The London Screenwriters' Festival Podcast

Fleabag Script Analysis: What Makes Phoebe Waller-Bridge's Writing So Damn Good If you've ever wondered why Fleabag hits differently from everything else on TV, this episode breaks down exactly how Phoebe Waller-Bridge pulled it off — one brilliant script choice at a time. Host Helen Tompson sits down with script editor and development powerhouse Eleanor Greene (25+ years in the industry, starting...

In this episode, Chris Jones interviews Angela Bhardwaj , a recent graduate of Talent Campus 9.0 , about her transformative experience in the screenwriting program. Angela discusses overcoming personal grief, the supportive and emotionally open environment, and highlights inspiring moments with guests like Charlie Brooker and Anthony Horowitz. The conversation explores unique activities such as fi...

Helen Tompson is joined by TV writer, Lisa Holdsworth, to explore the pilot script for  Happy Valley by Sally Wainwright. Focusing on what’s happening on the page, they look at how the script establishes character, place, and tone with speed and precision. The conversation covers the opening scene, Catherine’s introduction, the handling of exposition, and how story threads are set in motion. They...

Anthony Horowitz: From Desperate Beginnings to Master Storyteller Anthony Horowitz’s journey into screenwriting began with what he calls pure desperation – not his own, but that of the producers of Robin of Sherwood who needed someone to write for their show. With no television writing experience whatsoever, Horowitz literally bought a “How to Write Television” book and taught himself the craft. H...

Award-winning screenwriters Meg LeFauve and Joe Forte share their insights on transforming ideas into movies, crafting powerful characters, taking notes, and navigating today’s screenwriting marketplace. A must-read for emerging screenwriters.

Breaking Into Cannes: A First-Timer's Guide to Film Festival Success Ever wondered what it's like to rub shoulders with Hollywood stars at one of the world's most prestigious film festivals? Well, that's exactly what Rebecca Colby experienced during her first trip to the Cannes Film Festival. In a candid chat with Chris Jones from the London Screenwriters Festival, Rebecca spilled the beans on eve...

From Grief to Filmmaking: How Mari Found Her Creative Voice Later in Life Mari's journey into filmmaking is proof that it's never too late to chase your dreams. After losing her husband, she found herself in her early 50s, looking for a new direction in life. Instead of playing it safe, she dove headfirst into the world of filmmaking, turning her beautifully written short story "Esmeralda" into a...

Essential Legal Tips for Screenwriters: A Friendly Guide Hey there, fellow screenwriters! Let's break down the most important legal stuff you need to know to protect your creative work and keep your career on track. First up, here's some good news about copyright - it's actually super simple! The moment you write your script, you automatically have copyright protection. You don't need to register...

Horror writing isn’t just about throwing some blood and guts on the page – it’s about diving deep into the darkest corners of your mind and seeing what creepy creatures crawl out. That’s exactly what the folks on the Twisted 50 Volume 3 podcast showed us when they got together to chat about their spine-chilling anthology. The podcast brought together quite the crew – you had Chris Jones hosting, K...

Podcast hosted by Chris Jones discussing Talent Campus from the London Screenwriters Festival. Guest Delanne shares her success stories after attending Talent Campus 7 in 2019. Delanne highlights her experience at Talent Campus as a whirlwind of activities and networking. Discusses her movie "Father Christmas is Back," which she wrote while recovering from flu, leading to her first paid writing jo...

Bringing the Page to Life; Directing This Year’s First Actors Table Read   This past Friday, I had the thrilling honor of producing and directing this year’s first Actor’s Table Read.   The experience exceeded my wildest hopes, setting an exhilarating and promising tone for the rest of the sessions .   On a uncommonly warm spring evening, Chris and I welcomed the irrepressible Rebecca Colby to rea...

Meet Susan Vermeer, Dylan Spicer and Ben McCallum... Three Demented Creative Souls Ever wondered what it's like to get your horror story published? The Twisted50 podcast gives us a fascinating peek behind the curtain, featuring three writers who made it into their third anthology. It's pretty cool to hear how different their stories are - from creepy social media hauntings to mysterious midnight v...

