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.
Do you want to walk the red carpet OR own the red carpet?
A couple of days ago I took delivery of a large roll of red carpet for a new event at the London Screenwriters’ Festival. As I carried it to my car, I commented to a friend ‘why is it that I am carrying it and not walking it?’ It was
Stills For Your Movie… what you MUST get
If there is one complaint I hear from Sales Agents over and over, it’s that filmmakers simply don’t provide enough good stills from their productions. And we are going through that right now with ‘50 Kisses’. Most teams are getting shots, but only a few are getting killer shots. And
50 Kisses Deadline Approaching… teams shooting on RED now!
It seems that 50 Kisses has grown way more legs than we had ever expected, with teams how shooting movies on every continent and in most countries. Isn’t that AWESOME! My ambition was always to get writers writing, filmmakers collaborating with writers, and then to platform the outcome. There is
How to cut a budget, the secret illustrated directory of cheap big name stars, who really sells your movie… and more
Film producer buddy Stephen Follows recently presented this short masterclass in which he reveals… How to train ‘creatives’ into setting deadlines What’s your fault and responsibility How to cut a budget The secret illustrated directory of cheap big name stars How to reach unreachable people Why you should lose the
Reflections on TEDxEaling and the power of passion
I never liked rap. It’s a musical artform that just never chimed with me. That’s one reason why I invited young British female ‘light-the-blue-touchpaper-and-stand-back’ rapper Dekay to come and present at TEDxEaling. And I am so glad she accepted as she ripped the stage up. Her passion, dedication to excellence
World Map Of 50 Kisses Teams Goes Live
We just added all the filmmaking teams to a Google map to get a real sense of where in the world people are making films for 5o Kisses – and we can now see that this is a truly global filmmaking event! Teams are engaged mainly in the UK, Europe
Want great actors for your film? Write a script with a female lead
It isn’t grit or physical prowess that gives the feminine her heroic stature; it is her courageous ability to descend into the dark, forbidding places that lie within each of us in order to retrieve our essence. Strong stories aren’t masculine or feminine, they are a balance of both and
You must overcome to become…
So the very first TEDxEaling took place on Friday, and what a day it was! It was on the Thursday afternoon before TEDxEaling that I realised that I had accidentally produced a stage show with lighting, multimedia, theatrics, sets… And coming from the film world, there was a lot of
Empower creativity and passion to create something extraordinary for your project
Yesterday we hosted our very first TEDxEaling event – to say it was awesome would be an understatement. I will share more about the day in coming posts, but I wanted to highlight one aspect of TEDxEaling experience, a simple principle of success that I have experienced over and over.
The Hollywood Deal: why not write American movies?
There is no reason why you should not write and work in Hollywood. It’s a question I ask on many of my seminars, ‘do you want to work for Hollywood?’ And if the answer is yes, get on a plane. Genevieve my LA partner did this over a decade ago
Do you love old school practical visual effects and their artists? Rick Baker, Rob Bottin, Tom Savini…
I was just pondering on how really extraordinary Rob Bottin’s work was in the John Carpenter remake of The Thing when I came across the fantastic one hour documentary… If like me you love visual effects, the practical ones… if you loved those movies, especially from the 70’s and 80’s
Day 1 at Incubate in Tilburg
The irony that the shiny new arts centre in Tilburg was situated next door to the job centre seemed lost on the group of indie filmmakers I trained yesterday. That’s perhaps because it seems the Incubate festival (here in the Netherlands) is the most extraordinary, eclectic celebration of art, music,
Worst performance at US box office in 10 years… what does this REALLY mean for filmmakers?
I am sure you have seen the headline “Worst performance at US box office in 10 years” (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-19541737) and maybe you saw this as further proof of disaster for our industry. I asked Stephen Follows to do an analysis of this article as some of it felt a little headline
The Guerilla Filmmakers Handbooks have a new shiny website
So we have a shiny new website for The Guerilla Film Makers Handbook series – www.GuerillaFilm.com And not to soon too as Gen and Zee in LA have just completed and published the second edition of their Documentary Handbook, bang up to date a crammed with new case studies and
Has The Guerilla Filmmakers Handbook helped you make YOUR film? I want to hear from you…
Do you have a copy of a Guerilla Film Makers Handbook? Has it helped you? If you do and it has, I would like to invite you to contribute to the new Guerilla Film Maker Handbooks site www.GuerillaFilm.com. We will give you a page on the website where you can
Top Ten Common Police Gaffs in Movies and Television by Sgt. Derek Pacifico
Gen and Zee are running a two day workshop in LA for writers interested in Crime – it’s run by Sgt. Derek Pacifico who in his time in law enforcement investigated over 200 murders. Crikey! I asked him to share his top ten gaffs made by cop shows. If you
How is your project represented when you move from online to the real world?
Free or near free online digital tools allow us to create amazing web presences now. Our companies, our projects and even ourselves are well served by these online tools that can help convey what we are trying to achieve for almost nothing. But at some point, we all have to
10 Mistakes People Make Writing and Working In Television
Guest Blog By Yvonne Grace 1. Believing you, the writer, are bigger than the sum of the show’s parts. If you are part of a writing team on a series or serial, you are an essential, but expendable element of the scripting process. The script is essential but the writer
‘50 Kisses’ – have you chosen your project yet?
The 50 Kisses race has begun and the metrics are fascinating. Our crowd sourced feature film ’50 Kisses’ is now gaining momentum with (at writing) 73 filmmaking teams committed to a specific project. Last month we announced the 50 winning scripts and now filmmakers are downloading them to produce and
Creating the scene for TEDxEaling… can you help?
As TEDxEaling nears, yesterday the whole team checked out the venue and worked out how we were going to transform this amazing space into an even more amazing TEDxEalingx stage. Speakers are now confirming and we still have a few lines out some huge names! Speakers here… Can you help
TEDxEaling Tickets Go Live!
Some of you may know I am running a TEDx conference, TEDxEaling, the theme being ‘Story’. Ever since I saw my very first TED talk, I wanted to organise a TEDx, and now it’s happening on September 21st in Ealing. I thought I would share my favourite TED talk –
Success is so often a mirage, the journey is so much more important than the destination
I wrote a Tweet today about how I felt. It said… ‘Success is so often a mirage. The journey is so much more important than the destination.’ In response I received an anonymous message today that put into words with more eloquence than I can muster… Hi Chris, The sad
Where are you drawing your inspiration from?
The documentary behind the making of Apocalypse Now (Hearts Of Darkness) is for me essential viewing for all filmmakers. I have recommended it on pretty much every course I have ever run as it’s one of a handful of docs that genuinely captures the madness of production. Watching it always
Lost the plot? Why taking notes is essential for screenwriters
One of the most powerful lessons I ever learned was that when someone doesn’t get what I am communicating, it’s not their fault, it’s mine. 100% my fault, and 100% of the time. I get it, when someone doesn’t understand what you are saying it’s REALLY frustrating and annoying. But