I just wanted to mark this day on my blog by posting the Space Oddity video, recorded by Commander Chris Hadfield on board the International Space Station. For me, it’s cool on so many levels. Cool that he did it where he did it. Cool that he chose that track. Cool that he takes it [...]

Project: Rocketboy… top ten tips for getting feedback on a screenplay
Last week we completed the new draft of Rocketboy, by far the biggest reworking of the script ever undertaken. We sent the script to a handful of trusted people for feedback and we are still waiting from a few to come back. Waiting for feedback and getting feedback can be a nerve wracking experience, so [...]

Why story days are essential for your screenplay: Rocketboy redraft nears completion
Yesterday, we wrote the final few words of ‘Rocketboy’. It was an emotional moment to get to the end, but also an emotional moment to see what happens to these characters we have fallen in love with. To write those final few scenes that you have been dreaming of, structuring and planning for so long, [...]

Writing Rocketboy, our process for getting words on the page
Judy and I are closing in on the final few pages of ‘Rocketboy’ and I thought I would share our rather unusual writing process. You may know that I have been writing ‘Rocketboy’ on my own, on and off, for many years. The truth is I have lost count of the drafts, probably around 17 [...]

Rocketboy act three turning point and the deep wounds inflicted
So having been in a bad mood all day, it hit me tonight why. We spent most of the afternoon dealing with writing the death scene for a major and much loved character in ‘Rocketboy’, and then discussing how best we can inflict huge amount of angst, grief and pain on our hero. We literally [...]

So who is REALLY profiting from YouTube uploads of feature length films?
Last week I posted about Rocketboy and how another movie, ‘The Bridge To Terabithia’ had been an inspiration for the current redraft. I found the whole film on YouTube and embedded it into the blog. At the time I did think twice as it is unusual to find an entire film on YouTube, especially when [...]

‘Rocketboy’ relaunches with a tonal shift that makes ALL the difference
So Judy and I have begun week 2 of redrafting ‘Rocketboy’ Regular blog readers will know that Rocketboy has been on the cards for many years – it was in fact the genesis of ‘Gone Fishing’. Over the years and between other projects, we have written draft after draft, attempting to nail it – each [...]

How I decided to make one film, then chose to make another
Over the last two weeks I have laid out my plans for the movie we will spend the next two years making. It began with a decision, and ended with a choice. These two words may sound similar, but they are for me, profoundly different, operating on different mechanisms inside our heads. How The Decision [...]
Rocketboy Draft Four is complete… and the feedback…
Well, we did get it down from 145 pages to 127 pages. But by that time, Judy and I had gotten ourselves so lost in the ‘wood for trees’ that we needed fresh eyes on the script. It was time for some feedback on ‘Rocketboy’. The script was sent off to about six close and [...]
Meet Wilbur The Wallaby, one of the new characters in 'Rocketboy'
Yep that's Wilbur. More on him at the end of the post. Big news for us though. It’s time for us to make a change. For years now our email user group has been growing and it's time to move to a new home, to a shiny email system which delivers a much better service [...]
‘Inception’, a screenwriters masterclass
I finally caught up with Chris Nolans ‘Inception’ last night and I am still reeling from the experience. Every five years or so a film comes along that raises the bar, reminding me that good is not good enough, great is just about passable, and world class is really what I need to be aiming [...]
Cutting Dialogue from your screenplay, a masterclass in minimalism for Screenwriters
As I have been rewriting Rocketboy, I have also been re-reading some of my favourite screenwriting books. I have been looking for tips, tricks, insights and wisdom on the screenwriting concept that writing is rewriting. But it’s also about being tough in those rewrites. Killing your darlings. There are a few very good books on [...]
Day three of the Rocketboy redraft and things are going very well
Judy and I have quickly found a routine that works efficiently where we read a chunk, discuss changes at length, spitball new ideas, plan and re-structure, then Judy writes. As Judy is such a terrific writer, this is usually the fastest part. But it does give me the chance to do a few chores before [...]
Writing is re-writing… Rocketboy is dusted off and prepped for relaunch!
To me, it’s amazing just how hard writing can be. It looks so simple. When written well, a good movie flows so effortlessly. It looks so simple that most people, who have never written a script, think that it can’t be that hard… ‘why all the madness, complaining, ranting, late nights, early mornings, compulsive behaviour, [...]
Know Your Audience…
When I am watching a movie that is brilliantly written, it leaves me kind of breathless. Because I know just how much hard work goes into writing a screenplay that breezes along effortlessly, with no friction, without a single scrap of waste, simultaneously surprising and obvious at each turn (‘how is he going to get [...]
-
Craig: I have been advocating this approach for some time...
-
Mark Morris: I think the promo proves you are making something ...
-
Jacob: Great reply, wow what great video!...
-
Mark Davies: Yes, this is seriously wonderful. Notwithstandi...
-
Dane Jones: Beholder reminds me a little of the soundtrack fro...
-
Does the National Minimum Wage (NMW) mean the end of micro budget film making the UK?
March 7, 2010
-
BECTU debate and the National Minimum Wage…
March 19, 2010
-
Avid or Final Cut Pro X? Tips for setting up your first feature film cutting room.
January 25, 2012
-
It’s time for film makers to take action over distribution… it’s OUR problem, not theirs!
April 27, 2012
-
The phone rang, and from that moment, everything changed… PART 1
October 3, 2009
-
Did you know you can get 20% of your spend back for short films using the UK film tax credit?
May 25, 2013
-
How to Speed Up Your Cultural Test When Applying For The UK Film Tax Credit
May 24, 2013
-
The Film Investors Check List – Answers to tough questions your investors will ask
May 23, 2013
-
Get Your Script Read AND Performed at the Actors Table Read.
May 22, 2013
-
London Doc Summit 2013 Success…. and one delegates first film…
May 21, 2013
Watch The Most Recent Show
Past Posts
Our Twitter Hashtag #GFilm
Megachrist: RT @livingspiritpix: Short films can get 20% of their budget back using the UK Tax Credit http://t.co/oaiH5WbUrA #Gfilm »
n0nsensefactory: RT @livingspiritpix: Short films can get 20% of their budget back using the UK Tax Credit http://t.co/oaiH5WbUrA #Gfilm »
livingspiritpix: Short films can get 20% of their budget back using the UK Tax Credit http://t.co/oaiH5WbUrA #Gfilm »
livingspiritpix: Did you know you can get 20% of your spend back for short films using the UK film tax credit? http://t.co/oaiH5WbUrA #Gfilm »- View All

