The Story Engine

Welcome to the Story Engine...

2008-12-31T14:55:00.000Z

NEW WEBSITE

2008-10-08T10:02:00.002+01:00

The Story Engine has moved to www.thestoryengine.com

All future posts and info will be posted there.

You can also join us on Facebook by searching out 'The Story Engine' group.

The Delegate List

2008-03-11T07:36:00.002Z

Just to let everyone know that we're working on the delegate list and will email it out to everyone as soon as its available.

The Programme Emerges...

2008-02-01T16:21:00.000Z

This year’s Northern Screenwriters Conference brings some of the biggest names in the business to the region for the first time. They come with one aim: to arm screenwriters with the information and tools they need to move up the industry ladder.

Our speakers include:

Jimmy McGovern, The Street, Hillsborough, Cracker
Danny Brocklehurst, Sorted, Talk To Me, Shameless, Clocking Off
Peter Straughan, How To Lose Friends & Alienate People, Second Lives
Lisa Holdsworth, New Tricks, Waterloo Road, Robin Hood
Alice Nutter, The Street
Kate Rowland, Creative Director BBC New Writing

Sessions feature:

At The Top Of The Game: Jimmy McGovern earned his spurs writing for Brookside before creating groundbreaking shows like Cracker, Hillsborough, and The Street. This is a unique opportunity to hear one of the country’s most successful screenwriters discuss his work and working methods. Followed by Q&A.

Sorted: Danny Brocklehurst worked alongside Paul Abbot on Clocking Off and the first two series of Shameless before getting his own brilliant series, Sorted, off the ground. Here he talks to Lisa Holdsworth about the trials and tribulations of creating his own show from scratch.

New Kid On The Block: Alice Nutter’s first gig for television was writing for Jimmy McGovern on The Street. In a frank discussion Alice and Jimmy outline the process of putting her episode together. Includes screening.

Who Gets Hired and Why? if you’re trying to break into the industry or move up the ladder, here’s what you need to know from some of the people who do the hiring and firing. Panellists TBC.

Perfect 10: The Head of New Writing at the BBC, Kate Rowland, examines what producers and commissioning editors are looking for in that all important writing sample.

DIY Cinema: My First Feature: with the proliferation of low-cost digital technology what’s to stop you making your own film? Writers and producers who stepped outside the traditional business to get their feature films made discuss how they did it. Panellists TBC.

Our practical workshops give delegates a chance to do some writing under the supervision of some of the industry’s most sought after talent. Sessions include:

Adaptation: Peter Straughan’s has adapted books for Working Title, Film Four, and BBC Films. His adaptation of the bestseller How To Lose Friends and Alienate People stars Simon Pegg and Kirsten Dunst and hits the cinema’s later this year. Peter takes participants through a practical session of breaking down a section of a novel and creating the dramatic scenes.

Getting In The Door: How does a new or experienced writer get onto an existing show like Robin Hood or New Tricks? Lisa Holdsworth’s worked on both, and in this practical workshops takes participants through a series of exercises that will arm them with all the skills they need to know.

What’s Your Story? A great writer is nothing without great stories to tell. But how do you train yourself to constantly come up with new ideas? Danny Brocklehurst explores methods for writers to find stories in their own lives and in the world around them.

Plus Speed Pitching, networking, screenings, one-to-one drop in sessions and much, much more…

Places are strictly limited so book now to avoid disappointment.

I look forward to seeing you there.

Ian Fenton

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NSC08 takes place at Cineworld in Middlesbrough on Tue 4th and Wed 5th of March.

£40 early bird discount until Friday 8th of February - £50 thereafter.

To book call: 01642 729700

For more information email: scott_illingworth@middlesbrough.gov.uk

For news about our programme as it develops check out our blog at http://thestoryengine.blogspot.com/

And The Nominations Are...

2008-01-15T15:14:00.000Z

If any of you have ever wondered what an Oscar nominated script looks like here's a link to forty of the of the hot contenders, published in their original formats. They include No Country For Old Men, There Will Be Blood, and Atonement.

Cut and paste into your browser: http://www.simplyscripts.com/oscar80.html

Speed Pitching in January

2007-12-18T10:16:00.000Z

Like speed dating but for writers. We guarantee you’ll be a better pitcher when you leave or we’ll give you your money back.

Cost: FREE

Tues 22nd of January at 6pm
Blue, Albert Road, Middlesbrough

The team behind the Northern Screenwriters Conference brings you an evening of speed-pitching – ideal for all those alarming situations where people ask what you're writing!

Writers are invited to bring their ideas along and pitch them to a series of fellow writers on a one-to-one basis over the course of the evening. By the end your pitch will be perfect!

For more information, call Scott Illingworth on 01642 729078 or email Scott_Illingworth@middlesbrough.gov.uk.

Northern Screenwriters Conference 2008

2007-11-13T11:30:00.000Z

Northern Screenwriters Conference 2008 is a two-day event organised by screenwriters for screenwriters.

This year's theme will be who gets hired and why?

Through a series of case studies, panel discussions, keynote speeches, and practical hands-on workshops the aim is to arm writers with the information they need to get their foot in the door of the industry and keep it there.

The conference will take place in Middlesbrough on Tuesday 4th and Wednesday 5th of March 2008.

Last years inaugural event was a huge success and sold out two months in advance. Our speakers included:

Tony Grisoni - Tideland, Fear & Loathing In Las Vegas
Peter Straughan - Sixty-Six, The Men Who Stare At Goats
Paul Fraser - A Room For Romeo Brass, Dead Man’s Shoes
Lisa Holdsworth - New Tricks, Fat Friends
Andrew Kirk - Emmerdale, The Chase
Julie Blackie - Hollyoaks, Casualty

NSC08 is funded by Middlesbrough City Council, Northern Film & Media, and New Writing North.

Details of the programme and speakers will be announced in the coming months. For more info leave a comment here.

Northern Screenwriters Conference 2007

2007-07-03T14:50:00.000+01:00

The first conference was held in February 2007. The day long event featured speakers that included Tony Grisoni, Peter Straughan, Paul Fraser, Andrew Kirk, and Lisa Holdsworth. The day concluded with a screening of Sixty-Six, which was written by Peter Straughan and Bridget O'Connor for Working Title. For those with enough stamina left, there was a Pitcher's Breakfast at MIMA.

You can check some out now at the Map Arts Site.

The Scuttler (short film)

2007-07-03T14:49:00.000+01:00

He's just a regular guy enjoying a regular trip to the toilet when he gets the feeling that he is not alone...