Tag: bbc

BBC Writersroom and the Twelfth Night and short films

thegirlinthecafe 12 Comments

(Re)Writing

BBC Writersroom

  • I did attend the open BBC Writersroom event. And realised that it is very intimidating to see the competition. Loads and loads of people where there, all writers, all wanting to make it. Not good for self confidence.
  • I had to leave a bit earlier, so I don’t know what I missed at the end of the session, but in the part I did attend the BBC people explained what they were looking for in a script. It wasn’t a lot of new information – they are looking for things every producer looks for – well written, originality, interesting and likable characters, etc. It’s basically the stuff every screen writing book tells you.
  • I did not hand in my script. Wait, wait, I will post it to them today. Seeing as I had to sneak out before it ended I had no chance to hand it to them. But no worries, they did promise all of us that they read the first 10 pages of every single script they receive. They receive, are you ready for it, 10.000 scripts a year.
  • They also explained that they are just checking the quality of the writing of the script you send them and are looking for writers more than scripts. Very very seldom do they buy a script and make it into a film. If people have extraordinary talent, they might be contacted and educated. And a lot of those lucky people get to write on Eastenders, Holby City, Doctors. I don’t want to sound snobbish or anything, but I am not sure I could write for those series, as they don’t interest me at all.
  • I don’t count on anything, if they should happen to read passed the first 10 pages, that would be great, and I would have a script review by an experienced reader for free (it might take up to four months to hear if they read it or not). If they don’t read it – then so be it. If I want to improve my writing, I must pick up my pen and get on with it. Simple.

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The guy with the funky last name

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Lee MackLee Mack

A short landing around Tottenham Court Rd yesterday, before we took off again.

“I know where to go.” S. said.
“Oh Comedy. That is where you are supposed to laugh isn’t it. Don’t like it” that was the state I was in.
“He’s funny trust me.”
“I’m not really crazy about standuppers.”
“His last name is Mack.”
“Ha Ha. Very funny. And his first name is Billy right?” I said.
“Truly it is. Lee. Mack. Oh come on, come with me”
I did. To Drill Hall. Ha ha for a funny name for a place.
But it was here the BBC was recording the Radio 2 Lee Mack Show.
And 2 hours with Mack turned out to be exactly what I needed. Of course S. knows what I need.
2 hours so much laughter that the tears rolled down my face.
Hilarious jokes coming in such a high speed that it was hard to keep up.
And Mel C. performed 2 numbers live, after having been harassed about her Spice Girl career by Lee.
What a talent and what a crazy guy.

If you happen to live in London, you can visit the Lee Mack show for free, read more over here at the BBC.

Highly recommended, it blasts all your upcoming winter depressions to pieces.

Finally some decent stuff

thegirlinthecafe 3 Comments

on the Dutch telly.

BBC Worldwide has announced multiple sales from across its catalogue to each of the Netherlands’ major broadcasting groups NOS, RTL, SBS and Talpa totalling over 170 hours of programming.

NOS has gone for dramas and comedies, comprising the new series of Extras (hilariously funny, with Ricky Gervais, see it, is all I can say), Life on Mars (with a very interesting actor : John Simm, check him out) and Doctor Who (well well, you are going to get David Tennant served too ).
And last but not least, you lucky potatoes : included in the agreement are two Stephen Poliakoff dramas, one of them being Gideon’s Daughter.

And I read in a comment somewhere:
Belgian Canvas (previously BRT2) is going to broadcast The Girl In The Cafe.
Better late than never I would say.
Tune in on April 11 at 21.35.

Now this does interfere with my project a bit maybe, but Dutch people waiting on the list who want to be taken off the list after seeing the film on tv, give me a buzz.

Cool Brits : David Tennant

thegirlinthecafe 3 Comments

David Tennant
David Tennant

This is David Tennant, and he is one cool British actor. I already wrote this post a couple of days ago, so I could use it on a day where I either had no inspiration at all, or was too busy to write. Today is a day in the second category. The Girl cards are taking up all of my freetime at the moment.

I had a bit more to say about David, but I can imagine that you are not interested in him at all, in that case you can just watch his picture, and wait for better times. But one thing more, David is a Scot. So watch picture and imagine him talking with this delicious accent, or even better hear him talk (click on David Tennant in the right down corner) .

Or you can read on if you like ramblings about Dr. Who and such. I know at least one person who does.

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Denmark certainly is trying

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Inspector Lynley - Nathaniel Parker
to convince the girl not to leave.

Although I haven’t really seriously been looking for a new job in Denmark, this last year, I did register my CV at several jobsites. But my experience with those sites is that you (the person looking for a job) should be the person to be active, and don’t expect the people having the job to hunt you down. I never got any response on my CV. And somehow I didn’t have the energy to hunt for a job. I understand why now, it just didn’t fit in the plan, the plan I didn’t know about at that moment, but I know it now. But anyway, I just checked my mail, and guess what. A company likes my CV and wants me to contact them. The company is in Copenhagen, and the job, well it is a job I certainly would have liked to have. But hey I am on my way to London, so it is just a bit too late. Typical.

Apart from that, I love Inspector Lynley. I find Nathaniel Parker quite charming, and hey, he is British. So I was happy when danish tv broadcasted some of the episodes in the fall, 45 minutes of Lynley per week. Me like – a lot. But now it seems like someone has told them that, because they are going completely crazy. They are really trying to change my mind. Yesterday 3,5 hour of Lynley. And if that wasn’t enough to convince me – today they are broadcasting Lynley’s episode Wellschooled Murder, which has, yes indeed, Bill in it. Bill is a rare sight on Danish tv, so this can’t be a coincidence. Tomorrow 1,5 hour of Lynley again. Who told them ?

But I am determined.