II edition
BACHELOR HOUR
Six months after his mother’s death, the protagonist (FLORIN) returns to his hometown in order to attend a childhood friend wedding. He is driven by obligation as he dislikes any traditional event that brings many people together- such as weddings or burials. After a series of events that involve stealing the groom and paying prostitutes in order to organise a belated bachelor party, Florin starts reconsidering the relationship with his father and his feelings for his estranged hometown.
“Bachelor Hour” is a bitter-sweet comedy about coming of age, in which typical small town characters reach the time of their first genuine life responsibilities.
Romania
Ioana Joca
Though born in the mythical Transylvania, Ioana moved when she was only 4 years old to Constanta, on the Black Sea Coast. She profoundly disliked this city and couldn’t wait to escape.
The chance came when she turned 19. She left the gloomy city for Bucharest where she studied Journalism for 4 years. She spent an extra year in Bucharest only to realize that this wasn’t the place for her, either.
Therefore, she managed to get a 1-year grant from the European Commission. This grant allowed her to live and work in Saarbrücken (Germany). Here she discovered that the love of her life wasn’t Journalism, but Film. Luckily, another EU grant came her way. With this money, Ioana managed to make her film debut, a documentary about her grandparents. “The Grandparents” received 2 BAFTAScotland nominations in November 2005.
Nowadays, Ioana travels between UK, UE and Romania trying to find her place in between Europe’s cultures and policies. She works as production coordinator assistant and independent scriptwriter & director.
Where have you heard about Scripteast?
This year, during the Berlinale, I worked for the European Film Market. In this context, I was invited to the Polish Film Institute reception, event that introduced to us SCRIPTEAST.
What made you interested in this program?
I genuinely like the whole “package”: the modus operandi of the programme, the tutors invited, the concept, and the locations chosen for the labs.
What do you expect from this year edition of Scripteast?
To learn all the right steps in order to write a coherent and captivating script- to meet people that will help me in my film (script, direct, produce) career.
Do you have previous experience as tutor and advisor at similar workshops?
Last year in October, I attended a 5-days film workshop in Germany that taught me the very basic of how to create, direct and post-produce a 3-minutes film clip
What is your personal defintion of a good scrtipt and what – the most- makes it succesful?
A good script is a story that, although it’s already been wrote about, reinvents itself by using the very personal perspective of the writer’s experience and time.
Romania
Jean Lorin Sterian
One day, Jean-Lorin Sterian woke up Unhappy and Bored of being a journalist (for “Playboy”, “Elle” or “Esquire”) and a fictional writer (he has been published 4 times). So he decided to break into the movie world by playing a 1-minute part in one of Romania’s most acclaimed nouvelle-vague films: “The Death of Mister Lazarescu”.
This first encounter with a movie set had a very strong influence in his professional life. Subsequently, he wrote and directed one short and two documentaries. One of the documentaries, called “The Playback Lesson”, deals with the background of a non-existent music band (“Grupul Sanitar”) whose lead singer is Jean-Lorin himself. His favorite movie genre is the mockumentary.
The expression that can define Jean-Lorin perfectly:
“Appearances is all that matters in life.”
Where have you heard about Scripteast?
In 2006, a friend (director) told me about Scripteast and I just check the site thinking to apply when I have something powerful. In 2007 it was strongly recomanded by Pre Media. Meanwhile, Bachelor Hour came up in my mind.
What made you interested in this program?
My strong desire to improve my skils, to exchange point of views.
What do you expect from this year edition of Scripteast?
I expect to improve my ability to work with people, to learn from the best, to open a gate to the profesional script-market.
Do you have previous experience as tutor and advisor at similar workshops?
No.
What is your personal defintion of a good scrtipt and what – the most- makes it succesful?
Strong characters, memorable lines, a good and cinematic plotline, universal meanings.
Udayan Prasad
“ScripTeast is the programme all the advisors wish they could have attended at the start of their careers. It would have saved all that stumbling around in the dark looking for the key that stimulates the imagination so much more effectively.”
BAFTA nominated, director of “My Son the Fanatic”, “The Yellow Hankerchief” and ”Opa!”, 5th edition ScripTeast creative advisor, UK
Tom Abrams
“ScripTeast’s top-notch team of professional advisors, each year’s talented group of participants, and venues in Poland, Germany and France continue to make it the very best development workshop in the world today.”
ScripTeast Head of Studies, Associate Professor – Screenwriting and Production at School of Cinematic Arts, USC, screenwriter and director, author of the script for the Oscar-nominated film “Shoeshine”, USA
Scott Alexander
“ScripTeast is a fascinating mix of cultures, political ideas, and voices. I learned a lot, and I think the participants learned a lot more. If only they served vodka!”
Golden Globe awarded author of “The People vs. Larry Flynt” and “Ed Wood” with two Oscars, 5th edition ScripTeast creative advisor, USA