Andrew Chapman Screenwriting

Jimmy Stewart Rides Again

We’ve been on a Jimmy Stewart fix in this house recently, watching Rear Window, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, Winchester ’73, Destry Rides Again (one of his best in my opinion), tonight’s film: Mr Smith Goes to Washington, and soon, as with every Christmas, It’s A Wonderful Life.

He had a certain way with him, in his mannerisms, and the way he spoke, and his comedic intuitions. He was a funny actor. I would love to have written a film for him. I wonder if there’s a modern actor like him out there somewhere? I mean, I haven’t made a single film yet, but if you’re going to fantasise about a future career in filmmaking you might as well make it unbelievable. Anybody got a time machine I can borrow?

Andrew Chapman Screenwriting

8 On The Black List!

This has made my day! I just got a really excellent evaluation on The Black List for a screenplay I wrote called Runts. (I’ve shared the final part of the evaluation in the second image). A previous evaluation described the script as being “stunningly executed”.

The crazy thing is, I wasn’t sure about this one. I abandoned it a few years ago, convincing myself it wasn’t good enough. And then Rachel read it a few months ago and told me I was crazy, it’s great! (Her words). And convinced me to revisit the story and get it out there. Now I kinda love it.

Link to The Black List page: https://blcklst.com/dashboard/projects/149594

Andrew Chapman Uncategorized

An Unexpected Gunslinging Gift

A parcel arrived today. A parcel I was not expecting. Inside… was a gunbelt.

It is such an unbelievable and unexpected gift! It’s amazing!!

It was sent by friend and novelist Angela C Nurse, who writes very popular Scotland based detective mysteries, and had belonged to her late father. I know it has great sentimental value. I will cherish it!!

I have written two western novellas that are yet to be published (I’ve been too busy procrastinating, writing film scripts instead of books). It’s about time I released the gunslinging Robin Castle into the wild. Angela has reignited my desire to get back to them with one simple and generous act. Watch this space!

Thank you Angela!!!!!

Check out Angela on Instagram: @angelacnurseauthor

Her website: https://www.angelacnurse.com/

Andrew Chapman Screenwriting

Writing Runts

While I was between jobs, about a year and a half ago, I wrote a feature-length script in four weeks. This week, I read it for the first time since then. It’s a hell of a lot better than I remember. It needs a couple of new scenes and a slightly different ending, but I’ve got that all figured out, and I’m on a mission to finish it today.

The next step for this script is the almost impossible step. It requires luck, an incredible amount of random chance, and not much else. Somewhere out there is a director who is looking for something exactly like this, and our paths have to cross at just the right time.

RUNTS. A council house in the south of England. Night. Two young brothers bury their dead mother in the garden.

So begins a story of two boys, Brian, aged 11, and Dean, 16, as they learn to fend for themselves while keeping this dark secret. Things spiral out of control, and Brian begins to realise that there is something very, very, wrong with his older brother.