Kidderminster writer's Hollywood masterclass (From Kidderminster Shuttle)

Kidderminster writer's Hollywood masterclass

11:20am Friday 22nd May 2009

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A BUDDING screenwriter from Kidderminster spent a weekend with a Hollywood movie veteran.

Kris Griffin, 33, was invited to a London seminar as a guest by Blake Snyder, an American “spec” writer who sells on his works to film companies.

The seminar was based on his book, Save The Cat, a guide to scriptwriting and making it big in the film industry.

In his 20-year career as a writer and producer, Blake has made millions of dollars selling dozens of scripts, including Blank Check, which became a hit for Disney, Stop! Or my Mom Will Shoot and Nuclear Family for Steven Spielberg.

He is based in Los Angeles and has also become one of the most popular writing mentors in the film industry. His system of screenwriting principles is used by many of Hollywood’s leading agents, development executives and studios.

Kris said: “The Save The Cat seminar was a revelation. It took me out of the loop for two days and allowed me to focus purely on writing and the methods that Blake teaches.

“I feel confident of putting together a feature length script now and sending it to production companies in Hollywood. As soon as I returned I was itching to get writing again.”

Kris started writing 18 months ago while studying an evening film course at Kidderminster College.

In that time his reputation has grown as a writer, with two of his short scripts being optioned by production companies in the UK.

Blake said: “It was a fun, fast paced two-day seminar for students like Kris wanting to get ahead in screenwriting.

“The UK is a hotbed of talent, as evidenced at this year’s Oscars, and I hope that writers like Kris keep pushing and continuing that success.”

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