New gig

As previously mentioned, I have just been commissioned to adapt some books by Rhys Bowen, called the “Her Royal Spyness” series, for Matador Pictures.  The protagonist is a young member of the British royal family, 34^th in line to the throne, who – as you might guess – becomes a spy.  The books are set in the 1930s but we are updating them to the present day.  My personal inspirations (and ambition) for this job are movies like GROSSE POINTE BLANK, TRUE LIES and MR AND MRS SMITH.  Action, comedy, romance – the holy trinity of popular entertainment!

I’ve never done an adaptation before, and so I’m excited to get going.  The challenge is to deliver something that pleases fans of the source material while making it a fun and relevant movie experience in its own right.  Above all, I am currently Being Paid To Write, which is a pretty awesome feeling.

Here is the full article from Screen Daily:

Matador to develop Her Royal Spyness franchise

7 April, 2011 | By Sarah Cooper

The UK production company has acquired the rights to Rhys Bowen’s adventure novel series Her Royal Spyness; Chalet Girl writer Tom Williams to pen the script.

UK production company Matador Pictures has secured the rights to Rhys Bowen’s bestselling series of teen comedy-adventure novels Her Royal Spyness, with plans to develop a feature franchise.

The first feature is currently being written by Tom Williams, who penned the recent Chalet Girl. Rachel Belofsky of US-based Candy Heart Productions will co-produce with Matador. It is due to go into production late 2011/early 2012.

Part rom-com, part espionage adventure, the film follows the story of 18-year-old Georgie (aka Lady Victoria Georgiana Charlotte Eugenie) who becomes entangled in a world of international espionage whilst trying to survive in the big city as an ordinary person.

Matador Pictures’ CEO Nigel Thomas described it as a “brilliant project”.

“It marks another step in the evolution of our growing development and production slate. We’re especially delighted to be working with Tom Williams,” he added.

 

 

ps I had a flying visit to The London Comedy Writers Festival on Saturday, organised by the tireless Chris Jones.  I was speaking on a panel with Sophie Meyer, Vadim Jean and Jonny Newman, about the spec script market in the UK, or lack thereof.  Conclusion was: write them but don’t expect to sell them.  They’re kind of ‘writing samples with benefits’.  A little weird to be up on the stage rather than in the audience (or indeed filming sessions for my video diary), but a good experience and a lovely crowd as ever.  Well done to the team behind it all, long may it prosper.

pps Chalet Girl coming to the end of its UK box office run, looks like we’ll clear £2 million which should set us up for a long shelf life in VOD / DVD etc.  And apparently we’re big in Russia!  If you haven’t already, then please try to go and see it at the cinemas while you can.