The Importance of a Good Structure

Concept sentence, action-idea, premise, tagline... It sounds really easy – somebody wants something for a specific reason but it is impossible because of a specific obstacle. And that should be the core of the screenplay where all of the events and actions stem from. So basically 'nail down the premise and build your film from there'.

SIGH. More of then than once, I have heard the term 'development hell'. Getting caught in a limbo of honing this, changing that, amending this, correcting that. Bringing a secondary character forward as the protagonist, making the antagonist the protagonist, cutting characters and merging storylines. Cutting useless plot dimensions and focusing on the main storyline sounds simple but it is harder than it appears. The temptation to add complications and twists is a hard one to resist.

During the past few months, I have been focusing on nailing down the basics of the film. This has consisted of writing the premise, moving onto a 2-page outline and finally working out a 5-10 page treatment of the film. With each step I've taken, I have received valuable feedback that has been really, really useful. Workshopping with my fellow students has led me to notice a lot of inconsistencies and ways in which I should hone the focus of the story. For me personally, this has meant changing the themes of my piece and eliminating useless plot twists. It is safe to say that I have learned far more during the past two months than I did last year.

In terms of my film project, I feel like I am in a relatively good place. Next up, I need to do a bit of re-writing on that, take a few ganders at my secondary TV project and finish work on a small extracurricular project, which sees me write a five-minute radio monologue that will be broadcast on Resonance FM. It is a really exciting opportunity and collaborating with the sound arts students, who will be taking care of the practicalities of the sound world, has been really enlightening and refreshing. Stay tuned for updates on this one - my first real production credit! :-)

I also got promoted at work, which makes me a very happy bunny indeed. It is not a major change, but it is nice to feel appreciated. My employer has been really good to me in terms of allowing me to work four-days-a-week due to my studies and even giving me a promotion while on that limited schedule.

Also – in the beginning of February, I finally moved to a nicer home and so far, I'm loving it. After all, an aspiring writer not only needs to write a good structure for her feature films, but also needs to establish a 'good structure' for her life as well – a nice bed to sleep on, a quiet environment to write in and good transport links wherever her quill might take her.

Overall, I am really happy about everything right now – I wish that life could always be this rewarding, thrilling and exciting! :-)

Screen talk with my acting idol, Ralph Fiennes

Last night, I had the great privilege to hear the acting guru of my adolescence, Ralph Fiennes, speak at a talk organised as part of the BFI London Film Festival. Interviewed by Francine Stock, Fiennes shed light on his career and his upcoming, second directorial feature, The Invisible Woman, in which he plays the lead as the classic author Charles Dickens. In the following, I will share some of the most interesting aspects of the talk from my own personal point of view.

Ralph Fiennes (left) interviewed by Francine Stock at BFI Southbank, 18 October 2013.

The talk began by tracking down Fiennes's beginnings: how a student of painting would become interested in theatre design, and how the same boy, now enrolled on a foundation course, would come to realise that he actually wanted to be "in the set", rather than designing it. This lead to studies at the Royal Academy of the Dramatic Art, and ultimately, roles in theatre, television, and film.

Fiennes attributes his third film appearance, the role of Heathcliff in a film adaptation of Wuthering Heights (1992), as the role that caught Steven Spielberg's attention. Spielberg invited the young actor to audition for the role of the SS-officer Amon Goeth for his film, Schindler's List (1994), and the pair met face-to-face in Acton, "out of all places", Ralph adds.

The audience is shown a clip from the film, where Goeth pardons a young boy who has failed to clean his bath tub, but then shoots him in the back as he's walking away. The clip is followed by applause, and silence from the man himself.

"I hadn't seen that in a long time. I don't know what to say," Fiennes comments following the powerful, haunting extract.

Stock then directs the conversation to Anthony Minghella's The English Patient (1996), and the different directing styles of Spielberg and Minghella. Fiennes reminisces that while Spielberg was quite vocal and focused on "very specific things, physicality and gestures", Minghella's spoke "gently" and was quite precise. He goes on to suggest that in his opinion, "directors should be like very good teachers, sensitive to actors", after which a yet another clip illustrating Fiennes's brilliance as an actor is shown. Almasy, played by Fiennes, joins a dinner party and acts inappropriately, causing disapproval among his fellow diners.

