Graduate - Chris Lindsay - MA Screenwriting Part Time
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‘We also did Writing for the Screen 1’ with James and Hope Dixon Leach, which is done in a workshop environment. We had to work in teams which I hated at first! Ideas are at an embryonic stage and you have to present them. It can be really uncomfortable but actually it’s a fantastic experience. You kick ideas around, defend ideas and see who you can work with. It’s a toughening up process. We were made to do exercises within a tight framework. From an exercise I didn’t want to do at first, I ended up with Fairground, a script that has been well received.’
Chris has been impressed with the regular tutors on the course but has noticed that the visiting industry speakers add another dimension to the course. “James Moran came to speak to us. He was great at demystifying what it means to be a professional writer. He was honest about his strengths and weaknesses. He has a blog that I’ve followed for years, but it was great to meet him in person. David Bishop was also good. He did the course a few years ago and has now written scripts for Doctors.’
One of the modules on the course is Interactive Media that both MA Screenwriting and MA Screen Project Development students take together. ‘It exceeded all my expectations. Mark Grindle, the tutor, was particularly good – he’s a bit of a guru in interactive stuff. It opened my eyes to different possibilities beyond Film and TV – there’s radio, computer games, web serials etc. Although the rules have changed, there’s still a need for storytellers. As the TV world gets smaller, it helps you to think that you could work cross platform.’
Chris is now working with MA SPD student Lynsey Stewart to make Fairground. Chris and Lynsey met at the beginning of the course and got on well. They exchanged ideas and Chris sent her two scripts. She particularly liked Fairground and is looking to apply for funding once she graduates this summer. Chris took Fairground to an open session led by the professional actors’ group, Actors’ Kitchen, which meets weekly at the Screen Academy Production Centre. “It was a good experience to hear your words performed and to see which bits worked well, which bits were a bit clunky and where there was ambiguity in the script. We gave them a pivotal scene and then polished the script after that.”
Work placement
Chris would like to work in TV drama and has a two week work placement coming up at BBC Scotland’s drama department, where he will shadow a script editor. He had applied previously for a work placement at BBC Scotland but had not been successful, but was aware that this time, with the name of the Screen Academy behind him and with more experience as a writer, he stood a better chance.
Taking the part-time route has worked well for Chris. “It gives you time to develop. In the first year and you can observe what’s worked. You can go to networking events and know you will have another chance next year. The course gives you the opportunity to learn how to conduct yourself professionally, to know how to interact with commissioners and people who have money. It demystifies the industry and you find out that most people are very approachable. People in the industry do say, ‘drop me an email’ and they mean it. I try to take up all the opportunities on offer, even if they are not in my immediate area of interest. Screenwriting is a hard career choice. It’s not a hobby for me. I want to be a professional screenwriter.”
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Chris Lindsay
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Little Red
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Before Screen Academy Scotland
Chris graduated from Queen Margaret University with a degree in Media and Cultural Studies. His interest in filmmaking preceded university – he co-made an hour long film at secondary school and also started a small filmmaking collective after graduation. The realisation that he wanted to be a writer developed slowly, but by the time he started looking around for screenwriting courses, he had decided that he wanted to make a career as a writer, particularly in the UK TV world.
He looked at various screenwriting courses and was attracted to Screen Academy Scotland by the opportunity to study part-time, which would enable him to keep working, and how the part-time course was spread out over the year, rather than in intensive blocks. He was also attracted by the fact that the Programme Leader, James Mavor, was a practising screenwriter, with current credits and projects in the pipeline. In fact, all the tutors are current practitioners.
Chris graduated from Queen Margaret University with a degree in Media and Cultural Studies. His interest in filmmaking preceded university – he co-made an hour long film at secondary school and also started a small filmmaking collective after graduation. The realisation that he wanted to be a writer developed slowly, but by the time he started looking around for screenwriting courses, he had decided that he wanted to make a career as a writer, particularly in the UK TV world.
He looked at various screenwriting courses and was attracted to Screen Academy Scotland by the opportunity to study part-time, which would enable him to keep working, and how the part-time course was spread out over the year, rather than in intensive blocks. He was also attracted by the fact that the Programme Leader, James Mavor, was a practising screenwriter, with current credits and projects in the pipeline. In fact, all the tutors are current practitioners.
At Screen Academy Scotland
One of the first things Chris noticed was the mixture of students on the course and the range of experience and talent. Chris has also found the modules to be excellent, although the work required has taken him out of his comfort zone. “The first module I did was Screen Project Development. Nigel Smith, one of the tutors, was very good at pacing and structuring the sessions. There was a good mix of independent industry professionals coming in. For example, we were asked to write a script report on a draft script written by Eleanor Yule. At the time, we didn’t know who had written it or that she was going to come in and read our reports. When she did come in, she dealt with our feedback very professionally and openly and it was a lesson on how to take criticism and then use it to develop your writing further.”
