Category: Success Stories

  • Our Amazon WriterSlam Winners

    Congratulations to our #WriterSlam finalist writers who had their work showcased to an industry audience at a fantastic event at The Curtain Hotel on Friday night! Omari McCarthy and Celia Morgan were selected by Amazon as the winners, they will both work with Lydia Hampson, Head of Scripted UK for Amazon Studios over 3-6 months to develop their idea into a full episode script, with the potential for further development into a series for Amazon Prime Video.

    Congrats also to finalists Grace Link, Mikey Jackson and Rashida Seriki – there was a lot of interest from literary agents and production companies, so we’re sure we’ll be seeing all five of these writers’ work on our TV screens very soon!

    Thanks also to the amazing team at Amazon – Georgia Brown, Lydia Hampson and Carlo Frem, as well our fantastic team including Ben Cogan (Casting Director), Fraser Ayres (Director and Script Editor), Minnie Ayres (Producer) and Michael Jacob (Script Editor). The show was hosted by the amazing Chizzy Akudolu and boasted a fantastic cast including Ellen Thomas, Kellie Shirley, Ezra Elliott, Daniel Anthony, Ayoola Smart, Azuka Oforka and Ken Birk. Photos by Joana Saramago.

    Make sure you don’t miss out on our next WriterSlam opportunity and sign up to our mailing list here to be kept up to date: http://triforcepromotions.us3.list-manage2.com/subscribe?u=ec1692306ae5525449ed0309b&id=323793f2d4

  • Announcing Amazon WriterSlam Finalists!

    TRIFORCE CREATIVE NETWORK AND

    AMAZON STUDIOS ANNOUNCE WRITERSLAM FINALISTS

    17:00 Wed 21 August: Director of European Amazon Original Series for Amazon Studios Georgia Brown, announced the 5 finalists of the TriForce Creative Network WriterSlam programme in association with Amazon Studios during her keynote appearance at this year’s Edinburgh TV Festival.

    The 5 writers were selected following a nationwide call out for original ideas, with over 1000 entries from a hugely diverse range of writers, who were invited to submit a synopsis and 15 pages of script.

    The final script extracts will be performed for an audience of leading industry figures on Friday 06 September and an overall winner will be selected on the night who will receive a paid development commission from Amazon Studios. The winner will work with Lydia Hampson, Head of Scripted UK for Amazon Studios over 3-6 months to develop their idea into a full episode script, with the potential for further development into a series for Amazon Prime Video.

    Previous WriterSlam participants have enjoyed great success including paid development commissions with ITV, Tiger Aspect and BBC Radio 4 and mentoring placements with ITV, Tiger Aspect, Hat Trick and TriForce Productions. The writer behind new Irish drama Blood, Sophie Petzal, took part in Triforce’s very first writing competition at the start of her writing career.

    The selected writers and their projects are:

    Celia Morgan – Sandra’s Girls
    A family of women, who have no idea how to talk to each other, embark on a journey of family intervention therapy in order to uncover the cause of the youngest sister’s psychosis.

    Grace Link – Crack of Dawn
    When Dawn discovers her husband Tim’s gay lover her 22-year-long marriage and stable home-life crashes down around her…in the middle of a hot flush.

    Omari McCarthy – Once Upon A Time in Handsworth
    A Greek tragedy for the working class where misguided youths play the roles of indifferent gods. Set in the inner city of Handsworth, Birmingham, the series follows two teens caught between the dreams of childhood and the hard reality of adulthood.

    Mikey Jackson – Seven Magpies
    One woman. Two traumatic past events. A secret never to be told.

    Rashida Seriki – The Four
    Four young women form a mystical sisterhood as they hone their ancestral powers of witchcraft and use it to enforce their own idea of justice and slay social wrongs.

    Georgia Brown said “We were blown away by the standard of scripts we received and it was incredibly tough to narrow it down to just 5 writers. We’re very excited to see the extracts performed on 6th September and can’t wait to work with one of these amazing writers!.”