The Power of Community and Creative Growth: Insights from the Twisted50 Horror Writing Project In an era where digital connections often feel superficial, the Twisted50 horror writing project stands as a testament to the enduring power of genuine creative communities. Through an enlightening podcast conversation between Chris Jones, Leo from Norway, and Eimear from Ireland, we discover how a share...

Unpacking Marcus Ryder's Game-Changing Speech on Diversity in Creative Industries Recorded at the first Make It Reel event. Marcus kicked off his talk by connecting ancient Greek theater to modern democracy. It's not just some history lesson - he's showing us how storytelling has always been at the heart of how societies figure themselves out. "You cannot have theatre without eventually leading to...

How to Navigate the Screenwriting Journey: Lessons from a Master The path to creating a compelling screenplay isn't just about putting words on paper - it's about falling head over heels in love with your story. That's one of the key takeaways from an enlightening masterclass with screenwriter Rowan, who compares writing to marriage: you've got to love it deeply because only that love will get you...

Ever wondered what it takes to put together a horror anthology? Well, the recent chat between Chris Jones and Kate, the masterminds behind Twisted50 Volume 3, gives us a fascinating peek behind the curtain. Kate, who edited this latest volume, brought her A-game to the table, wading through a whopping 170 horror stories to find the cream of the crop. One of the coolest things they discussed was ho...

In this episode, Chris Jones, founder of the London Screenwriters Festival and Talent Campus Guerrilla Filmmakers Handbook, interviews Mark Renshaw, a past Talent Campus attendee. Mark shares his experiences at Talent Campus and the incredible adventures he has had since then. Despite the challenges of the pandemic, Mark has found success as a writer and filmmaker. He discusses winning the Austin...

In this episode, host Chris Jones sits down with Vera, a filmmaker and participant in Talent Campus, to discuss her journey from the program to her success stories in the world of film and theater. Vera shares her experiences of Talent Campus and how it opened doors for her in the industry. She talks about the importance of networking and the connections she made through the program, which led to...

Unleashing Your Creative Potential: Lessons from the Talent Campus Experience In the ever-evolving landscape of filmmaking and screenwriting, finding both your voice and success can be a daunting challenge. However, as we learn from the inspiring journey of James, an alumni of the Talent Campus program, there are ways to accelerate your creative growth while maintaining what makes you you. The Tal...

On this episode, Chris Jones sits down with Paniota, a talented individual who has made her mark in the creative industry. Paniota shares her experience at Talent Campus and how it gave her the confidence and inspiration to pursue her dreams. She talks about the importance of taking control of your own destiny and not waiting for others to give you permission. Paniota also discusses her journey in...

From Talent Campus to Feature Films: Matt White's Journey in Screenwriting Matt White's journey from Talent Campus participant to successful filmmaker is a testament to the power of perseverance and networking. He describes the Talent Campus as "the most awesome cult I've ever joined in my life," highlighting the invaluable peer network he developed through the program. This network proved crucial...

Chris Jones Talks Twisted50 with Lucy V Hay of B2W What is Twisted 50? Twisted 50 is a collection of 50 short horror stories, aimed at giving aspiring writers the chance to be published and recognized. The project originated from the London Screenwriters Festival, where Chris Jones and his team identified a significant challenge for new writers: securing their first credit. The Structure of Twiste...

We all love horror literature. We are guessing we also have a passion for horror movies too. And the high watermark for cinema terror is the late 70’s and 80’s. So. Nervously shuffle down the jump scare back alley that is the 80’s cinematic and VHS memory lane, with Chris Jones and Bob Shultz.

In this episode, Amy Livingstone and Chris Jones discuss the Create 50 and Twisted 50 projects. Create 50 began in 2011 as a way to provide writers with an opportunity to gain their first film credit. It started with a short script competition, where filmmakers could download the scripts and make their own films. The best films were then selected and given recognition. This success led to the crea...

Welcome to the London Screenwriters Festival podcast, episode 3. In this episode, Amy Livingston, a screenwriter and long-term LSF delegate, is joined by the superbly magnificent Pat Higgins, a screenwriter and director with over 20 years of experience in the industry. The Genesis Behind "My Conscience is Clear" Pat Higgins shares the origin of his sign-off phrase and how it became a part of his p...