Wexford Writers Scripting For Broadcast Academy

By 3 February 2021News & Events
WEXFORD WRITERS COURSE

Bodecii Film in association with Screen Skills Ireland and Screen Wexford is searching for emerging writers in the Wexford region to take part in a Scripting For Broadcast Academy with Paul Webster. Assisting the training will be TV Director, Laura Way and WFT Board Member Fiona Kinsella.

This unique professional development workshop series is specifically aimed at writers from, or located in, the Wexford region. The course is delivered by Bodecii Film and funded by Screen Skills Ireland, Screen Wexford, Creative Ireland and Wexford County Council Arts Office as part of their commitment to supporting filmmakers and film production in the region.

This is Phase One of a two phase programme which will endeavour to represent a diverse range of new original voices and talent from all backgrounds, in Phase One, emerging Wexford writers will work in a collaborative writers room environment with established and experienced Lead Writer/Series Producer and Show Runner, Paul Walker (RedRock, Call the midwife, Eastenders, River City, BBC Writers Academy) and will acquire the skills to become TV broadcast writers. They will also engage with experienced TV Director, Laura Way (Red Rock, East Enders, Blood, The Holiday) and Producer Fiona Kinsella (Head of Production Tile Media/Executive Producer Jumper Productions) throughout the process.

Industry experts including Directors, Producers, Screen Writers, Talent Agents and Editing Commissioners will feature as guest speakers throughout the year.

Upon completion of Phase One of the programme, each of the participants will end up with a one hour broadcast standard TV SCRIPT.

(In Phase Two of the programme, Bodecii Film will endeavour to commission four to six of the writers and their scripts to enter into further development of a six part ORIGINAL ANTHOLOGY SERIES based in County Wexford.)

On completion of the writing workshops, writers will attend an industry panel seminar (taking place online until further notice) exploring the current industry landscape for Irish writers, career development and funding opportunities, along with practical advice on moving into production from script to screen.

This unique professional development workshop series is specifically aimed at writers from, or located in, the Wexford region. The course is delivered by Bodecii Film and funded by Screen Skills Ireland, Screen Wexford, Creative Ireland and Wexford County Council Arts Office as part of their commitment to supporting filmmakers and film production in the region.

Bodecii Film is a Wexford based production company owned by Director, Laura Way, who has worked with Virgin Media, BBC and Channel 5. She has directed TV Series Red Rock, EastEnders and Blood Season 2 and is a founding member of Screen Wexford. Laura is currently directing the four part miniseries adaptation of the novel ‘The Holiday’ for Projector Pictures and Channel 5.

“ All TV shows and films start as an idea, grow into a story and are crafted into a screenplay before they are delivered to our screens. Wexford is bursting with untapped talent, creativity and original storytellers. Bodecii Film continues to find and support local talent, develop their skill set and alongside Screen Wexford, help build the indigenous Film and TV industry in the county by bringing fresh voices and untold stories to our screens. This ambitious and unique course is led by industry experts with no cost to participants, providing opportunity to those living in the county from all cultures and backgrounds who have a passion for writing for TV and film and a unique perspective of the world. ”

 

The Course:

This course will take place online once a month from March to October 2021.

 

Application Procedure:

To apply, writers must supply the following before 5.30pm Monday, February 15th, 2021.

– a sample screenplay or stage play min.10 pages/max. 30 pages

– Writers CV and biography

To apply visit: https://www.screen-wexford.com/training

This is an intensive programme aimed at writers wishing to develop their professional skills and industry awareness.  Applicants must be free to attend all modules and to complete and revise their own short film screenplay

between workshops.

 

Cost:

This course is free.

 

Number of Participants:

This course is strictly limited to 10 participants

 

Workshop Dates:

March – October

One – two days per month (Weekend).

Tutor Profile: Paul Walker

Paul was mentor for the inaugural Arts Department of Wexford County Council and Bodecii Film “Wexford Screen Writers Professional Development Programme” and is currently a mentor for YIFM National Development Programme. He is also on the panel of mentors at Screenskills Ireland, the BBC Writers Academy and guest lecturer at IADT film school.

Current television work includes PHOENIX / T4Productions, DESCENDENT/Maxfilms, CALL THE MIDWIFE / Neal Street Productions for BBC THE PROFESSIONALS (fka SOLDIERS OF FORTUNE) / Fortune Productions, Ireland and EASTENDERS / BBC1; and for film, three original Dublin-set stories DIRTY DUBLIN TRILOGY. Paul’s controversial award-winning two-parter on the STARDUST disco fire won ‘Best Drama’ at the Irish Film & Television Awards 2007. He was Story Producer on BBC Scotland’s RIVER CITY  and on RED ROCK Season 1 (Element Pictures/Company Pictures for TV3, Ireland).  He went on to Studio Produce RED ROCK Season 2 and was Series Producer (Editorial) on Season 3 of the show.  The series won ‘Best Soap’ at the Irish Film and Television Awards 2016 and Paul was also nominated as ‘Best Writer’ for his work on the show.  Paul was Showrunner/Writer of RED ROCK Season 4 and won the Writers Guild of Ireland’s Best Scriptwriter award for in 2019.