One of the first things Chris noticed was the mixture of students on the course and the range of experience and talent. Chris has also found the modules to be excellent, although the work required has taken him out of his comfort zone. “The first module I did was Screen Project Development. Nigel Smith, one of the tutors, was very good at pacing and structuring the sessions. There was a good mix of independent industry professionals coming in. For example, we were asked to write a script report on a draft script written by Eleanor Yule. At the time, we didn’t know who had written it or that she was going to come in and read our reports. When she did come in, she dealt with our feedback very professionally and openly and it was a lesson on how to take criticism and then use it to develop your writing further.”
‘We also did Writing for the Screen 1’ with James and Hope Dixon Leach, which is done in a workshop environment. We had to work in teams which I hated at first! Ideas are at an embryonic stage and you have to present them. It can be really uncomfortable but actually it’s a fantastic experience. You kick ideas around, defend ideas and see who you can work with. It’s a toughening up process. We were made to do exercises within a tight framework. From an exercise I didn’t want to do at first, I ended up with Fairground, a script that has been well received.’
Chris has been impressed with the regular tutors on the course but has noticed that the visiting industry speakers add another dimension to the course. “James Moran came to speak to us. He was great at demystifying what it means to be a professional writer. He was honest about his strengths and weaknesses. He has a blog that I’ve followed for years, but it was great to meet him in person. David Bishop was also good. He did the course a few years ago and has now written scripts for Doctors.’
One of the modules on the course is Interactive Media that both MA Screenwriting and MA Screen Project Development students take together. ‘It exceeded all my expectations. Mark Grindle, the tutor, was particularly good – he’s a bit of a guru in interactive stuff. It opened my eyes to different possibilities beyond Film and TV – there’s radio, computer games, web serials etc. Although the rules have changed, there’s still a need for storytellers. As the TV world gets smaller, it helps you to think that you could work cross platform.’
Chris is now working with MA SPD student Lynsey Stewart to make Fairground. Chris and Lynsey met at the beginning of the course and got on well. They exchanged ideas and Chris sent her two scripts. She particularly liked Fairground and is looking to apply for funding once she graduates this summer. Chris took Fairground to an open session led by the professional actors’ group, Actors’ Kitchen, which meets weekly at the Screen Academy Production Centre. “It was a good experience to hear your words performed and to see which bits worked well, which bits were a bit clunky and where there was ambiguity in the script. We gave them a pivotal scene and then polished the script after that.”
Work placement
Chris would like to work in TV drama and has a two week work placement coming up at BBC Scotland’s drama department, where he will shadow a script editor. He had applied previously for a work placement at BBC Scotland but had not been successful, but was aware that this time, with the name of the Screen Academy behind him and with more experience as a writer, he stood a better chance.
Plans for the future
At the end of the course, Chris will have a script for a 10 – 15 minute short (Fairground), a well developed interactive project, a half hour TV drama and either a feature film script or a one hour TV pilot with a series bible. Although Chris would like to work in TV drama, he is thinking he will try to write a feature film script whilst studying in a supportive environment. “Agents want to see a short, feature film and TV drama script and the MA gives you all these in your portfolio. But your short has to be good. If it’s not good, the agent is unlikely to read the other stuff. James Mavor’s agent came in to talk to us and it was useful – a reality check of the what the industry is looking for.”
At the end of the course, Chris will have a script for a 10 – 15 minute short (Fairground), a well developed interactive project, a half hour TV drama and either a feature film script or a one hour TV pilot with a series bible. Although Chris would like to work in TV drama, he is thinking he will try to write a feature film script whilst studying in a supportive environment. “Agents want to see a short, feature film and TV drama script and the MA gives you all these in your portfolio. But your short has to be good. If it’s not good, the agent is unlikely to read the other stuff. James Mavor’s agent came in to talk to us and it was useful – a reality check of the what the industry is looking for.”
Taking the part-time route has worked well for Chris. “It gives you time to develop. In the first year and you can observe what’s worked. You can go to networking events and know you will have another chance next year. The course gives you the opportunity to learn how to conduct yourself professionally, to know how to interact with commissioners and people who have money. It demystifies the industry and you find out that most people are very approachable. People in the industry do say, ‘drop me an email’ and they mean it. I try to take up all the opportunities on offer, even if they are not in my immediate area of interest. Screenwriting is a hard career choice. It’s not a hobby for me. I want to be a professional screenwriter.”
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