Baba Yaga And The Monster At The Edge Of Your Story
Baba Yaga And The Monster At The Edge Of Your Story The most misunderstood character in mythology might be a witch who eats children. Most people see Baba Yaga and see a monster, a crone, a cannibal in the woods, surrounded by bones. That’s one way of reading her. But
Feedback for the 2026 Online Screenwriters Festival
‘Chris, you were a fabulous host and every guest had something useful and inspirational to share. Great diversity in sessions, too.’ Melissa Baumann Siebert / Screenwriter, journalist, author ‘Real people kept it real, no Hollywood intimidation, no filler, and real information. Loved it.’ Susan Holgate / Screenwriter ‘Amazing programme of
#ShitHappyPodcast with Toni Powell
I recorded this podcast a few weeks again and its finally gone live! Show notes below too… Filmmaker Chris Jones shares the wild, gritty, and deeply meaningful journey behind his Oscar-shortlisted short Gone Fishing, his early guerrilla films, dawn raids, near-catastrophes, and the self-development quest that reshaped his life. A
Writing Without Shame: Lessons from Erotic Author Helène Noire
Helène Noire did not set out to become an erotic writer in the conventional way. There was no market research, no calculated leap into a lucrative genre, and no desire to shock for the sake of attention. Instead, her work emerged from a deeply personal place: a need to write
AI Rights For Writers: Real World Case Study
The Publishers of The Guerilla Filmmakers Handbooks series have approached us about AI licensing. Right now it feels like we need to decline their new addendum to the contract. I don’t think what they are asking, in principle, is unreasonable. I think they NEED to ask or be left behind.
Timelapse Of Ealing Studios Redevelopment
For the last, what feels like two or three years, Ealing Studios has undergone a huge transformation. As you may know, I have been based at the studios since 1997 when we made Urban Ghost Story here, and I just never left. I have seen huge staff turnover, with the
How Chris Jones’ Filmmaking Programmes helped bring my new documentary to the big screen by Nick Horrell
My first experience of Chris Jones at full speed was in a crowded training room at Ealing Studios and stunned to silence by his assertion: ‘You are all filmmakers.
Making A Micro Budget Movie as a First Time Director by Eric Garson
I’ve written this blog for a filmmaker who is embarking on making their debut micro budget feature film. My name is Eric Garson and I am a British Film Director. My debut feature film ‘Trophy Wife’, was released last summer 2024 and is available to watch on AmazonPrime, Tubi, Fawesome,
What Can Indie Film Makers Learn From A 15 Year Old Found Footage Sci Movie From South Africa?
It’s been some time since I saw ‘District 9’, it was in 2009 the cinema when it was released to be accurate, so there’s been distance. I rewatched it a few nights back and it has really stuck with me. Not just as a great film, but for many other
AI: A Writer’s Secret Editorial Department
In the evolving landscape of modern writing, artificial intelligence has emerged as a powerful ally for authors, particularly those navigating the challenging waters of self-publishing. Recently, I had the privilege of speaking with Don McVey, author of the dystopian sci-fi novel “Karakorum,” who shared his journey of discovery with AI
One Day… THREE EVENTS!
December 14th is turning into the BEST day of the year! We have three very cool things happening, and YOU should really dive in and get involved. First, our Christmas Super Meetup For Film and TV… Tickets are free, and it’s happening at the Ealing Project in the evening. You
How Good Is AI At Giving Feedback On A Short Story?
This post is a chronology of events, of an experiment more than anything. To ask the simple question, in 2024, can ChatGPT 4.0 offer useful feedback on a short story? What do you think?
Why Do We Have Such An Emotionally Violent Reaction To AI As Creatives?
I have a lot to say about AI. And maybe I will start posting here about my thoughts. Maybe I won’t. I am tired of the division and inability to have a coherent conversation without shock and hysteria on all sides. But I do have one biggie to share.
Do you suffer from Network-a-phobia? Join the club!
Do you suffer from Network-a-phobia? Join the club! Recently, the Guardian posted an article titled, There’s nothing more excruciating than trying to talk to someone who isn’t interested. And I should know … by Adrian Chiles. The article begins, ‘there are few things worse than trying to engage in conversation
Can Writing Horror Shorts Be A Career Accelerator?
Chris Jones Talks Twisted50 with Lucy V Hay of B2W There’s still time to write your horror short for Twisted50 volIII, and this podcast with Lucy V Hay explores the best way to succeed if you do. Related Posts: Can you write a Twisted Short Story to be published in
Twisted50 Podcast: Why We LOVE 1980’s Horror Movies
We all love horror literature. We are guessing we also have a passion for horror movies too. And the high watermark for cinema terror is the late 70’s and 80’s. So. Nervously shuffle down the jump scare back alley that is the 80’s cinematic and VHS memory lane, with Chris
Welcome to Twisted’s Weekly Themed Writing Challenge
Each week between now and the close of submissions, we are going to throw out a writing challenge for the community. A theme if you like. You can still write and submit any story to Twisted50, and at any time of course, but the themed weekly writing challenge will offer
Why Your Biggest Challenge In Your Career May Not Be Your Writing
The truth? People get hired by people they know. And people who like them. You need to be KNOWN. You need to be LIKED. You should also be talented too. But the truth? Talent has no value if people don’t know you, or do know you, but don’t feel that
Twisted50 vol III launches… Can YOU write a 2,000 word Twisted Tale?