    Fraser Ayres (CEO, TriForce Creative Network), said “We’ve thoroughly enjoyed reading the many fantastic scripts that were submitted, and the final 5 writers reflect the diversity of the wide range of writers who entered. We look forward to bringing these 5 scripts to life and helping these writers move forward in their careers!”

    For more information, go to https://thetcn.com/writerslam/

    ENDS

    NOTES TO EDITORS:

    About TriForce Creative Network (TCN)

    TCN was founded in 2004 by actors Jimmy Akingbola and Fraser Ayres to help increase diversity in the entertainment industry. The company has gone from humble beginnings to becoming the leading networking organisation of the entertainment industry, based around a philosophy of inclusivity, not exclusivity.

    TCN is a unique company, creating opportunities for individuals and companies to develop and thrive within the industry. Its mission is to put talent in front of those with the power to move careers forward, launching careers and supporting talent through numerous events.

    The TriForce network now has over 30,000 members spanning all demographics and levels of the media business. It traverses race, class or position and provides a link to all in the network from the bottom to the top. TriForce’s network consists of casting directors such as Jeremy Zimmerman and Amy Hubbard, actors Sheridan Smith, Aml Ameen, Rafe Spall and Eammon Walker, musicians Jermaine Jackman, Goldie and Ed Sheeran, and theatre practitioners, executive producers and writers.

    Thetcn.com        Monologueslamuk.com                Tfsff.com

     For further information please contact:

     Minnie Ayres – COO, TriForce Creative Network

    [email protected]

  • Amazon Studios WriterSlam Shortlist!

    The WriterSlam Shortlist has now been announced!

    We are very excited to announce our shortlist for WriterSlam 2019. The shortlisted writers and their scripts are:

    Celia Morgan – Sandra’s Girls
    E. Amato – Majority Rules
    Edward Tew – Flat Earthers
    Grace Link – Crack of Dawn
    Grant Taylor – Shortcutz
    Hannah Robinson – Tesla Girls
    Ishan Ganjoor & Rajiv Karia – Slackney
    Jeffrey Aidoo – Saved
    Lauren Jackson – Take Us Seriously
    Mikey Jackson – Seven Magpies
    Nadene Ghouri – Imerina
    Omari McCarthy – Once Upon A Time In Handsworth
    Racha Sobratee – Being Aisha
    Rachel Main – Castaways
    Rashida Seriki – The Four
    Shay Elliot – The Place for Me
    Stephen George – Deliver or Dai
    Sunnie Sidhu – The Last Age
    Valeria Cutko – Wimbledon Common
    Victoria Ibitoye – The Triple W Society

    What Happens Now?

    This shortlist will be whittled down to 5 finalists by the TCN and Amazon Studios. We will then invite the 5 finalists to take part in a script workshop on Sat 24 August with renowned Exec Producer Michael Jacob. These 5 writers will be taught how to generate an industry standard pitch and synopsis, as well as receiving in-depth advice and expertise. Writers will also be developing their work with an eye to producing a full script by the end of the workshop.

    The 5 finalists will have their extracts performed at the WriterSlam showcase, on 06 September in London, in front of an industry audience alongside family and friends. 

    What is the prize?

    The winning writer will be selected by Amazon Studios. Following their win, they receive a paid development commission and will work with Lydia Hampson, Head of Scripted, UK for Amazon Studios over 3-6 months to develop their idea into a full episode script, with the potential for further development into a series.

  • Announcing the MicroPitch Winners!

    We’re very excited to announce the winners for the TriForce Short Film Festival and Into Film MicroPitch competition!

    The competition asked young filmmakers aged 16-19 years to pitch us an idea for a microshort film which could be filmed on a mobile phone. The winners will be invited to attend a workshop on mobile film making in Birmingham, and then be awarded £250 to help make their film.

    The completed films will be screened at BAFTA as part of the TriForce Short Film Festival 2018, with the filmmakers invited to take part in a seminar panel, explaining how they made their films and talking about the techniques involved in mobile filmmaking!

