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Click here to download a list of the Scriptmarket Finalists - the writers and scripts that were shortlisted for interviews throughout Thursday 5th and Friday 6th July 2007
Feedback from this years Screenwriters' Festival
Interviewers;
Ed Rubin from BBC Films thought it was "good for brand new writers to get feedback on their project and good for them making contacts in the industry."
Writers;
"The Scriptmarket at the Screenwriters Festival is not only an excellent opportunity for screenwriters to get their work noticed, it also gets real results. I entered with my horror genre script 'The Healing House' and was fortunate enough to get a meeting with Julian Friedmann of the Blake Friedmann literary agency. Julian savaged the script in line by line detail, pointing out numerous juicy errors, howling inconsistencies and plot clangers, then - just as I was about to plunge a letter knife into my guts in shame - smiled winningly and said that he would be delighted to represent me. It was a great result for me as a writer and a big step towards getting my screenplay sold and produced." - Matt Dickinson met with agent Julian Friedmann with his script 'The Healing House'
"I had a great meeting with Ed Rubin from the BBC, he liked my writing, and looks forward to seeing future work from myself. It was really good to meet someone new within the ranks of the rapidly re-structuring film department of the BBC." - Daniel Toland met with BBC Film’s Ed Rubin with his script 'For a Moment'
"I was very happy with the way the meeting went, I thought Julian was very professional and was open and honest about his thoughts about my script. He didn't rush through the meeting and I could tell he had made notes and had a vision about how I could improve the script. He offered me good advice and also the chance to meet with a professional writer to co write the script, which is a great opportunity for a beginner like me. I learnt a lot from the meeting and it was good to get an insight from a professional in the business." - Dawn Cousins met with agent Julian Friedmann with her script 'Soul Provider'
"Our scriptmarket experience was a thoroughly positive experience. Your reader's report was very thorough and brutally honest. Criticism is hard to take but we have taken on board their comments. Matthew Bates was charming, enthusiastic and encouraging about our script, 'Outcast' and put us in contact with Eon productions, even suggested our project could be suitable for Hollywood! A busy summer, but just a little more jiggling and 'Outcast' will be on Eon's desk for their perusal. Money well spent, as far as we were concerned." - Dominic Gonzales met with agent Matthew Bates with his script 'Outcast'.
"May I also add my congratulations and thanks for the festival. As a writer, it gave me more than I could have ever hoped for: a meeting with the Film Council, encounters with a producer and director which resulted in subsequent meetings that may well result in script commissions, great lectures that updated me on the market, and an insightful and thorough script report from your scriptmarket reader." - Barnaby Benson met with Jack Arbuthknott of the UK Film Council, with his script ‘Rendition’
"I would like to thank you and the team for all endeavours on my behalf, and convey exciting news that UNITAL FILMS have optioned my feature film,'Portia's Penguin'. We now have a complete production team. Full steam ahead for funding etc! Would you like me to keep you informed? I am very grateful to the Screenwriters' Festival '07. Long may it flourish." - Benita Cullingford who met with Producer Debi Nethersole of Unital Films with her script ‘Portia’s Penguin’
