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

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

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/