Intro: Have submitted Troy to the Edinburgh New Writers Collective competition. I always like a competition that Troy is eligible for.
Am searching for sound jobs around February as my first set one isn’t until March.
So on to the update!
Scripts Update: My goals for this year are to contact agents, now I have The Legend of Aramelle as a showcase of my writing and a growing portfolio. My other goal is to finish one of the four scripts I have in various drafts. From my gold rush script to the 1960’s script (Which still needs a name) and finally two scripts that are not set in a specific time period for once, but are about two sisters and two actors.
Am still writing the second series of Legend of Aramelle. I hope to finish the first draft by the end of January, but the speed I’m going at the moment it will be closer to the end of February.
Things Learnt: The Edinburgh New Writers competition needed a one page CV – something which I was able to do by taking out most of the description of my non-writing jobs. The difficulty is in keeping in information about transferable skills, but I do have a spearate skills section of my CV, so crowded them all into there. In an aesthetically pleasing way, of course!
Intro: Have finished editing everything from the film course! (Except for one where my video files got corrupted.) As I currently only have the free version of Vimeo, I’ll have to switch the Brighton School documentary with the film Somewhere Below. I do think this is a better example of my work, as it showcases my screenwriting as well as editing and sound skills.
I also have a version of the film that uses the song that inspired it (Grand Hotel by Regina Spektor), but the one I’m uploading uses good old royalty-free music from the Adobe library!
Have two sound recording jobs lined up for the new year – one without a definite date yet, and the other filming one weekend in March. The one in March will be my first profit share job – which essentially means I will get paid if the film makes a profit (and not if it doesn’t). This is a step up from the expenses only ones I’ve been doing so far!
So on to the update!
Scripts Update: Put Last Witch in Swanage into BBC Writersroom. I edited it a bit, but not too much before submitting.
The as yet unnamed 1960s pilot is definitely the script I’ll be submitting to most competitions next year, just as soon as I think of a title.
My goal for 2026 is to contact agents. I have a big enough portfolio of scripts now that I can do this.
Things Learnt: Tailored cover letters in job applications can make a big difference. I knew this already from when I was a retail manager and in charge of hiring new staff. I was much less likely to interview the people who sent generic applications! However, I think it is even more true in crew jobs. I have had three jobs offered to me without an interview, just based on my cover letters being tailored to the job and person I am applying to work with. While part of this might be a scramble to fill roles as the shotting dates get close, it is also clearly making an impact on the hirers to see that I’ve read about the film and found out their name before applying.
Intro: Have nearly finished editing everything from the film course. I only have two items left now. Have uploaded my short documentary film about the Brighton School of film-makers to Vimeo. I still want to add some narration to better tell the story, but am very pleased with how it’s turned out!
Ended up with two sound recording jobs in October – the second was Behind the scenes interviews for a film. Very fun, the difference between sound for films and sound for interviews is interesting though. Sound for films is lots of short takes, and interviews are obviously conversations so can go on for ages with just one take, as I did not have a stand available, this made my arms very tired by the end of the day!
I have an interview for another film coming up, which doesn’t start shooting until January so I can try to save up money to use hireacamera.com again!
I also had an idea for another pilot set in 1960, which I was able to write the first ten pages of in one day! So obviously, it wanted to come out of my head! I’ve already begun to edit the first draft of this, and am hoping to put it into some competitions by the new year. It might be ready for BBC in December, but I’ll probably stick with Last Witch in Swanage for this year, as that way I know I’ve put the same thing into both Channel 4 and BBC and can’t repeat those submissions next year.
Things Learnt: Depending on how early you need to be somewhere for a film shoot can make a big difference to how much your ticket costs! Peak times are obviously more expensive than non-peak times but I had a train ticket double in price to nearly £90 when I’d only budgeted £45! From now on, I’m just going to assume it’s the expensive ticket and go from there!
Intro: Have been spending the last few weeks in September enjoying the fact that I don’t have Legend of Aramelle episodes to edit and upload. I have started my first draft of series two, though, so it’s back to the writing for the last part of this year!
I also have another sound recording job! This one is at the end of October and is only one day, but I will be recording in a church, so I’m anticipating big echoes! I have to acquire my own equipment for this shoot and as I’m still saving up to buy sound recording equipment (altogether it’s about £5000, so I can’t buy it in one big go), so I’m hiring it from hireacamera.com
So on to the update!
Scripts Update: Have nearly finished the editing for Last Witch in Swanage. Hoping to put it into The channel 4 scheme today and then keep editing it in between now and the BBC Writersroom window opening in December.
