In
The Telegraph, screenwriter Bryan Elsley tells Stephen Pile how showing a draft script to his son, Jamie, led to the creation of teen drama Skins (pictured, above).
Jamie was not impressed. "It's all turgid, middle-aged bollocks, dad," he said, and suggested writing about teenagers instead. "But don't do it in the usual way. Let me help you do it properly."
...In no time Elsley had set up a talented young writers' group with 16 members, all in their teens and early twenties. "The rule is that everyone gets paid for their ideas and writing in the group, but all the material discussed or written at the meeting can be used by the designated writer of the episode."
In this series, five episodes were written by Elsley and four by the twentysomething writers, including his son. "We have a mentoring system where the more experienced writers, the 23-year-olds, help the 17- and 18-year-olds. The 17-year-olds have written six-minute spin-off films for the website, but if we get a second series we want them to write their own episodes supported by the group."
Skins starts on E4 on Thursday.
In The Telegraph, screenwriter Bryan Elsley tells Stephen Pile how showing a draft script to his son, Jamie, led to the creation of teen drama Skins (pictured, above). 
Lucky Jamie Elsley - not only are you still young enough to believe that you know everything and you can do better than everyone else, but your besotted dad provides a chance for you to prove it. Turgid, middle-aged bollocks may be dead but nepotism ain't.
ReplyDeleteToo true. There's far too much of it in this business.
ReplyDelete