From page to screen (From Stroud News and Journal)

From page to screen

A LARGE crowd from business, arts, film and TV enjoyed the grand surroundings of Cheltenham Film Studios Manor House for the Cheltenham launch of the Screenwriters' Festival on Tuesday, March 21, hosted by South West Screen's Caroline Norbury and Dan Howard of the University Of Gloucestershire.

The Festival, which takes place in June, is being supported by high profile industry names including: Stephen Woolley and Bill Nicholson.

David Pearson the Director of SWF and MD of Arturi Films, a Stroud based feature film production company, talked about the role of good storytelling in all successful business fields - not just the media.

Actors Simon Shepherd, Martina Laird and James Redmond who live, work and film in the region spoke passionately about the importance of good screenwriting to allow them to do their own own jobs best.

Screenwriter (Waking The Dead) Barbara Machin's powerful speech about the importance of the role of the writer to reflect on TV and in Film what was happening in society was enthusiastically received.

Afterwards Barbara said: "There was such a lack of respect for the screen writer when I was first writing, so I think this festival is fantastic.

"The Cheltenham Festival of Literature is famous throughout the world and I've often wished Screenwriters' had the equivalent.

"We have sometimes sneaked into the literary festival via the back door, we're the poor relations, so this is something great because it honours, respects and celebrates what most of us do every day - watch drama on film or television.

"So here is a platform to celebrate this and look long and hard at the art and craft of writing screen drama, to learn more and to meet the great stars. You don't often meet the writers and here's a festival that puts them centre stage."

More details on the Festival can be found by registering at www.screenwritersfestival.com