British Scripts- Any interest? - Page 2 - Britmovie

faginsgirl · 21-02-2008, 10:26 AM

I think `The trench` was one of the worst films I have ever seen. I`m sure the script was good and the idea was good too but the way it was done and the actors put me off. It had more potential than that in my opinion.

john audley · 21-02-2008, 11:02 AM

I do feel that our own British film industry and therefore our own cultural identity
is dominated by the American culture to such an extent that it is almost invisible.
I am a strong believer that each country should protect and promote its culture and this country possessed such a good one to around the start of the 1960s (Hancock covered the problem so well in his 'Viking' episode as he did so in many episodes re life influences).

I fear that only writers who include the American influence even dominance will be greatly considered. I liked the old Margaret Rutherford 'Miss Marple' series but these were, clearly, deliberately quaint for the American market. One might notice that all of the British WW2 films after the late 1950s 'put America first' or had a strong reference to. The only way for a major release over there?
Of course, the other way around we do not get a mention - mostly to down play the role? That how it seems to me.

Freddy · 21-02-2008, 11:04 AM

There was a recent WW1 film on Television over Christmas, Joyuex Noel an Anglo French production with Ian Richardson and Gary Lewis, about the Christmas Truce. Very good it was too.

bandmember · 21-02-2008, 06:11 PM

This is my first posting so I hope you don't mind my jumping in and asking questions. At the moment, I am fully involved in a true-life "story"-the origins of which go back over 30 years and it is about to reach a really emotional and satisfying climax for all involved(and there are many!). I have mentioned it to a few associates who have no involvement whatsoever and a number have made comments about what a great story it would be for a film or a book. Now I have had the dawning realisation that this could well be the case.
Obviously, I have nothing written down at this point but I am concerned about the urgency of it because it will hit our local press/TV next week and I'm a bit worried that someone else might have the same idea as I am having and beat me to it, so to speak. Now I know that things take time to develop and it may come to nothing at all. However, my first question is how can I protect the "idea". Is there some sort of "Copyright" for this type of thing at this early stage? Secondly, if it was viable, where on earth do I start?
Sorry for the naive questions, but I am a true beginner!
Thanks in anticipation of any help and advice.

batman · 21-02-2008, 07:33 PM

There are ways of copyrighting stories and ideas but you cannot really copyright a true story, especially if it is about to appear in the newspapers. Your starting point would be to get everything you can down on paper in story from as a 'treatment'. To engage any interest from literary agents (or producers if you are really lucky) it will have to have some kind of 'angle' which will set it apart from anyone else's ideas for the story. Once your treatment is complete, and these should be no longer than about 5000 words, you can then look at copyrighting your 'original treatment' of the story. Once that is done you have the hard work of trying to interest someone in your story. There are lots of good books about how to begin writing 'treatments' and 'screenplays' so it's worth investing in one of those, if only to get the formatting right. I hope this helps. Good luck.

bandmember · 21-02-2008, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by batman

There are ways of copyrighting stories and ideas but you cannot really copyright a true story, especially if it is about to appear in the newspapers. Your starting point would be to get everything you can down on paper in story from as a 'treatment'. To engage any interest from literary agents (or producers if you are really lucky) it will have to have some kind of 'angle' which will set it apart from anyone else's ideas for the story. Once your treatment is complete, and these should be no longer than about 5000 words, you can then look at copyrighting your 'original treatment' of the story. Once that is done you have the hard work of trying to interest someone in your story. There are lots of good books about how to begin writing 'treatments' and 'screenplays' so it's worth investing in one of those, if only to get the formatting right. I hope this helps. Good luck.

Thanks for this. I have started writing a synopsis. It's only a few pages long but as I am visiting my solicitor tomorrow on another matter, I am going to take him a copy to date, sign and keep on my file.

homeguard · 21-02-2008, 09:24 PM

Penfold is the man! I took your advice about contacting UK Film Council, and have nearly finished filling in the forms down-loaded from their web site. It feels like the First Film Foundation of years ago, but now funded by the Lottery. They award money to Writers, Writer/directors or teams comprising writer, producer and director. Actually my script is finished as far as I am concerned, so if I am successful, what do I do with the £25,000!? I'll keep you posted on what does happen. Looking at the forms, though, I have a feeling I should be a blind, lesbian, Somali. Fingers crossed.

dremble wedge · 22-02-2008, 12:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by homeguard

Looking at the forms, though, I have a feeling I should be a blind, lesbian, Somali. Fingers crossed.

There's probably another screenplay there - desperate writer pretends to be blind, lesbian and Somali in order to get funding for a film...

Ady · 22-02-2008, 01:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dremble wedge

There's probably another screenplay there - desperate writer pretends to be blind, lesbian and Somali in order to get funding for a film...

