How I Partnered with the Producers of The King's Speech & What I Learned Along The Way - Part 1
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Writer? Creative? Producer? Have you found your Voice? Still looking?
Maybe what happened to me can help.
Most of us think finding our ‘Voice’ means inventing our own unique literary style or point of view which expresses our individual perspective and what we want to say in our art.
This is true of course, its what makes your work different from everyone else’s its what makes YOU different. But it applies to more than just writers and creatives, it applies to actors, producers, directors, accountants – you name it. We all have a Voice, a unique and authentic way of looking at our work, at life. That Voice is more than just a style or an attitude, it’s a an expression of our beingness, of ourselves from a deep and intuitive place. At least, it has been for me. I wasn’t sure exactly what it was when it started but I know better now.
I figured out that my unique “Voice” had been calling me gently for some time. All I had to do was open up and listen.
That’s when things began to happen
Listening to my Voice changed my life. I went from a virtually unknown screenwriter to a nationally recognized playwright and Executive Producer in partnership with the Academy Award winning producers of “The King’s Speech” and “The Tudors” television series all within a few months. Heady stuff.
Most importantly, this story is about achieving your dreams.
Even if you don’t believe you have sufficient talent (I didn’t). You can still succeed at what you long and love to do or at the very least become the best that you can BE, by learning to listen to your own unique creative Voice.
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Here’s the story of what happened to me writing Magna Carta. I learned lessons about making dreams come true, like:
- taking full responsibility for taking on the challenge of just doing the work,
- trusting my own instincts,
- that ‘talent’ can be learned by listening and responding to the deepest part of yourself,
- and finally accepting the painful truth that when I did not follow my “Voice”, I paid.
(pixabay.com)
Is your Voice knocking on your door?
Mine had been knocking on my door for YEARS. But, I just wouldn’t answer, I wouldn’t listen. That changed with Magna Carta. I learned that this Voice is actually the best teacher there is, the one inside ourselves.
(pixabay.com)
You can get there from here, it is possible. Magna Carta took me from being unknown to an award winning playwright and “Executive Producer” with a serious financial commitment from Shaw Media in Canada to develop a television series based upon my play.
I just made one mistake
One fateful error. I refused to listen to my “Voice” at one critical juncture. What stopped me? Fear. Unwillingness to trust my own instincts. It cost me the happy ending I longed for. But, I may not have fully learned the lesson of listening to my Voice if I hadn’t made this mistake. So it didn’t cost me completely, and more importantly, it doesn’t need to cost you.
Magna Carta
The Magna Carta is one of the most important documents in world history and the basis for all our liberal democracies and personal liberties in our current age. It established that all men and women are equal under the law, including the King.
What’s interesting is neither the King or the rebel barons who signed the Magna Carta really wanted it. It was a rouse, a bargaining chip and smoke screen for each of their ruthless ambitions.
I can hear you thinking…
“Wasn’t the history lesson about MAGNA CARTA incredibly boring?”
If you went to the same school I did I’d have to agree it was. But not because the events and the people involved are dull far from it, it’s the way our school books describe the event. The real people are among the most interesting cast of characters you could imagine and they were real.
Magna Carta is one of the most incredible stories of romance, intrigue, brilliant political maneuvering, passion, prophesy, love, greed, mystery, triumph and death that you could ever imagine.
Our text books fail to capture the passion, intrigue, danger and romance of the incredible people and monumental trials they faced.
Here’s the Pitch
…which got the producers of “The King’s Speech” and “The Tudors” committed to a partnership and co-production on the project-
“Magna Carta is the true story of King John’s marriage to Isabelle of Angouleme, a young French girl he stole from the altar of a rival just days before their marriage. The union caused John the loss of all his territories in France and resulted in the birth of England’s future King Henry III. John vows to restore his son’s inheritance and wages a stunning physical and incredible psychological battle with the King of France, the rebel barons of England and even the Pope in Rome all of which join forces against him. All roads lead to Runnymede and the signing of the Magna Carta. But rather than bringing peace it culminates in a bloody civil war which ravages England. With his son by his side John battles his enemies ruthlessly up and down England winning castle after castle and struggling with the duplicity of those he loves. He amasses a great fortune and becomes the most powerful ruler in Europe. He is poised to regain all that he has lost and more, until an unseen and deadly enemy rises up against him.”
The story of King John’s unexpected rise to power and his incredible ability to survive and outwit his enemies is remarkable. King John was hounded by rebel barons who wanted his blood from the beginning of his reign right through to the end. In a couple of astonishing maneuvers he turned the tables on his powerful adversaries undermining their allegiances and support. He narrowly escaped being overthrown and killed by a consortium of foes showing an incredible resourcefulness and canny ability to survive event if it meant appearing weak and defeated in the process.
Bad King John was no saint, far from it. This story isn’t a celebration of King John, but it IS a celebration of the incredible events, intrigues and individuals involved during those tumultuous times.
Check out some Reader comments and Industry endorsements regarding Magna Carta below…
Read on- Part 2: Facing Illusions – a Hard Truth – click here.
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MAGNA CARTA with complete reviews – click here.
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Readers:
“I found it riveting.” J.S. Toronto, Ontario
“Thoroughly enjoyed it. It brought the characters to life… Bravo!!!!” R.W. Lincoln, England
“I really enjoyed it. I was totally immersed in the whole thing.” M.C. Barrie, Ontario
Industry:
“…very well written… extremely clear and exciting in the way it engages with a thrilling time in history and pulls together several fascinating events and characters. I can see that Chris is a very capable dramatic writer… the play that Shakespeare never wrote, it’s that important in terms of its place in British (and World) history…”
William Emsworth, Development Producer, Bedlam Productions “The King’s Speech”
“It is a very well written piece, really bringing to life this period of history in a way reads as very fresh and modern, and seems a worthy finalist for the Canadian National Playwriting competition. The story of King John and his marriage to Isabelle is an inherently dramatic one and this play doesn’t disappoint in conveying the drama of the period.”
Will Mortimer, Literary Manager, Hamstead Theatre
“…the underlying story is fascinating and provides many opportunities for compelling drama…”
Brian Hamilton, Vice President and Executive Producer – Omni Films
Playvel – “Your Imagination is Our Screening Room!”
