Adaptation troubles

Term two of university is more than halfway through, and I find myself battling a huge writer's block. The short story I 've decided to use as the basis for my 30-minute adaptation, The Body-Snatcher, is the root of my problem.

When I first read the story, I was really excited by the concept of body-snatching and the general idea of doing morally questionable things to advance science. I also loved the way in which science and ghosts intersected, which corresponds to the idea I have of the Victorian society.

The difficulties I am experiencing mostly stem from structural issues. I have been attempting to establish a clear, cohesive, three-act story arc that would remain faithful to the characters, world and feel of the original short story. Easier said than done.

I find myself going around in circles, changing the main protagonist, story setting and order of events constantly. So far, my efforts haven't been very fruitful. The feedback I have received through my university workshops has not been too encouraging, and the depressing thing is - my fellow students have a point. The main protagonist does not have a clear want, the main active question is a bit vague, and the climax seems slightly irrelevant to the rest of the story. Phew.

I finally see some light at the end of the tunnel though. After swapping notes with a fellow student, I feel like I finally have a working outline. The bad thing is, I have spent almost two months trying to get the outline together, which leaves me with only one week to finish the script. 30 pages of script in one week - yikes. I doubt it will be of very good quality, but I must do the best I can..

Until further notice...

First term over, first draft ready - First impressions of a screenwriting student

Within the first three months of this new year, my little London existence has changed quite dramatically - in my terms, anyway. Some big, exciting changes have taken place, which have made me a very happy lass indeed.

In January, I was finally able to start pursuing the art that had brought me to London in the first place - screenwriting. As a result, my days have been primarily dedicated to combining office work with university lectures, reading, project planning, and finally - writing. It has taken me hours and hours to actually get to the writing stage, and I must admit that it has been a lot more work than I thought it would be. Sadly, I have been ignoring my friends and turned into a bit of a hermit, but hopefully, it will be worth it in the end.

I have greatly enjoyed my first term, which has now come to an end. And... I have a first draft of a short film script to show for it! While I won't post the entire script online, here is a short premise to give you an idea of what the story is about:

A Matter of Time
On the day of her induction to the Clockmakers' Guild, 20-year-old Alice is visited by a mysterious woman from a distant time. This prompts Alice to re-evaluate her future goals, her heart and her own interests, and to question her suitability to the family tradition of clockmaking.

As for the next term, I can hardly wait. Our next project will be a 30-minute adaptation, and I've already been reading a wide range of short stories. I am starting to lean towards Victorian ghost stories or science fiction, but we'll see.

Overall, I am really excited to be pursuing this course. It is going to be a lot more work in the future, but being able to do the course has made me incredibly happy. This is my calling, let's hope I may flourish in it.

Pictures of the abandoned Heygate Estate

When I first ventured into South-East London and the Elephant and Castle area, I could not help noticing the hideously ugly buildings that towered on the other side of the high-rising Strata building. After doing some research, I discovered that the buildings made up the Heygate Estate, which used to be a council house area from the 1970's onwards. It was only a few years ago that the estate was abandoned.  

The whole area is under demolition at the moment. Last summer, I managed to get through to the estate along with a few friends. The entrance we used to get it has since been blocked, so I am quite glad we made it there when we did. 

The estate has a certain ghostly feel about it. It reminds me of the pictures I have seen of the town of Prypiat in Ukraine, which was abandoned after the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. Time is standing still, and I find myself thinking about the lives people have led there. The estate is quite fascinating in an urban decay kind of way.  

See for yourself. Here are some pictures I took:

Anyone up for Pacman Heygate-style?

A view from the estate towards the new Strata building. 

Access to the old flats and apartments is blocked by glass walls, barb wire, or metal gates.
The porches are full of abandoned furniture and rubbish. 

More rubbish, this time on the ground.

There's a lot of colourful graffiti around. 

Words of wisdom by the old surgery entrance.

Oh Olympics, escape extravaganza

For the past few weeks, it has been impossible to escape the big O-word. It has been what everyone has been talking about. Olympics this, Olympics that. Transport for London issued guidance regarding travelling during the games months ago, and we had a few meetings at work regarding commuting. We were even taught how to access our computers remotely if we were unable to attend work for some reason.

Although many Londoners were excited about the prospect of hosting the biggest sporting event and the cultural activities associated with it, I decided to join some of my fellow citizens in abandoning the city - for the first week, anyway. I departed London last Friday, on the opening night of the games, and watched the impressive ceremony back at my parents place. And wow, it truly was amazing!

As a result of the Olympics, the accommodation fees for hotels and hostels have skyrocketed, so many Londoners have decided to cash in by renting out their rooms for the duration of the games. I decided to do the same for the time I am away. I rented my room out to a friend couple, so there was the obvious friend-discount, but upon seeing the prices others were charging, I felt disgusted. Money talks, in this sense too. Not only have we paid millions of pounds in taxes to fund the Olympics and the train/underground/bus service maintenance associated with it, but now people are charging ludicrous amounts for short term stays. Although I desperately need money for my university fees, I could not overcharge with good conscience. People can be so greedy... it's awful. All they see are sterling signs.

I shall return next Sunday, so I won't miss all of the Olympics shenanigans, but this little break from London has been rather refreshing. I might post more about the games later, but for now... I am enjoying my mini-break out of the city and watching the games from my parents' couch :-)