Talk turns to Coriolanus (2011), Fiennes's directorial debut based on a play by William Shakespeare. Fiennes says than he and the screenwriter John Logan edited the the text and cut about 70 per cent of the original material in order to make it cinematic. It is evident Fiennes feels great pride about the writing, as he labels the work "brilliant" and expresses his hopes that Logan's screenplay could someday be published.

"A screenwriter should convey the film to the reader in a way you can see the film," he suggests. "It should be an edited text but accessible to people."

And so it was that during the post-production of Coriolanus, Fiennes was presented with another screenplay that "jumped off the page". Abi Morgan's screenplay for The Invisible Woman, based on a novel by Claire Tomalin, convinced Fiennes to pursue the drama, which presented its own challenges. He relates that he was forced to research and "embrace the feeling of the Dickensian period" while finding "the humanity inside the characters". He would study Victorian photo albums, witnessing the ageing of specific families by tracing their manners, habits and wrinkles through the photographs, with the ultimate goal of "getting over the period" finding "the beating heart within".

Two clips of The Invisible Woman are shown, after which the audience is given permission to ask the maestro some questions. The first question regards his future - Fiennes reveals that he has just finished filming two films, and is now enjoying a period of reading and not knowing what to do next.

I raise my hand and the microphone is given to me. I ask my childhood idol if he has thought of writing his own material, as he has tried out both acting and directing in the past. He looks me in the eyes (the adolescent girl within me, obsessed with Healthcliff and Lenny Nero, is about to swoon) and answers that he has "thought of it and would like to try it". Furthermore, the collaboration with Morgan has given him "enough confidence to make him feel he might like to try it".

The next question is about tips he might give for your actors auditioning for roles. The respected actor tells the questioner not to give up and to have an audition piece that is both true and meaningful to himself. The actor's own soul "has to come through it". He also warns that there is "much bullshit, flattery and pretense in the business", and that an actor should find interior strength for the life in front of him.

With that, Fiennes departs. My heart is still racing after the opportunity to ask him a question. I feel uplifted, inspired and giddy. Did that just happen? I rush home, full of energy to write and to hone my screenwriting skills. The talk has been truly inspiring and encouraging. I just hope that someday, I might have a career as brilliant and successful as he has had...

Plans for the bank holiday weekend: Mini-getaway and a writing spree

The month of August has whizzed by at a skyrocketing speed. September is knocking and my birthday draws near again. How can time fly by so fast?

For the past few weeks, I have been slowly trying to return to the university mode. Yesterday, I went to the university library and did some research on a summer project we should finish. So, for the next few weeks, I have two academic projects to work on: analysing a television show and conducting an interview with a contemporary UK screenwriter. In addition, I should submit three original script ideas and prepare to pitch an original TV show idea. These are all exciting projects, and I already have a few ideas that I want to pursue, so I am feeling quite energetic and enthusiastic about it all. 

And so, it is a bank holiday weekend, which I will be spending in the Cotswolds countryside with my other half. The aim is to do some work on these above-mentioned university projects and to enjoy a relaxing, quiet weekend getaway from London. It is a really beautiful area, I might post photos later. Toodles! 

Summer's almost gone...

...where will we be, when the summer's gone?

It is mid-August, and I have to say, the summer has just flown by. Not only has the weather been full of warmth and sunshine, my personal life has been so as well. I have found romance and been quite productive in terms of writing, so things are all good.

Although I have played around with a few script ideas, I have not been doing a lot of screenwriting. Instead, I wrote a short theatre play for the Little Pieces of Gold contest, which showcases new writing talent by choosing a handful of plays and showcases them at the Park Theatre in London. I'm not sure if my play, Shelter, was quite what they were looking for, but I am glad I managed to write it all the same. My first theatre play!

To conclude, here's a little song from the Doors to entertain you. It is playing in my head on repeat!

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.

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 :-)

Six months in London: The good and the bad

Time has flown by at an incredible pace, and I find myself caught amidst the English summer. As last Tuesday was the six-month anniversary of my London move, I decided to write down a few lines about my experiences so far. Without further adieu, let me present to you my observations.

