I've just heard that a couple episodes I wrote for Noddy last year will be airing this coming Monday and Tuesday - that's the 29th and 30th June - at 7.45am on Five. I know - 7.45! I didn't know there was a 7.45 in the morning too. It just goes to show you learn something new every day. The episodes are High Tide and The Goblin Express.
Although I've finally recovered from jetlag, I'm still majorly pi**ed off that, after being invited to the farewell wrap party for My Name Is Earl, I couldn't find the f**king venue! Dammit!
I'm sure one day, I'll look back and laugh at the whole thing. But not today. Not today...
Wednesday, 24 June 2009
Tuesday, 16 June 2009
10 hours and 5,500 miles later...
...I've finally arrived home after a week of meetings and pitching shows in LA. As I write this, I'm as jetlagged as Hell and feel like I've spent the last 10 hours wrestling a giant, bad tempered penguin. But it was most certainly worth it.
Although visiting the producers of The Simpsons was AWESOME, as was visiting the Disney studio in Burbank (despite getting hopelessly lost in the multi-story car park), what really hit me was the energy of LA. The feeling of optimism - the 'can do' attitude - was palpable and I left feeling invigorated and energised.
I also thought I'd conquered my fear of flying. Pah! I didn't know it was hurricane season until we were taxiing to the runway for the flight home. I think it was the pilot's casual, dismissive attitude that did it. I understand that he didn't want to cause alarm, but there's no good way of saying, "Oh, by the way, it's hurricane season over the mid-states, so it'll get a little lumpy." I turned and saw the pallid face of my girlfriend. "What the f**k did he just say? Hurricane season?" Nervously, she nodded. "And we're going to fly THROUGH it? Is he out of his f**king mind?" Again, she nodded.
I knew at that precise moment that the flight home wouldn't be the only thing that got lumpy...
Although visiting the producers of The Simpsons was AWESOME, as was visiting the Disney studio in Burbank (despite getting hopelessly lost in the multi-story car park), what really hit me was the energy of LA. The feeling of optimism - the 'can do' attitude - was palpable and I left feeling invigorated and energised.
I also thought I'd conquered my fear of flying. Pah! I didn't know it was hurricane season until we were taxiing to the runway for the flight home. I think it was the pilot's casual, dismissive attitude that did it. I understand that he didn't want to cause alarm, but there's no good way of saying, "Oh, by the way, it's hurricane season over the mid-states, so it'll get a little lumpy." I turned and saw the pallid face of my girlfriend. "What the f**k did he just say? Hurricane season?" Nervously, she nodded. "And we're going to fly THROUGH it? Is he out of his f**king mind?" Again, she nodded.
I knew at that precise moment that the flight home wouldn't be the only thing that got lumpy...
Saturday, 30 May 2009
King Guinevere...
I've been asked again when Arthur's second season will be available on DVD. The short answer is I still don't know. Not a clue. In the meantime, here's King Guinevere - the episode that earned him the BAFTA nomination. Either hit the link on the right hand side or click here . But first, make sure your boss isn't looking over your shoulder...
...unless of course he's an Arthur fan, in which case, invite him over and tell him to pull up a chair...
...unless of course he's an Arthur fan, in which case, invite him over and tell him to pull up a chair...
Thursday, 28 May 2009
Noddy...
I'm trying to get back into the work routine after my holiday. It's not easy. So far, I've rearranged my office, cleared my desk, rearranged my office again and even dry cleaned my rabbits - Holmes and Mrs Hudson - but I still can't get out of that 'can't be bothered' frame of mind.
The good news however is that I've just heard Noddy in Toyland - the series I worked on last year - is now airing on Five, weekdays at 7.45am. I missed my first episode while I was away on holiday, but my next episode is some time next month. As soon as I know, I'll post it on the old blog-o-rama.
The good news however is that I've just heard Noddy in Toyland - the series I worked on last year - is now airing on Five, weekdays at 7.45am. I missed my first episode while I was away on holiday, but my next episode is some time next month. As soon as I know, I'll post it on the old blog-o-rama.
Friday, 24 April 2009
What the deuce...
Is it daytime already? I don't remember when I last slept. I think it was around February time, but I could be wrong.
So why the insomnia? That's an easy one; I've taken on WAY too much work.
I'm coming to the end of my time on Crimeville. The show has been a giggle from start to finish, so if that's anything to go by, the wrap party should be a blast. I'm not exactly sure when it'll air; I'm thinking maybe some time in the Autumn. The TV series will premiere in Denmark, so unless you have a satellite dish the size of Wales, I don't suppose you'll see it over here until some time next year. But the web series will go online a little earlier than that. But then, what the Hell do I know? I'm just the lead UK writer. Nobody tells me anything. But as soon as I hear something, I'll pin it up on the old blog-o-torium.
