Scriptwriters Group online social

This free, evening event is a chance for Society of Authors’ Scriptwriters Group (SWG) members to meet their committee informally, and to hang out and chat with other SWG members online via Zoom and in a variety of different breakout rooms hosted by the committee.

We’re here to represent you and we’d love to hear your concerns and views on all aspects of the world of Scriptwriting. Or just come along to meet people and talk about your current project.

We will start the event with general welcomes from the committee and will open the floor for any attendees that may wish to introduce themselves. Please note that this is fully optional.

The event runs from 6-7.15pm.

Your breakout rooms – hosted by the Scriptwriters Committee

Sophia A Jackson (SoA SWG coordinator): Moderator
Theo Jones (SoA SWG coordinator) | Contracts Advisor
Connor Allen (SWG) | TBC
Ian Billings (SWG) |Writing Pantomime – unable to attend
Imogen Church (SWG) | Writing feature scripts
James Clarke (SWG) |Applying for public funding for scripted work
Juliet Gilkes Romero (SWG) | TBC
Sean Grundy (SWG) | Pitching/getting your script noticed
Robin Mukherjee (SWG): Writing specifically for television and/or film.
Rhiannon Tise (SWG) | Writing audio drama

Programme

• Welcome | Rhiannon Tise, Chair – Scriptwriters Group committee (5 minutes)
• Meet the Scriptwriters Group committee members (10 minutes)
• Breakout rooms hosted by the individual committee members for informal chat, networking, and information sharing (30 minutes – two 15 minute sessions)
• Return to main room where we will discuss: (30 minutes):
  – How can the Scriptwriters Group work better for you?
  – Event ideas
  – How can we address challenges facing scriptwriters and advocate for better industry standards?

Send us your questions

If you would like to send questions in advance, email sjackson@societyofauthors.org  with ‘SWG Social’ in the subject header. We will prioritise questions sent in advance and answer as many as we can from the audience on the day.

The Line-up

Connor Allen

Connor Allen is an award-winning multidisciplinary artist and former Children’s Laureate Wales (2021-2023). He’s written for BBC Wales, BBC Radio 4, Wales Millennium Centre, and others. He wrote and performed in his acclaimed show The Making of a Monster, and was the 2023 winner of the Imison Award for his debut audio drama of the same title. His two debut poetry collections were released in 2023: Dominoes, for adults, and Miracles, for children. His work is inspired by elements of his own life including grief, love, masculinity, and identity. He holds an Honorary Doctorate in Literature from The University of South Wales.

Website: https://www.connorallen.co.uk/  | X: @connor_allen92

Imogen Church 

Imogen Church is an award-winning actor and scriptwriter, ex-burlesque dancer and lover of satire. Her debut novel Death and the Burlesque Maiden was published by Audible Originals in 2021 and she wins lots of awards for narrating audiobooks like an absolute boss. She script writes satire and horror comedy features and audio plays.

Website https://imogenchurch.com/ | Instagram: @imogenchurchgobshite

James Clarke

James Clarke has written and produced a number of short film projects. He has been longlisted in the BAFTA Best Short Film category. He is currently developing several scripts. James has been a Script Reader for the BFI and taught at London Film School. He currently contributes to the MA Feature Film Development course at Birmingham City University.

Instagram: @jameswriter72

Sean Grundy

Sean Grundy’s first Afternoon Play for Radio 4, Cavity, received rave press reviews (“glitteringly original”, “sharp, sexy, surreal, but somehow utterly believable comedy”) and his second, The Recordist, was Sony-nominated. Full Monty screenwriter Simon Beaufoy wrote of Sean’s drama Poorland: ‘An amazing, fierce-some piece of work.’ His biopic on Patrick Moore, Far Side Of The Moore, was nominated for the prestigious Tinniswood award. Latest produced works include a 10-part BBC on-line series based of his own original play The Best Queue; a serialisation of The Andy Warhol Diaries, and a biopic on the teenage JRR Tolkien’s first love and inspiration. He recently co-wrote Classic FM’s first drama (with comedy writer, Cara Jennings), and his forthcoming drama commissions includes Bowie and Iggy’s Berlin years and a 6-part BBC iPlayer serial on KLF’s burning of a £million. Sean is also developing TV projects including a series for the BBC.

