Quoted from Dustin Cheers, mate. I look forward to hearing of a success from you soon. That thriller you wrote, set in a cabin, was really good and you should try sending it out again. Took me three years to sell Repercussions.

Thanks for the encouraging words, Dustin. That was my first feature. I wrote six more after it. I still send it out, now and again. The problem is I can't really get anyone in an important position to actually read that one or the others. I still favor that particular one when I query as it should be very low budget and easy to make. But, no luck so far.

As I'm sure everyone here has experienced, the main problem with writing screenplays is not actually writing them but getting someone who can make them to sit down and have a look

Some stills from the set.

Drama 'Leningrad' from the #NorthernFilmSchool short script competition shooting @primestudios this week pic.twitter.com/XJPsByTJ89

— Northern Film School (@NFSFilmTV) December 16, 2015

Wow that looks awesome. Congrats!

Script looks in good hands!

very cool

Thanks guys. Much appreciated. That was why I thought the sets were amazing. Usually short films are shot in people's homes or wherever they can find. To have the sets built in a studio, with a real art department involved really impressed me.

Here's the finished film. Not sure how long the link will last as I know it still has festivals to be shown at.




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uv_r_lZYwgM

^^^Link in case the video embed doesn't work.

I hadn't read this for some reason, though I'd seen it pop out now and then. (I'm in and out of the forum while occupied with other things and don't read/comment as much as I'd like to.)

Anyhow, today I had the rare experience of reading a script and then seeing the filmed version right away. Interesting to do it that way -- read the script, read a year's worth of comments and suggestions ( and your responses), and then watch the film.
The script was very well done, and so was the film. It really captured the tone you worked to convey-- spare, desperate -- and it shows how the right actors (and camera work) can make a script like this (one that says less instead of more) come alive. I like the way they shot it, black and white, shades of light and dark, etc.

How do you feel about the choices they made? That is, the slight departures or changes in the script, such as the ending.

Needless to say, I'm glad I finally read this.
Henry

Hey,

Really enjoyable read, start to finish.

I found it slightly predictabe, was just unsure who was going to be dinner.

This took a bit away from the reveal for me but I don't think it really affected the overall story.

Great job.

Just saw that the short is avavailable they did a great job. Whole production is fantastic.

Did prefer your ending but still, bravo!

That was really well done - congrats!

Quoted from Stumpzian I hadn't read this for some reason, though I'd seen it pop out now and then. (I'm in and out of the forum while occupied with other things and don't read/comment as much as I'd like to.) Anyhow, today I had the rare experience of reading a script and then seeing the filmed version right away. Interesting to do it that way -- read the script, read a year's worth of comments and suggestions ( and your responses), and then watch the film. The script was very well done, and so was the film. It really captured the tone you worked to convey-- spare, desperate -- and it shows how the right actors (and camera work) can make a script like this (one that says less instead of more) come alive. I like the way they shot it, black and white, shades of light and dark, etc. How do you feel about the choices they made? That is, the slight departures or changes in the script, such as the ending. Needless to say, I'm glad I finally read this. Henry

Thanks for checking this out, Henry. I'm not 100% happy with the slight departures and changes. I think that changing the title takes something away from the contrast and I feel the ending with the knife about to cut was better. Probably not necessary, but it would really hammer the point home.

All in all though, I'm exceptionally pleased with this one. Cheers.

Quoted from Warren Hey, Really enjoyable read, start to finish. I found it slightly predictabe, was just unsure who was going to be dinner. This took a bit away from the reveal for me but I don't think it really affected the overall story. Great job.

With Leningrad as the title, anyone knowing the history will guess right away what the story is about. If you didn't know the history, then top marks for figuring it out so soon. I don't think that I was trying to hide it anyway.

I felt the knife was important at the end. The two extremes side by side. He, sacrificing his life for his family. She driven to just not care any more. So, yeah, I felt that my ending was better.

Cheers.

Nicely done.  Looks like the film-makers put a lot of work into the set/lighting to set the tone.  Good to see a 'period' piece can be pulled off on a shoestring.  I recall the original ending; it does seem a curious decision not to show the knife.  Anyways, good luck with the rest of the festivals.

Enjoyed that. Simple, effective.

If I recall the ending was different to this, but I could see why they went down this route, even though I preferred what I recall. Writers versus producers!

Good lighting. Effective short.