    We were blown away by the great standard of ideas, and actually ended up choosing 6 winners instead of just 4! The winners are:

    Adam Bird – In the Deep End

    Radha Bhandari – The Ghost of a Flea

    Ada Urbaniak – Hallow’een Drop Outs

    Hamzah Al – Small Bump

    Shivani Basran – Dear You

    Savannah Hall – Music

    We look forward to meeting them at the workshop and seeing their completed films at the TriForce Short Film Festival on Saturday 1st December at BAFTA!

    To find out more about the festival go to tfsff.com

    To find out more about Into Film go to https://www.youtube.com/user/getintofilm

  • The TCN named as a CE50 company

    We’re very excited to reveal that TriForce Creative Network has been names as one of Creative England’s #CE502018 companies to watch in the coming year!

    Every year Creative England announces the CE50 list, celebrating the achievements  of the 50 best up and coming, innovative and disruptive individuals and companies across film, games and digital tech.

    It’s great to be recognised among such illustrious company for the work we do opening doors into the film and TV industry for talent from all walks of life, especially in our 15th anniversary year. 2018/19 will see some big announcements from us, so make sure you keep up to date with us and sign up to the mailing list.

    You can view the full announcement and list of all 50 companies on the Creative England website.

  • TriForce Talent Nominated for IARA Awards

    Over the years, our initiatives at TriForce Creative Network have showcased some fantastic talent and had support from well-known faces in the industry. We’re excited that some of our network have been nominated for the IARA’s!

    The International Achievement Recognition Awards were founded in 2014, aimed at celebrating exceptional talent and organisations, recognising the hard work of those in Theatre, Music, Films/TV and Fashion.

    IARA acknowledge the significant efforts of extraordinary talents irrespective of their race, belief, disability, gender, age sexual orientation or religion.

    Kiran Sonia Sawar
    Kiran graduated from The Oxford School of Drama in 2012 and went on to perform at MonologueSlam in 2013, choosing a hilarious Tina Fey monologue. Since then, Kiran has many theatre credits to her name from the Cockpit Theatre, The Arcola, Tron Theatre, Unicorn Theatre, Oxford Playhouse and Southwark Playhouse. Her screen debut was in Holby City and she went on play the lead in the fantastic ‘Murdered By My Father’ on BBC Three. She is represented by United Agents.

    Kiran has been nominated for Best Actress and Best Young Actress in Film/TV/Drama for Murdered By My Father.

     

    Waleed Elgadi
    Waleed was the winner of the very first MonologueSlam in LA, held at The Chinese Theatre in May 2016. He then went on to win the National Final at Stratford East in December 2016. Waleed worked extensively across Film, Television and Theatre both in the UK and internationally and is represented by Sainou.

    Waleed has been nominated for Best Emerging Actor for his role in Julius Caesar at the RSC.

     

     

    Jane Gull
    Jane won an award at the TriForce Short Film Festival in 2014 for her film Sunny Boy. The film was shown on Channel 4 and had huge success at numerous festivals. Following her short film success, Jane produced the feature My Feral Heart, where Luke, an independent young man with Down’s syndrome stumbles upon a wild and life changing friendship.
    Jane is nominated for Best Feature/Independent Film for My Feral Heart. 

    Nathan Byron

    Nathan Byron came to our attention at the TriForce Short Film Festival in 2014, co-directing and producing his own short film YouTroll, where he was selected as a finalist. Nathan is also a talented actor, with featured roles in Some Girls and Benidorm.
    Nathan is nominated for Best Emerging Actor for his role in Benidorm. 

     

     

    Both Ellen Thomas and Nicholas Pinnock are huge supporters of TriForce Creative Network. Both champion inclusivity in our industry and always align themselves with the right opportunities as actors.

    Ellen has been nominated for Best Female Stage Performance in The Hotel Cerise.
    Nicholas has been nominated for Best Male Stage Performance in The Royale. 