But that's not the only thing has been keeping me busy. The project where I'm lined up to be Exec Producer is still going ahead, although the process is turning out to be tortuously slow. It's at the contract stage. This is where I take a back seat and let my agent do the work. I don't like reading contracts; they make my brain melt and I start to weep uncontrollably.
The uber-exciting news is that I've just finished a feature film treatment for a big studio. I originally pitched the idea as a TV series, but it was immediately rejected. I was then thrown into the surreal situation of being asked if I'd be interested in turning it into a movie instead. It was the loudest gulp I'd ever made, which happened to coincide with the colour draining from my face. I had to think about it for all of 4 nanoseconds. The treatment is now sitting on somebody's desk (I'm hoping somebody important) and I have everything crossed.
I'm also working with a US producer developing another of my ideas into a series for one of the networks in Burbank and have been invited over there in June to attend some meetings. Just the very thought of it makes me soil myself! Still, I guess it's a learning curve. The thing that terrifies me more than anything is the flight over there. I hear from some that it's eleven hours; others, ten. Either way, it's going to make my earlier flight to Copenhagen look like spitting distance...
Now if I could invent some kind of instant teleporting device before June, problem solved...
So why the insomnia? That's an easy one; I've taken on WAY too much work.
I'm coming to the end of my time on Crimeville. The show has been a giggle from start to finish, so if that's anything to go by, the wrap party should be a blast. I'm not exactly sure when it'll air; I'm thinking maybe some time in the Autumn. The TV series will premiere in Denmark, so unless you have a satellite dish the size of Wales, I don't suppose you'll see it over here until some time next year. But the web series will go online a little earlier than that. But then, what the Hell do I know? I'm just the lead UK writer. Nobody tells me anything. But as soon as I hear something, I'll pin it up on the old blog-o-torium.
But that's not the only thing has been keeping me busy. The project where I'm lined up to be Exec Producer is still going ahead, although the process is turning out to be tortuously slow. It's at the contract stage. This is where I take a back seat and let my agent do the work. I don't like reading contracts; they make my brain melt and I start to weep uncontrollably.
The uber-exciting news is that I've just finished a feature film treatment for a big studio. I originally pitched the idea as a TV series, but it was immediately rejected. I was then thrown into the surreal situation of being asked if I'd be interested in turning it into a movie instead. It was the loudest gulp I'd ever made, which happened to coincide with the colour draining from my face. I had to think about it for all of 4 nanoseconds. The treatment is now sitting on somebody's desk (I'm hoping somebody important) and I have everything crossed.
I'm also working with a US producer developing another of my ideas into a series for one of the networks in Burbank and have been invited over there in June to attend some meetings. Just the very thought of it makes me soil myself! Still, I guess it's a learning curve. The thing that terrifies me more than anything is the flight over there. I hear from some that it's eleven hours; others, ten. Either way, it's going to make my earlier flight to Copenhagen look like spitting distance...
Now if I could invent some kind of instant teleporting device before June, problem solved...
Friday, 20 February 2009
Gulp...
It looks like I'm getting closer to that Executive Producer chair. I can't say any more than that right now. As soon as I can, I will...
Thursday, 19 February 2009
Thinking around corners...
Two weeks after the writers' meeting in Copenhagen and I'm already halfway through the outline of my third episode of Crimeville. But now I've hit a snag; nothing too big I hope, but a snag all the same. But isn't thinking around corners part of the fun when writing a whodunit?
...no, really, I'm asking because I've absolutely no idea. Hmm, time for some creative thinking...
It reminds me of the time during the first season of KAD when I hit a similar problem. My 'learning curve' back then was during the outline for an episode called Knight of Fear (by far, still my favorite episode and one, sadly, that was never made). Arthur was tracking an evil wizard through the forest by following some footprints. The plot was intricate, and the fact Arthur was tracking this dude was vital, almost pivotal. Everything was going really well, and then I got a phone call. "We've decided this wizard can fly," I was told. "Really?" I asked, my blood pressure rising. "And it didn't occur to you to tell me before I started the bloody outline? This isn't just a tweak, it's a complete rewrite!" There was a pause that was then followed by a reassuring tone, "Well you're the writer, you'll figure it out."
Time to hit the rocket fuel; it's going to be a long day...
...no, really, I'm asking because I've absolutely no idea. Hmm, time for some creative thinking...
It reminds me of the time during the first season of KAD when I hit a similar problem. My 'learning curve' back then was during the outline for an episode called Knight of Fear (by far, still my favorite episode and one, sadly, that was never made). Arthur was tracking an evil wizard through the forest by following some footprints. The plot was intricate, and the fact Arthur was tracking this dude was vital, almost pivotal. Everything was going really well, and then I got a phone call. "We've decided this wizard can fly," I was told. "Really?" I asked, my blood pressure rising. "And it didn't occur to you to tell me before I started the bloody outline? This isn't just a tweak, it's a complete rewrite!" There was a pause that was then followed by a reassuring tone, "Well you're the writer, you'll figure it out."
Time to hit the rocket fuel; it's going to be a long day...
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