What we’re about
This group is partly about connecting screenwriters in Devon and Cornwall, but is also for anyone interested in writing screenplays, and especially in receiving and providing feedback on a completed TV or feature script. So there is no requirement to be in Cornwall or Devon (or even the UK!) to attend our virtual meetings, but note that any in-person activities will likely be based in Devon or Cornwall.
We currently have two main activities:
One is a monthly meeting (held via zoom) at which we provide feedback on one feature or two TV scripts. The idea is simple: the scripts are posted one week before the meeting for group members to read in advance, then at the meeting everyone provides constructive feedback to the author(s).
We also organize real world meetings, which at present are simply mixers (and typically occur in Plymouth on a roughly monthly basis), but in future these might involve group members meeting up during a writing festival. We may also meet in Exeter in the near future.
If any group member would like to host an in-person meeting, perhaps closer to their own area or in association with a particular event, I'd be very happy to chat about this! You can contact me at planetwriter at gmail dot com :-)
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- "Favourite Scenes" - Nov meeting of the Devon and Cornwall Screenwriting Group.Link visible for attendees
As we don't have a script offered for this month's meeting, we'll instead have fun sharing our favourite scenes from one (or more!) movies or TV episodes. NOTE: This can be your favourite scene because of how the script itself is written in terms of scene descriptions, OR it can be all about how well the scene plays for an audience (in terms of story/dialogue). PLEASE avoid scenes that include major spoilers, however.
While it's fine to pick a well-known scene, this is your chance to share a scene from a film or TV show that maybe only a few people have ever heard of, or one you feel was unfairly panned by viewers and critics!
What you need to do before the meeting:
(1) Pick 1-3 of your favourite scenes (they can be from TV shows or movies).
(2) Find the script PDF online. Or if what you love is the story/dialogue, then a transcript should be just as good. A couple of good resources are https://scriptpdf.com/full-list/ https://www.simplyscripts.com/ - or just Google the name of the movie or TV show + "PDF"!
(3) Find a video clip of the scene that you can share over zoom. NB: Amazon, Netflix, etc. block screen sharing of video [only audio is captured, at least per my Amazon Prime video test], so this would need to be on something like YouTube to work fully, although if the dialogue is key then just the audio may suffice! Potentially you could also hold your camera in front of a TV set or other computer playing the movie or TV show - whatever works :) As this is for "commentary and criticism" I think this falls under "Fair Use" and we will not be violating any rules of copyright.At the meeting: We will go around the group and ask everyone to share ONE of their favourite scenes and explain why they love it! In each case, they will ideally share the scene via Zoom, followed by sharing either the script PDF or transcript. Please choose a scene for which you can find both the script AND a video clip online for your #1 pick! If we still have time, we'll go around the group again.
Code of Conduct for this meeting of the Devon and Cornwall Screenwriting Group:
1. No group meeting may proceed unless an approved Moderator is available. If an approved Moderator is not present, the meeting must be postponed until a later date. This is to ensure that no one breaches this code of conduct at any meeting. The approved moderators at present are: Claire Newman and Jeff Cyrulewski.
2. All group members must be respectful of one other.
3. The group is welcoming to everyone, regardless of race, gender, sexuality, religious beliefs, political affiliations, socio-economic status, country of origin, or occupation.
4. The group is equally welcoming to those with no experience of writing scripts as it is to those who have written scripts professionally and had their work produced. - Monthly meeting of the Devon and Cornwall Screenwriting Group.Link visible for attendees
At this meeting we'll discuss a 1-hr TV drama script by Alan.
As always, please download and read the entire script ahead of the meeting, then come along on the day with your feedback for Alan.