Weather

Indeed, it does rain a lot. Long periods of rain and gloom have been interrupted by only a few warm and sunny days. This summer has been deemed as the rainiest one in years, yet the weather in my home country is far worse than this with its extreme temperature changes. But dealing with the weather is all about preparing: I check the weather forecast before I venture out and carry a mini umbrella and a pair of sunglasses with me wherever I go.

Londoners
The diverse population of many different nationalities is one of the greatest things about living in London. The motto for the city might as well be 'come as you are'. 
First of all, there's fashion. You can see the most interesting fashion choices here with no one questioning them. If you feel good about your choice of attire, chances are others are fine with it, too. I love the Old Spitalfields Market on Sundays - it is full of interesting (and cheap) frocks :-)
Secondly, the diverse backgrounds of the Londoners is definitely a positive. You can always introduce yourself with new cultures or cuisines through restaurants, parties, get-togethers, or exhibitions. The current hip cuisines seem to be the Vietnamese and Scandinavian ones. I think it's safe to say that you can always find people and imported goods from your native country, which makes you miss home even less. 

Tourists
It is the short-term inhabitants that do my head in. The tourists make it hard to keep up the good spirits. They walk at snail speed and then stop in the middle of the street to take pictures of literally everything: taxis, double-decker busses, telephone booths, street performers, famous buildings, tacky shops, classic statues and structures – even post boxes.  

Money

On my daily walk to work, I join a flood of businessmen and women on their walk across London Bridge and pass half-a-dozen homeless people in the process. I have started to recognise some of the homeless from the Big Issue saleswoman to the hobo man with the cute black pup, and yet I walk pass them without ever giving them any money. The truth of the matter is I have none to give.

Living in London is expensive – even more expensive when you’re desperately trying to live on a budget and save money. Because of my strict university fee saving regime, I find myself constantly purchasing value-range groceries and walking instead of using public transportation. But the temptations are there… and it is very hard to resist an after work cocktail or a cheeky dinner with friends, and there you have it – £50 gone with the wind. It’s way too easy to find a way to spend the well-earned money. Temptations, baby, temptations. 

Lifestyle

Lifestyle in London is all about scheduling. I find myself obeying the stereotypical ‘9 to 5’ work hours and planning my days accordingly: I enter the office at 9am, work until 1pm, take an hour for lunch, get back to work and leave at 5pm. Some of my colleagues go to the gym, some commute home, and some go out for happy hour cocktails with work colleagues. Understandably, the latter usually happens on Fridays, as there is no pressure to appear sharp in the office next morning.

Scheduling is important during weekends as well. It is completely normal to only see your friends every few weeks or so, as everyone is busy and commuting within the city takes a while. Speaking of which, I have to buy a nice watch... 

Dating

Dating in London is tough. There are so many beautiful women and gorgeous men around that it is hard to make an impression on anyone. I recently wrote a blog entry about dating, and joined a dating website to see if that would help. Hardly, is the answer – the experiment did not produce any tangible results. I went on a few dates, all of which left me feeling nothing at all. Needless to say, I am no longer paying for such service. I will keep my eyes open and see if anyone eligible turns up... Surely they will, right? (And the Moon is made out of cheese...)

Got a job and a room! Things are looking up!

The past week went by incredibly fast and I have basically just been running from one place to another. I attended three job interviews, visited the embassy to vote for a new president, found a room to live in and got my bank account sorted, so things are finally starting to go right.

I accepted a job offer - an office job (from 9.30am til 5.30pm) just a tube ride away from my future room, so not only is the location good, but the job sounds ideal for the moment. I think it will prepare me nicely for my upcoming university studies in January 2013.

And yes, I have also managed to find a nice double room in a tidy flatshare! There is a tube station less than 10 minutes walk away, the rent is low and the location very central (on the edge of Zone 1). I won't be moving there until the 9th of February though, so in the meantime, I am staying here in this little suburb Surrey village :-)

Jobseeking in London; notes and tips!

For the past few weeks, I have been trying to find a (descent) job in London. This has been a tough task, as looking for work usually is. Moments of hopeful joy are usually followed by depressing rejections that make you feel like an undesirable basket case with nothing to give. And yet you have to keep trying, as painful as those rejections are. For how can you win if you do not gamble?

