2012 - THE YEAR THAT WAS

Wow, what a year! I don't think I could have asked for better.

I've always been an advocate of networking and all that hard work and effort I've put in has finally paid off. So here's what's happened to me this year and how it all came about.

THE LOST SOUL - A PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER - PARAMITA ENTERTAINMENT LTD

(two examples of networking here)

One day in December 2011 I received a phone call from a friend I had met through several writing events, 'What are you doing, Dom?' he said.

'Nothing much,' I replied, 'just working on a spec feature.'

'Well stop because I have a job for you!'

And that's how it started. My friend had met the French producer/director team who make up Paramita Entertainment Ltd in Cannes a couple of years before and they contacted him to write a screenplay for them, from their original idea. My friend was too busy with other work, but knew it was the kind of story I love to write, and so recommended me for the project. I handed in the final draft at the end of March.

PLAYGROUND - A COMING OF AGE DRAMA - TAPE 13 PRODUCTIONS

(one example of networking here)

Before LSWF 2011 I scoured the delegate list and came across Paul Clarke of Tape 13 Productions who was looking for a writer to bring his feature drama idea to life.  I emailed him to arrange a meet at the festival, he told me his idea and I fell in love with it. In January, after much persuasion and campaigning on my behalf, he finally agreed I should be the one to write the screenplay.

Playground was put on hold for several months while we both went off to work on other projects, but we stayed in touch, regularly swapping ideas about plot and characters. Although Paul was working with another production company on another feature drama he still hadn't found a production company to co-produce Playground. LSWF 2012 came around and I asked him if it was OK to pitch Playground to producers while I was there. He gave his permission and it paid off, as we now have solid interest in the idea from a big production company and an agreement is being drawn up so I can start writing in January.

A SCI-FI FEATURE FOR A PRODUCER AND DIRECTOR TEAM

(one example of networking here)

I answered an ad on Talent Circle and sent them a sample of my writing. They loved it. They read more of my work and loved that too. And they really loved my thoughts on their project, so they decided to go ahead with me as the writer. The contract was being sorted when the people funding the feature insisted the producer and director choose another writer with more of a track record in sci-fi. I was very disappointed but I didn't let it get me down. I was immediately offered a short film to write for the director and it was great to hear both the producer and director stating they wanted to work with me in the future. All I can say on that is there are now ideas afoot. Also, it would appear the sci-fi feature might be back on.

THE GIANT UNDER THE SNOW - AN ADAPTATION OF THE CHILDREN'S NOVEL OF THE SAME NAME BY JOHN GORDON - SHOW MANAGEMENT SERVICES

(one example of networking here)

Early in 2012 I attended The Prequel to Cannes event at Lighthouse in Poole. During the event there was a pitching competition and one of the contestants, David, came over really well. I voted for him and thought he should have won, but he eventually came in as runner up. I had a chat to David in the bar afterwards, swapped cards with him and we went our separate ways.

A few months later David contacted me and asked me to write a treatment for the feature project. He was really happy with the result so commissioned me to write the full screenplay - the next draft of which is due to begin in January.

FAITH - A SPEC THRILLER FEATURE - JOHNNY KEVORKIAN, STARFRONT PICTURES

(one example of networking here)

Again I applied to an ad on Talent Circle and my award winning script was requested. Johnny read it and loved it. He optioned it in August and the rewriting was completed a couple of weeks ago. I also introduced Johnny to my agent, as he was looking for a new one and he has consequently been signed up as well. Johnny, my agent and myself are all very excited about the finished screenplay. Faith has now been sent off for funding and hopefully filming should begin early next year. Also, now Johnny and I have the same agent it will make working together in the future a lot easier. 

AGENT - CHRISTINA PICKWORTH - IMAGINE TALENT


(one example of networking here)

Yes, I have an agent. My dear lady wife had to go to London for a course for work so I decided to tag along and fit in a few meetings. At the end of the day we met up with the ever wonderful Steven Russell for drinks in the Soho Cinema Bar.

I've known Ste for many years from when he was working at Celtic Films and I sent him a feature screenplay he rather liked. Nothing ever happened with that screenplay but we did become firm friends over the years.

So back to the Soho Cinema Bar and after several pints of Guinness Ste told me his friend Christina had started up her own agency after working as freelance for another agency. He gave me her details, I sent her some of my work, she read it, we met up, we hit it off straight away and she was very eager to represent me. I kept her waiting a full twenty-four hours before I excitedly sent her a text that simply read, 'YES'.

WHITE KNIGHT - A TV DETECTIVE DRAMA SERIES - (A TV PRODUCTION COMPANY)

Because I had originally decided to pitch to agents at LSWF 2012 I was thrown when Christina offered to represent me the day before the festival began. Luckily I had come prepared with some of my ideas in one page pitch format so I had something to hand to producers. I pitched my TV drama series idea to one such producer, a well known one with a solid track record in TV drama. I'm glad I did, as a week after the festival he requested to read the script.

OTHER POSSIBLE PROJECTS

I have work being considered by CBeebies, CBBC, Tiger Aspect, Holby City, a TV script editor who will pass on my work to his contacts at the BBC and ITV, and the head of a media company who is keen on hiring me as head writer on one of her projects in January, all of which are thanks to me networking like a demon at LSWF 2012.

So it just goes to show you can get ahead if you work hard and network like crazy. The only thing stopping you being where you want to be, is you!


I have a feeling 2013 is going to be a very busy year :-)

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all XXX