What is Twisted 50? Twisted 50 is a part of the Create 50 initiative, which provides writers with the opportunity to submit their short scripts and stories for consideration. The project was born out of the desire to create a mechanism for writers to get their first credit on a
Roger Corman: The Inspiration Behind A Generation
‘Every film would be improved by removing 15 minutes and adding a helicopter explosion.’ I have yet to hear a more incisive and fundamentally true quote from any filmmaker. Roger Corman was the granddaddy of the ‘fuck it, let’s do it’ generation of filmmakers that I stand shoulder to shoulder
Dealing With Analogue Documents in a Digital World
The time has come. I have a stack of boxes of paperwork I just can’t carry around any more. They are from projects spanning the last 30 years and in truth I likely don’t need the paperwork at all. But still. Should I toss contracts? Urghhh. Hence them moving from
Join us for our LondonSWF’s4 Online Launch Weekend FREE!
A Full Weekend Of Screenwriting Sessions From The Best In The World… FREE Form LondonSWF Join us for our LondonSWF’s4 Online Launch Weekend FREE! March 2nd and 3rd, we are hosting a TWO DAY Screenwriters Online Festival and YOU can attend completely free. We have sessions delivered by Robert McKee,
The Tuesday Online, LSFReplay: Character in Storytelling with Phil and Ted
On Tuesday we continue our series of LondonSWF replays, the very best of our past events replayed live. This time it’s Phil and Ted on The Importance of Character in Storytelling. That will take place next Tuesday at 8pm UK time…. When: Tuesday Feb 27th at 8pm UK time Where:
William Nicholson on Rewriting ‘Gladiator’ and Landing an Unexpected Credit
On Friday we begin a series of LondonSWF replays, the very best of our past events replayed live. We kick off with Gladiator screenwriter William Nicholson. That will take place this Friday at 8pm UK time…. When: Friday Feb 23rd at 8pm UK time Where: https://londonswf.link/Friday Anyone can attend free.
Meet Edgar Wright in this fascinating and candid one hour interview about filmmaking, writing and a career in film against all odds
This session was shot at the London Screenwriters’ Festival which is now become the biggest event of its kind, for writers and filmmakers alike. What are the main outcomes of attending? Meeting loads of new collaborators and like minded folk. Getting a MASSIVE creative shot in the arm by being
Something For The Weekend? Industrial Light & Magic, Creating The Impossible (one hour doc)
A while back I posted a landmark ILM doc from the early eighties, made by the BBC as part of their popular science series, Horizon. For me and many filmmakers of my generation, it was the moment so much feel into place. This updated doc brings the ILM story into
50 Kisses HUGE Box Office Success… The numbers are in!
Charles Gant of the Guardian and first stop for all industry players looking for last weekends box office analysis just wrote in his piece on the UK box office figures… ‘Showing in a one-off screening the day before Valentine’s Day, 50 Kisses achieved a robust £9,435 at east London’s Genesis
Video Postcard from the 50 Kisses Premiere
We are visual storytellers after all, so I thought I would create this video post card of some of the most extraordinary memories from the 50 Kisses World Premiere. For me, it’s really sinking in now – we made a feature film, a damn good one at that. A quirky
The 50 Kisses World Premiere and Awards: A night I will never forget
Over 500 people attended the world premiere of 50 Kisses on February 13th 2014. It was a knockout event with red carpet, WamBam burlesque performers, awards, an after party and of course a movie premiere! First was the red carpet and the opportunity to get your photo taken by our
A Valentines Love Letter Video to Everyone Involved in 50 Kisses
Ahead of the premiere, I thought we should share a short photo montage from the 50 Kisses journey, featuring lots of the 127 films and filmmakers involved, plus music from the 50 Kisses soundtrack challenge. It’s a reminder of the scale and ambition of 50 Kisses, the global reach and
50 Kisses… It’s HAPPENING! IT REALLY IS!
‘50 Kisses’, the first feature film from The London Screenwriters’ Festival, is premiering on February 13th in London. Two years ago I realised that it wasn’t enough to run an annual event for screenwriters, we needed to be active participants in GETTING SCRIPTS PRODUCED. And so 50 Kisses was born.
