Jonathan King's Black Sheep was originally submitted to the 1st Writers Initiative
The New Zealand Film Commission are running their 1st Writers Initiative again this year.
“This is a grassroots training and development initiative designed to identify new screenwriting talent and to give new writers an opportunity to workshop a script with development experts.
We are looking for fresh and original feature film scripts. These should be supplied in standard industry format and should be approximately 90–100 pages long.
This scheme is open to New Zealand feature film screenwriters who have not previously received financial support from the NZFC, for scripts that have not previously been submitted for funding. Screenwriters do not need to have a producer attached to their project to be eligible.
A maximum of six screenwriters will be selected to attend a workshop currently scheduled for 10–11 September 2009. The selection of scripts to participate in the workshop will be made by NZFC development staff in conjunction with script consultant Claire Dobbin and independent assessors.
The deadline for submissions is Friday 19 June 2009.”
Visit the NZFC’s Workshops and Training page for more info on how to apply…
The NZFC’s list of Common Problems:
Here are some things to ask yourself before you submit your script.
1. Who is the main character?
Most successful screenplays are built around ONE character that the audience meets at the start of the film and who is clearly the person who already has, or is about to have, a problem that will drive the action of the film. You can write a film with more than one main character but be aware that this will dilute the emotional intensity of the film. If your film is multi-protagonist then what is giving it the unity it needs to feel like a film and not TV? (e.g. time, place, theme etc)
2. What is their journey?
In order to satisfy the audience the character has to have a problem that is clear to the audience, to struggle with it through the action of the film and to overcome it (or not) by the end of the film. This problem can be one that exists between them and another character, or something in their world that they have to change, or something inside themselves.
3. Are the “stakes” high enough?
In order for the central idea (the premise) of your film to be sufficiently compelling you must ensure that there is as much at stake for the character and/or their world as possible. Once you have identified the character’s problem ask yourself what will happen if they don’t solve it; if the answer is ‘not that much’ then the stakes aren’t high enough. As the action develops make sure that the obstacles confronting the character build so that the hardest thing the character must do happens at the climax of the film.
4. Does the script have a consistent tone and genre?
5. Have I really got inside my characters’ heads?
What is it that defines each of the main characters and how is this signaled to the audience? Are all the characters sufficiently different from each other?
6. Does my script have a sense of place?
Many of the scripts last year were set in America. This is not necessarily a problem but if you’re intending to apply for funding from the NZFC in the future remember we have a statutory responsibility to encourage, participate and assist in…films made in New Zealand by New Zealanders on New Zealand subjects.
7. Have I proofread my script?
Boring, but spelling and grammar mistakes detract from the story and make you seem unprofessional and careless.
8. Is the dialogue doing too much work?
Remember this is a film and that in movies actions speak louder than words. Also beware of dialogue that is too obvious or ‘on the nose’ by making use of subtext.
9. Is it credible?
10. Is it definitely a film?
Is your idea more suited to the stage? Or TV or radio
