Movie write? by Nicky Wilkinson

 

I am very excited. Some of my friends think I’m like that a lot. They are probably right, but

today I really am excited.

Last night I went on an introductory course for screen writing. Kathryn Blessan at ACW runs these. 

It was not as easy a decision as you might think. There was someone willing to teach me and a friend to go with. I am a writer, right? So why not learn how to write movies. I love watching them, but could I, do I really want to write a screenplay?

Arriving as nervous as a kindergarten kid, I had no idea what I was going to learn or  even if I was able to learn. I was worried I had bitten off more than I could chew. Would I fail, sinking into

disappointment for lack of ideas, instead of being inspired then thrilled by the possibilities of manipulating them. What I really wanted was material to create and play with.

We started with prayer — the honest sort: here we are God, a bit amazed, can you do anything

with us?

Then with pen and paper, phone and PC all primed we talked, and watched. We learnt to

identify scenes, analysing and rewatching them, now counting scenes and beginning to

understand some of the constraints of a film script — all the while holding a steaming cup of

the most delicious Kerula Masala Chai, whose spicy aroma swirled in and out of our chatty

excitement.

Tools were provided to help us formulate what we had seen: script formats; basic script-writing

terminology; even a one to edit. How kind - not to have to generate the whole idea for

something so new. We released our first attempts as we worked with existing ideas, beginning

to mould, sculpt, and edit the words like clay. Finding our feet in this new world while entering

into the emotion and passion of the moment. Releasing words and action lines like a torrent of

water. I am inspired there are ideas in my head. I’m thrilled too, because I have a deadline. In two week’s time it has to be done. How exciting, pressure can create impetus. I may not have an MGM contract or an offer from the BBC, but I do have a self-imposed deadline to start a journey to who knows where.

.

If I get this first draft done it won’t be perfect but there will be something to work with and

take forward. A lot of fear will have been overcome. If it goes further, and something actually

gets made, you’ll be the first to know.

Thank you, God, for opportunities, teachers, and friends (with chai). For gentle beginnings on

journeys where we don’t know the ending. You encourage us to start and are happy to help us. 

Nicky Wilkinson is a grandmother of 6. She lived abroad for 25 years in the Czech Republic and Zimbabwe where she was involved with education. Today she writes, runs, cycles, plays her saxophone and guitar, but not all at the same time.