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Script Factory writers scoop top US Screenwriting Prize
Script Factory favorites, Jonathan Hall & Hannah Robinson
Wed, 16 Jul 2008
Excellent news just in from two writers who have been through The Script Factory mill over many years, taking part in our Writers Group, seeing success in several of our competitions, and attending numerous training and event programmes with us. This week, Hannah Robinson and Jonathan R Hall have been announced as winners of the grand prize at the American Screenwriters Association's International Screenplay Competition for their script for Fireworks.
The script has also won the support and endorsement of the Wellcome Trust, the world's largest medical research charity, and follows a feisty and rebellious teenager, Cat, who steals the urn containing her dad’s ashes and runs away from home after a family feud over the funeral arrangements. Her only ally, the manic depressive Uncle Giles, falls off the lithium wagon and becomes increasingly eccentric - with worrying consequences for Cat.
Jonathan and Hannah have now been signed as a team by Frank Wuliger at The Gersh Agency. They're being announced as ASA Grand Prize Winners in the July 21 issue of Weekly Variety... and next week the pair will be heading out to LA to conduct a charm offensive on Hollywood.
We have no doubt they'll find as many fans there as they have here at home!
More about Hannah & Jonathan:
Hannah Robinson
Co- writer & Director
Hannah is a Scottish director and writer, with a raft of prize winning short fiction films to her credit, up to 25 minutes length. She first collaborated with Jonathan on the award winning UK Film Council Completion Fund short, IN THE MOOD. Of her previous films, SHEILA won Best Director at Rome's Donne in Corto Film Festival, and the half hour NIGHT SWIMMER won Grand Prix at Vendôme Film Festival. Hannah has trained in screen writing at North by NorthWest, Arista, and the Mediterranean Film Institute. She is currently developing another comedy feature film, FAMILY PLANNING, with producer Shona Donaldson and support from Scottish Screen. A Member of our Film Council-funded Writers Group in 2002/03, Hannah wrote us a blog about her experiences taking her short to US Festivals in 2006 - click here to read it.
Jonathan R. Hall
Co- writer
Jonathan is a regular writer on BBC drama DOCTORS and has also written for BBC Radio. He has written and produced two award winning short films: IN THE MOOD, a comedy starring Kelly Brook, supported by the UK Film Council and currently touring countless film festivals (Silver Award in Mumbai); and MR THORNTON’S CHANGE OF HEART. Jonathan’s 2000 feature script BUTTERED SIDE UP was shortlisted for both the Orange Pathe Prize and the Intermedia/Mirage Comedy Prize staged in partnership with The Script Factory and his follow up feature script DUTY FREE shortlisted for Moonstone and selected for development by the Mediterranean Film Institute. He is currently developing a long-running TV series called PLAYING CUPID. Jonathan has an MA in Screenwriting from LCC.