The Room

Thanks for the links Anne!

I've split the script into three 'acts' - hopefully that'll make it a bit easier to read.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/

Look this up... You can submit scripts for the BBC

anne

www.writersmarket.com

www.writers-editors.com

www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/arts/commissioning.shtml

These should help. The last one is for radio 4. It may be good to get on to them.

Thanks Annie that's really nice to hear!

Good point about the difficulty of reading, I'll see if I can break it up a bit over the weekend to make it a bit more digestable... To be honest I haven't really tried sending it out. I sent a copy to a director aquaintance a couple of years ago, but he never got back to me.

I was recently at a Q&A with the comic book writer Mark Millar and he advised sending full scripts to agents in the US, but I'm not sure where to start looking for one. Internet would probably be a good bet I suppose...

This is really good. I've read part of it, but obviously cannot finish all of it in one go. Is there a chance you could break it up a bit? Maybe putting the first page into scenes?

This will give the reader a sort of book mark to come back to. I don't know if I'll remember where I stopped when I return again, because it's all on one page.

I love the way you write. Your story is so real, so moving, and true to real life. I was a stage actress for 11 and a half years, and to me, this is something I would 'get' in a heart beat.

Your writing is professional and you certainly do have a talent for scripts. I can't see why this hasn't been snapped up? Have you tried sending it out yet?

best
anne

OOhh, this sounds nice. I will certainly be back to read it when I have more time. If the screenplay lives up the pitch, we're in for a good ride.

best
anne

Hi Mackenzie

It's around 80 pages, so going by the page-per-minute rule it's around 80 minutes. I reckon if it was filmed it might run a little longer as it's potentially heavier on atmosphere than dialogue. Thanks and hope you enjoy it!

David - Thanks, I had a feeling it might be a bit too instructive, but it's the first time I'd tried writing a full script and all the actor directions was probably my inner control-freak coming out. It is finished (in draft form, anyway) and is about 80 pages. Going by the page-per-minute rule, I think that's about right for a low-budget thriller. I hadn't thought about what kind of movie it could be, but I always thought it would be a good script in a budget conscious sense, because it doesn't require a great deal of actors or locations, but has good parts for actors to get their teeth into and lots of opportunity for a director to get creative with the restricted space. It's actually based on a short story; I'm thinking of starting an anthology of my stories on here as soon as I get my novella edited a bit!

James - the pitch did seem obvious after I wrote the story, but the funny thing was I hadn't intended to do a 21st century Hitchcock story when I was writing it... it just sort of turned out that way! When I was fleshing out the screenplay, I added a few nods to that. I was going for a deliberately slow buildup, as I like the kind of movies that take their time rather than open with a big bang, but you may be right that I've been too slow here.

Cindy - sorry, thought I'd replied to you more fully before! Again, I was going for an almost anti-climactic ending, 70s style, but maybe that's not quite come through on the page.

Hi David

Thanks, I had a feeling it might be a bit too instructive, but it's the first time I'd tried writing a full script and all the actor directions was probably my inner control-freak coming out. It is finished (in draft form, anyway) and is about 80 pages. Going by the page-per-minute rule, I think that's about right for a low-budget thriller. I hadn't thought about what kind of movie it could be, but I always thought it would be a good script in a budget conscious sense, because it doesn't require a great deal of actors or locations, but has good parts for actors to get their teeth into and lots of opportunity for a director to get creative with the restricted space. It's actually based on a short story; I'm thinking of starting an anthology of my stories on here as soon as I get my novella edited a bit!

James - the pitch did seem obvious after I wrote the story, but the funny thing was I hadn't intended to do a 21st century Hitchcock story when I was writing it... it just sort of turned out that way! When I was fleshing out the screenplay, I added a few nods to that. I was going for a deliberately slow buildup, as I like the kind of movies that take their time rather than open with a big bang, but you may be right that I've been too slow here.

Cindy - sorry, thought I'd replied to you more fully before! Again, I was going for an almost anti-climactic ending, 70s style, but maybe that's not quite come through on the page.

Hmmm, I was sure I saved a comment on here this morning but obviously not. Now what did I say?

Essentially, I started by saying I know little about script-writing, but your pitch sounded good (I like Rear Window) and the idea of an updated Hitchcock style story around chat rooms seemed good. The plot was generally good, and I confress I didn't predict the twist. I did find it a bit slow at the start, but this may be my inexperience with reading film scripts, maybe filmed it wouldn't seem slow. And I mentioned somewhere how liked the image of the boy looking into the car on Halloween. I'm sure I said some other stuff to, but can't think what....

Now I will make sure I click that save button!

Hello Gavin: i've written many a screenplay so I'll be taking a good look at yours very soon. Just a cursory look and I feel you don't need so many actors instructions under the dialogue Use these sparingly.

We seem to have similar tastes. I'll put this on my Watchlist and move it up when I have space on the Bookshelf. I'd always appreciate a reciprocal gesture but especially any comments you have to make about my book.

Is this screenplay finished? How many pages? Is it a theatrical or TV movie? How far have you got with the novelisation?

Thanks for the feedback, guys! I'm also working on a 'real' book, but this is the most substantial thing I've completed, so thought it would be good to put it up here. I'll be interested to look at some of the other books on here as soon as I get a minute.

PS thanks for letting me know about the mistake Cindy!

P.S.

Gavin, I just noticed, too, that in your pitch you wrote "Chris" instead of "Steve."

Cindy

Gavin,

Always learning. This is the first screen play that I've ever read. It was your pitch that attracted me, so you know, a good one. My point--I can't offer any comments of real substance since screen plays are beyond me, but I very much liked the Hitchcock factor. The only questionable thing that jumped out at me was Steve's last line; I get it, of course, and appreciate the tie back to the beginning, but considering all that went on, it seemed a bit tame to me. Does that make sense? I found myself wondering how Steve might work in the words "the room" somehow. Please do consider the source, though, as you consider this comment. The best of luck to you, Gavin, with this project. I hope to see your name on the screen someday, big or small. Take care.

Cindy

I share your choice in books Gavin, and your views on stories, plus from what I've read so far of The Room I'm intrigued, so much I've added it to my Watchlist. Keep writing and reading, sure you will. Enjoy the day, Sam.