The BAFTA Rocliffe competition still hasn’t opened. There doesn’t seem to be any news on this that I can find, so I’m beginning to think it’s not opening at all this year.
I have nearly finished editing everything from the film course. Am currently working on the documentary I shot about the Brighton school of Film-makers in the early 1900s, who, among other things, are believed to be the first people to use close-ups in film!
Things Learnt: Editing the documentaries is both similar and different to editing the short films. The short films are often roughly already in order; you pick the best takes and delete the others than switch them around to the order in the script. With the documentaries, it’s often just an interview, with some context shots of what the interview is about. So, the first thing to do is decide where you want to start the interview – which isn’t necessarily at the beginning – and then fit the context footage round it to form the story you’re telling without a script.
The film shoot I was on went well. The first day was recording on location, and there was an issue with one of the microphones in that it couldn’t be heard through my headphones. It was recording sound though, and both other mikes worked fine. If I had had an hour to figure out the issue, I would have been able to, but that wasn’t possible without delaying filming significantly. I haven’t heard anything from the editors, though, so I assume it did record fine in the end, just without me hearing it! The next day was on a set and I used a different microphone to avoid that issue and it worked fine. I am excited to see the final edit! It’s a very strange thing to be able to hear someone across the room more clearly than someone directly in front of you, if they’re miked up. Plus, it can be extremely tiring to hear things to that extent for so much of the day, but I do find it enjoyable and have already applied for my next job!
So on to the update!
Scripts Update: Am working on the feedback for The Last Witch in Swanage (puritan witch script). The channel 4 schemeopens on 22 September and as Troy isn’t eligible for that one, I’m hoping LWIS is at a good enough level to submit it this year.
The BAFTA Rocliffe competition still hasn’t opened.
The date for the final screening of the film course got moved again! This was due to building work being done over the summer, so I am hopeful I will be able to attend after all. However, there’s no update on when the screening will be now.
Things Learnt: I’ve made a spreadsheet for my expenses/income and coded it so the sums get added up automatically. I added my expenses for the film shoot and then subtracted them again once the expenses had been paid. For this first year, I’ve only made one spreadsheet for the entire financial year as it’s unlikely I’ll be making enough month to month to warrant monthly ones. I an hoping to finish all the projects before the screening and, now the editing for Legend of Aramelle is complete, I will have more time to focus on them.
Intro: Another late in the month update, but, I hope, one worth waiting for as I have my first job as a sound recordist! It’s on a short film shooting next week, and once edited, it will give me my first IMDB credit!
Scripts Update: Finally finished a draft of The Last Witch in Swanage (puritan witch script) and have received feedback from two people for my next draft. I hope to enter it into the BBC open call this year, so still have time to work on it.
The BAFTA Rocliffe competition still hasn’t opened but, when it does, I’ll be submitting my Troy script this year.
Finally, am in the process of editing everything I shot in the film course and am about half-way through all the projects. Sadly, I won’t be able to make the final screening as it’s the same day as my sound job starts. Though, I’m hoping I can meet up with people from the course in the coming months as I was looking forward to seeing everyone at the screening.
Things Learnt: As this first job is expenses paid only, I have made sure I’ve been collecting receipts and invoices for the travel I’ve booked. Now I’ve actually started doing it, it’s much less daunting than it seemed before I started and just need to make sure I keep everything in one place!
Intro: Now I am back at work full-time, I am having to plan my editing time for The Legend of Aramelle, more closely. I am still on track, though, with episode eight due to go up this Saturday (12th July). It can be listened to here on WordPress, on Apple podcasts, Spotify or Pocketcasts.
I have been applying to sound-recording jobs (and a few assistant director or producer jobs) on Mandy and Backstage, which has led to a few interviews, but no paid work, just yet. However, I am keeping track of how many interviews I’m getting and it’s over half of what I’ve applied for!
So on to the update!
Scripts Update: Am still waiting for the release date of the Bafta competition this year, as I will be submitting my Troy script into it. I am also nearly finished with my script for the BBC writersroom this year (will be nice to finish with plenty of time to edit). It’s my puritan witches script and I’m going to ask my writing group to give me notes in the next week or so.
Am in the process of editing the films from the film course. I may not finish all of them before the graduation, but should have a fair few edited and ready to be shown.
Things Learnt: Am getting better with writing succinct cover letters when applying to jobs. Have found the best way for me to write them is to write them in a Notes app and then add them to my application. I tend to follow the formula of mentioning things they have mentioned in the application and then adding my own skills where appropriate. It may not sound like much, but as someone who used to not add cover letters at all until I was about 28 (when I was a manager and realised I wasn’t impressed when people didn’t send cover letters to me), it has changed how I apply to jobs!
