The Ordeal of Mark never fails to get a reaction from its readers. Maybe it’s because of the sheer absurdity, the religious lampooning, the dry humour, the shame of it – I don’t know, but people seem to like it and loathe it (either’s fine for me – so long as it solicits a reaction). [...]
Writing Archive
Protected: The Ordeal of Mark: Short Film Script – Final Draft
There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.
Protected: The Ordeal of Mark – Short Film Script – Fourth Draft
There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.
Protected: The Ordeal of Mark: Short Film Script – First Draft
There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.
Protected: Alpha Male – Story Outline & Script Excerpt
There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.
Alpha Male Screenplay – Finalist in Red Planet Pictures Prize
My zombie horror screenplay was chosen as a finalist in Red Planet Pictures Prize last year – a competition requiring an initial submission of the screenplay’s first ten pages, followed by the entire script for those that made it through to the second round. In truth, I can’t quite remember what the grand prize is (I [...]
GWN: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Retrospective
A look back at the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles games that was commissioned on the run up to the new, fuckin’ awful animated film and the inevitable, equally bad, game tie-ins. Shame about this, really, as looking back over these TMNT games was a lot of fun. There’s a lot of gaming promise hidden beneath [...]
Retro Fusion Online: The 36th Chamber of Shaolin
A retrospective of the original kung fu film which inspired the genre as we know it today. Written for Retro Fusion Online, you can view the article by clicking the pic below or visiting it on the RFO site HERE.
Retro Fusion Online: Revenge of the Nerds
I guess I felt a particular affinity for this film (not sure why though - I was very popular and cool at school; some might almost say “too cool for school”, but I’m far too modest of course). Anyway, here’s a heartfelt piece I wrote about it for Retro Fusion Online. Click the pic to see [...]
The Examiner: Classic Cinema
A nostalgia piece commissioned by a local newspaper recounting the cinema of our youth. Click = big picture.
Retro Fusion: For Mash Get Smash
A jovial look back at the Martians from Cadbury’s Smash instant mashed potato advertising campaigns for Retro Fusion magazine. Click the pic to unmash it.
Model & Collector’s Mart: Hokey Religions & Ancient Weapons
An interview I did for Model & Collectors Mart magazine with creators of the renowned Force FX lightsabers, Master Replicas, followed by a piece on how to build your own lightsaber. Tickle them with your mouse finger to make them enlarge. 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7)
Crew: Feature Film Treatment
The following is an excerpt from the treatment I developed for a (mildly autobiographical) comedy feature film after being a runner up in Screen Yorkshire’s 2005 SPARK screenwriting competition. CREW By Spanner “When a deprived council estate is threatened with demolition, the working-class residents turn to an aging, disillusioned skateboarder and his gang to save [...]
The Ordeal of Mark: Short Film Script Excerpt
A Badly Lit Comedy of 10(ish) Minutes Short Film Script (Excerpt) by Spanner EXT. CENTRE OF THE LAKE – DAWN Sister Anastasia stands up, and steps confidently across into the boat with the other nuns, leaving the novices alone in their boat. Sister Anastasia doesn’t sit down, but clasps her hands together and bows her [...]
Protected: The Quite Mighty Druids: Series Arc Outline
There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.
The Ordeal of Mark: Original Short Story
The Ordeal of Mark By Spanner Alice didn’t like water at the best of times. Combined with the knot of tangled nerves in her stomach, the gently rocking boat brought the tension high into the back of her throat, and it took all her strength – and faith – not to pull the habit from [...]