A SCREENWRITER'S PASSAGE - LOUIS PAXTON
This blog is by Louis Paxton whose work THE SPARE ROOM was featured in May 2014 as part of the TV Drama Writing. I think it is so important not just to share these writers work with the world but also their journey.
THE ALL-IMPORTANT ‘AND’
THE ALL-IMPORTANT ‘AND’
I
wish I could say I flirted with other careers… But rather uninterestingly, I’ve
always known what I wanted to be: A writer/director for film and TV. Over the years I’ve found employment in a
number of odd jobs (Cinema Usher, Christmas Tree Logger, Edinburgh Ghost Tour
‘Jumper-Ooter’), but I was never any good because they weren’t directly
contributing to what I wanted to do with my life – write and direct. I’ve never
had a ‘back up’ and so you’d be hard pressed to find even one of my eggs
outside the filmmaking basket. They’re all in there… those eggs of mine.
This
is great in terms of giving me focus, but pretty crap when it comes to living
in the world and paying for things… Like food and rent and stuff.
For
the past ten years or so, through my BA in Glasgow and then an MA in London, I
have made numerous short films as a writer/director. I learned that A LOT of
other people want to be writer/directors, it’s definitely one of the most
sought-after roles. There’s not that many jobs out there, and it almost goes without
saying that there’s zero money in short filmmaking, so I looked around to see
how others were making cash. I met various people with numerous strings to
their bows. These multi-stringed directors seemed to be able to make money
shooting other peoples’ films, moonlighting as First AD’s or taking corporate
work. I was never very good at operating a camera and my style doesn’t exactly
lend itself to the corporate world… So I had to find something else.
I
adore writing, for me it’s the best part of the entire filmmaking process. It’s
pure creation, everything is up for grabs and (at the risk of sounding like a
LEGO ad) the only limitation is your own imagination. It seemed outlandish to
assume I could make a living from something so creative and fulfilling, especially
considering there are so many who have spent years concentrating solely on
screenwriting.
I’m
lucky enough to be surrounded by an incredibly supportive family and group of
friends. They all inspire me hugely, and after watching a few of them develop
projects for TV, I felt I’d like to give it a try. I had an idea for a Sci-Fi
Comedy Drama that I’d been toying with, I knew it was a strong set-up that
would play to my strengths, but I had never met with anyone regarding a
television project. To the industry I was strictly FILM, and if I wanted to get
in the room with the TV folk, I had to prove myself based on a script alone.
Around
this time I came across BAFTA Rocliffe. I always
work better with a deadline, and when I saw that the deadline for drama scripts
was two weeks away I locked myself up in a room and pushed the script out like
a 30-page newborn (Lovely image there).
Then
I kind of forgot about the whole thing. I was glad to have finished the draft
but assumed I’d never hear back from Rocliffe. I sent the script to various
people through my agent but it was hard getting anyone to bite due to the fact
that nobody in the TV sphere knew who I was.
A few months later I got a call and was told my script was to feature in
the BAFTA Rocliffe TV Drama New Writing Forum. I was so surprised I think I may have
initially told the bearer of good news to ‘F - Off’. [FARAH - He didn't]
The
2014 BAFTA Rocliffe New Writing Forum on TV Drama reading kicked off the
best year of my professional career so far. The evening was fantastic; I had
tremendous feedback and learned a huge amount. After the event - on Rocliffe’s
advice - I contacted all the industry figures on the selection panel and asked
for a meeting, within a few months my script had been optioned by the BBC and
Hartswood had commissioned another original idea. Obviously I’m hugely grateful
to Rocliffe for providing the springboard, but I’m also thankful that the
process allowed me space to concentrate just on writing without directing a
script.
I
still direct (I made a short film last year through Film London and I’m currently
developing a feature Doc with Creative Scotland) but the opportunity to focus
on what I would argue is the most important aspect of the whole filmmaking
process has been invaluable.
I
think success is being able to make a living doing what you love. While I’m still
not quite there yet, and the day jobs continue, (though thankfully I’m not
getting paid to scare American tourists) I’m better off than I was last year
and much better off than the year before that. I figure as long as you’re
moving forward and not backwards, then things are going good. I’m supporting
myself doing what I love, and I can now proudly say I am both a Writer and
a Director.
~ Louis
READ WHO ELSE WAS FEATURED IN OUR TV DRAMA - BAFTA Rocliffe New Writing Forum
~ Louis
READ WHO ELSE WAS FEATURED IN OUR TV DRAMA - BAFTA Rocliffe New Writing Forum