Biography
I have been a full-time working screenwriter for twenty odd years and my credits include BRONSON, starring Tom Hardy and directed by Nicholas Winding Refn, YARDIE, directed by Idris Elba, and THE MUSTANG, starring Matthias Schoenarts. I tend to work on the indie side of commercial cinema on both sides of the Atlantic, both for hire and originating my own projects. Most recently I have written a thriller for Dev Patel set London’s Sikh community, an original period piece set in 18th century Cornwall for BBC Films, and adapted Bernard Cornwell’s AGINCOURT for Michal Grandage to direct. Later this year, I will adapt Patrick Hamilton’s classic HANGOVER SQUARE for David Mackenzie and Fox Searchlight and write a Charles Mingus bio-pic for Eric André to both star in and direct.
Prior to this, I was a senior development and production executive at the UK Film Council , where I worked on films including GOSFORD PARK, THE PROPOSITION, VERA DRAKE, THE CONSTANT GARDENER and YOUNG ADAM. I presently also teach the MFA in Screenwriting at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Areas of Expertise for Mentoring
- Screenwriting structure, style, dramaturgy and development, how scripts work (or should work)
- Viability of an idea, pitching, addressing notes, what makes something a film
- Adaptation
- Career trajectory, the professional landscape, how to survive and remain sane…