. The hero is someone very identifiable, in an all action way, but clearly flawed by personality and experience. Supporting characters could be further fleshed out to provide alternative insight to the backstory surrounding the main premise.
It's a fascinating opportunity to really go beyond what I would normally do in a feature script, simply because it carries with it elements of political conspiracy and the hot topic of the Middle East, subjects that are constantly changing, and being debated the world over. I'm not quite sure how to pitch it, or if to pitch it to executives looking for the next serialised drama. I'd love to finish it first but that might mean 5 or 6 '60 minute' odd scripts for producers to wade through.
Perhaps I should do a good 'Part One', and then plan out the rest of the story in smaller treatments. In that way it could be seen as the realists 'Cloverfield' were it to be interpreted in a 'handy-cam' sort of way. That in itself is very exciting for sure.
Anyway watch this space. When I've made a decision you'll be the first to know. Nick
Saturday 5 July 2008
TRC - The Journey Has Begun........
Today my journey into the land of the graphic novel began in ernest. The Rasbenek Chronicles took shape in the first of many shot lists that both Steve Simmons and I will be working on in our development of a new and exciting character-led vampiric graphic novel. The script from which this novel is taken began life in 1999 and though it has sat, completed, for a number of years, has had dust shaken from its covers in an effort to graphically present its filmic potential to all.
Please follow the journey in the creation of The Rasbenek Chronicles on my other blog.
Nick
Please follow the journey in the creation of The Rasbenek Chronicles on my other blog.
Nick
Monday 30 June 2008
The Men in White Coats.......
Another day, another idea springs forth from the well that seems to know no drought. In seventy-two hours a one page overview (and several pages of idea notes) has been transformed into the first 42 pages of my latest narrative creation - CONTAGION.
A political-thriller-cum-horror-SciFi story with reflections of 28 Days Later, Outbreak, The Island of Dr Moreau, Escape from New York, and Dawn of the Dead. It's a heady mix of political intrigue, and festering blood-soaked horror that spins a degree of filmic familiarity with the horrors of current affairs in the Middle East.
To that end it is anything but derivative. It is a science-fact led fiction, set in a modern era, with modern landmarks, modern characters, and just a shade of political underhandedness. All things audiences can easily identify, and identify-with. In a heroic charcter, the likes of which have not been seen in mainstream cinema, audiences will take a soul-searching and heart-rending journey in the quest to rescue those who mean most in the threat of the apocalypse; family. Even that family from whom the hero in us has been forcibly estranged.
Contagion is set to be an explosive, fast-paced, scary thrill ride to the apocalypse - one, that in the modern age is all too possible. Just keep telling yourself........
"It's only a movie. Only a movie. Only a movie".
Nick
A political-thriller-cum-horror-SciFi story with reflections of 28 Days Later, Outbreak, The Island of Dr Moreau, Escape from New York, and Dawn of the Dead. It's a heady mix of political intrigue, and festering blood-soaked horror that spins a degree of filmic familiarity with the horrors of current affairs in the Middle East.
To that end it is anything but derivative. It is a science-fact led fiction, set in a modern era, with modern landmarks, modern characters, and just a shade of political underhandedness. All things audiences can easily identify, and identify-with. In a heroic charcter, the likes of which have not been seen in mainstream cinema, audiences will take a soul-searching and heart-rending journey in the quest to rescue those who mean most in the threat of the apocalypse; family. Even that family from whom the hero in us has been forcibly estranged.
Contagion is set to be an explosive, fast-paced, scary thrill ride to the apocalypse - one, that in the modern age is all too possible. Just keep telling yourself........
"It's only a movie. Only a movie. Only a movie".
Nick
Saturday 21 June 2008
Must've Been Dreamin..........
Well HARD SHOULDER has been completed and what an intense journey that was. A psychological thriller unlike anything I've written before; more twists, more complex, and more involving a story than any of my other screenplays, and, for a change, a non-linear tale with an ending that will keep you guessing...........probably long after you've left the cinema (or reboxed the DVD). I'm well pleased with it to say the least. And my army of readers like it too, praise be.
Now to the process of rewrite to make sure that every little nuance, every clue, every setup, and every pay off fits seamlessly together, before I rip up the narrative and start to reassemble in the non-linear way that was always intended. Forgive my conceit if I say this is everything I had hoped in a 'thinking man's' Reservoir Dogs - except without the robbery, the smart suits, and the slick Tarantino signatures.
One aside, however, and in reference to this blogs title "Must've Been Dreamin'", relates to the intended budget. £10k? Who was I trying to kid? Nice idea but wholly unrealistic now I've had time to read the thing cover to cover. No chance. But certainly, now I've had opportunity to rethink, something in the region of £40-50k is most definitely possible.
