SUCCESS STORIES
Paula Comley's first feature
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Paula Comley, an attendee of Ian Long’s Script Reading course, has recently produced and released her first feature film.
TO A CINDER is a British neo noir thriller - with a feminist twist – in which a hitman becomes the target in a game he didn’t know he was playing. Adapted from Scottish artist David Taylor’s graphic novel by writer/director Henry Scriven, TO A CINDER features Olivier Award-winning actor Elliot Warren in his first lead role. Supporting is Alessandro Babalola. The female lead is played by Rosalind Halstead. TO A CINDER won the Debut Feature Award at the London Independent Film Festival 2023 and was nominated in the Best Feature category at Kingston International Film Festival. It was screened at a special event hosted by the Earls Court International Film Festival whose early-days grant funding kicked off the project. Reviewers have called the film ‘very Schrader-esque’, and have made positive comparisons to ‘Shallow Grave’, ‘Wild Things’ and Hitchcock’s ‘Rear Window’. Paula is currently developing her next feature from a slate of projects which can be viewed on her company website www.camarchemedia.com, which also provides all contact details for further info, marketing materials and sales & distribution interest. |
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CHRYSSANTHI KOURI - a new shorT, AND an upcoming tv series
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Chryssanthi Kouri, an attendee of Ian Long's Script Reading course, has recently released her sixth short film, DUSTLIGHT.
When a woman goes home to clear out her late mother's belongings she is assailed by memories, but embracing her grief brings about a personal epiphany. Chryssanthi says: "Inspired by my experience of losing my mother early and suddenly, I wanted to make a film about stages of life that everyone goes through: losing a loved one, growing older, and feeling alone. I was interested in placing this story within a state of uncertainty, when one chapter of life is closing and a new one is about to begin. Moments of loneliness and reflection occupy this space of suspension, where we have the opportunity to reconnect with our pure selves. The film is an invitation to reflect on these moments; it aims to give the audience a sense of connection and belonging." Chryssanthi is currently developing her first TV series, a dark comedy-drama with a female ensemble, set in austerity Athens. The project has recently been optioned by an independent Greek production company. For info, marketing materials, and sales & distribution enquiries please contact Chryssanthi at: [email protected] | +44 (0)7766642691 |
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Oliver Pearn - On the line
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Oliver Pearn worked with Euroscript consultant Nicola Quilter for over a year on his debut feature script, ON THE LINE. In 2022, they successfully took the film into production with Oliver directing and Nicola producing.
In 2023, It premiered in the US at Cinequest, in Britain at BAFTA Cymru. At Richmond International Film Festival in October and was nominated for best film. Recently, Oliver won best director Ramsgate Film Festival where the film also picked up best actor award for Victoria May. On The Line has secured a sales MG and looks to recoup investor money within its first year. 'It has been wholly fantastic working with Nicola on my script ‘On The Line‘ across the drafts. Easily one of the best decisions I made. The action takes place in a single room and maximises its limitations to create a unique form of tension. It has gone onto place in a number of competitions most recently as Quarter Finalist in scriptapooloza and Semis in the Screen Craft Film Fund. You can follow the film's progress on Instagram @ontheline_film'. Oliver Pearn. |
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Mark Renshaw - Austin script win
Mark Renshaw won the Euroscript story competition and has subsequently worked with Euroscript consultant Nicola Quilter on many projects. In 2023 his short script, SLAYFEST, won Austin Film Festival.
Euroscript competition Winner Simon bovey's stage play in rome
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Former Euroscript competition winner, writer/director Simon Bovey, had his theatrical play TESTIMONY performed at Teatro Belli, Rome, in October last year.