"Mitchell" is a one-off, 1-hr TV drama based on a real series of events in the early 1960's, relating to Frank 'mad-axe' Mitchell and his "friends" the notorious Kray family. Neglected as a child, abused as an adolescent, and brutalised within the penal system for most of his life, Mitchell at last hopes to find freedom and a new life. You can download the script here: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/2o3v5occ52u4s6sifvp7i/Mitchellfilm.pdf?rlkey=9754p4y8gl22n4b51zzyacnn8&st=70j7yn68&dl=0
ABOUT GIVING FEEDBACK: We start each meeting by going around the group to do introductions, then to say what we most liked about the script, then to say what our biggest issues were. Please keep all feedback respectful and constructive, and please be sensitive to how your feedback is being received. We give verbal feedback on the script during the meeting but if you made written notes - e.g. on the script PDF - feel free to ask the authors for their contact info so you can send them those notes later. We also usually record the meeting and send the audio to the authors.
Code of Conduct for the Devon and Cornwall Screenwriting Group:
1. No group meeting may proceed unless an approved Moderator is available. If an approved Moderator is not present, the meeting must be postponed until a later date. This is to ensure that no one breaches this code of conduct at any meeting. The approved moderators at present are: Claire Newman and Jeff Cyrulewski.
2. Scripts presented for discussion by the group are the property of the author(s) and no group member may use, copy, or share any part of them without the explicit permission in writing of the author(s).
3. All group members must be respectful of one other (see “Guidance for Giving and Receiving Feedback,” below). [new as of March 2024] This also includes attending the online script discussion meetings if you RSVP 'yes', or changing your RSVP to 'no' if you cannot make it in the end. Any group member who is a no-show three times, without providing an explanation, will be removed from the group.
4. The group is welcoming to everyone, regardless of race, gender, sexuality, religious beliefs, political affiliations, socio-economic status, country of origin, or occupation.
5. The group is equally welcoming to those with no experience of writing scripts as it is to those who have written scripts professionally and had their work produced.
6. Authors whose scripts deal with certain topics should provide a “trigger warning” on the second page of the script. Examples include: rape and sexual assault, incest, sexual activity involving children, extreme violence, suicide, mental illness, extensive drug/alcohol abuse. No details are needed, and group members can choose to ignore this page if they want to avoid even minor “spoilers,” but for those who may be affected by such topics this will be very valuable.
Please also see "Guidance on how to give and receive feedback" here:
https://sites.google.com/site/planetwriter/dnc_code_guidance - Monthly meeting of the Devon and Cornwall Screenwriting Group.Link visible for attendees
At this meeting we'll discuss a 1-hr TV drama script by Alan.
As always, please download and read the entire script ahead of the meeting, then come along on the day with your feedback for Alan.
"Mitchell" is a one-off, 1-hr TV drama based on a real series of events in the early 1960's, relating to Frank 'mad-axe' Mitchell and his "friends" the notorious Kray family. Neglected as a child, abused as an adolescent, and brutalised within the penal system for most of his life, Mitchell at last hopes to find freedom and a new life. You can download the script here: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/2o3v5occ52u4s6sifvp7i/Mitchellfilm.pdf?rlkey=9754p4y8gl22n4b51zzyacnn8&st=70j7yn68&dl=0
ABOUT GIVING FEEDBACK: We start each meeting by going around the group to do introductions, then to say what we most liked about the script, then to say what our biggest issues were. Please keep all feedback respectful and constructive, and please be sensitive to how your feedback is being received. We give verbal feedback on the script during the meeting but if you made written notes - e.g. on the script PDF - feel free to ask the authors for their contact info so you can send them those notes later. We also usually record the meeting and send the audio to the authors.
Code of Conduct for the Devon and Cornwall Screenwriting Group:
1. No group meeting may proceed unless an approved Moderator is available. If an approved Moderator is not present, the meeting must be postponed until a later date. This is to ensure that no one breaches this code of conduct at any meeting. The approved moderators at present are: Claire Newman and Jeff Cyrulewski.
2. Scripts presented for discussion by the group are the property of the author(s) and no group member may use, copy, or share any part of them without the explicit permission in writing of the author(s).