And because I feel so strongly that the material is worth the attention of seasoned actors I'm going straight for the jugular and looking to Wil Johnson ("Waking the Dead") and the always magical Ray Winstone ("Vincent", "King Arthur") for the leads. Whether they respond to the material or not is another matter. But we can only try, right?
So watch this space for developments.
Nick
Now to the process of rewrite to make sure that every little nuance, every clue, every setup, and every pay off fits seamlessly together, before I rip up the narrative and start to reassemble in the non-linear way that was always intended. Forgive my conceit if I say this is everything I had hoped in a 'thinking man's' Reservoir Dogs - except without the robbery, the smart suits, and the slick Tarantino signatures.
One aside, however, and in reference to this blogs title "Must've Been Dreamin'", relates to the intended budget. £10k? Who was I trying to kid? Nice idea but wholly unrealistic now I've had time to read the thing cover to cover. No chance. But certainly, now I've had opportunity to rethink, something in the region of £40-50k is most definitely possible.
And because I feel so strongly that the material is worth the attention of seasoned actors I'm going straight for the jugular and looking to Wil Johnson ("Waking the Dead") and the always magical Ray Winstone ("Vincent", "King Arthur") for the leads. Whether they respond to the material or not is another matter. But we can only try, right?
So watch this space for developments.
Nick
Thursday 5 June 2008
Low Budget Thriller.................
Oceanstorm Films are currently in the final stages of development on a new psychological thriller called "Hard Shoulder" - a violent road-trip styled feature that mixes the best of "The Devils Rejects" with the claustrophobic environment of "Saw" and the mental deterioration of character found in "Lost Highway".
Budgeted at a tiny £10k for the 75 mins of narrative, interest from several prominant TV actors has seen finance figures of nearly £50k discussed by intrigued executives, thus pushing the scope of the film beyond what had originally been envisaged. All this ultimately means is more production value for audiences.
It is hoped that the film will showcase at several important film festivals early in the calender of 2009, and thereafter receive decent distribution at markets like Berlin and the AFM. We can but hope I suppose!
Watch this space for developments or alternatively you can follow progress on: http://www.hardshoulderthemovie.blogspot.com/
Budgeted at a tiny £10k for the 75 mins of narrative, interest from several prominant TV actors has seen finance figures of nearly £50k discussed by intrigued executives, thus pushing the scope of the film beyond what had originally been envisaged. All this ultimately means is more production value for audiences.
It is hoped that the film will showcase at several important film festivals early in the calender of 2009, and thereafter receive decent distribution at markets like Berlin and the AFM. We can but hope I suppose!
Watch this space for developments or alternatively you can follow progress on: http://www.hardshoulderthemovie.blogspot.com/
Wednesday 21 May 2008
In the Cannes?
Six hours sleep over three days in the pursuit of the dream, and I'm finally back from the 61st International Film Festival of Cannes, knackered but truly inspired.
After many meetings, both pre-organised and spontaneously negotiated, with representatives from international sales companies, distribution, financial institutions, co-production entities, and film commissions, I'm fired up to close finance on an entire slate of projects that have captured the imagination of those to whom smart, verbal quick-fire pitches were spurted. It's been an amazing experience and one I want to repeat next year - hopefully with a fist of new films to follow up those from this year that will have, fingers crossed, headed into production.
With a spread of four projects, including Hotel Caledonia (which incidentally was seeking to tie up finance) the response from those who listened to the pitches was awesome and I now have a few contact emails to send ahead of confirming appointments to discuss the projects more fully once all parties concerned are back in 'Blighty' - no hot air, as can sometimes be the case, but real, on-the-money discussions.
Part of the problem with film festivals is working out how to cut through the bluster, the feigning of interest, and the pleasantries of those well placed to help but who by virtue of their tanned complexions, hot female companions, and eagerness to quoff other's free champagne, have a tendency towards disingenuous promises, to find those people who really want to talk movies, finance, and opportunity.
Thankfully, at present at least, I feel that my journey to Cannes has been fantastically worthwhile and is something I'd recommend to anyone wanting to stay inspired if the graft of project development, and the disappointment of knockback, has left you feeling that perhaps the industry doesn't need you. Think again! You may not return home with any firm offers of any kind but the encouragement of networking and seeing what others are doing, even under their own steam, will leave you desperate to get your hands on a camera, or a PC, to make your next story come alive.
In this instance, however, even those projects yet to begin their finance-searching journeys have come under the spotlight of production interest and now have investment opportunities to explore. That means that INFECTED and BASTILLE are, perhaps, finally on their way. I'll keep you posted on further progress as I have it.
