We are delighted to announce the 12 writers selected for Script Hot House, the write2screen feature script development scheme supported  by Creative England. 
They are:

• Dan Allum
  
• Colleen Burns
  
• Liz Fisher-Frank
  
• Stephanie Ginger
  
• Ed Granger
  
• Belona Greenwood
  
• Sue Healy
  
• Jean Hogg
  
• Michelle Lipton
• Waleed Marzouk
  
• Helen Sykes
  
• Lynda Williams
  

The 12 writers attended their first workshop on 22nd September at the Writers’ Centre Norwich before embarking on process that will lead to the completion of a feature script, and for some the opportunity to pitch that script to industry movers and shakers.

I would have liked to do this course myself, even though I am not strictly speaking a writer. But I do write, and I do have stories in my head. And the course seemed as though it would encourage someone like me to put pen to paper. Maybe.

But I didn't go in the end as it all sold out really quickly while I was still debating the idea. One minute it had 10 places left and the next it was all sold out. Which is great, as 21 people were able to benefit from the experience of tutors Michael Lengsfield Christabelle Dilks and Ian Nettleton. It was great value too, for £100 for two full days.

The feedback has been very good so far and I am looking forward to getting a bit more detail. I am sure that there will be more in the future so keep an eye out for more dates.

Act now! 
write2screen is offering a chance to win a bursary place on a new Writing Movies course
 – an intensive two-day Screenwriting Course
Saturday and Sunday 1/2 December 2012 10am–5pm
at Cinema City, Norwich 
Cost: £100 / £80 concessions

Through a series of practical sessions designed to ignite your writing potential, you will be given the tools to take your project from first idea to finished first draft. The course will examine cinematic writing, and consider how compelling characters generate a satisfying structure. We’ll explore the relationship between novel and screenplay, and talk you through treatments, step outlines and revisions of the script. The tutors can offer practical advice on how to take a finished script to production. They are:
Michael Lengsfield – scriptwriter and Hollywood studio story executive
Christabelle Dilks – an experienced BBC and C4 Drama commissioning editor
Ian Nettleton – writer and creative writing tutor
 
This is a great value professional development course offered by Cinema Plus and Writers’ Centre Norwich in association with write2screen. To book or for details go to: www.cinemaplus.org.uk email info@cinemaplus.org.uk or call 01603 625145.

To apply for the bursary email info@write2screen.org.uk sending a CV and a statement (in no more than 500 words) about how this would progress your career as a writer and make a difference to you. Or send by post to write2screen, c/o Wavelength Films, The Royal, 25 Bank Plain, Norwich by Monday 19 November. One application will be chosen and you will be notified asap - please make sure you are available on 1/2 December before applying. And good luck!
www.write2screen.org.uk. Places on the course limited so please apply asap soon.

Below is the running order for the conference last Friday 12 October. Cinema City's screen two was full to capacity as people from both the writing and film-making worlds came together to listen to a ling line-up of experience and talent.

Starting with a pre-recorded video from Chris Moll, Head of Talent at Creative England, who explained how write2screen could help to develop talent in this area and what future plans at Creative England are.

There will be more follow-up over the next few days as we gather in videos, photographs and other materials from the conference to share with you
write2screen Adapting for the Screen sessions.

Friday 12 October 2012
10am Registration/Coffee in the bar
10:30 Welcome:  Lucy Ward, Project Lead, write2screen network
10:35 Introduction:  Chris Moll, Head of Talent, Creative England 
10:45 Session 1: Adapting Literature for the Screen: What is it about books & plays that attracts film-makers?
Dr. Chris Gribble, CEO, Writers’ Centre Norwich in conversation with Giles Foden, author Last King of Scotland and Professor of Creative Writing, UEA 

Chris leads a discussion with author Giles Foden exploring the problems and perils both for the original author and the writer approaching an existing work as well as the insights and benefits that can follow from adapting for the screen. This discussion, and the debate it will provoke, sets the tone for the day.
Panelist: Giles Foden, author The Last King of Scotland & Professor of Creative Writing, UEA  

11.45 Break

12pm  Session Two (followed by Q&A) Adapting Literature for the Screen: the Creative Challenges
Chaired by Michael Lengsfield, Tutor in Scriptwriting, UEA. Michael chairs a panel of creative talent all of whom have been involved in the process of adapting original work for film or television whether as screenwriter or a producer. They will discuss the prompts that lead them to particular material, and how to go about the business of translating a text into a visual medium. What are the creative challenges to be faced - how do you balance faith to the original against the demands of the screen – how much liberty and imagination can you allow yourself?  Where do you begin? This session is a must for all practicing or emerging screenwriters.

Panelists:
Peter Bloore Senior Lecturer in Creativity at UEA and produced screenwriter
Christabelle Dilks writer/script editor and former commissioning editor Channel 4 Drama   
Stuart Hazeldine, screenwriter Paradise Lost, Moses and director of Exam
John Wrathall, screenwriter Good based on the play by C.P. Taylor

1pm  Lunch Break 

1.45 Session Three (followed by Q&A) Adapting Literature for the Screen: the Practical Challenges 
Chaired by Claire Chapman, Consultant to the creative industries and former Executive Producer and Executive Director of UK Film Council’s US Office - Claire leads a panel of experienced production practitioners, agents and industry lawyers to discuss the practicalities of how adapted work gets made in the real world rather than the mind’s eye. Working with an existing story raises practical challenges. Do you need to acquire rights and if so how does that work? Where the story is familiar to an audience the screenplay often places demands on the production team so how are these challenges overcome?  With both practical insights and war stories from the front line of film-making this is a perfect introduction to a screening of The Last King of Scotland.

Panelists:
Crispin Buxton, Location Manager, The Last King of Scotland 
Steve Clark-Hall Co-Producer Sherlock Holmes
Peter Dally, Entertainment Lawyer, New Media Law 
Sue Hayes, Consultant to the Creative Industries, former London Film Commissioner 
Yasmin McDonald, Rights Executive, AP Watt (London based)

2.45pm Closing Remarks: Lucy Ward, Project Manager, write2screen
3pm Screening – The Last King of Scotland (121 mins)
5pm Social/networking drinks (Norwich Arts Centre) 
7pm Close

Funded by Creative England 
Venue hire supported by Picturehouses Ltd