Lane Shipsey Short Screenplay LISP 2022 Official Selection

Lane Shipsey Short Screenplay LISP 2022 Official Selection by London Beached

Can you please tell us about you and your daily life? Self taught filmmaker who also works in other art forms (writing, photography). Tried writing more but it came out like an ad so I deleted it, sorry! @lanepxl8

- When and how did you get into writing? I’ve been writing on and off for ages, starting with film, then short fiction. Taking another shot at the film stuff now so it’s a great time to have my screenplay selected... #happy #keeptrying

- How often do you write? Do you have a writing routine? And what inspires you to write? Most days. Anything can inspire; the big link is people. Closest to a routine though is writing ‘quickly just for a few minutes’ (often when meant to be doing something else!).

- How does it feel to have your work recognised? The standard at London International Story Prize is very high, and the jury are active creators, so having a screenplay selected here is great. Being part of LISP proves people are into your story.

- What’s the best thing and the most challenging thing about writing a screenplay? Best thing: it’s fun to make up characters and be responsible for them. Maybe writing a screenplay is a bit like being a parent, that way. Most challenging thing: As a writer-director, after writing a screenplay there is more work ahead - and involving lots of other people! - to get the film made.

- How did you develop the idea for your LISP-selected screenplay? Is there a story behind your screenplay? And, how long have you been working on it? London Beached is a fiction drama with real-life scraps behind it. Some of it was things I went through myself like being broke, sleeping on the streets of a strange city, and strangers helping. Things I’ve seen both in London and other cities. I wrote ‘London Beached’ a couple of years ago, then forgot all about it but a stranger I told the story to said thats sounds great, I’d go see it! So I had another look...and entered this prize maybe a month later.

- Can you please give us a few tips about writing a screenplay? Mmm… Don't really feel like the person to come to for specific tips! But in general – make it something that you like.

- What's the best thing and the most challenging thing about competitions? Best thing: if you win! ;) Most challenging: Feeling ready to enter. Or, maybe, not minding if you don’t win.

- Lastly, do you recommend that writers submit to LISP? Definitely. It’s easy to enter, well run, and has solid people in the jury. Go for it early in the year, and cover the entry fee by skipping lunch (or taking a leftover lunchbox instead)!