Half a Matt

Doctor Who returned on Saturday night - and a belter it was too! Here is a half-hearted sketch of Matt Smith I did before I got completely distracted.

Northern Writers Awards - application posted

I've sent in an application to the Northern Writers' Awards 2011. I've put Sorrowline in for the Northern Promise Awards.

NORTHERN PROMISE AWARDS
These awards aim to provide support for new writers whose work shows particular promise. Writers awarded support under this category may also be offered mentoring to develop their work, detailed manuscript appraisal and feedback alongside a financial award.

Birmingham Talk

I had a really good night in Birmingham last
Tuesday giving a talk on the my experiences setting up an animation studio in the North East.

The event, held in The Studio, Birmingham, was organised by the lovely people from Animation Forum West Midlands and BSeen.

It was free to attend, and open to animators and designers of all levels. I was thrilled to see over 70 people turn up. There was a vigorous Q & A at the end that lasted about 45 minutes, followed by the same again when people came to speak to me individually at the end.

Batman!

A quick sketch of a rather robust Batman. I enjoyed the old 60's Batman, which was repeated eternally when I was growing up. It didn't take itself seriously, and neither does this sketch.

Animex Festival

Last week I had a great time - as ever - at the Animex Festival. From humble beginnings 11 years ago the event has grown to cover two locations in the North East of England, (Middlesbrough and Newcastle), and includes talks on film, TV, game animation, workshops, screenings and parties.

Its a chance to catch up with some old friends, and make a few new ones too. This year I gave a talk at the Animex Pro event on the subject of setting up a studio in the North. It was a chance to pull out some really old cine films from when I was a naive boy who believed he could be the first man on Mars.

The event was well organised, and well attended with delegates from across the UK.

Next week sees me in Birmingham for another talk - http://www.animationforumwm.co.uk/news-display.aspx?id=212

The event is free to attend, and open to animators and designers of all levels, or indeed anyone interested in establishing a studio-based business, and includes free drinks.

There'll be opportunity to ask questions at the end of the talk, plus the chance to chat with fellow animators in the fantastic surroundings of the The Studio's city centre bar and restaurant. Directions to the venue can be found here.

The event, assembled by AFWM and BSeen – an entrepreneurship programme for Birmingham-based final year students and graduates – is the second of two joint events in early 2011 looking to help young animators on their way into their career.

Hope to see you there.

Jesting About launch

Monday night saw me crammed into the Live Theatre in Newcastle for the launch of Jesting About, a new BBC initiative to find new comedy talent in the North East. The event was supported by no less than Bob Mortimer, and several key producers and commissioners from the Beeb.

It sounds like a really interesting project, with several different opportunities on offer. Info here, and here.

Bob gave some insights from his side of the desk as a producer at his indi, Pett Productions, on how he likes to see submissions - he prefers a visual sample as close as possible to how the end product would appear. Seems like a lot of work but it probably jumps a lot of hurdles do that.

The Possibility of Impossible Dreams

When I'm not animating, or running a business, I like to write. Its a great way for me to unwind from the stresses of the day and let my brain explore other creative avenues.

So far I've written a sitcom for radio, (which was commission by Radio 4, but didn't quite get as far as going into production), a couple of drama series projects, and a few shorts. But whats' really got me by the throat over the last year is trying to write a novel.

When I was young I used to dream of writing a book. In fact I remember, at about the age of ten, writing a big list of things I was going to do when I grew up. The first thing was writing a novel at the age of 13, which lead to me eventually buying WH Smiths, and ultimately being the first man on Mars. I dreamed big! I gave little thought to how I might actually achieve all of this, but that's why childhood is so brilliant; reality hasn't yet crept in.

Over the years the plans for domination of the stationary world has been abandoned, as have any hopes of planting by boots into the red soil of another planet, but the thought of writing my own novel has persisted.

I've tried once or twice over the years, but the furthest I ever got was about 30 or 40 pages. Then I'd lose confidence, I'd put it aside of a while, and when I came back to it I'd want to start all over again. It became a cycle of failure.

Then last year, while on holiday in Scotland, I read Stephen King's 'On Writing'. King gave me the confidence, and advice, to try again. So on September 1st 2009 I picked up my latest attempt at a novel, a story called 'Yard Boy' which was a mere 10 pages at that time, and I started writing. I worked on it every day and didn't look back. One thing King taught me was how the fear of failure dogs every writer, and its usually only a day or two behind you. So I worked on it every day, even when I wasn't sure where I was going. I put my faith in the story and the writing process, and didn't dare look over my shoulder.

Three months later I had completed the first draft, a staggering (for me) 333 pages that had taken me by the scruff of my neck on an uncharted adventure into unplanned corners, unexpected places with characters who seemed to write themselves. Yes, its an old cliche that the story writes itself, but that's how it felt to me. I was a chronicler, along for the ride, but never truly in control.

Almost a year later I've recently finished a fourth draft, and have plans for two sequels. The title changed recently, thanks to an insightful observation , two pints of beer and a curry, with friend and author Curtis Jobling. Its now called 'Sorrowline', book one of the Timesmith Chronicles.

I'm still amazed that something that I did in my spare time is now - to me - a complete world populated by people I know. The process has changed me, its made me realise that sometimes the mad dreams of a 10-year-old boy are possible.

Perhaps there is still hope for that trip to Mars after all.