After many meetings, both pre-organised and spontaneously negotiated, with representatives from international sales companies, distribution, financial institutions, co-production entities, and film commissions, I'm fired up to close finance on an entire slate of projects that have captured the imagination of those to whom smart, verbal quick-fire pitches were spurted. It's been an amazing experience and one I want to repeat next year - hopefully with a fist of new films to follow up those from this year that will have, fingers crossed, headed into production.
With a spread of four projects, including Hotel Caledonia (which incidentally was seeking to tie up finance) the response from those who listened to the pitches was awesome and I now have a few contact emails to send ahead of confirming appointments to discuss the projects more fully once all parties concerned are back in 'Blighty' - no hot air, as can sometimes be the case, but real, on-the-money discussions.
Part of the problem with film festivals is working out how to cut through the bluster, the feigning of interest, and the pleasantries of those well placed to help but who by virtue of their tanned complexions, hot female companions, and eagerness to quoff other's free champagne, have a tendency towards disingenuous promises, to find those people who really want to talk movies, finance, and opportunity.
Thankfully, at present at least, I feel that my journey to Cannes has been fantastically worthwhile and is something I'd recommend to anyone wanting to stay inspired if the graft of project development, and the disappointment of knockback, has left you feeling that perhaps the industry doesn't need you. Think again! You may not return home with any firm offers of any kind but the encouragement of networking and seeing what others are doing, even under their own steam, will leave you desperate to get your hands on a camera, or a PC, to make your next story come alive.
In this instance, however, even those projects yet to begin their finance-searching journeys have come under the spotlight of production interest and now have investment opportunities to explore. That means that INFECTED and BASTILLE are, perhaps, finally on their way. I'll keep you posted on further progress as I have it.
Saturday 10 May 2008
When the Muse comes calling.....bind her down!
What an amazing first few months 2008 has produced - especially on the writing front. Months of brain cell inactivity, a drying up of writers creative juices, and the stress of pre-production hell on my first feature production have all been severely blown away in the hurricane of inspiration.
So what's the latest..................completed two (2) new hard-hitting socio-political dramas, featurettes really in the modern way of thinking, that are con troversial and gut-wrenchingly sad in the process. They touch on subject matters that will cause a lot of controvery once made.
Packaged a pacey 25-pager psychological thriller treatment that has been variously described as the new "Se7en" by several well placed industry personnel. Working to interest Michael Fassbender to take on the lead role.
Pitched a funny and quite retro short film exploring the alternative origins of Jack the Ripper all to be shot in 2D/3D animation with live action insertions for funding.
Completed a Romantic Comedy one pager about a hapless individual struggling to win the girl of his dreams but finding a special 'love potion' that will make all his dreams come true......so long as he can get her to fall in love with him before the last of the potion wears off. Will start to write this at the end of the year hopefully.
Writing a new feature film script for a low budget zombie'esque politico/scifi/horror.
Writing a new script for a low budget 75 minute psychological thriller feature about a family man who reluctantly agrees to take time from a heavy workload to spend time with his dysfunctional family in order to repair relations, but encounters unexpected tragedies as a result. Prepping to shoot in September on £6k as a sort of Saw / Devils Rejects / Lost Highway narrative mix.
Well that's it so far this year........on top of all the production, finance, and pitching of the completed work already on file. I don't know where all this stuff comes from but I'm not complaining.
Keep writin'.
Nick
So what's the latest..................completed two (2) new hard-hitting socio-political dramas, featurettes really in the modern way of thinking, that are con troversial and gut-wrenchingly sad in the process. They touch on subject matters that will cause a lot of controvery once made.
Packaged a pacey 25-pager psychological thriller treatment that has been variously described as the new "Se7en" by several well placed industry personnel. Working to interest Michael Fassbender to take on the lead role.
Pitched a funny and quite retro short film exploring the alternative origins of Jack the Ripper all to be shot in 2D/3D animation with live action insertions for funding.
Completed a Romantic Comedy one pager about a hapless individual struggling to win the girl of his dreams but finding a special 'love potion' that will make all his dreams come true......so long as he can get her to fall in love with him before the last of the potion wears off. Will start to write this at the end of the year hopefully.
Writing a new feature film script for a low budget zombie'esque politico/scifi/horror.
Writing a new script for a low budget 75 minute psychological thriller feature about a family man who reluctantly agrees to take time from a heavy workload to spend time with his dysfunctional family in order to repair relations, but encounters unexpected tragedies as a result. Prepping to shoot in September on £6k as a sort of Saw / Devils Rejects / Lost Highway narrative mix.
