Wednesday 28th August 2024
Sent the initial first draft of Zero Hour to Rick Roberts this morning. We had a few teething issues to iron out while I blasted through this first pass. Rick couldn’t understand why I wasn’t asking questions while I wrote and we ended up speaking and clearing the air yesterday morning.
I told him I was simply working through his treatment, filling it out, and shaping it into a workable screenplay. I said I need to write in order to find a way in, which means I don’t necessarily know all the questions I need to ask beforehand. I think he wanted more communication, which is fair enough. However, I just needed to crack on and figure out what the story is, plus, I’ve got to turn this thing in on the 6th of September, so I’ve had to work very fast.
So, I’ve sent him an initial first draft. I kept telling him that his treatment was short, and even with me filling things out and adding a couple of scenes, it still only came in at 59 pages. We’re going to speak tomorrow morning and I’ll take his notes and address them all next week, hopefully adding a lot of stuff to get it up to beyond 70 pages.
It’s a very action-heavy screenplay, so there’s stuff on the page that is perhaps one line, but Rick, as the director, could go to town on them. He could really build out the sequences, but we’ll see.
Still, he did say he liked what he’s read so far (I sent him 30 pages last week) but I think he’s just worried about the lack of budget and how bare-bones they’ll be doing this thing on, and I’m writing big action sequences, so I understand.
He can’t be too displeased with me though because he’s offered me another film to write - a British gangster flick, amusingly called, Improper Bastards. He says he’s got that one pre-sold, so I might be doing that in September.
I can’t resist that title.
In other news, I went up to the Lytham International Film Festival on Saturday. Up near Blackpool. Long drive! Was good fun though, mainly because I got to hang out with my old friend Richard Albiston. He’s trying to get a lot of stuff done, not least working with Ovidio G. Assonitis on a sequel to the 1974 Exorcist rip-off, Beyond the Door. He told me that I’m on the list of possible directors for it! Although I reckon I’m at the bottom of the list.
Still, it’s great to be ON the list.
I did a talk on screenwriting for short films which went ok, I think. I basically did a writer’s commentary on Laura Living Backwards - screening the film, stopping and starting it, and talking through all the story points.
Later, Baby on Board was screened and I did a Q&A with festival director Ed Greenberg - the maker of the indie film The Renata Road.
Best of all, Stephen Volk won for Best Screenplay for Baby on Board!
Drove home after. Got in at midnight.
(Me and Richard Albiston)
