Spent the last couple of nights catching up on TV from the week I was away. Steven Moffat's Doctor Who story Blink was simply cracking, despite having the slightest of appearances from the show's title character. Have since found myself looking sideways at the statutes as I pass them in the car. Amazing the power fiction can have upon the imagination. Can't wait to watch Moffat's take on the Jekyll and Hyde story, which starts this weekend on the BBC, if memory serves.
Watched last week's semi-final of The Apprentice in preparation for last night's finale. Can't believe Sir Alan Sugar choose bouncy boy Simon over the hardworking woman, but such is life. Expect boo-hiss Katie to end up the richest, simply by appearing on stage in Christmas pantomimes. What else? Watched the finale of guilty pleasure campfest Any Dream Will Do? Thankfully, the British public recognised what was obvious from the first show: Lee was easily the best actor among the contestants. Some of the others could sing better, or smile better, or were prettier, but Lee was one of the few who could stand on stage without looking like he was having to think about what to do next.
Have got a week's worth of Eastenders, Casualty and Holby City to catch up on, as research for the BBC Writers' Academy. Didn't record Doctors while I was away, but ongoing serial elements are less essential to that show. I submitted my application for the Writers' Academy last month. In previous years at least 500 people have applied for one of the eight positions available, giving candidates a one in 62 chance This year entry criteria were relaxed slightly, so there's probably hundreds more people in the running.
Got back from holiday to an update email from the BBC. Unsurprisingly, the academy scheme's been swamped with applications, so it'll take some time to sift the wheat from the chaff. But the email did outline dates for the next two stages of the selection process. Those who show the most promise are invited to preliminary workshops on July 9 and 10. I suspect there's another cull before the final shortlist of candidates is invited back for interviews on July 19 and 20. Watch this space for updates on my progress. One good thing to be said for this process - at least it's not being filmed for a reality TV show.
Jobs for today: need to get my accounts in order for the last tax year. Normally I'd have these squared away early in May, but deadlines got in the way of that. After that, I need to find myself some paying work. Bills don't settle themselves, alas!
5 comments:
I heard on the grapevine there are approximately 1200 applicants for the Writers' Academy (tho whether it's true I have no idea, someone made the claim in the pub). I had estimated 6000 so it made me feel slightly better, but 8 divided by 1200 works out as a 1 in 150 chance of getting in. Nuts! Still if we do get in David, we can feel pretty special and if we don't we can say, "Odds were against us..." as a get-out-of-jail-free card. Right??
1200 applicants? 1200? Hell's teeth. Well, I won't be rushing to book plane tickets to London for workshops. A moment's silence for the poor souls reading through all those submissions. You have my sympathies.
Nah. Everyone knows script readers earn TONS of money David! ; )
Like I said, no idea if it's true, the person may have just plucked the number out the air like I did with the 6000 figure. Hope we don't have to wait too long to be put out of our misery, already having flashbacks to the 2005 Evening play comp...
Though personally I'm worried I didn't that email you got. Perhaps I'm out of the running already. Or maybe my stupid email's not working. Hopefully the latter.
So, if you get in david - how are you going to handle the days in London? Presumably you won't be making the trip EVERY day?
Should the miracle happen and I get through to the workshop, I'll probably get up at 4 in the morning so I can fly down and arrive in time for the start, stay overnight nearby and fly back either Tuesday night. I'd like to stay another night and do some visiting, but with finances so tight... Besides, I'm back down in London a fortnight later to speak at the Museum of Childhood in Bethnal Green, and again for the same purpose in August.
IIRC, Danny Stack says workshop attendees are expected to write material overnight between days one and two of the workshop, so I doubt there'll be time for socialising on the Monday night. Which means stopping in a B&B, rather than prevailing upon the hospitality of friends...
Yes I think you're right, Danny did say that in his post I'm sure. Stressful! BTW, There's a Travel lodge near Wood Lane I think - IF the workshop is at Wood Lane of course, could be somewhere else. But yeah, I'm thinking along the same lines: if I get through, there will be something divine about it. Just off to sacrifice a cow now...
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