Draft 6 finished!

So is the draft 5 or 6? Or maybe 4 or 7? I've lost track, whatever number it is its been quite the overhaul. The first 80 pages have been beaten mercilessly into shape, and the rest has had some weighty re-tuning. The word count has dropped from 71k to just under 62k, but I don't think I've lost anything essential. I hope it all still hangs together.

This is the Readability Stats from Word. It puts the readership level at grade 4, which is 8-10 year olds. This is pretty much spot on for where I wanted to be. I think its a book for 9 and over, with plenty of overspill into the teen and YA market.

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.