Screenwriting

MY SCREENWRITING JOURNEY SO FAR....

I love films and even spent seven years working at a famous video store when I was studying at Uni (I did a masters degree which looked at racial representation in films). I think a lot of people pitch books against TV and films, but the majority of the things you see on the screen are written. A screenwriter has spent a lot of time writing the words that people say and the actions that happen. I often think that screenwriters get forgotten, especially when you have big named actors or directors involved. I love to challenge myself and to try new forms of writing, so I have dabbled in a little screenwriting. Below you can see that I wrote a short film and it was actually made! I think the theme of 'having a go' at something new is in Danny Chung and screenwriting is definitely one of those things, where one day, I thought...'I'm going to have a go and see if I can do it.' As you can see, like writing books, it's taken a long time to get from writing a short film to having one actually made. I wrote a version of the short film that was made way back in 2008. Then I decided to focus on prose and raising my family; so screenwriting was put aside. But I always had it in the back of my mind that I wanted to come back to it. 

Courses/Experience:

Magic Light Pictures:  Series 2: episode screenwriter (2022)

Magic Light Pictures Trainee Writer Scheme 2022:  In-depth training on how to write for Pip and Posy, shadowing and writer's room

CBBC Writer's room 2021: New animated show in development x 3 story conferences

CBeebies Writer's room 2021: New animated show in development x 1 story conference

BEATS FELLOW 2020/21 - Mentored by Emma Reeves (CBBC The Worst Witch, My Mum Tracy Beaker)

Sharp Shorts Development Scheme (Short Circuit/BFI) 2020/2021 - script development (Folding) and industry insight. Funded short film, directed by Paul Sng (BAFTA Breakthrough 2022). 

BBC Writersroom New Voices Festival (Children's TV) 2020 - attendee

ScreenSkills Course: Writing for Children's TV (Animation) Feb - March 2021 with Myles McLeod (The Brothers McLeod - Circle Square)

Write4Film (Scottish Film Talent Network) 2019-2020 - Six months scheme with script editor Anna Seifert-Speck and masterclasses from Phil Parker, Paul Fraser. Pitching coaching with John Letham. Wrote a short RESPITE (10 mins) and feature outline for Danny Chung novel adaptation. 

BBC Writersroom British Chinese Writers Weekend 2008 with Phil Parker and Paul Ashton

SCRIPT Birmingham: Introduction to Screen Writing 2008 - 4 week course 

Awards:

B3 Media - Digishorts - ASTON MANNA (10 min short) Shortlisted 2009

Screen West Midlands - Digishorts - ASTON MANNA (10 min short) Shortlisted 2009 (team: Roger Shannon as producer and Pogus Caesar as director)

BBC Writersroom: BBC Bites (Short film competition) - LYCHEES AND BINGO BALLS (10 min short) Winner 2008