- thankyou. Close the door on your way out please.

N E X T !

john audley · 22-02-2008, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dremble wedge

There's probably another screenplay there - desperate writer pretends to be blind, lesbian and Somali in order to get funding for a film...

Better without the fingers and in a wheel chair

homeguard · 22-02-2008, 10:11 PM

Are you sure it was The Trench that had a supernatural element? There was another 'trenchie' themed movie which involved a section of British troops being picked-off one by one, and it turned out to be something in the ground that was getting them. And they blamed the previous German occupants, despite being warned by the German prisoner they took. That was a case of gratuitous violence if ever I saw it, the language was all wrong as well. Too many expletives for the times. I thought the Trench was brilliant, starring Daniel Craig. Everything in it was perfect on the costume side, even the number of hobs in the toecap-less boots. And I thought they got the 'feel' of what it must have been like in a situation like that for the first time. The only annoying PC nonsense was the officer had to act like a twit when the Sergeant wanted to use his whisky for the 'going-over-the-top' tot when the rum was destroyed. In real life the Sergeant wouldn't have even known he had any whisky! Predictable ending as well - everybody died as they went over the top.
Regards
HG

penfold · 23-02-2008, 12:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by homeguard

Penfold is the man! I took your advice about contacting UK Film Council, and have nearly finished filling in the forms down-loaded from their web site. It feels like the First Film Foundation of years ago, but now funded by the Lottery. They award money to Writers, Writer/directors or teams comprising writer, producer and director. Actually my script is finished as far as I am concerned, so if I am successful, what do I do with the £25,000!? I'll keep you posted on what does happen.

(Cough) Usual percentage (Cough)....

Seriously, good luck....

sippog · 23-02-2008, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by homeguard

Are you sure it was The Trench that had a supernatural element?

Sorry - you're absolutely right; it was DEATHWATCH with Jamie Bell I was thinking about. I haven't seen THE TRENCH but it did get quite mixed notices.

pjc438 · 23-02-2008, 11:23 AM

DEATHWATCH is quite possibly the greatest depiction of its kind. Just wanted to say that. Thanks.

homeguard · 23-02-2008, 09:03 PM

Depicting what, though? Michael Bassett does make creepy, scary movies and he was great as Scally the dog on children's TV, but should anyone mess with history? Seems to me that's what we all dislike about American docu-drama. Stephen King gets it right. You can have true horror only when one person in the storyline is losing it, as in The Shining, the film then is the more terrifying because it's almost believable. 'Deathwatch' (thanks Sippog) was not accurate on any front. The military protocol was wrong, the uniforms were wrong, and the cruelty did nothing except promote the false impression that barbarity was the acceptable norm in the trenches. My dad and his mates spent a day digging four German soldiers out of a bog they were trapped in after the battle of Poelcappelle in 1917. It was one of only seven or eight anecdotes he volunteered to us as kids, and the one thing he was most proud of in the whole of his war. A bit like the German prisoner in 'Deathwatch' who tried to help the British soldiers, then was so brutally tortured by some of them. No, Deathwatch was rubbish, and hopefully it will fade without trace, in my humble opinion of course.
Regards
HG

21-02-2008, 10:26 AM	#16
faginsgirl Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: england Posts: 403 My Mood: Country: iTrader: (0)	I think `The trench` was one of the worst films I have ever seen. I`m sure the script was good and the idea was good too but the way it was done and the actors put me off. It had more potential than that in my opinion. __________________ We`re changin` lodggggggggings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Last edited by faginsgirl; 21-02-2008 at 10:33 AM.

21-02-2008, 11:02 AM	#17
john audley Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: scarborough Posts: 306 My Mood: Country: iTrader: (0)	British Film Scripts I do feel that our own British film industry and therefore our own cultural identity is dominated by the American culture to such an extent that it is almost invisible. I am a strong believer that each country should protect and promote its culture and this country possessed such a good one to around the start of the 1960s (Hancock covered the problem so well in his 'Viking' episode as he did so in many episodes re life influences). I fear that only writers who include the American influence even dominance will be greatly considered. I liked the old Margaret Rutherford 'Miss Marple' series but these were, clearly, deliberately quaint for the American market. One might notice that all of the British WW2 films after the late 1950s 'put America first' or had a strong reference to. The only way for a major release over there? Of course, the other way around we do not get a mention - mostly to down play the role? That how it seems to me. __________________ British Films for British Culture 'One thing I have learned, never go sick in the Army'

21-02-2008, 07:33 PM	#20
batman Chief Member OBME Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Norwich Posts: 12,779 My Mood: Country: iTrader: (8)	There are ways of copyrighting stories and ideas but you cannot really copyright a true story, especially if it is about to appear in the newspapers. Your starting point would be to get everything you can down on paper in story from as a 'treatment'. To engage any interest from literary agents (or producers if you are really lucky) it will have to have some kind of 'angle' which will set it apart from anyone else's ideas for the story. Once your treatment is complete, and these should be no longer than about 5000 words, you can then look at copyrighting your 'original treatment' of the story. Once that is done you have the hard work of trying to interest someone in your story. There are lots of good books about how to begin writing 'treatments' and 'screenplays' so it's worth investing in one of those, if only to get the formatting right. I hope this helps. Good luck. __________________ Bats. I am MacIntyre from the silver metal planet .... I have come to look at your beautiful countryside.