3. All group members must be respectful of one other (see “Guidance for Giving and Receiving Feedback,” below). [new as of March 2024] This also includes attending the online script discussion meetings if you RSVP 'yes', or changing your RSVP to 'no' if you cannot make it in the end. Any group member who is a no-show three times, without providing an explanation, will be removed from the group.
4. The group is welcoming to everyone, regardless of race, gender, sexuality, religious beliefs, political affiliations, socio-economic status, country of origin, or occupation.
5. The group is equally welcoming to those with no experience of writing scripts as it is to those who have written scripts professionally and had their work produced.
6. Authors whose scripts deal with certain topics should provide a “trigger warning” on the second page of the script. Examples include: rape and sexual assault, incest, sexual activity involving children, extreme violence, suicide, mental illness, extensive drug/alcohol abuse. No details are needed, and group members can choose to ignore this page if they want to avoid even minor “spoilers,” but for those who may be affected by such topics this will be very valuable.
Please also see "Guidance on how to give and receive feedback" here:
https://sites.google.com/site/planetwriter/dnc_code_guidance - Monthly meeting of the Devon and Cornwall Screenwriting Group.Link visible for attendees
At this meeting we'll discuss a 1-hr TV drama script by Alan.
As always, please download and read the entire script ahead of the meeting, then come along on the day with your feedback for Alan.
"Mitchell" is a one-off, 1-hr TV drama based on a real series of events in the early 1960's, relating to Frank 'mad-axe' Mitchell and his "friends" the notorious Kray family. Neglected as a child, abused as an adolescent, and brutalised within the penal system for most of his life, Mitchell at last hopes to find freedom and a new life. You can download the script here: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/2o3v5occ52u4s6sifvp7i/Mitchellfilm.pdf?rlkey=9754p4y8gl22n4b51zzyacnn8&st=70j7yn68&dl=0
ABOUT GIVING FEEDBACK: We start each meeting by going around the group to do introductions, then to say what we most liked about the script, then to say what our biggest issues were. Please keep all feedback respectful and constructive, and please be sensitive to how your feedback is being received. We give verbal feedback on the script during the meeting but if you made written notes - e.g. on the script PDF - feel free to ask the authors for their contact info so you can send them those notes later. We also usually record the meeting and send the audio to the authors.
Code of Conduct for the Devon and Cornwall Screenwriting Group:
1. No group meeting may proceed unless an approved Moderator is available. If an approved Moderator is not present, the meeting must be postponed until a later date. This is to ensure that no one breaches this code of conduct at any meeting. The approved moderators at present are: Claire Newman and Jeff Cyrulewski.
2. Scripts presented for discussion by the group are the property of the author(s) and no group member may use, copy, or share any part of them without the explicit permission in writing of the author(s).
3. All group members must be respectful of one other (see “Guidance for Giving and Receiving Feedback,” below). [new as of March 2024] This also includes attending the online script discussion meetings if you RSVP 'yes', or changing your RSVP to 'no' if you cannot make it in the end. Any group member who is a no-show three times, without providing an explanation, will be removed from the group.
4. The group is welcoming to everyone, regardless of race, gender, sexuality, religious beliefs, political affiliations, socio-economic status, country of origin, or occupation.
5. The group is equally welcoming to those with no experience of writing scripts as it is to those who have written scripts professionally and had their work produced.
6. Authors whose scripts deal with certain topics should provide a “trigger warning” on the second page of the script. Examples include: rape and sexual assault, incest, sexual activity involving children, extreme violence, suicide, mental illness, extensive drug/alcohol abuse. No details are needed, and group members can choose to ignore this page if they want to avoid even minor “spoilers,” but for those who may be affected by such topics this will be very valuable.
Please also see "Guidance on how to give and receive feedback" here:
https://sites.google.com/site/planetwriter/dnc_code_guidance