Intro: Nearly back at work full-time! I have also finished my Diploma in film-making and am actively seeking work in sound, production and writing! (I have availability for a month in advance.)
Scripts Update: Fewer competitions this month – though I did hear back from Large Format Films competition and sadly neither The Master’s Boots or Billy Frankenstein made the shortlist. I do like both those scripts a lot, so am on the look-out for more short film competitions to send them to.
I shot my short film Somewhere Below last Monday. Also managed to sort all the paperwork needed for it and keep track of all the shots we needed on the day as we didn’t have a 1st AD available. (Others on the course have praised my organisation skills in production.) We ended up shooting in a pub during the day, so there is a bit of re-jigging of the story I’ll have to do in the edit, but it still works great!
Things Learnt: Have updated my CV with links to my Linkedin page and The Legend of Aramelle feed. Have been trying to get my head around the best way to re-write my CV to show the new skills I have learnt on the course and market myself for jobs available towards the end of summer!
Intro: Am finally back at my day job! (Albeit part-time for now) and not having to keep such a close eye on my finances is reminding me to look up the BAFTA Rocliffe competition for this year. The dates haven’t been published yet, but this year is the turn of Pilot scripts.
Scripts Update: Most of this past month has been focused on getting the first episode of The Legend of Aramelle ready. Submitted Troy into Oxford 42 and my time-travel script went into Scribe Lounge Elevate .
Am organising pre-production for my short film script – Somewhere Below – for the final term of my film course. Most paperwork is sorted, however I need to re-contact the hotel I hope to film at, as I haven’t heard back from them in the last three weeks.
Put in two short film scripts – Billy Frankenstein and The Master’s Boots to the Large Format Films competition. Am very excited for this competition as got good feedback on The Master’s Boots. It’s partially based on a story I recently learned about my great-grandmother (She was as stubborn as me apparently), so it would be lovely to get to make that story.
Things Learnt: Have been sleeping early due to being back at work (my current bedtime is 8pm). However I have been doing modules on the Screenskills website working through various lessons on how sets are run.
The first episode has turned out well and new episodes will be available every other Saturday for the next few months. However, I am hoping to re-record the credits as the levels went wrong and they’re barely audible for episode one! I should be able to do it no later than episode four, so it shouldn’t be too much of a problem.
So on to the update!
Scripts Update: Most of this past month has been focused on getting the first episode of The Legend of Aramelle ready. However, I am nearly ready to submit Troy into Oxford 42, and should be able to do that before the end of this week.
The time-travel script went into Scribe Lounge Elevate and I have made notes for a re-write on my script called Last Witch in Swanage; it’s about witches in Puritan England. Have been having trouble with this script for a while, knowing the story I want to tell, but it not coming out right when written down. Now, I have been inspired by Wednesday on Netflix, (being off work means I am finally making some headway on my watchlist) and have realised that I can tell the story better if I change the tone to a more contemporary one!
I will be making a short film – working title Grand Hotel – for the final term of my film course. I have the Easter break to organise actors, call sheets and production budgets etc. It’s a story inspired by the first line of a Regina Spektor song – also called Grand Hotel – with the first line being “Somewhere below the Grand hotel, there is a tunnel that leads straight to Hell.” There’s still some editing I want to do on the script, but it’s almost there.
Finally, I am trying to work out which of two short film scripts – the first being Billy Frankenstein, also originally written for the film course and the second being my second choice for this final-term film, entitled The Master’s Boots – to submit to the Large Format Films competition.The Master’s Boots was only voted down at the film course for production budget reasons, as it is set in the early 1900s, and needed Edwardian costumes, three locations, a certain number of extras and ideally a plane. However, the Large Format Films first prize is £5000 towards making your film, so I am heavily considering that one instead.
Plus, it has the added benefit of being inspired by something I learnt about my own family this week: That is, that my Great-Grandma had an argument with her mother about whether she was going to work as a servant in a big house nearby, or with her friends at a local factory.
Things Learnt: Have been trying to get my head around the various different podcast services, so can advertise Legend of Aramelle as much as possible. Lots of the services do have lessons and articles in various topics, that I am slowly working my way through.
Have also learnt a bit more about which type of microphone I want to buy once my savings have recovered from my sick leave. Also, that the levels I might hear in a Mix-Pre3 Sound Mixer don’t necessarily translate easily to Garageband on my laptop!
Intro: Still recovering from my burns and still off work, meaning my main focus for the next few months is whatever is going to save me the most money, as statutory sick pay is not built for prolonged absences!
