Friday
Oct092009
The event of the year is a couple of weeks away
October 9, 2009
The season of party conferences is over for the public but for screenwriters and those who work with them it is about to start. For months there has been unprecedented bad news from broadcasters and from the traditional sources of finance for film. The recession in housing may be beginning to lift slightly, but in the film and television industry it will take time to trickle down to the creatives, who do their work at least two years before it hits the screens.
MIPCOM – the autumn television market in Cannes – reported this week a sense of optimism that, like the housing market, must be taken with a pinch of salt.
The answer lies in gaining a better understanding of the current problems of the industry: where are there gaps, what do the movers and shakers in the industry believe they need from writers in order to be able to get new shows on air and new feature films funded.
Where can writers hear it from the people who matter? In the UK the answer could be at the Edinburgh film Festival or Television Festival (both passed) or at the Cheltenham Screenwriters’ Festival. The first two events are excellent but not specifically for writers.
They wrote Toy Story 2, Goodnight Sweetheart and Wallace & Grommit, and they will all be at the Festival
Cheltenham is not only totally focused on writing, it brings together producers, directors, script executives, commissioning editors who are directly concerned with working with writers.
These are the people who need writers to help advance their careers. And there really are more of them than we have ever brought together before. The move of venue to The Cheltenham Ladies College has been to facilitate a far bigger crown of both industry people and writers.
So who will be there? Click on this link to see some of the guest speakers’ biogs: http://www.screenwritersfestival.com/guest-speakers.php
There will be 80 events in 4 days: more than you could possibly attend so you can be sure of finding a great deal that is relevant to you. For the programme click here: http://www.screenwritersfestival.com/programme-2009.php
The gorgeous location for the 2009 Festival
You will find new writer friends, bond further with old mates, swap up to 100 business cards (that is only 25 a day) and some of us gain an extra evening by starting on Sunday with two drinks gatherings: a TwelvePoint one and then later the Festival one.
There is no doubt in my mind that these four days could have a greater impact on a writer’s career than the previous 352 days of the year.
It is not cheap: getting all these speakers and all the facilities for a huge scriptwriting event is not cheap. But it is incredible value. Even if you only manage 10 meetings/business card swaps a day it comes out at about £10 a meeting. Many writers do not make 40 contacts in an entire year – here you can do it in four days. What’s not to love. Be there or be left behind.
MIPCOM – the autumn television market in Cannes – reported this week a sense of optimism that, like the housing market, must be taken with a pinch of salt.
The answer lies in gaining a better understanding of the current problems of the industry: where are there gaps, what do the movers and shakers in the industry believe they need from writers in order to be able to get new shows on air and new feature films funded.
Where can writers hear it from the people who matter? In the UK the answer could be at the Edinburgh film Festival or Television Festival (both passed) or at the Cheltenham Screenwriters’ Festival. The first two events are excellent but not specifically for writers.
They wrote Toy Story 2, Goodnight Sweetheart and Wallace & Grommit, and they will all be at the FestivalCheltenham is not only totally focused on writing, it brings together producers, directors, script executives, commissioning editors who are directly concerned with working with writers.
These are the people who need writers to help advance their careers. And there really are more of them than we have ever brought together before. The move of venue to The Cheltenham Ladies College has been to facilitate a far bigger crown of both industry people and writers.
So who will be there? Click on this link to see some of the guest speakers’ biogs: http://www.screenwritersfestival.com/guest-speakers.php
There will be 80 events in 4 days: more than you could possibly attend so you can be sure of finding a great deal that is relevant to you. For the programme click here: http://www.screenwritersfestival.com/programme-2009.php
The gorgeous location for the 2009 FestivalYou will find new writer friends, bond further with old mates, swap up to 100 business cards (that is only 25 a day) and some of us gain an extra evening by starting on Sunday with two drinks gatherings: a TwelvePoint one and then later the Festival one.
There is no doubt in my mind that these four days could have a greater impact on a writer’s career than the previous 352 days of the year.
It is not cheap: getting all these speakers and all the facilities for a huge scriptwriting event is not cheap. But it is incredible value. Even if you only manage 10 meetings/business card swaps a day it comes out at about £10 a meeting. Many writers do not make 40 contacts in an entire year – here you can do it in four days. What’s not to love. Be there or be left behind.
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