Are you aware of Scrivener?

Scrivener is a powerful content-generation tool for writers that allows you to concentrate on composing and structuring long and difficult documents. While it gives you complete control of the formatting, its focus is on helping you get to the end of that awkward first draft. I discovered this amazing application while researching Neil Cross the writer of BBC 1's excellent crime drama Luther on the BBC's writersroom website. Luther is currently in it's second series and well worth a watch (Tuesdays at 9pm - or catch up on the i-player). Unfortunately as I have had to do most of my writing for the last year on an ancient PC at work, I have not had the proper chance to utilise this well thought out program, but that doesn't stop you from using it! It just makes your workflow so much easier and keeps all your notes, drafts, treatments, outlines, clippings and reference material together in one intuitive file. Don't take my word for it watch the demo below!

Want to know what it's like to be a successful screenwriter in Hollywood?

I stumbled upon this incredible website a few years ago when I was trying to find the definition of a film treatment (which by the way there are many variations). It's called Wordplay and is run by two very talented Hollywood Academy Award ®-nominated writers  Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio. Amoung other things you can read or download over 100 useful and insightful essays on writing from a Hollwood point of view including how to write a proper treatment . If you are ever thinking of writing for Hollywood then I seriously recommend you read all of these essays first - They will be invaluable!

Introducing producer Charlotte Wontner

I am very excited to announce that The Infectious Imagination Of Henry Bramble is being produced by Charlotte Wontner of Hopscotch Films who has worked extensively across documentary and drama as a producer and a production manager for the last 15 years.

Her vast knowledge and hands-on experience of running a budget and organising large productions is invaluable for such an ambitious short and I am very grateful she has come on board. It is rare you find a producer who fights your corner to provide you with the professional and financial support you need to achieve your vision.

Charlotte has produced various shorts and feature films including the short film A Fairy Story (2002), a £2.2 million feature The Sick House (2008) sold by Arclight Films and more recently Island (2011) starring Natalie Press which is still playing at the following cinemas:

Riverside Studios Hammersmith    13th June
Light House Wolverhampton    13-16th June
Dundee Contemporary Arts    17th & 19th June
Eden Court Inverness    16-21st June
Hippodrome Bo’ness    20th & 23rd June
Cornerhouse Manchester    23rd June
Greenwich Picturehouse    6th July
Hyde Park Picturehouse Leeds    9-12th & 14th July
City Screen Picturehouse York    12th July
Tyneside Cinema Newcastle    13th July
Picturehouse at FACT Liverpool    18th July

Development Hell

BBC radio 2 has an interesting program on right now called Development Hell about the difficulty of getting a film made in Hollywood. Has some insightful stuff, in particular the account of the infamous Smoke and Mirrors screenplay about Houdini that nearly everyone in Hollywood was attached to at some time or another. Listen to it on the i-player here!

J J Abrams talks about his mystery box.

Watched this a while back and got very excited as I loved magic as a kid and for a short while was a junior member of the Medway Magical Society. I connected with a lot what he was saying and found it very inspirational depite not being that familiar with his TV work. Then he directed Star Trek and quickly became my top new favourite director. Now he has teamed up with Steven Spielberg with Super 8, a film that pays homage to Spielberg's classic work of the late seventies and early eighties. I just hope I won't be disappointed. Watch his talk below and see what you think.

J.J. Abrams traces his love for the unseen mystery –- a passion that’s evident in his films and TV shows, including Cloverfield, Lost and Alias -- back to its magical beginnings.