February Round-Up
Issue 5: better late than never
GREETINGS & SALUTATIONS
In this edition:
Argylle, Wicked Little Letters and The Holdovers
A new chapter of The Mutual
Farewell, Steve Wright
Last week I entered the Tall Story Pictures script callout, which runs every few months. Tall Story has created many ITV dramas since they launched in 2016, including Lucan, Jekyll and Hyde, Trauma and Bancroft.
I’m very pleased and excited to say my script for Backstabbers was selected!
Tall Story will be providing feedback on my script in about 3-4 weeks, plus an online meeting with the other chosen writers, and a chance to ask the experts some questions. Needless to say, I will be posting the results here next month!
JUST ONE MORE THING…
I’m currently writing a one-person play for a lottery being run by the Mercury Theatre Studio in Colchester.
“The Play Lottery is a contest which any playwright in the East of England can enter, and the winning play will have their work staged at the Mercury. The twist? The winning play will be chosen totally at random.”
It’s a brilliant idea and I wish more theatres would do the same to give unknown writers a chance for their work to be seen. I’m currently working on my entry: At present, I have a 7% chance of being selected! If my play isn’t chosen you’ll be able to read it on my Substack next month!
This month’s Short People Highlights
I recently posted the latest instalment of The Mutual: All of the previous chapters are available so if you’ve missed any then jump in!
CINEMA
Argylle
A bonkers spy action movie from Matthew Vaughn in which Bryce Dallas Howard plays Elly, a best-selling author of spy novels featuring a James Bond-like spy named Argylle. Suffering from writer’s block, she decides to get out in the world for inspiration and finds herself caught up in a real-life secret agent yarn of her own. I went in with no expectations and was pleasantly surprised by this incredibly enjoyable, if very silly movie.
Wicked Little Letters
Edith Swan has received 19 anonymous letters containing the filthiest insults and immediately suspects her neighbour Rose, who swears like a trooper and lives the opposite of “decent Christian values”. Set in the 1920’s, the story of poisonous abuse mirrors today’s online trolling, whilst also commenting on the controlling behaviour of men, and packs a few emotional hits under the often bawdy comedy.
Migration
Possibly the most advertised movie ever (I’m certain I first saw this advertised last May?), Migration is nice to look at and… that’s about it. It wasn’t particularly funny, but then I’m not the target audience. The story is very much this happens-then this happens without any organic reasoning: It’s just stuff happening for the sake of the plot, and nothing deep and meaningful to take away.
The Holdovers
In some ways pure Oscar bait with its three strangers learning they have things in common storyline, this is a slow, gentle tale with genuine heart. It’s going to become one to watch every Christmas, and yes - Paul Giamatti should win best actor at the Oscars if there’s any justice.
LISTENING
My daughter asked me the other day what my favourite film score was, so naturally, I made a three-hour+ playlist!
READING
Sunrise by Jessie Cave
I picked up a copy of this for inspiration: I didn’t know where to start with my one-person play, so after a bit of research I settled on Sunrise - and I’m glad I did. It was exactly what I was hoping for: Honest, knowing, raw and affecting.
PLAYING
Rollerdome
Like skating and doing trick stunts? Like shooting baddies? Then you’ll love this! I’m just getting started with Rollerdome, and so far it’s a lot of fun. Lots of dodging enemy fire whilst grinding on rails and performing backflips to score more ammo… tricky but good stuff.
ELSEWHERE
The video for Electric Energy (taken from the movie Argylle) is a great representation of the film’s bonkers vibe, and worth a look just to see Henry Cavill squirming with discomfort at being in a music video.
Thomas F. Wilson - yes, Biff from Back to the Future - has made an hour-long film about what it’s like to be famous. It’s eye-opening, and at times makes you wince at the inappropriate behaviour of Joe Public. It’s never whiny or woe-is-me, it’s just an honest look at how fame affects the individual and their family whilst understanding the love from total strangers.
Finally, we lost one of the greats a couple of weeks ago: Steve Wright, one of the best radio presenters/DJ’s the UK has ever known passed away at the untimely age of 69. His Radio 1 show was appointment listening, and his later Radio 2 show was like spending a couple of cosy hours with an old chum. He’ll be greatly missed.
Here’s a playlist of Steve’s favourites and the songs he would often sing along to.
Thank you for reading Short People!
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Congratulations on being selected with the 'Backstabbers' script. Can't wait to hear what they've said, and what your next steps will be!
Congratulations on all your success! I do have fond memories of the Mercury Theatre in Colchester - it was where I grew up and we went as often as we could. It's a top-class theatre!