#scriptskyuk folks, a question. I'm a Welsh screenwriter, and I sometimes feel that as a 'regional' writer, I'm limited to the Welsh broadcasters, all two of whom commission drama in a way English writers aren't. (1/4)
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Hi Paul, as an English writer living in and utterly committed to Wales, I hear ya. But from my experieince there are options outside Wales. To whit:
- I wrote an incredibly Welsh short film that was funded by the BFI Network in the Midlands, because I partnered with a director based there ...
- I wrote a Wales-based TV pilot on BBC Voices last year, which got a really strong response from a Scottish production company a couple of months ago, and ...
- I've pitched a Welsh folk horror film to a US indie I've got a relationship with. I mentioned relocating it to the US, but ...
This was triggered by seeing another Wales-set, produced, and commissioned TV drama written by an English bloke that was announced. One of a few of late. I don't think we should be limited by where we're from, but I feel like it's not necessarily reciprocal for 'regional' writers. (2/4)
I also often feel with features that Ffilm Cymru is my only funding option, but they absolutely fund projects by English writers, but I doubt I would be able to do so with BFI London or whatever? (3/4)
Is this perception misguided? Am I overthinking, am I paranoid? Am I just projecting my own inadequacies onto the industry? Should funders/broadcasters have a quota for writers from that region? (4/4)
As a non-Welsh writer living in rural Wales (30+ yrs) I've always been scared I wouldn't be a fit for Welsh-based producers. Perhaps we both overthink it?
Looking at Welsh-based TV there seems to be particular tastes/genres of shows made. If we're writing different things to the prevailing taste/genre, we'll find it hard to get interest too.
Comments
- I wrote an incredibly Welsh short film that was funded by the BFI Network in the Midlands, because I partnered with a director based there ...
- I've pitched a Welsh folk horror film to a US indie I've got a relationship with. I mentioned relocating it to the US, but ...