The play is a tense interrogation of a man accused of a crime; under scrutiny, darker truths are revealed in those who would condemn him. 'Testimony' opened the XXI edition of TREND - new frontiers of the British scene, Rome's annual festival devoted to contemporary British theatre. Simon has written numerous radio plays for the BBC, most recently 'Franklin'. Based on a true story, 'Franklin' is about joining the fight when you're not sure it's your fight, and doing the right thing when it might cost you everything. Following the assassination of Martin Luther King, a Californian high school teacher writes to Charles M Schultz, creator of 'Peanuts', the USA's most widely published comic strip, about the possible inclusion of a 'Negro character' in the strip. The suggestion appeals to Schultz, but he also finds it morally troubling... "A surprisingly potent and poignant meditation on the creative process, the politics of representation, race in America, and the power of pop culture... a story about small decisions and small victories that can help change the world for the better." - review from Bleedingcool.com Click here to listen to Franklin. |
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Makeda Matheson
Makeda has been accepted onto Screen Yorkshire's Flex program and has had scripts long listed for BBC Studios A Thousand Stories and the Netflix Screenwriter's Fellowship 2021.
Nicola not only provides detailed script feedback (written and zoom), but a session with her is also a masterclass in the craft of scriptwriting. She is generous with her time, advice and encouragement, and is a stickler for detail ensuring that your script/narrative is clear and ready to share with the world.
I can’t recommend Nicola or Euroscript more highly.
Nicola not only provides detailed script feedback (written and zoom), but a session with her is also a masterclass in the craft of scriptwriting. She is generous with her time, advice and encouragement, and is a stickler for detail ensuring that your script/narrative is clear and ready to share with the world.
I can’t recommend Nicola or Euroscript more highly.
A debut novel from WILLIAM LONG
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Big congratulations to Euroscripter William Long! His debut novel UNHOLY GODS has just been published by Severed Press. It tells the story of John Calvary, a marine biologist investigating the corpse of an unknown, colossal sea creature washed up on the shores of a remote Scottish island.
You can find the Amazon link to the novel here. William took two of our workshops, 'Writing Horror' and 'Creating Fear in Films', given by Ian Long (no relation!) a few years ago, and he says: "The notes I took in your classes played a huge part in writing this book and getting it published, so thank you! You were a tremendous help. I often look back at my notes and enjoy reading over your points." William has a BA in filmmaking from the University of the Arts London. He works full-time as a film editor and has edited three feature films (FANGED UP, UNITED NATION, and THE GOOD WIFE) as well as music videos, short films, and television. You can see more of William's work here. |
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VALERIA APPEL
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Congratulations to Valeria Appel whose short has won Film of the Month on Shooting People. Locked In is the story of an ordinary family whose day takes a very disturbing turn. View it here and feel free to give it five stars!
Valeria has taken a number of Euroscript courses and says they taught her a lot. She's currently working on the Chris Tarrant series for Channel 5. She’s produced a one-hour feature for Al Jazeera English – watch it here: youtu.be/jv69pYSm2oo Pre 2016 she worked with Bear Grylls and Sir David Attenborough. Thanks to her TV work she has travelled to wonderful locations like Galapagos, Thailand, Malaysia, Qatar, Argentina (including the Patagonia). She is fluent in four foreign languages and is passionate about film. You can see more credits on IMDB. |
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HOME TRUTHS SUCCESS
After development sessions at the Tampere Film Festival and further mentoring from Ian Long, Finnish screenwriter Petra Forsten's drama Home Truths has been chosen for the POWR Baltic workshop, so will have a showcase pitch at the biggest film market in North Eastern Europe - a useful step towards production. |
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SCREEN MAGIC
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Script-edited by Euroscript, ARTHUR & MERLIN is now available in the UK on iTunes and on DVD through Amazon, Tesco, Asda and HMV. Writer Kat Wood said our report was "very helpful ... excellent, really pleased with it and the amazing turnaround time." |
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TASTING BLOOD
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Euroscripter Nidhi Gupta won funding from the Eastern Edge Film Fund from Film London to produce her short film script Suburban Dracula. She is also producing for a local production company as well as developing projects with Cambridge TV. We've also reported her first writing credit on short film Unfinished Business, directed by the award-winning Kawita Sareen. After completing production, the film was picked up for distribution by Shorts.tv for their women directors season. More here. |
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SEEING STARS
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Starred Up written by Euroscripter Jonathan Asser opened on general release to critical acclaim. Jonathan’s script is a tough portrait of a father son relationship played out in the confines of brutal prison life. He developed his script using Euroscript, twice attending Complete Treatments run by Charles Harris. He also came on residential Euroscript workshops run by Anne Woods, and worked on later drafts with script editing advice from Paul Gallagher. Read Paul's interview with Jonathan for our blog.
