tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6962393026801762396Mon, 12 Dec 2011 17:20:58 +0000Pygmalion PlusDoctor WhoPinky and PerkyChildren's Media ConferenceShowcomotionBAFTAFrankenstein's CatBeing HumanSuperhero MoviesScreenwriters' FestivalCecily WareBig BruvvaFictionRewritingDennis and GnasherYear ReviewAudioGohttp://darrenscribbled.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Darren Jones)Blogger51125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6962393026801762396.post-8200352443748946306Mon, 12 Dec 2011 17:15:00 +00002011-12-12T17:18:15.042ZNearly the end of the year, and I've been thinking about my favourite TV shows. FRESH MEAT Jesse Armstrong and Sam Bain's comedy drama about a group of student house sharers was for me this year's gem. It's the brilliantly observed characters - not a weak link in any of the six who make up the main ensemble. Each and every one is strong with equally important storylines, and each get their http://darrenscribbled.blogspot.com/2011/12/best-tv-of-2011.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Darren Jones)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6962393026801762396.post-798763284734262539Tue, 18 Oct 2011 16:01:00 +00002011-10-18T17:01:35.075+01:00The second half of this series has started on BBC2 weekdays. And my episode 'Nice Genie' is on Monday 24th at 7.30am. At last! "A chilled-out camel called Diego finds a soft drink can in the desert, opens it and out pops Ziggy the genie. He fulfils Diego's first two wishes, but then sand gets into his can and mucks up the magic, so new wishes fail. Follow the wacky and madcap adventures of Diegohttp://darrenscribbled.blogspot.com/2011/10/trust-me-im-genie.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Darren Jones)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6962393026801762396.post-668547356482918146Thu, 01 Sep 2011 09:40:00 +00002011-09-01T10:42:34.448+01:00A few reviews for the Doctor Who audiobook. Generally very positive, even the one that got the title wrong. Must have been the excitement. Mass Movement Doctor Who Reviews Sci-Fi Bulletin Eye of Horus Hi-Exhttp://darrenscribbled.blogspot.com/2011/09/reviewed.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Darren Jones)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6962393026801762396.post-5436438649445956883Tue, 12 Jul 2011 08:31:00 +00002011-07-12T09:34:48.270+01:00Children's Media ConferenceWent up to Sheffield last week for the annual Children's Media Conference. It's becoming a bigger event in the media calendar, and seems to have doubled in size in just the last two years. That kind of makes it less intimate and more frantic. One fellow writer observed that more people appeared to be taking meetings instead of going to the sessions. It continues to attract an eclectic mix; this http://darrenscribbled.blogspot.com/2011/07/cmc-2011.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Darren Jones)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6962393026801762396.post-2710969819918307471Sat, 04 Jun 2011 08:40:00 +00002011-06-08T08:53:00.303+01:00Doctor WhoAudioGo I'm a bit tardy as this was announced a couple of weeks back. I think it's lovely.http://darrenscribbled.blogspot.com/2011/06/eye-of-jungle-cover.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Darren Jones)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6962393026801762396.post-1418879198365653179Mon, 25 Apr 2011 10:34:00 +00002011-06-08T08:54:54.850+01:00Cecily WareIt's nearly five years since I got my first writing commission, and periodically in that time I've approached various agents for representation, without any luck. So it was a nice surprise when Cecily Ware Literary Agents contacted me. My name had apparently cropped up a few times, and they were interested in meeting. So we did, and had a lovely, friendly chat, during which they made the offer, http://darrenscribbled.blogspot.com/2011/04/agented.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Darren Jones)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6962393026801762396.post-1265411475340783607Fri, 11 Mar 2011 15:53:00 +00002011-06-08T08:54:19.142+01:00Doctor WhoAudioGoRemember the 'exciting project' I mentioned almost a year ago? Well this is it, a Doctor Who audio book  due for release in July. It's an original story featuring the Eleventh Doctor, Amy and Rory, and it was a complete thrill to write. How did this happen? Well I invested time and hard cash to attend the Cheltenham Screenwriters' Festival in 2009. One of the sessions was about the many http://darrenscribbled.blogspot.com/2011/03/doctor-who-eye-of-jungle.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Darren Jones)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6962393026801762396.post-3149731169947826818Mon, 31 Jan 2011 10:01:00 +00002011-06-08T08:55:16.799+01:00BAFTAI attended an event at Bafta recently - "Is There Something Rotten With The State Of Children's Cinema", which contrasted the Danish and British experience of children's filmmaking. Denmark produces more films for children than we do, because there are policies in place that ensure their funding via the Danish Film Institute. Up to seven features per year with a combined budget of £14million. http://darrenscribbled.blogspot.com/2011/01/something-rotten-with-state-of.