Script Event: Saturday 6th February 2010

So after weeks of preparation our script event was finally here! On Saturday 6^th February 2010, the Mucky Duck Media team, Trinket Creative and Script invited scriptwriters to the Birmingham City University, City North campus for a day of workshops and pitches!

The day started well, with all of our invited scriptwriters turning up and getting to know one another. We hired and experienced facilitator, Arzhang Pezhman, for the day and with his professional help we were able to offer the scriptwriters a chance to develop their script, characters and concepts.

The morning consisted of a workshop where the scriptwriters completed tasks to develop their characters, structure short films and how to pitch an idea coherently and concisely. Throughout the workshop the scriptwriters offered each other feedback and engaged with one another to help develop their own script.

During the lunch break we were able to have a more detailed chat with each person and find out what they felt were the constructive elements of the day. We received a lot of positive feedback regarding the way in which the day was structured and organised. The scriptwriters especially liked Arzhangs technique of helping them to develop their script.

The afternoon brought us to the pitches.

Each scriptwriter pitched their idea to a panel of professionals offering constructive criticism, the panel consisted of Arzhang Pezhman (facilitator for the day), Catherine Edwards (Script) and Andy Conway (professional scriptwriter/ script editor), from Mucky Duck Media, Alex Carruthers (Producer) and Adam Tyers (Director), offered feedback in terms of our brief and how well we received their idea.

All the Mucky Duck Team feels this was the most beneficial and enjoyable part of the day, for both the scriptwriters and us. We were able to see how well they could communicate and sell their idea to us, whilst sensing their personalities and compatibility to working with us. All the members of the Mucky Duck team walked away from the event buzzing with ideas for each script, and we all sat down to discuss our favourites.

We all agreed and believed that scriptwriter Helen Kelly had provided us with an interesting, complex script that also tackles issues surrounding Birmingham. Trainer is a short film based around a young female swimmer and her older male swimming instructor, and the relationship they have. She has a teenage infatuation, he sees her as a working machine, a beautiful object but still a young innocent girl. Based in Longbridge, Trainer also highlights the economic downfall of the area once the Rover factory was shut down.

Siobhan Regan and Ash James documented the whole day and the video is coming soon!

On behalf of the Mucky Duck Media team and Trinket Creative, we would like to thank all the scriptwriters for their enthusiasm and input into the day. They really did make it a hard decision for us to choose our final script.