However, I am getting there (I now only need one nap a day, as opposed to last month’s three).
The date of The Legend of Aramelle podcast release has been pushed back to 5th April. Partly to allow me to edit them well while still recovering. Also because I have found someone to compose original theme music for the show and wanted to give them enough time to deliver.
So on to the update!
Scripts Update: The Legend of Aramelle podcast is recorded, sound effects are in place and apart from the music, the first episode is ready for release!
Troy script was entered into the Roadmap competititon, which has altered its closing date to 12th March. Am going to submit Troy into Oxford 42 as well, but have until April to do so.
The next competititon I am entering is my time-travel script which will be entered into Scribe Lounge Elevate by the end of March.
Once I’m recovered fully, I will have to make up some work on my other scripts. However, I don’t have any plans to enter those ones into any competitions for a few months, so am focussing on one script at a time while I’m healing.
Things Learnt: Am getting better at layering sound in Garageband and the first episode really has a good sense of atmosphere when it’s needed: such as an angry horde of villagers chasing my main character and a river progressively getting louder as they near a waterfall.
Have also learnt the benefit of leaving scripts alone for as long as possible between editing. My usual method of working is to keep going back to a script until I reach a point I’m happy to send it to competitions. However, with my time travel script I hadn’t edited it in about a year and as such have been able to identify many changes to make!
From scenes that last time I edited them seemed like vital parts of the story, that I now realise can be altered or cut completely, to adding in scenes that fit the narrative past the pilot episode has been great. Also, turns out that leaving a script for a long time means I like editing it again, rather than finding it a chore.
Intro: Apologies for not releasing this until there’s only ten days left of the month! Turns out January and February were full on in more ways than one!
First, the good bits: recorded the episodes of The Legend of Aramelle and am currently editing them for release from 8th March. Am also keeping track of the budget for the show so I can see how much money I have to make back before I would be able to do a second series.
Also found two new writing competitions that Troy script would qualify for – Roadmap and Oxford 42 – and received new notes on the pilot from my writing course, that I hope to work through before submitting the script.
Finally, I have had to stay at my mum’s since the middle of January, as I badly burnt my legs – note to everyone, check your hot water bottles, please – and after initially thinking the burns were extensive, but not too deep and that I’d be back in work after a week, I actually ended up having a 5 day stay in hospital and am still having to walk with crutches after a skin graft operation!
Unable to get into work (warehouses aren’t built for crutches), it should be the perfect time for me to write. However, it turns out growing skin is hard work. Doctors regularly tell me to make sure I’ve upped my calorie intake (I’m bad at eating at the best of times) and I’m still having to have around three naps a day, but the healing is happening!
So on to the update!
Scripts Update: The Legend of Aramelle podcast is recorded and apart from some sound effects that still need adding, the first episode is ready for release!
Troy script is being worked on ahead of two competition entries and time travel script will be one entered into Scribe Lounge Elevate this year.
Other scripts have fallen behind a little as I recover, but am not too worried as don’t have any set competitions to enter them in before at least July, so would rather focus on the ones that do have set competitions while my body heals!
Things Learnt: Editing practice is going well, and am also learning to edit audio on Garageband for the podcast. Have made a finance tracker for the podcast. Have found it very useful to track unexpected costs – such as having to get scripts printed for the cast on the day of recording and extra travel costs to reimburse after cancelled trains.
Have also recorded some – though not all – of the needed sound effects for the show and realising the best ways to record things like people falling over has been fun. The answer is, to avoid hurting your cast, to make them go near to the floor and bascially sit down hard on the floor, while saying “oof” or some such. Played back in context, it sounds pretty realistic!
Intro: In December, I sent out the scripts for my podcast to the cast and booked the recording space for January
I also finally got that new computer, meaning I was able to download Adobe Premier and start practising editing (my previous computer was too old for such a program).
So on to the update!
Scripts Update: The rehearsal and recording spaces for The Legend of Aramelle podcast are booked and I am going to work on my Troy script on the writing course which starts tomorrow.
I have been working on my goldrush script as well as a screenplay about two sisters. I know where I want to go with them both now. However, editing has been slow as I have been concetrating on sorting things for the podcast. I hope to set aside a day each for both these scripts in January so I can get back up to speed with editing them.
I have also been practising editing on Adobe Premier, which has been fun to learn. I have been teaching myself with footage from the film course I’m doing. I’ve edited the footage in a variety of different ways to learn how to use editing to tell different stories with the same footage. Though I am still very slow at it, and it would be a lot easier if I had a separate mouse for my laptop rather than the trackpad, as I keep mis-clicking.
Things Learnt: As I have more files to work on, I’m learning the use of keeping things properly stored. Though my file system makes sense to me, it’s rather difficult for anyone else to understand, so making it easier for others to find my files, if I am working with them on a project is definitely a useful skill!
I also signed up to WriterDuet – the full version. It’s a subscription and I would prefer to buy it outright, but I’ve found it the easiest way to organise all the podcast scripts. I was using Scrivener before, where I could either have one big manuscript or 12 different files – one for each episode!
Intro: In November, I finalised the cast and recording dates for my podcast and we will record in January!
I also signed up to a screen-writing course in Brighton in January and had my interview for it, so January is looking set to be a busy month!
So on to the update!
Scripts Update: I finalised the scripts for The Legend of Aramelle podcast and have sent the scripts to the cast today!
I put in one of the first scripts I ever wrote – What Came Before – to the BBC. I admit it’s not a great script for competitions, hence why I haven’t entered it to the BBC before. However, I thought as I was writing the podcast scripts – which are too short at 15-20 minutes an episode – then I could either put in an old script, or put in my Gold Rush script before it was ready. Submitting What Came Before means I can still submit my Gold Rush script in their next submission window, when it will be better. As What Came Before is a small part of a very large story, I may as well submit it to a free competition as it’s likely to never be made until I’ve made lots of other things first!
In my interview for the writing course – I did reveal to the interviewer my plan for the Trojan Horse. It’s the first time I’ve told anyone and they said it was a fascinating idea. Apologies for not repeating it here, but one day I hope you’ll find out!
Things Learnt: Am still learning sound on the film course and getting better at it. Yesterday we were filming a short film on the beach. In December. With both the waves, wind and seagulls to contend with, I was worried the dialogue wouldn’t be hear-able at all. I couldn’t do the boom mike operating myself as well as the recording so did have help from a fellow student. Meanwhile it was my job to make sure they were pointing it in the right direction, and what levels to put the sound at so the sea is in the background and the words are in the foreground! The director listened to some of the recordings afterwards and said they sounded perfect, so I guess I’ll keep learning!
I also helped to produce that short film. The director is interested in writing themselves, so I pointed out where things could be re-written or changed but allowed them to decide how to actually re-write them. I also got to write call sheets for everyone and went about getting permission from the council to film on the beach! I did have to ring the events officer directly when I hadn’t had an answer for a few days, but that was easy once I’d found their number!
Had to promise the council I’d give everyone a H+S briefing about the sea. So here I am telling everyone to not touch the sea!
Scripts Update: I wrote some sides – mainly short monologues for The Legend of Aramelle podcast – and have already begun to receive some audition tapes!
This is the first time I have heard any characters I’ve created be performed back at me (not counting writers reading aloud my scripts) and I enjoyed hearing them so much that I spent my Friday evening making notes! The auditions are still open until 13/11 if you would like to send in your own tape!
Received feedback from TallStoryPictures on my Troy script, though I had given them a version prior to me (once again) re-writing the beginning after a brainwave, the feedback was very useful. It made me realise that the script is worth pursuing still even if it’s not quite there yet. Plus I will take comfort in receiving the following feedback: “you’ve got a great knack for creating characters that immediately feel like flesh and blood.”
I also received feedback on All Plays Prohibited which I submitted to the Bafta film competition. Didn’t get shortlisted, but receving such detailed feedback makes me feel like it’s worth entering again and going back to edit that script again! Plus received a specific note that I have received on this script before, which shows people do enjoy reading it, even though I am aware it needs further editing! “This is a great idea for a film because it’s a storyworld that most people aren’t very familiar with, and one that’s placed in a traumatising situation we are all very familiar with (a pandemic).”
Finally am still editingmy Gold Rush script, so it’s ready for BBC Writers room which opens in November. I’m putting it through the Full Script Group on Scribe Lounge, which hopefully will help me work on the ending.
Things Learnt: Am learning sound on my film course; the subjects I most want to freelance in are: Screenwriting, Sound and Video Editing. Doing sound does take some getting used to. You are wired up quite heavily and have a microphone cable to drag around with you most of the time, too. It’s made slightly harder by the fact that I’m under five feet tall, so a boom mike usually ends up being twice my height.
However, I am getting better at managing the cables, figuring out the correct levels to record at for different scenes and setting eveything up at the beginning. I next need to learn how to put everything away again, safely, and remove all the cables on the first go. (They have various clips and buttons to make sure they stay in place, so just pulling them out isn’t an option!)
ChristyESWriter 