    To see the rest of the nominations, visit: http://www.iara-awards.com/news/

    The winners will be announced on Saturday 2nd September at Stratford Town Hall. Click here to purchase a ticket.

    Good luck to all!

     

  • Channel 4 Chooses MonologueSlam Actors

    Channel 4 and TriForce Creative Network Announce Ten New Faces for Channel 4 Drama

    A UK wide talent search through MonologueSlam UK saw 10 actors selected to be championed by Channel 4 Drama

    The MonologueSlam UK showcase gives actors across the country the chance to perform in front of a panel of industry judges, including the Channel 4 Drama Commissioning Team. The most promising talent from 2016 was invited to the national final on December 12th where Channel 4 selected their top 10. They have committed to explore ways to champion the winning actors’ careers with Channel 4 Drama.

    The ten selected actors are Hannah Margaret from Leeds, who was also crowned National MonologueSlam UK Champion 2016, Adaya Henry and Joanna Gay winners of the Birmingham heats, Frances Pooley the Leicester winner, Winston Sarpong, winner of the Essex MonologueSlam, and Connor Mills, Maia Watkins, Richard Rowe-McGhie, Debra Baker and Kayla Meikle from London.

    Fraser Ayres, co-founder, TriForce Creative Network, says; “We are very excited with Channel 4’s commitment to this fantastic group of actors. We’ve seen them develop through the MonologueSlam UK initiative over 2016 and we know they’re ready for this opportunity. We’re looking forward to continuing our relationship with Channel 4 in 2017.”

    Ramy El-Bergamy, Channel 4 On Screen Diversity Executive, says; “We’re incredibly excited about the 10 actors we’ve selected through this year’s MonologueSlam UK programme. The standard was incredibly high at the final, and with access to talent from all over the UK, we’ve been able to select a diverse pool of new talent that we will champion in Channel 4 Drama over the coming year.”

    MonologueSlam UK is a nationwide, professional actors’ showcase culminating in a national final in December at Theatre Royal Stratford East. It is the only showcase supported by Spotlight and Equity, and is open to all. After a rigorous audition process for each show, 22 actors are given the opportunity to perform in front of a select audience including the industry panel.

    The overall winner of each regional heat throughout the year then goes on to perform at the national final in December, where the champion is crowned. Maintaining that it should always be free for actors to perform, TriForce has produced a hugely accessible event for all performers, with an ethos of inclusion. The regional heats start again on 27th February 2017 with the first London heat at Theatre Royal Stratford East.

    Previous talent uncovered by the event includes Chizzy Akudolu who went on to star in Holby City as well as Sorry, I Didn’t Know, the comedy panel show produced by TriForce Productions which takes viewers on a tour of black history across the globe.

    Congratulations to all of the actors!

  • WriterSlam Drama 2016 Winners

    The WriterSlam Drama Edition 2016 was an absolutely incredible event last night held at a new venue for us, the Studio in the stylish St. James Theatre, Victoria.  We launched straight in with a powerful first piece, Lost Queens by Onyinye Egenti and Adele Oni.  Our wonderful host Chizzy Akudolu (Holby City) had a chat with the audience after this and it was fantastic to see what a range of talented people were in the crowd too!  There were writers, directors and producers on top of other industry ninjas and on the judging panel was Oliver Kent (Executive Producer, Casualty and Holby City), Lizzie Gray (Executive Producer, Sky Drama) and our own Fraser Ayres, actor, writer, co-founder of the TCN, also director of the WriterSlam actors.

    The second and third pieces were strong also, with Bandit Country written by Conor McGinnity, followed by Looked After by Keith Saha.  Our DJ for the evening was the lovely DJ Kellz who kept the party feel throughout with some great tracks.

    In the second part of the show we had the two final pieces, Greenhouse, a great high-concept script by Emily Mazzeo and a marvellous piece by Katrina Smith-Jackson, Tilbury Rush.