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Darren Jones)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6962393026801762396.post-6616941944995629488Thu, 06 Jan 2011 16:46:00 +00002011-01-06T16:46:53.074ZWell, goodbye 2010, you won't be down as a vintage year for me, but 2011 looks like a case living in interesting times. I've decided to say 'yes' to more things this year to force myself out of the desk corner and to do more stuff (not everything - "Will you marry me?" does not count). So far I've been to a club, arranged to go to a museum I've not visited before, and wrestled a pig. Okay, http://darrenscribbled.blogspot.com/2011/01/just-say-yes.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Darren Jones)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6962393026801762396.post-5431294721797979714Mon, 01 Nov 2010 20:01:00 +00002010-11-01T20:01:55.747Z Well that was whirlwind. After three days of packed discussions, seminars and networkey stuff, the London Screenwriters' Festival drew to a close on Sunday night amongst the Halloween decs of The Volunteer pub in Baker Street. Many things made it worth attending; you certainly are spoiled for choice in the number of sessions available to attend. And despite having a little confidence wobble http://darrenscribbled.blogspot.com/2010/11/scribble-of-screenwriters.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Darren Jones)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6962393026801762396.post-8609902863681583068Fri, 29 Oct 2010 07:15:00 +00002010-10-29T08:15:42.129+01:00The London Screenwriters' Festival starts today. A jam packed three days of new faces and information overload. Can't wait!http://darrenscribbled.blogspot.com/2010/10/to-festival.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Darren Jones)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6962393026801762396.post-5567270397005424019Wed, 22 Sep 2010 11:56:00 +00002010-09-22T12:56:26.577+01:00I've always wondered if horror and animation could mix. I've often been told it can't. But a couple of years back I saw 'Fear(s) Of The Dark'  at Frightfest; a black and white animated horror anthology from France. Like many anthologies it is hit and miss, but this section - http://vimeo.com/984244 - by Richard McGuire is particularly effective. Using light, and its abscence, to tell the tale http://darrenscribbled.blogspot.com/2010/09/scary-animation.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Darren Jones)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6962393026801762396.post-8338066966584460099Mon, 05 Jul 2010 13:34:00 +00002010-07-05T14:34:41.808+01:00I was at the Children’s Media Conference last week, formally called Showcomotion, held at the Showroom Cinema in a hot and sunny Sheffield. It was the biggest conference yet, with 580 delegates from the world of kids’ media. It is a conference packed with sessions, sometimes four to choose from at any one time. So here is my brief overview of what was interesting this year. THE FONZ GIVES HIS http://darrenscribbled.blogspot.com/2010/07/sheffield-is-cool-even-when-its-hot.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Darren Jones)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6962393026801762396.post-4717576998407453293Tue, 29 Jun 2010 22:21:00 +00002010-06-29T23:21:09.650+01:00Tomorrow I'm off to the Children's Media Conference for the rest of the week. Always a great few days, with some very thought provoking discussions about kids media. And looks like it's going to be a very sunny Sheffield again. Will give an overview when I'm back. http://www.thechildrensmediaconference.com/http://darrenscribbled.blogspot.com/2010/06/childrens-media-conference.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Darren Jones)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6962393026801762396.post-6367907012893338382Thu, 24 Jun 2010 21:57:00 +00002010-06-24T22:57:54.334+01:00Bit late with this, but it was a busy few weeks for writers’ events, I went to three in a row about drama. The first was a Euroscript networking event with agent Rob Kraitt, Ceri Meyrick from BBC, and independent producer Phillip Shelley. It was, as these things often are, a mixed bag of news and advice. The over riding horror story is that nobody in drama is taking on new writers at the moment.http://darrenscribbled.blogspot.com/2010/06/uk-drama.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Darren Jones)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6962393026801762396.post-4491796756017150688Tue, 13 Apr 2010 14:34:00 +00002010-04-13T15:37:17.410+01:00Last week I went to the British Animation Awards held at the National Film Theatre. I love this event as it really is about a small part of the film and TV industry coming together and celebrating the work they produce. With the recent downturn it was even more important to do so. The list of sponsors was long from broadcasters to facility houses to production companies - all willing to dig theirhttp://darrenscribbled.blogspot.com/2010/04/british-animation-awards.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Darren Jones)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6962393026801762396.post-1369473227601404098Thu, 18 Feb 2010 15:43:00 +00002010-02-18T15:43:32.811ZSome have asked me why this is called Darren Scribbled, as they think I might be putting myself down. Well, it came about because everything I’ve ever written has come out note scribbling. This usually involves me hiding in the corner of a coffee shop, watching the world go by, and making seemingly random notes (but of course, not random at all) with pen and paper. Yes, I know it’s very http://darrenscribbled.blogspot.com/2010/02/why-scribbled.