Sunday 21 October 2007

I can finally talk about it

I am officially a professional feature film writer! After a few weeks of meetings, negotiations, and intensive writing, I finally signed the contract yesterday. I’m working with producer/director Mark Jay of Full On Pictures, with some development support from Screen South. Thanks - and another beer onto the massive tab I already owe her - to Miranda Robinson, who initially put Mark in touch with me.

The project is a 1970s based coming-of-age story, and is proving to be a joy to write, and Mark a joy to work with. In fact, the only difficulty so far was finding someone in Brighton’s Jubilee library yesterday to witness the signing. We needed a person not known to either of us, and Mark’s lawyer advised trying the library; but, most of the staff there looked at us like we wanted their John Hancock on some kind of devil/soul-extraction type agreement.

Mark had to be on a plane to the U.S. mere hours after this, and I didn’t want to delay any longer either ‘cos I’ve been bursting to post about it for weeks. What would happen if we couldn’t get anyone to sign? Can I get a witness?! Luckily, the fourth or fifth person we asked agreed: we promised the library a copy of the eventual DVD as a thank-you!

As I said, Mark is now off to the States to pitch this project, and I have to have the first draft completed by October 31st before the AFM. The day job is horribly hectic, though, and can’t give me any time off. So, I am working every minute of every day, and haven’t got time to swing a cat (which as anyone who’s tried it will know takes quite a long time – you’ve got to find a pet shop that doesn’t ask questions, and all sorts).

At the time of writing, I’m up to page 85 of a 95-minute script, and today’s pages have included the words “applause”, “prison”, and “falafels”. Woo - and after having given it a certain amount of calm reflection – hoo!

On the IPod today: podcasts of Radio 4 shows. Hooray! Never normally being in a room with a radio at the right time, these new podcasts are a positive boon. And, after only a few days, I’m already addicted to The Archers. You can also get Start The Week, highlights of The Today Programme, The News Quiz… As soon as the Afternoon play is available, my listening will be complete.

21 comments:

potdoll said...

Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

hey duck that's bloody shmeshin news!

Sal said...

Congrats!! Fab news, well done and hope it all goes fabulously from now on

Unknown said...

Hurrah! Good for you - fantastic news xxx

Liz Holliday said...

Brilliant! Mega-congrats, Stuart!

Near by said...

Great news!!

martin said...

Fantastic, glad its all signed and finalised. really great news, well done :)

Gareth Michael Turpie said...

congratulations, Stuart, from a fan of your blog

Stuart Perry said...

Thanks all for your kind comments.

Paul Campbell said...

Absolutely effing brilliant news!

Great big chunks of congratulations.

So, what's it called? We need a name for this project.

Frances Lynn said...

CONGRATULATIONS CONGRATULATIONS CONGRATULATIONS ...................

Frances

DAVID BISHOP said...

Brilliant news. Bask, I say, bask in the glory of the wonder of the moment.

Moment's over. Get back to work.

Stuart Perry said...

Thanks again to everyone for their kind comments. Paul - Mark has asked me not to release the title until at least after the AFM, because it gives away something of the film's content. Awkward, I know, but it's going to have to be "the project" for a little while longer.

Jason Arnopp said...

Come on Mr Perry, give us the initials. I've spilled the acronymous (is that a word?) beans with ASK, after all. :)

Congrats again, sir!

Stuart Perry said...

Okay: AITF!

By the way, I didn't actually twig that ASK was an acronym. I thought it was called 'Ask' - you know, like the Smiths song. And I just imagined you were really proud to be doing it, that's why you always wrote it in capitals.

I think I might be working too hard :-0

martin said...

no i thought ASK was the title too, didnt peg Arnopp for a Smiths fan tho.

does this mean we can have a compettion to guess the titles?!

Adolescense in the Former Yogoslav Republic of Macedonia? Angst is the Parent...?

Piers said...

Nice work sir.

Stuart Perry said...

Martin - You haven't guessed it yet!

Cheers, Piers!

Robin Kelly said...

Yay! Congrats!

As well as the library getting a free DVD I think the first person to ask you for one on your blog should get one too.

Can I have a free DVD?

Stuart Perry said...

Robin - thanks, and I admire your ingenuity. So let's say - maybe.

Lucy V said...

Nice one Stu!

And as for ASK, I thought exactly the same thing! Great minds...

Stuart Perry said...

Cheers Lucy.