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GIANT IMAGES
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Giant Images' feature film LOVE EVENTUALLY (AKA SINGLE MUSLIM) shooting in the Manchester area. Writer/director Oz Arshad used Euroscript’s services on two occasions in pre-production. His script editor was Anji Loman Field. |
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BAFTA SLEEPS WITH THE FISHES
Euroscript screenwriter James Walker won a BAFTA for Best Animated Short for producing Sleeping With the Fishes, about a lonely fishmonger more at ease with her fish than her customers. To watch it, ask here for the password.
GETTING THE URGE
Brian Barnes' "The Urge" written after attending Fenella Greenfield's Write a Short in a Day workshop - has spent a full year as the IndieFlix 8th most watched horror film. He says, "I'm very proud of my cast and crew, and very grateful to Fenella for her tips.
"I took Fenella Greenfield's 'Write a 10 Minute Short in a Day' course. It took me 2 years to get the crew and location together to make that film, but I managed it. I then took Fenella's 'Script to Screen' course; she gave me ideas on how to make a trailer and website for the film, which has helped prepare for my current festival push. This is undoubtedly my best work, and it's due in some part to what I learnt through Euroscript, so thank you."
Brian Barnes' "The Urge" written after attending Fenella Greenfield's Write a Short in a Day workshop - has spent a full year as the IndieFlix 8th most watched horror film. He says, "I'm very proud of my cast and crew, and very grateful to Fenella for her tips.
"I took Fenella Greenfield's 'Write a 10 Minute Short in a Day' course. It took me 2 years to get the crew and location together to make that film, but I managed it. I then took Fenella's 'Script to Screen' course; she gave me ideas on how to make a trailer and website for the film, which has helped prepare for my current festival push. This is undoubtedly my best work, and it's due in some part to what I learnt through Euroscript, so thank you."
Daf Palfrey Treatment Success
Daf writes: "I wrote a treatment after I took Exciting Treatments. I don't know if you remember, but it was an idea based on the life of a medieval Welsh poet called Dafydd ap Gwilym. It was also a hip-hop musical.
"Daft, I know! But after a couple of drafts of the (exciting!) treatment, the Film Agency for Wales thought it good enough to develop into a feature film screenplay. So, they put some money my way and I'm currently writing up the first draft.
"Even though the Exciting Treatments course was just a day long, I got a hell of a lot out of it. I think it's because we were made to write and come up with ideas in a workshop environment and didn't have time to ponder or brood over our ideas. Also, the generalization/sequence/specific action rule was very handy when writing out the treatment. Thanks for that! Don't think the treatment would have been half as good had I not attended your course.
"Anyway, the project is currently called 'Superstar Bard' and I will be directing it through production company Fiction Factory in Cardiff."
Daf writes: "I wrote a treatment after I took Exciting Treatments. I don't know if you remember, but it was an idea based on the life of a medieval Welsh poet called Dafydd ap Gwilym. It was also a hip-hop musical.
"Daft, I know! But after a couple of drafts of the (exciting!) treatment, the Film Agency for Wales thought it good enough to develop into a feature film screenplay. So, they put some money my way and I'm currently writing up the first draft.
"Even though the Exciting Treatments course was just a day long, I got a hell of a lot out of it. I think it's because we were made to write and come up with ideas in a workshop environment and didn't have time to ponder or brood over our ideas. Also, the generalization/sequence/specific action rule was very handy when writing out the treatment. Thanks for that! Don't think the treatment would have been half as good had I not attended your course.