Well that's it so far this year........on top of all the production, finance, and pitching of the completed work already on file. I don't know where all this stuff comes from but I'm not complaining.
Keep writin'.
Nick
Tuesday 1 January 2008
A Game of Russian Roulette.....
With yet more unfathomable delays in the journey of Hotel Caledonia towards production, and some rather personally irksome developments I have decided to try to move some of my short film projects ahead as a way of focusing my energy in 2008 instead of essentially being shunted from pillar to post by people with too much ego, too little faith in others, and absolutely no creative awareness whatsoever.
As a consequence, and in conjunction with my good friend and artist, Steve Simmons, I shall be consolidating my creative juices in the production of three short scripts with the goal being finalist shortlisting for several well-known and respectable film competitions. This in itself is a first for me, given my abhorance in general of anything that remains so whimsically subjective as to be devoid of any critical use in development of craft or skill. The same goes for screenplay competitions, but on this theme as well, I am reneging on a literary lifetime of promises to myself.
So to the pudding, from which the proof of any talent in me for this crazy industry we call film, shall be eaten forthwith. HENPECKED is a micro-short / v.low budget horror-comedy aimed squarely at Horror Zone's 'Cut! 2008' competition which closes in April. It focuses on one man's efforts to finally escape from his overbearing wife by committing suicide. But his limitless ineptitude in the task accidentally leads him to realize his efforts have been mistakenly directed.
HONOUR & OBEY is a very personal story for me, reflecting a period of history that was extremely influential in forming the person I am today. A short film with a strong political and social message it follows one man's baptism under extreme fire as he seeks approval from an organisation that once accepted into it as a member he will never truly be able to leave. It is a story about loyalty, brotherhood, and the thin line that exists between duty and family.
The last of my current short projects is another micro short that was initially going to be a 60 second submission for the Bafta Orange short film competition but having only found out about the competition two weeks from closing date I have had to re-plan the projects completion for entry into next years contest. INNOCENT HANDS is another socio-politically motivated film that offers up the notion that adults no longer have the power to change the world, only to destroy it further, and that the truth of change lies with the children.
I plan to make this last script into a 5 minute piece, but editable to make the running time guidelines for the competition next year. The only issue is that the competition's theme changes annually and I won't know if what is being done will 'fit' - all I can do is make the project as multiply layered as possible and hope the audience gets it in context with the competition's theme. A gamble but heck film is all about taking risks, right?
So, basically, if you see or hear about me crewing up for a short film or two, don't panic - Hotel Cal is still going ahead. It's just I've been waiting on everyone else for so long I need to blow away the filmmakers cobwebs of inactivity!
Nick
As a consequence, and in conjunction with my good friend and artist, Steve Simmons, I shall be consolidating my creative juices in the production of three short scripts with the goal being finalist shortlisting for several well-known and respectable film competitions. This in itself is a first for me, given my abhorance in general of anything that remains so whimsically subjective as to be devoid of any critical use in development of craft or skill. The same goes for screenplay competitions, but on this theme as well, I am reneging on a literary lifetime of promises to myself.
So to the pudding, from which the proof of any talent in me for this crazy industry we call film, shall be eaten forthwith. HENPECKED is a micro-short / v.low budget horror-comedy aimed squarely at Horror Zone's 'Cut! 2008' competition which closes in April. It focuses on one man's efforts to finally escape from his overbearing wife by committing suicide. But his limitless ineptitude in the task accidentally leads him to realize his efforts have been mistakenly directed.
HONOUR & OBEY is a very personal story for me, reflecting a period of history that was extremely influential in forming the person I am today. A short film with a strong political and social message it follows one man's baptism under extreme fire as he seeks approval from an organisation that once accepted into it as a member he will never truly be able to leave. It is a story about loyalty, brotherhood, and the thin line that exists between duty and family.
The last of my current short projects is another micro short that was initially going to be a 60 second submission for the Bafta Orange short film competition but having only found out about the competition two weeks from closing date I have had to re-plan the projects completion for entry into next years contest. INNOCENT HANDS is another socio-politically motivated film that offers up the notion that adults no longer have the power to change the world, only to destroy it further, and that the truth of change lies with the children.
I plan to make this last script into a 5 minute piece, but editable to make the running time guidelines for the competition next year. The only issue is that the competition's theme changes annually and I won't know if what is being done will 'fit' - all I can do is make the project as multiply layered as possible and hope the audience gets it in context with the competition's theme. A gamble but heck film is all about taking risks, right?
So, basically, if you see or hear about me crewing up for a short film or two, don't panic - Hotel Cal is still going ahead. It's just I've been waiting on everyone else for so long I need to blow away the filmmakers cobwebs of inactivity!
Nick
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