s m a l l s c r e e n s

Gordon White August 13th, 2008

Caught up with an old writer friend in London, yesterday.

I’ve moved to London. Have I told you that, yet?

Anyway, we got to talking about old projects, projects that are still doing the rounds, which scripts/plays you use… You know… Writerly things.

I happened to ask about a screenplay she used as her calling card a few years back and she said “funny you should mention that. I am actually looking at whether it will work as a radio play.”

“What a coincidence!” I exclaimed. (Actually I said “no fucking way?!” but I am in England now and should be genteel.)

You see, I am currently moving a couple of my own storylines around as well. But in my case it’s from online animation series to comic novella. (Note: clearly I will never make any money from writing.)

Also, I’ve got a couple of radio plays on the boil that I am hoping will be inspired by my new location. (London. Have I mentioned that yet?)

So here is the ‘inspiration and advice’ part of the post.

First the advice: It is generally considered to be received wisdom that you not move stories around from one medium to another. For instance, if no one picks up your screenplay, don’t try and put it on as a play because it won’t work.

Well, screw that.

Clearly you are not going to try and force a square peg into a round hole. If you are a ‘real’ writer -in that you value story as something akin the lifeblood of the universe- then you are going to be the one that knows what sort of story you really have on your hands. Novel, mobisodes, screen play, stage play, etc.

In fact, if your process is anything like mine, the story arrives in your head like the first white man to land on a faraway continent and you just kinda stand there looking at it, trying to work out what it is.

So ignore that piece of received wisdom and have a play with it.

As for the inspiration… If you are working on radio plays or podcast series then check this out. Classic Hollywood vinyl in MP3 form! For free!

I’ve only listened to one of them. It was extremely camp. I loved it.

And here’s an old interview with Ursula K. Le Guin, one of my personal heroes. As I’ve said before, I love interviews with writers. I found this one while sitting around in the Qantas Club on my way to London. Which is the place I just moved to.

In case you hadn’t heard.

Tags: advice, free, podcasts, radio play, screen play

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