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21-02-2008, 11:04 AM	#18
Freddy Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: The Irish Sea Posts: 1,116 Country: iTrader: (1)	There was a recent WW1 film on Television over Christmas, Joyuex Noel an Anglo French production with Ian Richardson and Gary Lewis, about the Christmas Truce. Very good it was too.

21-02-2008, 06:11 PM	#19
bandmember Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: UK Posts: 2 Country: iTrader: (0)	This is my first posting so I hope you don't mind my jumping in and asking questions. At the moment, I am fully involved in a true-life "story"-the origins of which go back over 30 years and it is about to reach a really emotional and satisfying climax for all involved(and there are many!). I have mentioned it to a few associates who have no involvement whatsoever and a number have made comments about what a great story it would be for a film or a book. Now I have had the dawning realisation that this could well be the case. Obviously, I have nothing written down at this point but I am concerned about the urgency of it because it will hit our local press/TV next week and I'm a bit worried that someone else might have the same idea as I am having and beat me to it, so to speak. Now I know that things take time to develop and it may come to nothing at all. However, my first question is how can I protect the "idea". Is there some sort of "Copyright" for this type of thing at this early stage? Secondly, if it was viable, where on earth do I start? Sorry for the naive questions, but I am a true beginner! Thanks in anticipation of any help and advice.

21-02-2008, 09:24 PM	#22
homeguard Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Northamptonshire Posts: 93 Country: iTrader: (0)	Penfold is the man! I took your advice about contacting UK Film Council, and have nearly finished filling in the forms down-loaded from their web site. It feels like the First Film Foundation of years ago, but now funded by the Lottery. They award money to Writers, Writer/directors or teams comprising writer, producer and director. Actually my script is finished as far as I am concerned, so if I am successful, what do I do with the £25,000!? I'll keep you posted on what does happen. Looking at the forms, though, I have a feeling I should be a blind, lesbian, Somali. Fingers crossed.

22-02-2008, 10:11 PM	#26
homeguard Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Northamptonshire Posts: 93 Country: iTrader: (0)	Are you sure it was The Trench that had a supernatural element? There was another 'trenchie' themed movie which involved a section of British troops being picked-off one by one, and it turned out to be something in the ground that was getting them. And they blamed the previous German occupants, despite being warned by the German prisoner they took. That was a case of gratuitous violence if ever I saw it, the language was all wrong as well. Too many expletives for the times. I thought the Trench was brilliant, starring Daniel Craig. Everything in it was perfect on the costume side, even the number of hobs in the toecap-less boots. And I thought they got the 'feel' of what it must have been like in a situation like that for the first time. The only annoying PC nonsense was the officer had to act like a twit when the Sergeant wanted to use his whisky for the 'going-over-the-top' tot when the rum was destroyed. In real life the Sergeant wouldn't have even known he had any whisky! Predictable ending as well - everybody died as they went over the top. Regards HG

23-02-2008, 11:23 AM	#29
pjc438 Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Birmingham Posts: 3 Country: iTrader: (0)	DEATHWATCH is quite possibly the greatest depiction of its kind. Just wanted to say that. Thanks.

23-02-2008, 09:03 PM	#30
homeguard Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Northamptonshire Posts: 93 Country: iTrader: (0)	Depicting what, though? Michael Bassett does make creepy, scary movies and he was great as Scally the dog on children's TV, but should anyone mess with history? Seems to me that's what we all dislike about American docu-drama. Stephen King gets it right. You can have true horror only when one person in the storyline is losing it, as in The Shining, the film then is the more terrifying because it's almost believable. 'Deathwatch' (thanks Sippog) was not accurate on any front. The military protocol was wrong, the uniforms were wrong, and the cruelty did nothing except promote the false impression that barbarity was the acceptable norm in the trenches. My dad and his mates spent a day digging four German soldiers out of a bog they were trapped in after the battle of Poelcappelle in 1917. It was one of only seven or eight anecdotes he volunteered to us as kids, and the one thing he was most proud of in the whole of his war. A bit like the German prisoner in 'Deathwatch' who tried to help the British soldiers, then was so brutally tortured by some of them. No, Deathwatch was rubbish, and hopefully it will fade without trace, in my humble opinion of course. Regards HG