When I first entered the 大象传媒 Future Talent Award competition I had no idea what to expect. It was January, I had just finished all my university work and I had a short window of time before going back to Sheffield Hallam to study. I鈥檝e always enjoyed writing scripts as a hobby but the thought of having someone in the industry read my script was fairly daunting - I鈥檓 hesitant to even let my parents or friends read my work! It took a few reads of the email to realise that I鈥檇 actually made the top three finalists in the competition. I couldn鈥檛 believe it. My parents couldn鈥檛 believe it. My mates couldn鈥檛 believe that I even wrote scripts.
I鈥檓 not the sort of guy that goes and writes in a coffee shop wearing a knitted jumper and drinking a frappuccino, I just stay up late on the nights that I鈥檓 not out and write scripts when I should probably be revising for my English course. I鈥檝e always enjoyed reading and writing fiction but it wasn鈥檛 until University that I discovered a passion for scriptwriting. I鈥檇 watch a programme and think, wouldn鈥檛 it be good if that happened or wouldn鈥檛 it be better if that character did that - the great thing about writing scripts is that you control all of that. You get to create your own world and your own characters.
Anyway, a couple of months later I found myself at the One World Media Festival at Salford Media City, grateful to even be given an invite to what turned out to be a brilliant day of conferences and discussions. The other two finalists were really nice and their work sounded incredible. Going into the award ceremony I was already happy enough after having a great day, but then to actually win the award was the complete icing on the cake (major clich茅, sorry). I met some lovely people on the day who hopefully will keep in touch and the experience on the whole is something that I鈥檒l always remember. Now that I鈥檝e finished University I can鈥檛 wait to get out into the world and go travelling with my friends, maybe I鈥檒l even pick up some creative ideas along the way. Whatever happens in the future, I鈥檒l continue to enjoy reading and writing scripts for many more years to come.
The 大象传媒 writersroom Future Talent Award is a development opportunity for student/recent graduate drama writers. The winner is given development opportunities and mentoring within the 大象传媒, including taking part in our Headspace Writer in Residence scheme. Other exciting voices to emerge as a result of this opportunity are given development opportunities and training as appropriate.
The Future Talent Award 2013 will be launched early next year. Keep an eye out on our website for more details.