    While the judges deliberated the audience were treated to actress and singer Buckso Dhillon-Wharley’s silky voice performing songs like Etta James’ At Last so beautifully that even the writers’ frayed nerves had to have been soothed.

    The had come to decide on the winners and the writers most certainly made it a difficult job, so much so that Oliver Kent decided that the runners up prize of a place on the invite-only BBC’s Introduction to Writing for Continuing Drama course would be instead given for the writers of two of the pieces.  This course is for writer’s hoping to write for the BBC’s award winning continuing dramas; Holby City, Casualty, Doctors and Eastenders.  As the winning pieces were Looked After and Lost Queens, however, the prize was in fact given to three writers, Keith Saha for the former and Onyinye Egenti and Adele Oni for the latter!

    The first place winner of WriterSlam 2016 was awarded to Katrina Smith-Jackson and she wins a paid development commission from TriForce Productions, culminating in a Sky Drama table read in spring 2017, complete with an industry audience!

    It was an inspiring event, congratulations to all the writers and our thanks to the brilliant WriterSlam 2016 ensemble, Jack Hickey, Jayne Wisener, Karen Bryson, Michael Salami, Niamh McGrady, Robert Boulter, Savannah Steyn and Steve Toussaint.

    The next WriterSlam will be a comedy edition in spring/summer 2017, with the next Drama Edition returning autumn/winter 2017.

    TriForce Productions comedy panel show Sorry, I Didn’t Know is available to view here until 3rd December: SIDK.  Remember to tell us your thoughts using #SIDK and tagging @TriForceEvents on Twitter so we don’t miss it!

  • TFSFF 2015 Winner: David Kitchen

    David Kitchen is the writer and director of Family Reunion, the Best of the Fest winner of TriForce Short Film Festival 2015.  Here are his reflections on the day of the 2015 festival.

    Regent Street was heaving with early Christmas shoppers, Piccadilly Circus was its usual neon glare, BAFTA, inconspicuous as it is, had a door open.  Inside and upstairs the faux, white birch trees twinkled with their fairy lights, we mingled for coffee and croissants.  The festival was December 5 with casual dress during the day – networking, talks, seminars and exceptional short films of all categories.  Dress up for the evening, the finalists’ showcase.

    New friends, new contacts, filmmakers young and old but all of us new, mingled and felt welcome to this home of British film.  The magic of film deserves a magic setting.  TCN had brought Christmas forward by twenty days.

    The transition from daytime events to the formal evening allowed us to meet with our friends and creative teams in the festive bars scattered around London’s West End then back to BAFTA for the full on photo-calls, the laughter and glamour were as though we were being captured for the frontage of a multi-cultural Christmas calendar.

    The introductions and welcome were delivered by Minnie and Fraser, then the surprise appearance, like Santa, of Jimmy, reinforced the message that every film screened this evening was a winner in so many ways.
    At so many festivals this just doesn’t ring true, at TriForce it does.

    Having spent the day at the festival I’d seen the films and met the filmmakers of the winner of the Amy Winehouse award and the Audience award, so I thought the night was done. As mentioned, Christmas had come early last December and Family Reunion was named Best of the Fest.

    Having fumbled through my un-written thank you speech, and deferring to Karen (producer of Family Reunion) for inspirational words, we returned to our seats.  The man in the row in front turned to shake my hand, it was Adrian Lester.  Cheeky thing, asked if he could have my award; I reminded him he has enough already but if he wanted to be in my next film I’ll guarantee him an award.  A dream come true.

    After the obligatory yet uncomfortable (well, for me) publicity shots, it was off to the Century Club in Shaftesbury Avenue where we danced the night away.

    December can often be a bit of a blur, for various reasons… did December the fifth really happen? Yes, I have the award to prove it and again, with TriForce it never ends with just a pat on the back.

    TriForce isn’t just for Christmas, it’s for a sustainable and supportive relationship into a forward thinking, diverse and truly 21st century future in British film.

