Author: Phil Hamer
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My time in the BBC Writersroom
I’ve recently been lucky enough to complete the BBC Writersroom ‘Voices’ programme, as part of the Wales cohort. Six months of expert masterclasses, craft sessions, industry gold dust and navigating zoom. It’s been brilliant. Here’s how it unfolded… Some people have addictions that are pernicious, eroding, even life threatening. So let’s be clear, in November…
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The Fever
Lots of screenwriting content in my next post, including WINNING a screenwriting award at a festival(!!), but first an article I’ve written for the excellent Blackwatch football magazine about the unrelenting fever of childhood sports passion. In my case it was Everton Football Club, but for you it could have been the Chicago Bulls or…
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A Summer in the Hope Machine
Loads of news since my last blog, including a quarter final placement in The Nicholl Fellowship, the single biggest boost to my self-belief since I entered this crazy world. However, this post is about my summer spent in what’s been dubbed The Hope Machine… That world of consultants and coverage services in L.A that provide…
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My first final – and an 18 month progress report
It’s been an interesting few weeks since my last blog, I’ve made the final of a big Coverfly competition and passed the 18 month mark as an aspiring screenwriter. Let’s do a brief recap of my journey so far… 0-6 months – Clueless Newbie. (Warning… offensively bad writing ahead) It is incredible to me that…
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My first competition placing! (And some Channel 4 disappointment)
A mixed week in my screenwriting journey, but first a story from my murky, troubled past. I don’t believe I have gone public with this story before… I remember it like it was yesterday. I remember the bone chilling fear and the adrenaline rush as my human survival system kicked in. The room was dark.…
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7 brilliant tips from script readers
Apologies for the click-baity title. Apparently, placing a number at the start of your blog title vastly improves clicks. I almost went peak click-bait with ‘You won’t believe what Todd from Neighbours looks like now!!’ , but I don’t need the clicks that badly. I have received script reports from many different readers. Some of…
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Writers Block
A few years ago, when I was a personal trainer, I had a free-spirited, open minded, bohemian client called Clare. One day, she signed up for a week long ‘Silence Retreat’ in some woods near Colchester. The entire week she was away I battled the urge to send her a text message with no words,…
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Is social media killing democracy? (And a trip to the Rhondda)
‘Whenever the people are well informed, they can be trusted with their own Government.’ That’s Thomas Jefferson. It’s a nice, inarguable idea. You cannot trust an ignorant population with a democracy. Or, to rephrase it slightly: If you wanna have a democracy, you MUST make sure everyone is educated, and the children of poorer people…
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A Beautifully Constructed Savaging
This week, an important moment in my development as a writer. A moment I have been waiting for since I tapped out the opening slug line of my first script last year. It may prove to be a huge turning point in my career. I’ve had my very first savaging. Receiving professional script coverage reports…
Phil Hamer Screenwriter 