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Darren Jones)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6962393026801762396.post-2989330392834509564Wed, 10 Feb 2010 12:04:00 +00002010-02-10T12:04:22.105ZDennis and GnasherThe second wave of Dennis and Gnasher started airing on CBBC a couple of weeks ago. I have another two episodes in this batch and was happy to discover they are broadcast on consecutive days. Athena's Party in on Tuesday 16th Feb, followed by Dennis' Hiccups on Wednesday 17th. Both at 3.40pm on the CBBC channel.http://darrenscribbled.blogspot.com/2010/02/two-in-row.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Darren Jones)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6962393026801762396.post-2698280547538816922Tue, 05 Jan 2010 10:09:00 +00002010-01-05T10:12:43.441ZBeing HumanBAFTA I went along to another BAFTA event last night, this time to see a preview of the new series of Being Human. We were treated to the whole of episode one and a Q and A with creator Toby Whithouse, producer Matthew Bouch, and actor Aiden Turner who plays vampire Mitchell. I really enjoyed the first series; it pulled off the comedy/horror mix as good as American Werewolf in London – an influence http://darrenscribbled.blogspot.com/2010/01/being-human-preview.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Darren Jones)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6962393026801762396.post-6230628031344568524Sun, 03 Jan 2010 15:08:00 +00002010-01-03T15:12:04.825ZYear Review2009 was an odd year of two halves for me: recession struck for the first, and busy, busy, busy for the second. So, in review, what did the last twelve months bare: - I completed my children's drama pilot and series bible. - Rewrote and expanded the pilot script of my environmental crime drama. - Got commissioned to write seven episodes on three different TV series. - Attended several industry http://darrenscribbled.blogspot.com/2010/01/2009-so-long.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Darren Jones)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6962393026801762396.post-4830010955605941704Wed, 16 Dec 2009 09:34:00 +00002009-12-16T09:34:03.867ZAt last nights BAFTA event, Caitlin Moran interviewed Russell T Davies and Julie Gardner about their years working together on Doctor Who. It began with a clip from a Tom Baker story ‘The Nightmare of Eden’ broadcast in 1979. It was a time when the programme was showing its age, while the story was strong, the production was unsupported, under funded and had a star who indulged in too many comichttp://darrenscribbled.blogspot.com/2009/12/russell-t-davies-and-julie-gardner-at.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Darren Jones)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6962393026801762396.post-4000237702212008143Mon, 30 Nov 2009 09:11:00 +00002009-11-30T09:11:32.532ZRewritingScreenwriters' FestivalFictionAs well as my scripts, I've been working on some fiction this month. This comes out of attending the SWF and the idea that a writer needs to be as diverse as their ability will allow. I'm planning to put forward some proposals, but I'm also revisiting some short stories that I wrote many, many years ago before I even tried writing a screenplay. I found that I still like the ideas but the http://darrenscribbled.blogspot.com/2009/11/branching-out.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Darren Jones)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6962393026801762396.post-6551157773356343497Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:06:00 +00002009-11-02T13:06:41.035ZScreenwriters' Festival Got back from the Screenwriters’ Festival on Friday and sure needed the weekend to recover and mull over the experience. It was my first time and I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. Would I be inspired? Would I gain a career boost? I think the answer to those two questions are: a bit, and maybe. The overall feeling I came away with, was the need (and now desire) to be very focused on what Ihttp://darrenscribbled.blogspot.com/2009/11/swf-return-with-elixir.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Darren Jones)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6962393026801762396.post-2331915690730367595Wed, 21 Oct 2009 15:14:00 +00002009-11-04T08:46:30.898ZScreenwriters' FestivalOr should I say, the dodgy railway to Cheltenham. Very much looking forward to my first visit to the Screenwriter's Festival, the programme is so packed I'm feeling overawed already (in a good way). I'm lucky enough to have speed dating appointments with both the agents and the producers - which will be scary and fun at the same time. And of course, the big Doctor Who day on Thursday is a must.http://darrenscribbled.blogspot.com/2009/10/road-to-cheltenham.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Darren Jones)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6962393026801762396.post-5864806464189176624Mon, 07 Sep 2009 08:31:00 +00002009-11-04T08:47:13.750ZDennis and Gnasher 'Dennis and Gnasher' returns to CBBC today at 3.45pm, in a new 52 episode series, of which I wrote four. My first episode, 'Aliens Among Us', is on Tuesday 15th, followed by 'No Joke' on Wednesday 16th. There's typically been a bit of media moaning about how Dennis character has changed (i.e. he's not violent or a bully anymore - and surely those are good things!), but he still gets up to http://darrenscribbled.blogspot.com/2009/09/dennis-returns.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Darren Jones)2