    For more information about this year’s TriForce Short Film Festival 2016 click here, or for more on David Kitchen and Karen Bryson’s TFSFF 2015 winning film Family Reunion click here.

    Submit your film to TriForce Short Film Festival 2016 today!

  • Audience Choice Winner – Abigail Blackmore

    Abigail Blackmore, the director of  the 2015 TriForce Short Film Festival’s Audience Choice Award winner Vintage Blood, talks about her experience of the festival.

    Make sure you sign up to our mailing list so you are kept up to date about submissions for 2016’s festival.

    My producer, Ed Barratt, and I had been trying to get funding for a feature for a year or so when it became obvious that we should make a short to add to the feature package. That way, when someone reads the screenplay, they can also see the short and get a clear idea of the tone, style and humour we’re going for.

    Vintage Blood premiered at Film4 FrightFest in Leicester Square in August 2015, then went to the lovely Abertoir Horror Festival in Wales, but I thought I ought to check out what other non-horror festivals were happening this year.

    The first thing that attracted me to TriForce Short Film Festival was that it was being held at BAFTA in Piccadilly. What an exciting place to screen my film!

    Then as I read more, I realised this festival was a bit special. The human element came through loud and clear. TriForce is on a mission to discover and nurture new and diverse talent, to build connections and help careers. “They sound lovely!” I thought, “Who wouldn’t want to be a part of that?”
    So I applied with Vintage Blood and was thrilled to hear that we’d been shortlisted and would definitely be screening at BAFTA.

    Then the email came saying we were finalists and would be having a second screening in the evening Gala. Couldn’t be happier!

    And then the icing on the already ample and delicious TriForce cake: the Audience Choice Award!

    We were stunned. It took us a few seconds to stand up, so sure it wouldn’t be our film that was called out. Not because we didn’t believe in our film – we’re very proud of it! – but we were in a room full of strangers, and when strangers say they believe in your film too, well, it can knock you for a minute.

    When the next award was announced, the Best of the Fest won by the very deserving Family Reunion, we clapped louder than anyone. So happy for them, knowing how they felt.

    The after party is a bit of a blur but I know I talked to and hugged a lot of people. The other filmmakers, actors, creators, organisers, we were all in it together. All loving it. All feeling inspired and eager to get on with making the next thing. Which is exactly as it should be.

    I hope to continue to be associated with the TriForce team and I would urge anyone with a creative soul to do the same.

    And I can’t wait to start shooting my feature!

  • MonologueSlam Performers in Edinburgh!

    Two talented actors are taking shows that started out on stage at MonologueSlam to Edinburgh this summer.

    Meg Travers, winner of the 1 Minute Round at the Winner’s Edition 2013, is taking her one woman show ‘Lucky Strike’ to The Mash House in Edinburgh from 6th – 30th August. The show began life as her ‘Twix’ monologue at Theatre Royal Stratford East which you can check out on our You Tube channel for a sneak preview.

    So like I said. I’m shit at life. I’m single, unfit, unemployed. But what is it they say?
    Three strikes and you’re out? Well, I think my luck ran out a long time ago. 

    A vivacious, fast-paced comedy that’s full of filth. See this delightfully offensive Gloucester girl and her mucking fess of a life! 

    Her next London preview is at the Hen and Chickens on Wednesday 1st July and tickets are available online: https://www.unrestrictedview.co.uk/lucky-strike/

    If you’re planning a trip to Edinburgh you can book your tickets for Meg’s show here: https://edinburghfestival.list.co.uk/event/482305-lucky-strike/

    @luckystrikeshow

    And Meg’s not the only Slammer to be heading to Scotland this summer. She’s joined by Michael Longhi, who’s taking his self penned one man show, ‘Wild Bill: Sonnet of a Bardsterd’, to The Space @ The Surgeon’s Hall from August 7th – 29th.

    Inspired by his monologue based on Richard III and Golem which he performed at MonologueSlam last year, Michael’s show fuses Shakespeare and film.

