MrBiffo
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REDISCOVERING MY MOJO
🕑 Added 2020-09-30 10:12:12 +0000 UTCAbout 15 years ago, maybe longer, I had an idea for a TV show. Actually... no. I had an idea for a something. I thought it could potentially have been a novel, but I know that I don't want to write a novel. At lest, not a conventional one.
So I pitched it to CBBC. They loved it. I had meetings. They wanted to make it work. But they couldn't wrap their heads around how to make it work. It's an expensive idea, a big budget genre thing, you see, and CBBC budgets do not lend themselves to expensive ideas. But I knew it was a great idea.
Yet, it ground to a halt. I toyed with it on and off over the years, but somehow never quite found a way back into it. I got distracted with other things. Other shows. Life. Paying the bills.
I admit, writing became a job. A means to an end. It had ceased to be a calling, the way it had been in the days when I first tried to make it as a scriptwriter. Heck, I became cynical about it.
And then about 18 months or so ago, I got a call from one of the CBBC development producers who had read that original pitch. He was now working for a different company, and he said he hadn't ever stopped thinking about the idea, and felt that now - in the current streaming climate of big budgets - it had a better chance than ever of happening. In his words "It was the one that got away".
So I signed an option deal with his company - it's a small company, so we're talking very small amounts of money (£500, if I remember) - to develop it. I've been working on the series pitch document ever since, in which time the company signed a deal with Netflix, and became a slightly bigger company. And as I worked on it, I fell deeper and deeper in love with the idea. It's a show I want to see. That I'd go out of my way to see.
Anyway, the next step in the process is a pilot script. That sounds fancy, but - again - said company remains a relatively small company, and so I'm doing it for a much lower rate, and offsetting most of my pay in the hope that it might get picked up further down the line.
I started writing the script... and it flowed. It wasn't like pulling teeth, like most scripts seem to be these days. I started writing, and I couldn't stop, because I wanted to spend more time with these characters, in this world, and I needed to see the story unfold. For the first time in at least 10 years, I was writing last night in bed, until 10pm. Not because I had to, not because I have a deadline, but because I was enjoying it, and it was pouring out of me.
For me, whether this show goes anywhere or not, if it gets made or doesn't, it doesn't matter. It has already given me something huge, and that's getting back my joy of writing.
For a long time I thought I'd gone off writing scripts. My passion had evaporated. I'd lost that spark of excitement I used to have, that giddy feeling where I find it difficult to stop. For the first time in forever, I'm no longer contemplating leaving scriptwriting behind; whether it continues to be the main way I earn a living or not, so long as I'm writing things I believe in, that I love, I will carry on.
I woke up today, eager to get back to it. Turns out I was just writing the wrong things.
Paul
Comments
Colin Hughes
I agree with this 100%
Tyronne Mann
Streaming services sure seem to be the way to go as conventional telly is going the way of the dodo - I am going to be cancelling my tv licence soon as I have not watched anything on the BBC this year at all and have better things to spend the money on. Best of luck with show Paul :)
WhatHoSnorkers
There isn't a lot of joy in the world. Reading THIS was a joy though. Someone of great talent being fulfilled! More please!
(Just) Steve
Oddly enough I thought of you the other day because of something along these lines. A few years ago I had an idea for a movie, i've got the beginning and ending planned along with the general story but I need to sort out the main portion of it. I also have zero experience writing scripts/screenplays so i'd have to learn the format. (I may ask you one day if you'd graciously provide a copy of something you've written so I can use it as a reference) The reason I thought of you was because you've mainly been writing stuff for kids TV for a while now and was wondering how you go about writing for characters which are far removed from you? As a 38 year old man if I attempted to write for characters who were children i'm sure it would be blatantly obvious that a 38 year old man tried to write what he thinks kids would say these days, or that the characters would come across as stereotypes. My characters aren't children, that's just an example, but hopefully you get the idea of what i'm trying to say. I hope all goes well for you!
Spiff
This is amazing to read Paul, I'm so pleased. Speaking as someone who is a huge admirer of whatever your mojo ends up oozing out, I can't wait to see this all plop out into the success it deserves to be!
John Lindsay
Fantastic, Paul. It's always great to have something happen that makes you realise why you chose the career path you took. Best of luck!
Hedders
This is such a joy to read. Best of luck!
Tommy T
Good Luck with it Mr B.
Chris Bell
Well, this is all very exciting! I can’t wait to hear more. Really hope it has legs and you get your passion project made! Whatever else, at the very least it’s reminded you why you love writing, and that’s something to be thankful for.
John Veness
This is lovely. I hope it gets made! Is it still a CBBC-age range thing, even if no longer for them?
Thomas Thacker
Best of luck with it! 👍
Stu The Brummie
That's great to hear!!! Fingers crossed!!! It's so nice to read about other people's positivity.
