Mailbox

A round-up of the latest news, gossip and other information from members.
Health warning: Anything in this article should not be relied upon as gospel. 

Got something to share? Send it to mailbox@bscw.co.uk

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Apologies for the lack of E-zine this month. However, instead, we're bringing you a bulk mailbox, together with all the latest of your news and successes. Let's hope 2002 is a great success for the BSCW - both as an organisation and for each and every one of you. Happy New Year!


YOUR SUCCESSES

Please don't forget to tell us about your successes for the next E-zine. Send your good news to gill@bscw.co.uk.


COMEDY COURSE
From: Geoff Parfitt

Here's news for BSCW members looking for a good television sketch writing opportunity to start the New Year.
 
From Tuesday 15th January , I shall be presenting a new ten-week course of Comedy Scriptwriting workshops at Stratford-upon-Avon College, and in particular I shall be guiding that group of writers regarding writing and submitting sketches for the new Ifan Gruffydd comedy series for Welsh TV. 
 
I have sold several sketches to that production company, and I have many examples of successful sketches and a video of material from the last series, to use as the basis for writing new material.
 
To enrol for this course of workshops, phone the college on 01789-266245.  There's also much more information on my home-made website www.geoffparfitt.supanet.com


SCREENWRITING CONTEST
From: Hollywood's Next Success

Dear UK Screenwriter,

Greetings from Hollywood.   

The 2002 Hollywood's Next Success Screenwriting Contest has created special entry terms for screenwriters outside the U.S. to encourage the contribution of unique voices and perspectives not usually represented in the usual U.S. based script contests.

The entry form can be found at www.hollywoodsnextsuccess.com

Winners in each category are guaranteed a minimum of 5 requests for their winning script directly from interested studios, agents, producers, managers etc.

Potential buyers of your script often don't accept material that doesn't come from an agent or manager. Having your work sent by representation tells buyers at studios and production companies that script has already been reviewed by an industry insider.

Hollywood's Next Success Screenwriting Contest is proud to announce the sponsorship of Entertainment Data Services.

Entertainment Data Services has a complete database of over 1,200 licensed agents and managers at 500 companies that specifically represent SCREENWRITERS. The database contains full mailing address, phone, contact names and titles, and where available even direct email, fax, and website address.

Screenwriters using it avoid the chore of data entry from expensive written directories, automate mailings of queries by creating merge letters, or simply create a database to better keep track of query calls.

Entertainment Data Services normally provides this database for $258.00 however as a sponsor, they've agreed to let us send this FREE to those who enter now. Upon receiving your entry postmarked by January 5th, we will immediately email this data to you as a reward for entering now before the crush of last minute submissions.

Screenwriters in the U.K. are especially welcomed! 

Take care,

Michelle Miller
Contest Coordinator


STORY
lee swinburne (evaporator77@hotmail.com) writes:

"Iam wrighting a story like american grafiti only in the uk set in the eighties some of it is a bit crude but thasts older teenagers for you with a hint of american pie. INTERESTED."

Editor's note: I'm afraid I'm not sure what Lee is trying to say, or whether he wants help, or is just being informative. Anyone interested, please contact him at the e-mail address given.


YOUR SUCCESSES

ALAN STAFFORD reports "I'm delighted to say I was broadcasting to the nation at Christmas lunchtime - or, to be exact, one of my sketches (about the inventor of the silent Christmas cracker) was included in the Huddlines Christmas special.
 
"Also, the Russ Abbot show is going out each Thursday on Radio 2 at 10 pm, starting 10th January. Sketches of mine in the series include: "Spell That Word" (the game show with the most incomprehensible rules ever), "Surviving the Stone Age" (a documentary featuring an ordinary family living a stone age lifestyle) and two further rare archive recordings of legendary actor Sir Teddington Lock."


GILL SMITH reports "For those of you who were interested after the Stand-Up article, I have continued, having now performed in five gigs, with three more lined up, and two 'New Act' competitions on the horizon. It seems to be getting a little easier, as I'm now less nervous and I do enjoy it more. I just need to get used to being blinded by bright lights!

"I've also compered once, for a charity do. The evening was part comedy, part drama, so it was difficult to compere, but good fun. For me, the highlight was seeing a mini-episode of my sitcom performed. Actually seeing it 'in action' was great, and made me think of my characters in a slightly different light. The main thing was that it got a good response, and I've now got even more ideas for plots and episodes!"


FRANK BRAMWELL tells us about his play: "Time After Time" or "Shakespeare's Dream"

Public Rehearsed Reading of a new play Saturday 12 January 2002 at 6.30 p.m. Tickets at door £4 (£3 conc.) - for further details, contact Derrick Knight 0121 622 1771

The Library Theatre, Paradise Place, Birmingham (Next to the Birmingham Conservatoire & the Central Library)

This new play, by Frank Bramwell, is performed by Actors from the Actor's Centre Birmingham, directed by David Vann (Creative Director at the Birmingham School of Speech and Drama) with assistance from Neale McGrath. To get the play into the public arena, we have decided to present the play in it's entirety, as a public rehearsed reading. Due to the limitations imposed by short rehearsal time and the need to keep production effects to a minimum, the Actors will make full use of scripts during the performance. We want as much of the energy and vitality of the play to come through, and rehearsals have focused on allowing the actors to project this through their reading of the text.

The performance, which lasts approximately 3 hours including interval, has been deliberately set to start at 6.30 p.m. to allow for after show discussion.

The Play: "In night time dream, imagined fancies do freely fly. And to their bidding your hopes, our craft, must so comply."

The story, as it unfolds, is that of William Shakespeare, as he fitfully goes through a disturbed night. Out of the shadows of his mind come the stories and characters of the plays he has yet to write. Intermingled in this Everyman-like journey are the dreams of his life in Stratford and in London. It is a journey that crosses time itself, bringing Shakespeare face to face with the legacy of the intervening centuries. Consider, for one moment, what kind of play Shakespeare would write, to tell the story as he did live and breathe it. What really went on in his mind, what did he make of it all, did he have regrets? Maybe we will never know. . . . but we can imagine.

Director's Notes: "What we have here is a bold, exciting and challenging new play. Certainly not a straightforward play, but one that I feel will surely repay the actors' efforts and the audience's attention. Using Shakespeare's words, characters and stories, along with original verse and prose, the play spins a virtual tapestry of interlocked and resonating dream sequences. With my fellow directors and actors we have had the enjoyment of workshopping this play over the last 3 months. In that time we have been able to watch a substantial dramatic work turn slowly into a shaped piece of Theatre. This public rehearsed reading by a cast of over 10 Actors, will start to put our efforts to the test, and we will see how the play is received by the audience. My hope, and indeed my suspicion, is that the audience will indeed share our excitement as they see the work unfold, and will derive satisfaction from seeing Shakespeare, and his work, come to life on the stage."