    Meet Bill, Wild Bill. Shakespeare, drunkard, imposter, literary terrorist, as he descends into madness. Mentally torn apart by the characters and plays that he created, he roars down any doubt of authorship and we discover that Shakespeare not only penned the plays attributed to him but also a whole other folio of works – everything ever written! Merging his most famous characters with modern day film we discover how years of worship has created a god, a monster, the immortal Shakespeare – Wild Bill.

    You can catch Wild Bill in London on 20th July at Theatre 503: https://theatre503.com/edinburgh-previews/edinburgh-15-wild-bill/

    And if you’re heading to Edinburgh then tickets are available here: https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/wild-bill-sonnet-of-a-bardsterd

    @WildBilltheBard

     

     

  • WriterSlam Winners – Michael Wiafe

    We’re catching up with another of our WriterSlam winners, Michael Wiafe. Michael is a London born avid reader and writer.  In 2013 Michael wrote his first feature film, a sports drama titled ‘The Paper Champion’ which gained him a place at the National Film and Television School. On acceptance, he was awarded the Toledo Scholarship established by Producer, Duncan Kenworthy and Toledo Productions in support of diverse new British voices and talent. He’s still studying at NFTS and entered the first WriterSlam competition in June, winning the Tiger Aspect prize of a shadowing opportunity with a writer on one of their renowned dramas with his script ‘Keep Me Company’.

    Where did you hear about WriterSlam?

    Initially through Twitter. I went onto the TriForce website which had all the information about the competition.

    What made you decide to enter?

    I felt confident about the pages I had and only had to submit 10-15 of them so I did. I haven’t written for TV before, but it’s where I’ve been focusing more of my attention.

    Is the script you entered something you’ve been working on for a while or is it a new piece for the competition?

    ‘Keep Me Company’ came from a pilot I had written two years ago. I wanted to finish it this year so just weeks before I even knew about the competition, I decided to completely change the whole narrative, but I kept the characters and the setting.

    Tell us a bit about your script.

    It’s about fourteen year old Ami Wild who finds herself on the run after slaying her parents in a seemingly unprovoked fit of rage. With no other family ties, all Ami has in the world is a neighbour twice her age, Dean. Dean offers to take her to an old friend of his where she can hopefully figure out the events that led to the death of her parents. The authorities quickly catch on to the murders however and draw to a conclusion that Ami is victim of someone else’s crime – this isn’t far from the truth. Under pressure, Ami undergoes a phenomenal change at which point we see her become a ferocious werewolf and begin to realize just how her parents died. In the pilot Dean and Ami have to find a place to stay whilst the authorities try and track them down. As the series goes on questions such as,  how did Ami become a werewolf? Will she ever be able to integrate back in society? Will her friendship with Dean last? And how will it all end?

    What was the WriterSlam experience like?

    Brilliant! I met the four other finalists for the first time a few days before the actual event. Producer Michael Jacob ran a workshop for the five of us. We read each others scripts out loud and it gave us a chance to really hear what was being said in the actions and the dialogue, and as a result we could see the strength and weaknesses in each of our scripts. Michael then gave invaluable feedback and tips to help us all improve them.  Next came the day of the event. The actors read and performed our scripts to an audience of industry folk, friends and family. Not only did the actors do an incredible job of bringing the material and characters to life with Director Fraser Ayres, they also managed to bring drama that’s intended for the screen to a theatre setting. With the presenters, DJ and live music, it was an all out entertaining night.

    Were you surprised when you won the Tiger Aspect prize?

    Yes! I thought everyone’s piece was as equally as engaging and entertaining as my own. It could have been any of us.

    Are you excited about working with Tiger Aspect?

    I genuinely cannot wait. I was able to speak to Iona and Maria from Tiger Aspect on the night and there were just smiles all round. It was said that they were looking for a writer that they could see themselves having a long-term relationship with so I’m thrilled that they chose me. I’ve been awarded a fantastic opportunity that gives me a great advantage in starting out as a new writer.