The award-winning screenwriter and Brighton & Hove resident James Payne was our special guest for a set of two First Five Pages events over the autumn meetings.

Members and visitors were invited to bring the first five pages of their scripts for a round table reading, group discussion then industry insights and guidance from James on their scripts’ impact and possible development.

Scripts included:

Love’s Poison by Elyse, adapted from the book chronicling Wayne Liversedge’s personal experience.

Steven’s Art of Revenge, an animated tale of a Maine Coon Cat.

Phil Tong’s Nails and Me.

Amanda Horlington’s The Shadows We Cast.

Discussing character, plot, dialogue, flow, whether the script captures and keeps attention – and crucially, whether the reader will be sparked into reading on.

Because if you haven’t captured them by then, they’re unlikely to continue reading … and will move on to the next one on the pile.

Discussion around the BBC Writers’ Room.

Our thanks to James for being our guest, making space for new, developing and established writers and sharing valuable insights, support and encouragement.