Robin Mukherjee

Robin Mukherjee has contributed extensively to television drama, both returning series (EastEnders, Casualty, The Bill, etc) and serials (including Grushko with Brian Cox and Andy Serkis, and Plastic Man with John Thaw and Frances Barber). He has also written for radio and theatre. His first feature film, Dance of the Wind, won the Audience Prize at the London Film Festival. His most recent film, Lore, was critically acclaimed worldwide, winning Best Adapted Screenplay at the Australian Writers Guild Awards, the Public Prize at Locarno, and many others. It was Australia’s official entry to the Oscars. His original three-part serial, Combat Kids, for CBBC/BBC1 was nominated for a BAFTA. Recent work includes Hetty Feather for CBBC, and a feature film adaptation of Satish Kumar’s memoir No Destination. His current projects include an adaptation of Paul Scott’s (Booker Prize winning) novel Staying On supported by the BFI, and a feature film, Petrichor, also supported by the BFI, co-written with BAFTA winning director Esther May Campbell. His book, The Art of Screenplays – A Writer’s Guide, is published by Kamera Press, and his novel, Hillstation, by Oldcastle Books. He is Course Director of MA Scriptwriting at Bath Spa University. 

Juliet Gilkes Romero

Juliet Gilkes Romero is an award-winning writer for stage and screen.  She was Writer in Residence at the National Theatre 2022/2023 attached to the New Works Department. Her plays include; The Gift a retelling of Medea filmed for Jermyn Street Theatre’s 15 Heroines of Greek Tragedy season 2020, The Whip performed at the RSC’s Swan Theatre 2020,  Day of The Living performed at The Other Place as part of RSC’s Mischief Festival 2018, Upper Cut at the Southwark Playhouse 2015, At The Gates of Gaza, Birmingham Repertory Theatre & tour, winner of the Writer’s Guild of Great Britain Best Play Award 2009.Juliet has an MA in Writing For Performance from Goldsmiths College, London University. She is currently an MA Writing for Performance associate lecturer. Juliet is a Trustee at HighTide theatre and the Film & Television Charity.

Website: Juliet Gilkes Romero | Instagram: @JulietGilkesRomero 

Rhiannon Tise

Rhiannon Tise is an award-winning writer for Theatre, Radio and Television. She has written many originals and adaptations for BBC Radio 3 and 4 and her plays have been performed at theatres including the Royal National Theatre, the Royal Court, Soho Theatre, the Finborough, the Arcola Theatre and The Lyric Hammersmith.

Her radio drama The Waltzer won the Richard Imison Award and recent adaptions include Louise May Alcott’s Little Women and George Eliot’s The Mill on The Floss, which won the VLV Drama Award for best Radio Drama. Her short story Byres Road was recently broadcast on Radio4, produced by Sweettalk Productions and read by Sharon Small. She is a consultant Fellow for the Royal Literary Fund.

Website: www.rhiannontise.com | Instagram:  @rhiannon_tisewriter

About the Scriptwriters Group (SWG)

The Scriptwriters Group (SWG) is a community of scriptwriters, and it represents script and screen writers across digital, broadcast, AV and theatre.

We support members and associates by providing professional, individual advice, negotiating collective minimum terms agreements with organisations such the BBC, and lobby on policy and legislation to promote the interests and protect the rights of scriptwriters.

In addition, we manage a series of seminars, panel discussions and ‘in conversation’ style events throughout the year, on matters of interest to members working across these industry sectors. We also publish interviews and develop resources for publication on the SoA website and via our quarterly journal, The Author.

The Group is made up of an elected committee and the Group Chair is Rhiannon Tise. Whilst the committee directs the work of the group, the day-to-day administration is handled by Co-Administrators Sophia A Jackson and Theo Jones. Email either Sophia or Theo with any scriptwriting-related topics, concerns or suggestions that you might wish to raise with the committee.

Need to know

Accessibility

• Attendees have the option to turn on the live captions.
• If you require BSL interpretation for this event, please email events@societyofauthors.org

Before the event

• Once registered, we will send you a confirmation email with the Zoom link
• If the confirmation email doesn’t arrive in your inbox, please check your junk/spam email folder
• Please add events@societyofauthors.orgto your Safe Senders list so you receive our confirmation and reminder emails

During the event

• This online event will take place on Zoom Meetings; you will have the option to turn your camera on or off; you will be muted on arrival
• This event will not be recorded.
• Attendees have the option to turn on the live transcript
• This event is 75 minutes

Booking

Book your place by using the registration below.