The Film

In September I started a Screenwriting course at London's MET Film School. Set in the historic Ealing Studios, there is no place more packed with atmosphere in which to study film. But anyway, MET Film plug aside...I started this course. I had great excitement going into it because I was undertaking something that I knew I had a passion for - if not a passion that formed many parts of a fragmented, slightly incoherent mix of passions that all steer me towards Film. Hopefully this course would be a good place to start the search for clarity and direction.

The course convenes every other Saturday and initially involved a group of very reserved, cool individuals who had to be coaxed out of their shells a little to start sharing their film ideas. It's been a brilliant experience so far, we study short films in minute detail and it is incredible how much effort and consideration is put into a frame in order to add to the overall message of the story. I am opening my eyes to the wonder of film as well as the frustrating fact that screenwriting is not a straight-forward affair. You take two steps forward with a script and then either a step back or a collision with a brick wall - that nightmare metaphor that plagues all writers. The problem with a screenplay though is that you don't have the freedom to explain away an emotion or an encounter - obviosuly it has to be shown through pictures and dialogue and this is a lot harder than you would think.

I am on a meandering path with my script and due to time constraints I find myself maddly scribbling things down while on juddery London buses. But it is a start, and I am learning. I am learning how to structure not only my screenplay but also the short film that I want to write, direct, film and produce in the new year - all grand plans considering my full time job. Better get back to it.