Five Days In May - BBC opp

http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/opportunity/five_days_in_may.shtml

Five Days in May

Do you have a rapid response to the general election?

Were you compelled by the five agonising days between polling day and the formation of the new coalition government? Were you inspired? Unsettled? Appalled? Surprised? Is there something you are bursting to say? Did a story form in your mind as events unfolded?

We are looking for 5-10 minute scripts for film, TV, radio or online in response to the five days from the 7th to the 11th May 2010 that we can publish on our website. We're not looking for scripts to make - we're looking for a rapid response we can post online.

The story can be in any genre but it must be drama or a comedy with a story and with something to say. We want an original response to these five days in May. We want a unique perspective. Compelling characters. Contained stories that pack a punch.

Up to three of the best scripts will be posted on the Writersroom website as the fastest possible response to election fever and fervour.

Email your script with the subject heading "Five Days in May" to: writersroom@bbc.co.uk

Deadline for submissions: 10am, 1 June 2010

Selected scripts posted: by 5pm, 4 June 2010

Cheers for posting, Mikey. Sounds interesting.

What funny or dramatic things, if you're not a politician or journalist, would you have done in reaction to those days? Can you just put "It was official . . . a hung parliament. Jason shruggd, then waited to see who the Lib Dems would go with. It was quite an interesting situation, he had to admit. He made himself a sandwich. Cheese and pickle." The End.

I might enter that, it's not bad.

Quote: Matthew Stott @ May 21 2010, 11:01 AM BST

What funny or dramatic things, if you're not a politician or journalist, would you have done in reaction to those days? Can you just put "It was official . . . a hung parliament. Jason shruggd, then waited to see who the Lib Dems would go with. It was quite an interesting situation, he had to admit. He made himself a sandwich. Cheese and pickle." The End.

I might enter that, it's not bad.

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I'd format it properly first.

Quote: chipolata @ May 21 2010, 11:03 AM BST

I'd format it properly first.

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I'll do that, trim a few words to get rid of any fat, then forward it to you for feedback. Might as well take this thing seriously.

Quote: chipolata @ May 21 2010, 11:03 AM BST

I'd format it properly first.

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Bloody square.

Quote: john lucas 101 @ May 21 2010, 11:06 AM BST

Bloody square.

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Oh, did somebody speak? That's right, The 4,446 Post Man. He's not a bloody patch on The 4,444 Post Man!

I'm definitely entering. I know they won't get made, but it's still a good opportunity to get read by the New Writing elves.
Who knows what may come of it?

"a story and with something to say. We want an original response to these five days in May. We want a unique perspective. Compelling characters. Contained stories that pack a punch."

I've got to admit there doesn't seem to be much scope. I might steal the sandwich idea.

They've announced the results of this. Congratulations to Joel Slack-Smith who's one of the three winners.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/writersroom/2010/06/five_days_in_may_1.shtml

Is Joel Slack-Smith a regular here?

Quote: Mikey Jackson @ June 3 2010, 5:59 PM BST

Is Joel Slack-Smith a regular here?

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I believe he posts on the Sitcom Mission thread as he was a finalist in that.

Well done Joel.

I didn't bother with this as there was no prize and the subject matter didn't really inspire me.

Thanks John and Dolly. I'd like to think I'm regular here (I did join up at the same time as I entered Sitcom Mission but I had been lurking for ages before that...not sure if that's a good thing to say or if it makes me look creepy)

Anyway, in case anyone reads my script...I'm not usually this intense. In fact, this is the first screenplay I've written that hasn't been sketch or sitcom, so I was pleasantly surprised to see it chosen. I think my inspiration was a comment that some journo said about this being constitutional crisis, British style. I interpreted him to mean that if this was any other country in the world people would be in the streets burning things and shooting each other, but in Britain it comes down to two nice posh men in suits having a few sit downs with each other while the media wait patiently outside.

I started thinking about people in Thailand who are facing real political chaos, where people are actually dying, and tried to imagine what they would think if they saw any of the media coverage going on about how bad things were in the UK.

Well done Joel!

Thanks Badge.