screenwriting

Lisa Holdsworth, Sally Ogden and Jin-Theng Craven discuss gender inequality in screenwriting as soaps are axed

The cuts in unscripted TV and the cost of living crisis, said Holdsworth, the creator of upcoming Channel 4 drama Dance School, had hit the largely freelance workforce in the industry hard. “If you have to keep a roof over people’s heads… it doesn’t feel stable to be working in television at the moment. I don’t blame anyone who’s looked elsewhere,” she said.

Create Central and the BBC launch writing scheme for Birmingham based aspiring scriptwriters

The scheme will be comprised of workshops, expert-led sessions and networking opportunities across an eight-week period. From June 2024, the soon-to-be script writers will learn each stage of writing for screen, covering all bases.

This will be the second “Write Across” scheme the BBC has initiated after the successful “Write Across Liverpool” last year.  

Writers of Time, Wreck and A Thousand Blows on how to write TV drama

“I absolutely hate rejection. I cry… I love these projects. I really hate it when producers act like it doesn’t matter and say: ‘We just roll again tomorrow, Helen.’ Of course, you roll again tomorrow, but today I want to sob.”

Screenwriter Helen Black was discussing the biggest downside of her job at an RTS Futures event in September, which examined what it takes to make a living out of screenwriting.

She continued: “You end up working on a lot of projects that are never going to be in production and that’s heartbreaking.”

Writers of Time, Wreck and Champion on getting into screenwriting

Top TV writers discuss how to make it in screenwriting.

Host:

Navi Lamba, Head of Development, BBC Comedy

Panel:

Helen Black, Writer, Time S2

Louis Paxton, Writer/Director, Calamity James, Wreck

Ameir Brown, Writer, Champion

Please note that due to restrictions beyond the RTS’ control, we could not include any comments from David Hancock in the recording.

Working Lives: Comedy Writer Kaamil Shah

Did you always want to be a writer?

I wanted to be a director when, aged seven, I saw the behind-the-scenes Lord of the Rings documentaries. It was fascinating to see Peter Jackson running around and I thought, “That’s what I want to do.”

Life gets in the way and you’re pulled in other directions but, at Cambridge University, where I was studying history, there was a talk by the film screenwriter Jay Basu. I went away buzzing from that talk and, since then, everything I’ve done has been working towards being a screenwriter.

Inaugural RTS Story Conference gives screenwriting masterclass

“Never write with a filter – thinking about what ‘they’ want you to write.”

“Love the one you are with.”

“Don’t be a wanker.”

These were some of the good-humoured but sound pieces of advice on offer from established writers at the inaugural one-day RTS Story Conference, which was packed with informative sessions featuring some of the biggest names in UK television.

It's a Sin Masterclass

An It's a Sin masterclass with writer Russell T Davies OBE, executive producer Nicola Shindler and Channel 4 commissioner Lee Mason.

The masterminds behind the iconic series discuss the making of It's a Sin and share tips on how you can take your life experiences and put them on screen.

Chaired by comedian and presenter, Kemah Bob.

Netflix, Bisha K Ali and Sky launch The Screenwriters’ Fellowship to tackle under-representation in TV

The programme will support six screenwriters from Black, Asian and other racial and ethnic backgrounds by employing them in a Netflix or Sky writers’ room for their first television credit.

Fellows will also receive a bursary and an industry mentor while attending monthly development events and workshops.

K Ali said: “I am thrilled to be working alongside Netflix and Sky to launch our new Screenwriting Fellowship.