2004: My short script Life 2.0 is a runner-up in the British Short Screenplay Competition.
2007: My short script You're All Going To Die doesn't even make the Second Round.
Have I regressed? Was Life 2.0 really a better script than You're All Going To Die? Personally, I think YAGTD is way stronger, but the Kaos Films folk disagreed. Way it goes. Move on, nothing to see here. If I wasn't such a self-assured type, it might slightly chip at the old confidence, coming as it does mere hours after I sent off my Red Planet Prize entry...
I'm pretty damn sure that Lucy's in Round Two, though, so congrats, Luce! Oh, and the same goes for Elinor and Christine! Hooray. Who else is ploughing forward, flying our Scribosphere flag beside them, hmmmm? Feel free to tell me. I promise not to (a) hate you or (b) turn up on your doorstep, with a garden gnome tucked under my arm.
In Other News, I interviewed Elisabeth Sladen for 90 minutes this morning, in Selfridges. As she's a childhood heroine of mine, having appeared in the classic Doctor Who series and now in her own upcoming show The Sarah Jane Adventures, it was a wonderfully surreal experience. And a damn fine chinwag.
YAGTD is a superb script. Funny, clever and gory. What more do they want? It's like English Dave said: some readers don't know shit from Shinola. You can tell by their shoes.
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ReplyDeleteSorry jason. Ignore previous post. i misread the post and thopught you meant had two scripts in this year.Ever onward to Red Planet!
ReplyDeleteJason,
ReplyDeletePlease don't come to my place with a gnome - very scary little things they are.
I think that a) I've been VERY lucky to get through the next round or b) as Pillock suggests, they like my shit.
I'm new to the writing game and have have some splendid help from Big Lucy and the recovering Mr Carver.
At least you got to meet/interview that Sladen Goddess!
Thanks Mr Pillock and Ms Elinor!
ReplyDeleteAnd welcome Andy! Congratulations, sir. And your day keeps getting better. Because of the alphabetical way I list my blog-links, you're now at the top! :)
Hey Jason,
ReplyDeleteI feel slightly the same way. Script-writing is a definite "confidence knocker". Similar to you, I was 1st runner-up in 2004, thought I'd give it another crack this year, and there I go...out after the second round. Having said that I didn't think my entry was as strong this time, so perhaps I am indeed regressing. Good luck with Red Planet. BTW I enjoy your blog (and many others such as Lucy, Dom, Dave Bishop, Danny Stack, etc) - but I'm nowhere near interesting enough to have one myself! :)
Blimey, Frank, we're both from the BSSC Class Of 2004! Good on ya, for doing so well back then, and as poorly as me, this time. :-) Just a bit of fun there: we did well to get this far. Are you entered into Red Planet too?
ReplyDeletethat's the way to look at it - it's one read from one reader - to show how little they know, I got through.
ReplyDeleteCan I expect a visit from you and Mr Gnome? ;)
Heyyyy, Martin, nice one! Did you get through with both scripts too?
ReplyDeleteYep. Entered Red Planet, but I have similarly low expectations, especially given the genre of my first 10 pages: Children's TV drama... although in this instance I am fairly happy with the overall script, well more happy than I was over my BSSC entry anyway :)
ReplyDeleteCommiserations. But onwards and upwards! Good luck on Red Planet.
ReplyDeleteAnd hey, Sarah Jane Smith, er, Elisabeth Sladen… what a consolation!
Frank- does that mean your script changes genre after the first 10 pages? ;-)
Children’s Ward- the Uncut Version!!!
(Does that show my age or youth?)
I've got a horrible feeling that made more sense in my head: I was imagining something like nice children's prog turning into Hostel.
ReplyDeleteIgnore me... I'll disappear in a puff of weird.
same thing happened to me last year Jason. I had been a finalist a previous year and then last year got booted off after the first round.
ReplyDeleteit's a strange game, this writing.
Good luck with Red Planet. x
I made round two for the first year...is it a bad thing to gloat in your comments?
ReplyDeleteTEHE!
Commiserations Jason. I got booted out as well, and was putting the finishing touches to my Red Planet entry when I got the news. What a confidence wrecker! But hey, maybe you can do as the lovely Lara is plannning, and direct that script yourself?
ReplyDeleteI'd deck Dom if I were you Jase
ReplyDeleteGood suggestion, Potters. I'm writing this with my Blackberry, en route to Bournemouth. A garden gnome sits next to me.
ReplyDeleteBut no, that's brilliant stuff, Mr Carver. And commiserations to you too, Lianne. Clearly, our work was so sublime that it swept over heads aplenty... :-)
That'll be it, Jason. Oh, and I'm with Pots ;-)
ReplyDeleteCommiserations guys but look at this way: this whole writing malarkey is a full-on crapshoot as the Americans say. It's NOT regressing Jason: if it were I peaked in Feb 2006 being a semi-finalist in Write Movies since I've never got any closer to the big one in any other comp.
ReplyDeleteI'm pleased to get through, obviously, but can't believe my script will get much further. Or maybe it's a defence mechanism. I don't even know. You just have to enjoy your successes and ignore the rejections.
And definitely deck Carver, I'll even help you Jason - pick me up on your way round, will you???
semifinalist in 2005, booted out after the first round this year. COngrats to the successful, commiserations to fellow-bootees.
ReplyDeleteBad luck Jason and Lianne. As everyone else says, who can tell with these things? My entry from last year didn't even make the first round (unless they filed it under 'T' for 'The', which they may well have done).
ReplyDeleteBe nice, I'm ill.
ReplyDeleteYou'll probably all do a hell of a lot better than me on the Red Planet Prize and then you can gloat back all you like. I'm just extremely happy to have made the second round for the first time ever. I cling to these small achivements, they are my lifeline. :-)
Commiserations. I got through, but don't tell anyone. I don't want to jinx it or find a gnome's head in my bed.
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