"Anyway, the project is currently called 'Superstar Bard' and I will be directing it through production company Fiction Factory in Cardiff."
Penny Macleod
Penny is developing her script Toy Boyz Inc with the production company Green Gaia Films, after pitching her film idea to producers at Cannes and a re-draft incorporating Charles Harris' feedback.
Peter Lowe
Peter has completed the indie feature SE1 (aka Evans Baby), which tells the tale of teenager Evans' struggle to cope with fatherhood and responsibility. With no job and little money, Evans falls into dealing drugs; but when his stash is violently taken from him, he is forced to re-evaluate his life's choices. SE1 will get its DVD release on February 27th through Brightspark Ltd and Lace Media.
Penny is developing her script Toy Boyz Inc with the production company Green Gaia Films, after pitching her film idea to producers at Cannes and a re-draft incorporating Charles Harris' feedback.
Peter Lowe
Peter has completed the indie feature SE1 (aka Evans Baby), which tells the tale of teenager Evans' struggle to cope with fatherhood and responsibility. With no job and little money, Evans falls into dealing drugs; but when his stash is violently taken from him, he is forced to re-evaluate his life's choices. SE1 will get its DVD release on February 27th through Brightspark Ltd and Lace Media.
Simon Morgan
"Following a week at Charles Harris's Screen-PLAY Summer School, three scripts were commissioned by a US client looking for to market films aimed at the immigrant community. As well as developing further ideas I'm in discussion with a BAFTA Award-winning writer/producer who is interested in my horror project."
Stephen M. Hunt
"My first feature film Beliefs, Myths and Curses has been optioned by small, Brighton-based Avanti Productions with a view to it being the follow-up to their first co-produced feature film Dora. Brian Blessed and Hildegard Neil are attached to my second feature film Hearts of Cold Stone which is about the WW2 massacre of a French village. My work-in-progress is a hard-nosed chick-flick called Make Up. Attached to this project is Romanian star Mihai Arsene (The King's Speech, Martin Scorsese' s Hugo, Cabret andAnna Karenina)."
Steve Redwood
"In 2011 my short story Man or Mouse won the Writer's Forum short fiction prize. It was subsequently optioned as a feature film by a BAFTA nominated producer."
Andersonkeys
"I finished my fourth spec script and have started No.5 and 6. I still get excited as I sit down at my computer."
"Following a week at Charles Harris's Screen-PLAY Summer School, three scripts were commissioned by a US client looking for to market films aimed at the immigrant community. As well as developing further ideas I'm in discussion with a BAFTA Award-winning writer/producer who is interested in my horror project."
Stephen M. Hunt
"My first feature film Beliefs, Myths and Curses has been optioned by small, Brighton-based Avanti Productions with a view to it being the follow-up to their first co-produced feature film Dora. Brian Blessed and Hildegard Neil are attached to my second feature film Hearts of Cold Stone which is about the WW2 massacre of a French village. My work-in-progress is a hard-nosed chick-flick called Make Up. Attached to this project is Romanian star Mihai Arsene (The King's Speech, Martin Scorsese' s Hugo, Cabret andAnna Karenina)."
Steve Redwood
"In 2011 my short story Man or Mouse won the Writer's Forum short fiction prize. It was subsequently optioned as a feature film by a BAFTA nominated producer."
Andersonkeys
"I finished my fourth spec script and have started No.5 and 6. I still get excited as I sit down at my computer."
PRESS AND BLOG REVIEWS
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Fenella Greenfield runs an intensive one-day class that is terrific fun and highly informative.
Read Time Out's review of Fenella Greenfield's The Absolute Beginners' Guide to How to Write a Screenplay. |
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Charles Harris displays an impressive mastery of the creative form.
Read Janice Day's review of a ScreenLab workshop in Scriptwriter Magazine. |
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