The Screenwriters' Festival has meant a lot to me ever since I first got involved in 2007 where it was originally set in Cheltenham. In 2009 I was told there will not be another one...absolutely gutted. But then the Screenwriter knights in shining armour; David Chamberlain and Chris Jones set up the London Screenwriters' Festival. They achieved an incredible amount in just 16 weeks. So big thanks to them.
There is nothing like being a volunteer at the festival. The days are long and by the last day physical and emotional exhaustion sets in...but it is worth every second. The team that you get working at the festival are pretty much like an instant family...it's almost surreal how close everyone becomes in the space of a few days. I think it's a mixture of being in it together and the passion we all have for the film industry (the underlying talent and potential is incredible). The only thing I can compare it too, is when I went back packing in Australia and how I made instant bonds with room mates.
This year my job was to meet and greet speakers and to look after the green room...A big thank you to Phoebe Gibson, our volunteer co-ordinator, for giving me such a great opportunity to meet some fascinating and successful people. what a lovely and inspiring bunch, the speakers truly were. Maybe some of their success will rub off on me..hey.
This year for some reason I didn't sort out any accommodation in advance, thinking it would be interesting to see what happened once I got to the festival. So anyways, we had to be at Regents park college for 9am on the Thursday. I decided to get the 5am coach from Southampton so I could attend a close friends party in town. It's the first time I've ever been out clubbing with a suitcase. Anyways after convincing the bouncer that I was not the DJ for that evening...I got in. I got to the bar and my good friends Matt, Luke and Clare started to get the rounds in...the drinks began to flow. The next thing I remember is being on the dance floor making some moves with my wheeley suitcase and at one point a few people began to circle my suitcase like it was a some kind of ritual dance. Somehow, I found myself at the coach station at 5am but it was the wrong damn station. so £12 more later I was on my coach ride to London.
After a few coffee's and sneaking in the back way, I got to Regents park college, Which is what I imagine an American high school to be like. I met the festival team for this year and it's always nice to see some familiar faces. As soon as I mentioned I wasn't sure where I was staying, I was offered a sofa to sleep on by the lovely Aideen...Thank you.
After bonding with the new volunteers while stuffing the welcome packs with endless amounts of leaflets, we toured the venue, which really is a stunning place.
The first day is always the most hectic as all the delegates come into register and no one knows where any of the rooms are. By day 2 everyone pretty much knows the score. The atmosphere is always remarkable; writers making friends, learning from other peoples experiences. Everyone is so friendly and passionate about screenwriting and the film industry.
I didn't get to see many sessions this year (Luckily they are all filmed) because I was always busy taking care of something, but the experience and networking opportunities are pretty much priceless. Where I was looking after speakers and showing them around the venue it gives me the opportunity to talk to the speakers, usually about anything and everything. It's always nice when you are recognised from the year before by speakers and delegates, it's like they are old friends that I haven't seen in a while.
The last day is always the worst...caffeine and sugar is necessary for survival, but that's not why it's the worst...It's because the day after, the festival is going to be over and it's back to reality. The general feeling is...If I wasn't going to collapse of exhaustion, I wish this could go on for ever and ever and ever and...well you get the point. And saying goodbye to my new found family isn't that much fun either.
The nature of goodbyes is that you never say what you want to say to the amazing people you have met and it always ends up being rushed. Particularly if you are running late for your coach back home...No way was I buying another ticket!...No way! Luckily I had fellow volunteers and course mates Sal and Matthieus with me, as we were all heading back to Bournemouth for Monday morning lectures. We made a quick stop at Burger King...well we thought it was going to be quick and before we knew it we had 10 minutes till our coach was due to leave. So we began to ran. I was running with a bag and my trusty old wheeley suitcase in one hand and my drink in the other...I ditched the drink as it was impossible to run with one arm holding my drink steady and the other flagging behind. Matthieus also had two bags and a wheeley suitcase...it was neck and neck between us. Steaming up ahead was Sal with her bag over her shoulder and the precious Burger King in her hands...The clock was ticking...we made it just in time...phew! On the journey home we talked about the festival over our greasy snacks before all falling asleep from exhaustion.
I can't wait for next year.
So to sum up, if you're a screenwriter or even if you're thinking about it, please do attend the festival as a delegate or as a volunteer...you won't regret it!
