On offer this autumn!

After the August break some exciting new guests lined up for September and October drinks and not forgetting the In Development discount to the London Screenwriters’ Festival, 23^rd-25^th October.

Two more fantastic guests joined us in the summer; Nicky Stean, Film Development Producer at Ecosse Films and Sam Hoyle Head of Development at Imaginary Friends (as well as script editor of Broadchurch). 

There was a big turnout of members for both events, including plenty of new faces.

From new development assistants to top execs, like Claire Ingham of Company Pictures and writers, including Paul Mendelson, (My Hero, May to December). Lots of interesting conversation and networking was experienced by all.

This September we will feature Meroe Candy, the Film & Drama Development Manager at the Wellcome Trust, to talk about the funding and opportunities available to producers and screenwriters developing material that engages audiences with science.

In October, In Development hosts our first formal Q&A session with writer/director/producer Marcus Markou discussing his experience of self-distributing his feature Papadapolous and Sons. Look out for invites to these events coming soon.

Also in October The London Screenwriters’ Festival plays host to talent from both sides of the pond, including Nicole Perlman, (Guardians of the Galaxy), Christopher McQuarrie (The Usual Suspects, Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation) Debbie Horsfield (Poldark) and producing giant Iain Smith (Mad Max: Road Fury, The Fifth Element, The Mission, Local Hero and many more!) 

In Development members and friends can get £25 off the price of the three day ticket by using code: INDEVELOPMENT-15. 86% of tickets are sold at the time of posting and the event is likely to sell out once all headline speakers are announced, so check it out now if you’re thinking of attending.

Meanwhile 7^th – 18^th of October brings us The London Film Festival and a massive line up of great films to see, including the European premiere of Suffragette as the opening gala film. Hope to see many of you around at one or more of these upcoming events!  

March Drinks with Olivier Kaempfer

A great turn out of members last month to meet Olivier Kaempfer, Senior Microwave Executive at Film London and BAFTA nominated producer with a film on release; Parkville Pictures'  Appropriate Behaviour. 

As we congregated in the members area at the Phoenix Artist Club, 

some excellent networking and discussion was had with plenty of new and familiar faces in the mix. 

Alongside Olivier were a range of directors, producers, writers and development people all with plenty of projects on the go and potential connections to be made. Big thanks to Olivier for sharing his experience and news of the Microwave scheme and Viva la network! 

This month we welcome Gideon Defoe, novelist and screenwriter whose adaptation of his own book, Pirates! in an Adventure with Scientists with Aardman Animations was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. Come along and chat all things comedy and animation at our upcoming April get together.  

Thanks to Jeremiah Quinn for the photos.

Winter chills with supernatural screenwriter Stephen Volk

A bustling beginning to 2015 with January drinks at the Phoenix Artist Club with BAFTA winning screenwriter Stephen Volk. 

Stephen is well respected for his work on projects such as the notorious 'Halloween hoax' Ghostwatch (BBC 1992) and as writer/creator of the award-winning ITV drama series Afterlife starring Lesley Sharp and Andrew Lincoln, as well as recent BBC Films release The Awakening (2011). 

There was therefore a strong turn out of members keen to chat to one of the Godfathers of British horror.

Among the group were writers, directors, agents and execs, including a representative from ITV where Stephen is currently adapting Midwinter of the Spirit into a three parter and Lesley Manning director of Ghostwatch; currently set to direct Stephen's much anticipated screenplay Telepathy.

A fantastic evening of development discussion and networking kicked off our New Year with a bang!

Looking ahead for the coming months we have a number of further great guests lined up for 2015. This starts in March with Olivier Kaempfer, Senior Microwave Executive at Film London 

and in April we're joined by screenwriter and novelist Gideon Defoe, Oscar nominated for Aardman's The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists! 

With loads of great insights to share you don't want to miss a chance to chat with these guests, so look out for invites coming soon. Happy 2015! 

Thanks very much to Jeremiah Quinn for taking photos of the event.