Thank you so much to @filmexposouth for the opportunity to enter THE SHORT FILM SCRIPTWRITING COMPETITION – to send a short film script into a BIG competition!
Writing a short script can be hard work: making sure the story works within the given time frame, that the page length works for the competition rules. And trying not to overwrite because film is so much about what we absorb from what we see on the screen, not what is said. The setting is really important – what short film has a huge budget? The number of characters has to be limited or we won’t have time to get to know them. And it has to be possible to film! Mind you, I did include a cat, which might have been a bit difficult! But given all the official constraints, I wrote my script Cat’s Cradle about the fragility of life, and the inevitability of death, seen through a child's eyes. She needs to understand that all things must go away - including her mother. Yes, I’ve made documentary travel films, written a memoir, prize-winning poetry, stage plays, and three novels – but big national film competitions can be scary. You send your work in and hold your breath!
To win the Bronze prize was so exciting! And exciting to be able to join the winners at the Ocean Picture House in Southampton on Saturday 15th October to watch the Gold Prize Winner Playing Away and Silver Prize Winner Annie-Pannie up there on the screen! There were so many interesting and creative people there to celebrate the competition achievements – so well done to Gillian Tully and FILM EXPO SOUTH for organising that event too in those delightful cinema surroundings! I’m sure everyone who contributed to the success of this competition will be looking forward to the next opportunity to show off what they can do.
Felicity Fair Thompson