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SimplyScripts Screenwriting Discussion Board    General Boards    Questions or Comments  ›  BBC Writersroom
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One Northern Soul
Posted: March 16th, 2011, 6:26am Report to Moderator
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Forgive me if this is an old topic but being a newbie I hope my re-hasing it doesn't cause a problem.  I was wondering what folks' experiences of the BBC Writersroom were...

My personal experiences with them are not good, but I'm anxious to demonstrate that I do not regard myself as biased and bitter because of the less than satisfactory state of affairs.

I sent a xript last year to them, like everyone else no doubt, I have great faith in this script and had high hopes for it.  It turned out that the first time I sent it, they sent me the usua receipt card but a few months later denied having any record of the script.  So I re-sent it and again got the card, but this time got The Rejection too, some time later.  They'd read it but don't want it BUT can't comment on specific scripts, other than the standard answer that the 'first 10 pages' of all scripts are the most important.  I'm hardly surprised but I am very disappointed.

May I ask your experiences and reactions to BBC Writersroom?  Do you trust them?

I bloody love most of the BBC, I really do, I'm not THAT bitter!  


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One Northern Soul
Posted: March 16th, 2011, 6:31am Report to Moderator
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BTW it wasn't just 'a' script, I've co-written it with an animator who has already produced a trailer and backed up my accompanyting letter with a pukka business plan for other platforms/developments for the film were it ever to be produced, including video game and TV series (realistic) ambitions.


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Andrew
Posted: March 16th, 2011, 3:04pm Report to Moderator
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Hey, don't be too down. It may simply be a case that what you're offering them is not what they're looking for, as opposed to a rejection of the work/plan's merits. Shop it elsewhere. Best of luck with it.


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B.C.
Posted: March 16th, 2011, 5:01pm Report to Moderator
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I've sent four scripts to BBC writersroom. They sent two back with no comments because they didn't read past the first ten pages. I was fine with this because deep down I knew my early work wasn't ready for such a test.

The last two I sent them they read in full and sent me a full page of coverage with comments on what was good, what was bad and also how in their opinion it could be improved.

It's a very good service and most importantly IT'S FREE! You can pay a silly amount of money for the same comments if you send it to others who offer such services.  

I think it says on the website that only a very, very small amount of scripts get passed this to the next stage where they may ask you for another writing sample and see how they can develop you as a writer. From what I can gather, I dont think they take on scripts as projects anyway. They probably didn't like the fact you sent in some production ideas, to be honest. It only exists to assess you as a writer, I think.    

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One Northern Soul
Posted: March 17th, 2011, 5:06am Report to Moderator
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Thanks guys.  I'm not aiming to be pedantic but thing is BC, it isn't free really is it?  We pay for it with the ever increasing licence fee - great value though it is - so I was just thinking the WR 'service' is more just a meaningless front to placate miserable sods like me than something that does good for writers :lol:  Bravo to you BC for getting that far, you have proved me wrong.  And thanks Andrew too for your encouragement of course,

I haven't told what the title of the screenplay is because it's a biopic (well it's a double-biopic in fact) of a British institution just about and I worry that someone would pick up on the idea and then do a better job of it - is there a smiley for 'embarrassed'?

When I get to know you all better I'd love to pick your brains on my ideas - whether you think they're shite or not - and would love also to give feedback, but I'm a relative newcomer to script writing, books is my normal work for which I get paid very little for so far!  


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Sparrow
Posted: May 7th, 2011, 9:54am Report to Moderator
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Hmm, a confimation card but no record of it being recieved ..... maybe someone reading it liked it and thought they'd steal it for themselves and deleted all traces?  Kidding .... I hope.

I've never heard of this happening but if it WAS logged and thn the person on the phone told you they had no record I can only assume either that person missed it on the database, you didn't enclose a S.A.E or you contacted them before the 4-month waiting period.

Sending it in a second time if it WAS on the system would show the same writer sent in the same script more than once (which isn't allowed) and therefore the second attempt would have been ignored.

I've only submitted one piece myself so far but got a nice reply (including a line I'm very proud of).


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PaulUK
Posted: June 21st, 2011, 6:08am Report to Moderator
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I contacted them re my script along with plenty of others, they don't accept online yet though.
The thing to keep in mind, as already pointed out, is your script may well be turned down due to subjective tastes. That has happened to me, I was advised they didn't like it as it was like "Se7en"   clearly not to their liking but I found a compliment in there.
The way I see it is you've done the hard work writing a script or scripts so if you believe in your work then you have got to keep trying to get it into the right hands.
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Twenteen
Posted: June 21st, 2011, 9:49am Report to Moderator
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I've sent a few scripts to them, I actually just sent one last Saturday. There are loads of reasons why they might not accept it. They could have already had a project ind evelopment that was too similar to your script. It's unfair, but that's what this business is like.
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SLM
Posted: September 18th, 2011, 4:22am Report to Moderator
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I've sent them a couple over the years - they have already responded with comments on the scripts, but it is a frustratingly slow process.

And, of course, even if they do want to do anything with it, all they do is pass it on to others within the BBC, they can't "accept" scripts or commission you, so I am not really sure of the benefit.

In 2002 I met people from the then Wales office (now defunct). They told me that I was the most original writer they'd ever met (I suspect they hadn't met many) but that TV didn't want original writers, and if I didn't want to write for the Soaps, I might as well forget it! It wasn't the most uplifting experience I have ever had...

My view is that it is better to send on spec scripts, if you are going to do it, to a reputable indie producer - there are a small number of companies, often writer driven, who do accept unsolicited and unagented work. Red Planet is one (and worth keeping an eye open for their writing comp as well), and Red Productions is another, I believe.
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