When I started job hunting, I hadn't decided what I was looking for exactly. I spent my first week applying to miscellaneous jobs (found from Gumtree) from waitressing to sales assistant jobs and modelling, which was a big mistake. The modelling agency that replied to me was just looking to exploit me by charging a ridiculous amount for test shots, and the restaurant jobs I didn't get. I went on a two-hour trial shift to the other restaurant only to be rejected by them in a very rude manner. After the trial, they said they'd contact me if they were interested, but nothing happened. Not even a "thank you for your efforts but we have chosen another candidate" note. Just silence - how infuriating!

Generally, I would advice you to beware of some of the ads on Gumtree. There are some valid ones, but after experiencing two scam attempts (one involving a house to rent a few months back and now this modelling agency), I would take extra care when checking their offers. If it sounds too good, it probably is.

Another website I have found useful is Reed.co.uk. They allow different recruiters post job vacancies and, when you apply, you just click a button and your CV is sent through automatically. Additionally, you can send them a cover letter, which you can edit for each vacancy.

A lot of recruitment agencies advertise their vacancies on Reed. Even if you don't get the job you applied for, the agencies usually keep a copy of your CV in their records and might contact you regarding other roles they think you might be suitable for. Also, some agencies jump at a chance to meet you. They might ask you to pop around to their office to get to know you. I went to one of these agencies and the guy I was talking to was very friendly and sounded genuinely willing to help. He gave me general advice with my job search saying that he could get me marketing jobs based on my skills but, for the more literal, editorial jobs that I have done in the past, I should just contact the companies directly. Thus, I have also checked websites for different publishing houses and have applied for jobs there too.

So, in conclusion, I have three interviews booked. Now I don't want to go into too much details about them, for I am afraid that doing so would jinx it, but I can say that one of these is a jobs I applied for through Reed, the second one the recruiting agency contacted me about and the third one I found advertised in the web.

I will keep you posted about things go. Hopefully, I have a job soon! :-)

Nightclubbing from posh to rock!

Friday night was the first one of the (hopefully) many nights I will spend out in the London nightlife. I met up with an old friend at the Green Park tube station. Our plan was to join a few other people at a members only Mayfair nightclub, but things didn't quite go according to plan.

After failing to find this elusive VIP club, we entered a place called Babble just off the Berkeley Square to wait for our friends to catch up with us. Already at 9.30pm, the two floor bar was packed with people and the music was blasting so loud that my poor (old-fart) ears were ringing. The guests were all dressed in a smart, eye-pleasing manner. Yes, there were a few tacky tank tops and some smudgy mascara on few girls' cheeks, but overall, people were well dressed.

And men... Yes, there were a few potential candidates ;-) I ended up talking to two handsome Russians, dressed in fancy suit jackets and smart clothes. They were nice and funny, and we got along nicely. Their English was surprisingly good and they seemed to be genuinely interested in chatting, not just hooking up and pulling a girl for a one night stand. Unfortunately we left without exchanging numbers, but I have to say. This encounter filled me with hope again. London is full of cute guys, so why did it take so long for me to realise that? :-)

Next up was a Nobu chain restaurant, which was just around the corner from Babble. As soon as we entered, I felt a bit embarrassed and uncomfortable to be there, for I felt I looked like a chav. My black MANGO polo shirt was OK, and the dangling white/gold earrings I had were cute, but as for the bottom half of my body... Woolly grey shorts, black tights on the verge of falling to pieces and golden brown boots that just didn't go with anything I was wearing. I felt really out of place and hid behind the glamorous booth hoping that no one would notice my awful choice of clothing.

As a place, Nobu was very enjoyable. The ambient, modern mood of the place was very appealing, and not too over-the-top either. Between the four of us, we shared a bottle of dry white wine (which cost about £40, so not too bad), and I have to say, it felt pretty fantastic to have our own waiter who kept refilling our glasses and served us so considerately. It was a lovely place to hang out with girlfriends and I'd like to go back soon. However, in clothing I feel comfortable with ;-)

After we finished our wine, we decided to change places again. After a quick stop at McDonald's (from a high end sushi restaurant to the infamous fast food chain, what a change, hahaa!), we ventured into a little place called Troy, located close to the Tattenham Court Road tube station. Situated on one of the little alleys off the big road, Troy's entrance was barely noticeable. Just a little sign saying "Troy 22" over a doorway, no opening times, no bouncer, no nothing. We cracked a few jokes about it, and judged the place before really giving it a chance. With Troy, the statement "never judge a book by its cover" turned out to be true, though.

