Since 2023 I have been working with New Writing North to further develop and build on their work with screenwriters in the North of England. The ambition of this programme of activity is to create an exciting, diverse and industry ready slate of film and tv ideas and then form a pipeline for that talent to meet Indies and producers. The programme aims to level the playing field for talented writers who may not yet be industry connected or have access to high level development. The programme elevates their potential by honing their craft skills, developing their understanding of the commissioning landscape and priming their ideas for further development. The ultimate aim is to see more stories from the North on national screens and more Northern writers building meaningful careers in film and television. This work is ongoing and due to conclude in October 2025.
As part of my continued consultancy work for New Writing North I have programmed the Screenwriting Weekender. The weekender is a packed weekend of TV industry talks, workshops and networking aimed at writers who want to improve their screenwriting skills, get industry know how and make new connections.
Featuring screenwriters such as Peter Straughan (Wolf Hall) and Tony Schumacher (The Responder), execs from production companies such as Clerkenwell (Baby Reindeer), Merman (Motherland) and RED (It’s a Sin). The weekender digs into a range of topics from demystifying writers’ rooms, writing a standout spec and creating iconic characters right through to pitching, audience trends and mental health.
Screenwriting Weekender
I devised the Film4 and New Writing North GENRE FEATURE LAB, a five-month industry connected film development lab. It gives three of the most exciting Northern screenwriters the opportunity to develop a commercial yet boldly creative genre feature idea to a compelling treatment and pitch deck ready to present to Film4 and industry for further development.
We’ve teamed these writers up with North East based production companies and are supporting the building of a relationship with Film4.
Image credit: Sally Ann Norman for New Writing North
Genre Feature Lab
Adapt
ADAPT focuses on the skills needed to adapt work for the screen, aiming to help prose writers and playwrights turn their original work into a new idea for Film or TV. Throughout 2024 I’ve been working with five Northern writers to develop their ideas and get them ready to pitch it to industry. The programme also featured a series of online talks and practical workshops exploring how writers can develop their skills in adaptation for the screen. These sessions were open to writers interested in exploring how to adapt their own play, novel or short story as well as screenwriters wishing to explore the process of adapting other peoples’ work
Completed freelance programmes:
Creative Producer Lab 2023
Commissioned by Film Hub North the Creative Producer Lab ran from September - October 2023. The Lab takes 8 early-career filmmakers from the North, and 8 from the Midlands, through a 6-week training programme. Sessions take place twice per week and cover topics such as producing fundamentals, building a slate, budgeting and scheduling, pre-production, shooting, post-production, casting and distribution.
Creative Producer Lab delivered a combination of in-person mixer events, online sessions and visits to facilities houses, and culminated in an industry day at Leeds International Film Festival. The course was led by producers Roxy McKenna and Radha Bhandari (Public Dreams Ltd), and featured sessions delivered by professionals working across the film industry.
Comedy Creators Network
Commissioned by North East Screen and BBC Comedy I ran the Comedy Creator Network - a 3 month programme of talks and development support for the 15 comedy creators selected by North East Screen and supported by the BBC Comedy Creator Fund. The programme included guest talks from agents, writers and commissioners as well as the opportunities to shoot taster scenes, read through scripts and get 1-2-1 development support.