Something for the weekend? Screamography with John Landis
Terrific one hour interview with the animated, inspirational John Landis who I first experienced with American Werewolf. So many insights, so much inspiration. And yes, that is a picture of John Landis with the Guerilla Filmmakers Pocketbook, form when he was shooting ‘Burke and Hare’ at Ealing Studios. Awesome! Onwards
50 Kisses gets a 15 cert and the release master plan comes together!
Today we recce’d the Genesis Cinema, the venue for the ’50 Kisses’ Premiere next week. Posters went up (EXCITING), the DCP was checked on the huge screen (VERY EXCITING), and plans were made for all manner of shenanigans for our premiere guests . We are used to planning live events
Get YOUR 50 Kisses Poster Now
NO LONGER AVAILABLE The most remarkable thing about 50 Kisses the enormous cast and crew employed during the making of this global movie. The end credits of the movie list around 2,000 creatives and run for 17 minutes – writers, producers, actors, editors, DPs… And while we couldn’t fit everyone
The Final Cinema Version of 50 Kisses Is AMAZING!
This afternoon I headed into Soho to watch the final DCP (Digital Cinema Package) at SDC for ‘50 Kisses’, alongside a journalist friend who writes for, and reviews films, for the broadsheets. His reaction? ‘50 Kisses significantly exceeded my expectations…’ I won’t say more till reviews begin to appear. And
Top 13 Things To Do When Being Interviewed for Radio About Your Film
Talking to the press, especially when it’s recorded, can be a daunting task and your mind can go sometimes go blank suddenly. So here are my top thirteen tips to getting your message across when being interviewed in front of a microphone. News NEEDS your story, so take action No
How I Cast Brian Blessed, Joanna Lumley and Jack Davenport in my fantasy short, Guest Blog by Hugh Hancock
Why You Should Consider Virtual Filmmaking For Your Next Project Guest blog post by Hugh Hancock, filmmaker and author of Machinima for Dummies Everyone knows that it’s impossible for micro-budget filmmakers to make a CGI animated movie, right? It’s horrendously expensive. It’s brutally slow – hours of rendering for every
50 Kisses: How to make a DCP part 2
I have just returned from a visit to the office of the lovely people at SDC who are making the DCP for 50 Kisses. I know a great deal more about the process of making one now and plan an extensive blog on the matter post 50 Kisses premiere (as
50 Kisses Final Mastering: Making The DCP Part 1
To screen 50 Kisses in a cinema, we need to make a DCP (Digital Cinema Package). This is a specific file supplied on an industry standard drive. We could make our own DCP using OpenDCP (low budget and a little risky), but the lovely people at Soho Digital Cinema are
How cliché is your script? Can you see your work in these two trailers?
I enjoyed these two films about cliché in Indie film (US above) and Brit film (below). Of course cliché exists because it works, and often works well (if only mechanically). But when it becomes highly visible in our work, it’s also a real problem – the answer? Turn the cliché
David Mamet Screenwriting Masterclass in a memo
I posted this on the LSF site and Facebook yesterday, but it’s so good, I decided to share it on my blog. It’s a memo written by David Mamet to the writing team on ‘The Unit’ and has been circulating the web for some time. For me, it nails the
50 Kisses: The poster designs are in…. which would you choose?
As the premiere for 50 Kisses approaches (get your tickets here), we needed to lock down the movie poster – quad size for displaying outside UK cinemas (we are also doing a standard US portrait orientation versions too). My original art (right) has seen us through production, but now we
50 Kisses Premiere Announced – Are you coming?
Join the writers, filmmakers and actors of ’50 Kisses’ for the world premiere and walk the red carpet! Over the last two years we have been busy making our crowdsourced feature film 50 Kisses, and it’s getting a world premiere on Feb 13th – and I am inviting you to
Yesterday, Polish composer Wojciech Kilar died
Yesterday, Polish composer Wojciech Kilar died. Very sad news. I first heard his work in Coppola’s Dracula in the early nineties, then again in the Ninth Gate, and being a film score nut, I tracked down his immense body of work and became a smitten by the dark and beautiful
Screw it, let’s do it! Top thirteen reasons why you should NOT wait to get your movie right.
A blog that will entirely contradict my previous blog! (READ LAST ONE HERE) In filmmaking, as in life, there is no right way, no best way, only the way that works for you, the way that chimes in with who you are. And in storytelling and filmmaking, I believe there
What’s the number one reason you won’t get hired to make THAT movie?
If you want to work and make films in the mainstream industry, you need to be honest about your work. Is it, and are you, ready? If your film is not going to be the best it could be, if it’s not something you will be immensely proud of and
Day Of The Flowers, true Brit crowd pleaser attracts critical acclaim
My good friend and cinematographer Vernon Layton shot a film (he was also a producer it) last year called ‘Day Of The Flowers’ and I am planning a Script To Screen event with him and the film very soon, but in the mean time, if you get chance, try and
Top 6 things you should do to share your stills with the online community, journalists and media channels
Following on from my post about killer stills for your film last week…(HERE) Even if you have great images, they are NO USE if people can’t get to them and use them So how do you share them with the world? When your film goes into the sales phase, just