Learn how to write for television

Expert panel to discuss writing for the television industry at the Second Literary Festival on Thursday 12 November. The Second Literary Leicester Festival held by the University of Leicester’s David Wilson Library and School of English is taking place from Wednesday 11 November – Saturday 14 November 2009 and will feature a host of talks from writers helping Leicester to celebrate the written word.

One of the highlights of the festival includes a panel of four professional writers, all of whom have written extensively for television, including popular shows such as Coronation Street and Shameless, as well as classic adaptations and original screenplays.

British Film Institute award-winner and Senior Lecturer in Film Studies at De Montfort University, Laraine Porter will be chairing the Writing for Television workshop on Thursday 12 November at the University of Leicester from 6pm.
Joining Laraine Porter on the expert panel will be Michael Eaton, screenwriter, dramatist and film historian; William Ivory, winner of the Royal Television Society award for Common as Muck; Stephen Lowe, actor, director and dramatist; and Phil Nodding, founder of the online film channel Britfilms.tv.

Collectively, the experts will discuss how they entered the profession, how television scripts are commissioned, the challenges of slotting into long-running TV series and opportunities for young writers.

Member of the organising committee, Professor Martin Halliwell, Head of the School of English commented: “This is a unique opportunity to hear four leading writers talk about their extensive television work and the different techniques they deploy when writing for TV, film and theatre. An event not to be missed!” The Writing for Television panel will be taking place at the New Lecture Theatre, Fielding Johnson Building South Wing on Thursday 12 November from 6pm.

Writing for Television is part of a series of talks forming the second Literary Leicester Festival. Other Festival highlights will include distinguished critic, reviewer, broadcaster and author John Carey on ‘William Golding: How Novels Happen’ (11th November). ‘An Evening with R J Ellory’ (14th November), whose latest book The Anniversary Man is published in September 2009; Sarah Waters, award-winning author of Tipping the Velvet and The Night Watch speaking at ‘Sarah Waters in Conversation with Emma Parker’ (12th November); Leicester University Theatre performing extracts from Harold Pinter’s plays in A Celebration of Harold Pinter (14th November); acclaimed children’s writer Jacqueline Wilson reading from her latest book Hetty Feather (14th November); award winning author Meg Rosoff talking about her upcoming novel, The Bride’s Farewell (14th November); and for lover’s of traditional tales Pekko’s Puppets will perform Red Riding Hood and The Princess and the Pea (14th November).

All events are free of charge, but for some, entry is by ticket only.

For more information on other events, please contact Rebecca Vickerman on 0116 252 2320 or rv40@le.ac.uk. Full details of all events can be found on the website: www.le.ac.uk/literaryleicester.

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