We entered and found a cosy, dark little room with a small bar, a fireplace and about 5 tables. The bar was empty, but after ordering our drinks (which were quite reasonably priced, too), the place had started to fill up. By the time we had sat down and had a sip of our drinks, the place was almost full. 1950's rockabilly rock filled the room and people were dancing straight away. With classic rock tunes from Chuck Berry, Roy Orbison and Elvis Presley, everyone seemed genuinely happy and uninhibited. The atmosphere was very welcoming and warm, and lacked the pretense you get in the high end nightclubs. People were just who they were, there was no faking about it. It seemed to be the kind of place where you go and have fun with your friends, no matter what you wear, who you are or what you do for living.

Unfortunately my evening was cut quite short as I had to catch a train back here at 11.45pm. I would have loved to have stayed, but unfortunately, I had no other alternative. I have to say that Friday night was a lovely beginning for my London nightlife experiences. I cannot wait to go back and have new experiences. Weekend, come quickly again!

Settling in alright... But need a job!

Today is the third day of my London adventure. Here comes a brief summary of what I have been up to during these first few days.

I landed at Heathrow on Wednesday afternoon. My landlady was kind enough to pick me up from the airport and after about an hours drive, we arrived at this village I am staying at. I spent the rest of the day unpacking my things and getting cosy in my new, single bedroom. It is a light little room in a former council house (insert your frown here), but it has been refurbished recently. Needless to say, it is perfect for me, as I don't have a lot of things and don't need a lot of space.

This village is about 40 minutes train ride away from the London Bridge station, so it's not too far away from the city centre. The area is quite leafy and airy, and I have to say, very idyllic! I never thought that a place this close to such a big cosmopolitan city could be so relaxing and... quiet!

However, as much as I enjoy this room and this area, I have to admit that I would like to experience the big city living and am looking for a room in a more central area. This desire is partially this is due to the fact that I need a job and most jobs I am interested in are in the central London area. Also, after spending a year in a town that was too quiet to my taste I am longing to have a bit of a cosmopolitan experience. So, we'll see how things go.

After unpacking and settling in on Wednesday, I hopped on to the train on Thursday and spent the whole day just walking around in Central London. I treated myself to a small salad lunch at Carnaby Street in a little Italian salad bar. It was a lovely little moment - just drinking coffee, eating salad and looking at people, who were mostly tourists. I had to pinch myself for I was feeling so happy. I am finally here, after all the hard work!

I was also asking around for jobs, but most stores said they want people to apply for the jobs online. So today, I am going to spend the day looking and applying for jobs online. At the moment I am not too picky - I could do waitressing, retail, an office job... Anything to earn me some pocket money, really.

Partially because of money issues, I might have to defer my university place until next year. I really want to do the MA course and I already have the tuition fees saved up, but if I can't get a job NOW I won't have anything to live on, really. That is why I might have to begin the course in January 2013 instead.

I have to say, I am not too worried if I start the course this year or the next year. After all, it's just one year. I think spending one year working and getting used to things could be beneficial for me. At the moment it seems like there's so many changes in my life, all happening at once, that I can hardly keep track. Maybe a "slowly but surely" approach would be better at this stage.

To conclude, I really do feel like I am "Melly In Wonderland". Everything is so exciting and new I can hardly contain myself. Here is a little music choice that kind of describes how I'm feeling at the moment:

New year, new city, new beginnings!

Happy 2012 everyone! Let's hope that it is way better than 2011 was.

I am really looking forward to this year and am anxious to see what it will bring with it. In three days, I will be moving to London and starting a new life there. I am so excited and happy - I desperately need a change of scenery. New adventures and opportunities await, and I am anxious to see what will become of me there.

To quote Forrest Gump, everyone gets a second chance with the new year. It certainly feels that way to me now... I really needed a new beginning!

Finally, here is a classic U2 song to celebrate the event: