Tag: writing

Freelance Journey

How to Become a Freelancer – July 26 Update

Christy.E.SLeave a comment

Intro:
My Last Witch in Swanage script made it to the top 20% of Scribe Lounge Elevate! Sadly didn’t get shortlisted, but the top 20 meant it got a full script read!

In June, worked on an unpaid one-day shoot for a documentary and am also doing a sound edit of both the documentary and a short film by the same company. Plus a one-day paid shoot coming up in August. Doing audio editing is slightly different from editing video and sound together, but still enjoyable. Though I do have to take breaks doing it as I start to not be able to hear if I’ve edited a sound out or made it more noticeable if I work too long at once!

Anyway, on to the update!

Scripts Update:
I have the notes on Legend of Aramelle and am working through them. Unfortunately, it’s unlikely I’ll be able to finish editing the notes before the beginning of August, so a January recording is looking more likely now. However, this does mean I have more time to make the scripts as good as they can be, as I won”t be sending them out until the beginning of December!

I am working on two new scripts, plus an idea for a third – of the two, one is about a witch who time travels to the future to avoid being burnt and the second is much more realistic and set in the 1960s. Hoping to finish at least one of them before the end of July so I can get notes before the channel 4 scheme opens in September.

Things Learnt:
Have finally been able to buy a new piece of sound equipment – headphones – which will help to lower my hiring costs. Next thing to save up for is a shotgun microphone. Have also exhausted my list of agents to apply to this year. Though they were all rejections they weren’t forever rejections, but try again when you have some accolades/competition placements etc. rejections.

Freelance Journey

How To Become a Freelancer – June 26 Update

Christy.E.SLeave a comment

Intro:
Have a new day job!! It doesn’t start until August, so I am hoping to work on a few short films in July. Knowing I don’t have to be frantically looking for work in July is a calming thought. Also, it means I can take on unpaid sound jobs again to boost my credits. However, I am still applying to the paid ones whenever I see them!

Anyway, on to the update!

Scripts Update:
I am waiting for my reader to give me notes on Legend of Aramelle, before editing it and sending it out to the actors. As my new job is starting in August, my plan to record the series in September may have to be re-thought. It might be possible to film in August before my new job starts, otherwise it’s more likely I record in January next year and it goes out from April again as the first series did. I’m emailing my producer later today to see if we can’t finalise the timings between us.

Of the three scripts I have to work on over the summer, I will be focussing on them in July when I have free time! I have two that could be potential ones to submit to the channel 4 scheme this year, I just need to finish the first draft to see what might be a better fit.

Things Learnt:
As I now have a new day job coming up, I have relaxed my job hunting. However, the jobs I did apply for have been getting back to me one by one. Not one of the other jobs has given me an interview, even though I am qualified in everything I applied for. I know this is not a unique experience, but reminding yourself that just because you didn’t get an interview does not mean you should not keep applying for the same level of job is always worth remembering.

Freelance Journey

How To Become a Freelancer – May 26 Update

Christy.E.SLeave a comment

Intro:
Have an interview coming up for what will be my second paid sound job! Or at least it will be if the interview goes well. It’s shooting in late June so I’ll be done with my day job by then. Still hoping to find a new day job but this does make me feel better about my prospects.

So on to the update!

Scripts Update:
Am nearly finished with editing Legend of Aramelle, and will be sending it to readers this week. Would have been able to send it today but am on a shoot today and tomorrow so didn’t have the time to read it through.

Have mainly been focussed on job searching and Legend of Aramelle this month, but once that’s being read, I’ve got three other scripts to work on over the summer! Am hoping I can get at least one finished by September as that will mean I can put it into the channel 4 scheme this year.

Things Learnt:
I am not a shortform content person. Instagram favours videos under three minutes long, and my shortest one on my new @sagoandrestore channel is still about 8 minutes. I’m still enjoying making and editing them, it just may be that I need to think about to think about which platform is the best for me to post them on.

Freelance Journey

How To Become a Freelancer – April 26 Update

Christy.E.SLeave a comment

Intro:
Have been focusing on applying to new jobs this past month and remain interview-less for now. But in terms of writing, I’ve been making some small headway.

So on to the update!

Scripts Update:
I am doing what I call ‘paper edits’ of The Legend of Aramelle Series two script. If I can get through the script and write up the edits onto my laptop by the end of April, I should be ready for feedback in May. Once that’s done I should have the script ready to send to the cast by the end of June. Meaning the only thing left to organise after that is funding for the series!

I didn’t get the vertical drama job this time, but I’ve continued researching them and am going to finish the script I had in mind for the job. There are a fair few production companies searching for vertical production ideas, so if I have one to add to my portfolio, I can contact the production companies to see if it fits with any of them.

I also have another idea for a pilot script. I think this one would work best as a comedy, and seeing as most of my writing veers towards drama, it will be fun to see how the script turns out!

Things Learnt:
I’ve also begun an instagram channel @sagoandrestore, mainly to document the changes I want to make to my home. Though most of the changes I can make in the next few months are as close to free as possible, it has reminded me of when I had a youtube channel way back when. The videos are shorter on instagram and it feels like it’s more of a commitment than youtube as you have to post more often. However, even if I’m the only one watching the videos, I’m enjoying making and editing them, so I think I’ll continue for now!

Freelance Journey

How To Become a Freelancer – March 26 Update

Christy.E.SLeave a comment

Intro:
Have finally got my diploma from the Film-making course I did last year! It was delayed due to various reasons, but now I have the diploma I can frame it and stick it up on the wall.


So on to the update!

Scripts Update:
I have sent two scripts – The Trojan War Diaries and The Last Witch in Swanage – to two different agents now. The first one got back to me – it was a no, but a rejection is better than being ignored! I have put LWIS into the Scribe Lounge competition. As of March I will be downgrading my membership back to the free version to save money, unless I can find new work before then.

I have also applied to a job posted on Scribe Lounge to be a Vertical Drama Writer for an upcoming project. Though I vaguely knew about these, it was the first time I had tried writing one myself. I had to submit four pages for the application and am waiting to hear back.

Though they are different from how I like to consume my media, I can see the appeal. Short-form content, that you can watch in segments, so you’re never going to be late because you’re finishing an episode. From a writing persepctive, I think they have a lot in common with writing for soap operas and that is becoming harder and harder these days. Vertical dramas might well fill that gap.

Why? Well, with a soap opera, if you are a staffed writer, you have to write a certain number of episodes a week on an ongoing basis. You have a quick turnaround time and certain things, plotwise, have to happen at certain points in the script. The same is true of vertical dramas – just on a much quicker scale. With only a minute or two in each episode, there is no room for anything but plot. From the ones I have watched for research, it seems that a good way of looking at writing them is to presume half your audience is only watching – on mute – and the other half is only listening. This means if you say a character’s name, you should also caption it for the watchers, and if you show something, you should speak it also, for the listeners. This is a difficult but vital thing to learn in screenwriting. We are of course asked to show not tell in writing, but the audience does have to know what you’re showing to stay engaged.

It is similar to writing for radio – or a podcast, like mine – where you have to help the audience paint the picture you have in their own minds, so they can follow the plot. No, you shouldn’t say exactly what’s happening, but if, for example, your characters are watching a dragon fly through the air, one of them must acknowledge the dragon or the audience can’t.

I haven’t heard back from the company yet, but it’s been a useful writing exercise regardless and one I think I will continue going forward.

Things Learnt:
Aside from learning about vertical dramas, I’ve been thinking about those agent emails I’ve written and how really they are not too different from writing a cover letter for a job! You find the agent you want to write to, explain why you’ve chosen them, a bit about your script and why they would like to read it, then thank them for their time. Submitting to agents can be seen as just another job application, and that has taken some of my fear away from doing it!

Freelance Journey

How to Become a Freelancer – February 2026 Update

Christy.E.SLeave a comment

Intro:
Have successfully (nearly) finished my first paid sound job! It’s behind an NDA so I will tell you nothing more about it, but it’s been a good shoot and I hope it leads to more paid work.


I also got asked to be a Production Assistant at short notice on a short film last weekend. I ended up doing sound for them the second day as their sound recordist couldn’t make it in. Proving it’s always worth taking other jobs, as you can always get shifted to your field!


So on to the update!

Scripts Update:
Though I am still working on my witch script in order to put it into the Scribe Lounge competition at the end of February, I have also had to focus on applying to full-time jobs again. I’m most likely being made redundant in June, unless I can shift to another department. As last year I relied on sick pay for 4 months I don’t have enough savings to be a full-time freelancer just yet. I haven’t entirely ruled that out though. If I do manage to find more paid writing and sound work in the next few months, it’s not impossible. However, it would be a lot harder to start now than it would be in June next year which was my plan.

Am still writing the second series of The Legend of Aramelle. First draft is nearly finished, so am still aiming for that at the end of February. Leaving me with a few months to edit before sending it out.

Things Learnt:
As I have been applying to more jobs, I am reminded again about cover letters. Though I am better at writing these than I was the last time I was looking for a job, thanks to all the sound roles I’ve applied to! I still struggle to remember what should go into one and what parts of the advert I should concentrate on writing about.


I’ve essentially given myself a template at this point: why I want the job, what I can bring to it and conclusion. I can then easily re-write each time I apply, which saves a lot of time!

Freelance Journey

How to Become a Freelancer – January 2026 Update

Christy.E.SLeave a comment

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!

Freelance Journey

How to Become a Freelancer – December Update

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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.

Freelance Journey

How to Become a Freelancer – November Update

Christy.E.SLeave a comment

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!

So on to the update!

Scripts Update:
Put Last Witch in Swanage into The channel 4 scheme, but am continuing editing it until BBC Writersroom opens in December.

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!

Freelance Journey

How to Become a Freelancer – October Update

Christy.E.SLeave a comment

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.

Freelance Journey

How To Become a Freelancer – September Update

Christy.E.SLeave a comment

Intro:
The final episode of The Legend of Aramelle is up! You can listen to it here on WordPress, on Apple podcasts, Spotify or Pocketcasts.

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 scheme opens 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.

Sound Effect Listings

The Legend of Aramelle – Episode 12 Sound Effects

Christy.E.S1 Comment

As someone interested in sound recording in general, I thought it would be a good idea to combine the credits I have to include for the sound effects in each episode with information of why I chose them, plus how I edited them.

Of course it would be in the final episode of the series that I had the most trouble with the audio! It seems that one microphone wasn’t working correctly so two actors lines were extremely quiet. I had to isolate their audio and edit them on their own track to make it audible. I’ve edited it as best I could, and it works pretty well, it just has the unfortunate side effect that there’s some background interference audible in their lines, as a result of it being heightened. It sounds a little bit like wind though, so as they’re all outside or on mountains, if you use your imagination it’s not so bad!
Plus, I wanted to make sure it was audible as some of the lines lost were important to the future plot!

Here is the full list of sound effects including where I got them from, plus what the original script called for.

Mixed Sound Effects:
Walking through prison corridors: Witch Princess Gamelan Melody mixed with Water dripping in cave freesound and Cowboy boots walking (Adobe)

Adobe Sound Effects used:
Liquid Water River flowing water – River
Coin Flip and Catch Ringing Spin – Jewel
Foley Cinder Block Sand Scrapes – Cave moves position
Liquid Water Water Ballon Dropped in Water – Spoon dropped in cauldron
Foley Coin Moving in Hand – King Gideon gets money out
Ambience Ocean Shore – Ship in bay by Isle of the Sirens

BBC Sound Effects used:
Ship creaking: Thames Sailing Barge, Atmosphere Below Deck Under Sail, With Creaking Wood. (Recorded On Board S.B. Pudge.) (Bought)
Doors Prison Cell – Prison Door Cell, opened and shut (Bought) – Door to Prison opened and closed
Boats Rowboats Punting – Needed a noise of driftwood to show what Barry is floating down the river on. (Bought)

Pro sound effects used:
Whistler Mountain Canada Light Buffeting Wind – mountain ambience (Bought)
Sparkles Glistening Metallic Swells – Sound of jewel map being projected. (Bought)
Sucky Woosh – Noise for the ghosts method of travel and appearance – more will be revealed how this works in series 2! (Bought)

Cast for:
Ship onto Table out of pocket – Aramelle takes jewel out of pocket
Crew Cheering
Crew executing orders
The “Woo” that Orson says was supposed to be another round of the crew cheering, but realised in editing that as they’ve just gone off to execute their orders, it didn’t make sense, but Orson was still there, so he could cheer for Aramelle all by himself.

Music by Jean Loup-Pinson:
The Village Krumhorn
Grim Reaper theme

Freesound for:
Cauldron bubbling – Water Bubbling – Same as last episode. water bubbling by ultraaxvii — https://freesound.org/s/591151/ — License: Creative Commons 0

The Legend of Aramelle

The Legend of Aramelle – Episode 12

Christy.E.SLeave a comment

Of course it would be in the final episode of the series that I had the most trouble with the audio! It seems that one microphone wasn’t working correctly so two actors lines were extremely quiet. I had to isolate their audio and edit them on their own track to make it audible. I’ve edited it as best I could, and it works pretty well, it just has the unfortunate side effect that there’s some background interference audible in their lines, as a result of it being heightened. It sounds a little bit like wind though, so as they’re all outside or on mountains, if you use your imagination it’s not so bad!
Plus, I wanted to make sure it was audible as some of the lines lost were important to the future plot!

In this Episode:
George Coyne played Orson
Georgia Faye played Persephone
Liam Harkins played Barry and Potion Man
Tayla Kenyon played Clive, King Gideon and Robin
Mariana Sa Sousa played Aramelle
Am Stubberfield played Grim Reaper and Mountain guard

Social Media:
Show email: thelegendofaramellecasting@gmail.com
Writer: Christy Sago: Bluesky: @christywrites.bsky.social
Producer: Kate Delong: Instagram: @kate.delong.creates
George Coyne: Instagram: @jorge_pereira8890
Tayla Kenyon: Twitter: @taylakenyon
Liam Harkins: Instagram: @liammharkins
Mariana Sa Sousa: Instagram: @marianasasousa123
Am Stubberfield: Instagram: @brumble_hag
Composer: Jean Loup-Pinson: Instagram: @jlpinsonmusic

Sound effects:
Jean Loup-Pinson composed the music.
His website is: www.jeanlouppinson.com/
Sound effects for this episode are from BBC Sound Effects Library, Adobe Sound Effects, Freesound.org, Pro Sound Effects and the cast themselves.
Full credits for the sound effects as well as more information on the writing, recording and editing of this episode can be found here.

Questions that still need to be answered: What happened to Captain Liam? We haven’t seen him since the mountain prison, has he gone to find his wife? What is Aramelle’s plan with the sirens? Why can Orson see a figure on the Isle of the Sirens while no-one else can? Is it to do with the voice he heard in the grasslands? And the most important un-answered question of all: What happened to Orson’s sword? The enchanted one he stole of the suit of armour? Is it at the bottom of the lake in Aramelle’s kingdom?

The Legend of Aramelle will return! (When I’ve written the scripts.)

Thank you for listening!

The Legend of Aramelle

The Legend of Aramelle – Episode 11

Christy.E.SLeave a comment

In this Episode:
George Coyne played Orson
Georgia Faye played Persephone
Tayla Kenyon played Clive and Beryl
Mariana Sa Sousa played Aramelle
Am Stubberfield played Grim Reaper and Mountain guard

Social Media:
Show email: thelegendofaramellecasting@gmail.com
Writer: Christy Sago: Bluesky: @christywrites.bsky.social
Producer: Kate Delong: Instagram: @kate.delong.creates
George Coyne: Instagram: @jorge_pereira8890
Tayla Kenyon: Twitter: @taylakenyon
Liam Harkins: Instagram: @liammharkins
Mariana Sa Sousa: Instagram: @marianasasousa123
Am Stubberfield: Instagram: @brumble_hag
Composer: Jean Loup-Pinson: Instagram: @jlpinsonmusic

Sound effects:
Jean Loup-Pinson composed the music.
His website is: www.jeanlouppinson.com/
Sound effects for this episode are from BBC Sound Effects Library, Adobe Sound Effects, Freesound.org, Pro Sound Effects and the cast themselves.
Full credits for the sound effects as well as more information on the writing, recording and editing of this episode can be found here.

What do you think Aramelle saw in the cauldron?

Thank you for listening!

Sound Effect Listings

The Legend of Aramelle – Episode 11 Sound Effects

Christy.E.S1 Comment

As someone interested in sound recording in general, I thought it would be a good idea to combine the credits I have to include for the sound effects in each episode with information of why I chose them, plus how I edited them.

Here is the full list of sound effects including where I got them from, plus what the original script called for.

Adobe Sound Effects used:
Multimedia Internet CD Rom Flash Beep High Pitch 33 – Orson arrives in cabin
Liquid Water River flowing water – River
Weapon Sword Hit Metal Off Center 01 – Guard bars entry
Concrete shoes walking – Walking through prison
Human crowd mumbling – Aramelle sees future in cauldron
Impact Metal Bang 01 – cell door opened

BBC Sound Effects used:
Ship creaking: Thames Sailing Barge, Atmosphere Below Deck Under Sail, With Creaking Wood. (Recorded On Board S.B. Pudge.) (Bought)
Doors Prison Cell – Prison Door Cell, opened and shut (Bought)

Pro sound effects used:
Whistler Mountain Canada Light Buffeting Wind – mountain ambience
Prison Gate Metal Gate Open Close
Crowd Foot Stomps Interior Reverberant Theater – crowd marching
Bells Cathedrals – ringing wedding bells as Aramelle looks in cauldron
Pot Hit Metal Clang Impact – Aramelle knocks cauldron

Cast for:
Normal Squawk 2 – went for a different option on the squawking as I didn’t think Liam would turn into the exact same bird!

Music by Jean Loup-Pinson:
The Village Krumhorn
Grim Reaper theme

Mixed sound effects:
Scolex water dripping in cave – freesound mixed with Gamelan melody by Jean

Freesound for:
Cauldron – 93214__freed__iging_21a_the-cauldron – freesound Cauldron a looking in: IGing_21a_The Cauldron.mp3 by Freed — https://freesound.org/s/93214/ — License: Attribution 4.0 – used this for the beginning of the magic when Aramelle looks in the cauldron. Only used the first few seconds and looped it.