Updates and News
Mind of Madness… Why Writers are Insane: LSF 2012 session review by Freya Davies
The personable Dr Raj Persaud, an eminent psychiatrist, presents this seminar: Mind of Madness… Why Writers are Insane. Promising title, you may think. Or
The Show Must Go On: Writing for Soaps: Review by Freya Davies
Follow the juggernauts of continuing TV drama as they appraise the ins and outs, highs and lows, of working in the land of telly
Rosa Glover – For My Pa
We were truly humbled this week to receive an email from one of our delegates. Rather than paraphrase and get it wrong, we wanted
How it happened for me… one delegates story from the LSF
A couple of days before the Festival I caught myself thinking: Going to Screenwriters’ Festival? Who do you think you are? This is ridiculous!
Feedback from Pitching Thursday
Pitching Thursday has now become a ‘thing’ at the festival – an extra day of Pitch training to get our delegates to prep them
Colin Firth BAFTA talk
Firth, who picked up both the BAFTA and Oscar Best Actor awards for his performance in The King’s Speech, was in conversation with Francine
Writing and Producing Mad Men: In Conversation With Lisa Albert
Mad Men writer and producer Lisa Albert in conversation with Mary Kate O Flanagan took us in depth though the scripting process as we
The Truth: Writer & Producer Frank Spotnitz
It was heartening to hear Bob Schultz say at the beginning of his interview with Frank Spotnitz that he’s been to many screenwriters’ festivals
Building on British Strengths: Should You Write A Period Drama?
Roland Moore, Chris Hill, Mark Pallis and Kevin Hood joined Stephen May for a discussion of writing period drama, and whether it’s a staple of
Writing for TV with Christopher Walker, Jed Mercurio, Tony Marchant & Julian Friedmann
“I’m a great believer in the front row.” Says one delegate as the room fills up for this seminar on TV writing. Just a
Gareth Unwin & Lisa Bryer ~ Why We’re Going to Hire You… Or Not?
Stephen Follows interviewing Gareth Unwin and Lisa Bryer is quite the collection of Producer talent to have on one stage. What is the collective
The Big Idea Bookstore ~ LondonSWF
In Another corner of Herringham Hall at LSF is The Big Idea Bookstore, with a huge array of books, many of which get discounted
A Strong Voice ~ #LondonSWF
If you’re looking to improve the strength of your writer’s voice then stopping by The Writers Guild of Great Britain station in a friendly
The Great British Pitchfest ~ You’re In The Room!
It was the second day of The Great British Pitchfest and I decided to spend some of today up in the pitch room finding
Dr. Raj Persaud ~ Mind of Madness
Psychiatrist Dr. Raj Persaud is both an accomplished and entertaining speaker and also knows an intriguing amount about writers. For instance, he tells us
Richard Holmes ~ Feature Finance, Filming & Distribution ~ LondonSWF
Richard Holmes is an award winning independent producer with credits such as Eden Lake, Shooting Fish and (one of my personal favourite films) Waking
Julie Gray ~ You ARE the Hero of the Journey #LondonSWF
Julie Gray steps out on the stage with a huge smile and a halo of golden hair, she’s funny in her introduction, has done
Simon Beaufoy #LondonSWF
When an Oscar winning screenwriter walks into a room and says, this is not going to be about me and what I want to
David Yates, In Conversation
In the earlier part of his career he took some rejection and gave up writing himself as he had no discipline for it and
LSF 2012 ~ The Opening
The festival opening is a part of the festival that some people skip, thinking it’s not a ‘learning’ part of the festival. Indeed, some
JK Rowling On Failure
J.K. Rowling Speaks at Harvard Commencement from Harvard Magazine on Vimeo.
JJ Abrams Mystery Box
J.J. Abrams traces his love for the unseen mystery – a passion that’s evident in his films and TV shows, including Cloverfield, Lost and
Ken Loach – David Lean Lecture
The director of Kes, Sweet Sixteen and Route Irish delivers the Academy’s prestiguous annual film lecture.
Who needs a commissioning editor anyway?
Do commissioning editors help or hinder the creative process of making television? Do they have the power only to say ‘no’ and never to
The Thick of it – Q & A
Boyd Hillton speaks to The Thick Of It writer Tony Roche, actor/writer Will Smith and actor Roger Allam – aka MP Peter Mannion –
Neil Gaiman UoA Commencement Speech
Neil Gaiman Addresses the University of the Arts Class of 2012 from The University of the Arts (Phl) on Vimeo. Without a doubt, anyone
Plan your attack!
GUEST BLOG from Screenwriter and all round nice chap Richard Dinnick Last year I went to the London Screenwriter’s Festival as an attendee at
Aline Brosh McKenna Screenwriting Lecture on the Craft and the Business
Screenwriter Aline Brosh McKenna delivers a lecture at BAFTA HQ as part of the Screenwriters on Screenwriting series. McKenna is responsible for the screenplays
Writing for Games
What does it take to write for games? How can you start? How different is it from regular “screenwriting?” This brilliant podcast gives an
Frank Cottrell Boyce on Screenwriting
The Liverpudlian writer has proved a deft hand in a range of genres, from powerful family drama Hilary & Jackie to family adventure Millions,
50 Kisses – View from the Script Pile by Steven Russell
With two weeks under our belts since the script stage of the 50 Kisses contest closed, it feels like a good time to give
In conversation with Charlie Kaufman
One of modern cinema’s most celebrated writers, Kaufman’s work includes surreal fantasy Being John Malkovich, cerebral sci-fi Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and
Guillermo Arriaga Screenwriting Lecture
One of the contemporary kings of non-linear narratives, Arriaga’s passion for the human condition runs through all his films, including Amores Perros, Babel and
Attack the Block Q & A
In July 2011 LSF Festival Favorite Joe Cornish, the writer/director of the inner-city alien movie Attack The Block (and one half of comedy duo
In Conversation with Paul Lafferty
The Scottish writer is a key collaborator of director Ken Loach, with My Name Is Joe, The Wind That Shakes The Barley and Looking
Want a break – why not write a short film?
There are many ways into the business. One that has never been as accessible as it is now is writing and making a short
