screenwriter & author
" I want to work with you. I want to write your scripts and help you develop your projects. I can be your script doctor or your primary writer... Get in touch. Let's see where it goes... "
screenplays
I've written many original screenplays over the years, some of which are being developed for production by my film company, King Ziggy Films. Others, however, were written as "spec" scripts - screenplays written for other producers and film companies to purchase.
Below, you'll find brief synopses of some of my available work. They're all finished screenplays. Some of them are highly developed and polished, having benefitted from multiple drafts, while others are early drafts, a little rough around the edges, but full of potential. I'm open to any enquiries regarding purchase or collaboration on any of these projects. Please contact my agent, Simon Adkins, if you'd like to know more about any of them.
Below, you'll find brief synopses of some of my available work. They're all finished screenplays. Some of them are highly developed and polished, having benefitted from multiple drafts, while others are early drafts, a little rough around the edges, but full of potential. I'm open to any enquiries regarding purchase or collaboration on any of these projects. Please contact my agent, Simon Adkins, if you'd like to know more about any of them.
“CRIMES of the NEBRASKAN DEAD” (Western/Horror) FEATURE FILM
Nebraska, 1878. Judas McKenna, a bounty hunter with a notorious past, rides into the sleepy town of Bethel to apprehend a murderous gang boss. It’s never easy, of course. These things usually involve a fair amount of gun-play, and this is no exception. A blood-bath ensues, and Judas demonstrates how he got his reputation as a stone cold killer. But that’s not the end of it, not even close. Without warning, Judas comes face-to-face with a kind of horror he’s never encountered before; the hideous, rotting, staggering kind that scratches and bites and tries to eat you. Judas is mortally wounded, but an experimental transfusion brings him back from the dead – back, but not quite the same. He flees the town, knowing the thing he encountered was just the first. A taster. There’s worse to come, and they can’t be stopped.
Fifty miles north, the town of Lethargy is oblivious to the approaching horror. An unscrupulous landowner, Smilin’ Jack Brennan, is using underhand methods to buy out local ranchers because of the oil that’s flowing beneath their land. The town sheriff is in love with a visiting chanteuse, unaware that her ambitions exceed the idea of being a lowly sheriff’s wife. Perhaps Smilin’ Jack is a more attractive prospect... When Judas rides into town, he’s recognised by a couple of cowboys with more whiskey-fuelled bravado than sense. Once again, he’s forced to prove his gun-slinging credentials and winds up in jail for his trouble. Maybe it’s the safest place to be, because all too soon a terrifying, blood-crazed army of the undead descends upon Lethargy, and the town is plunged into unrelenting horror. Judas, changed by his experience in Bethel, seems to have a weird understanding of these creatures – his skills with a Peacemaker don’t go amiss, either – and he’s soon battling alongside Jack and a small band of townsfolk, fighting for their lives against the monstrous, flesh-eating demonic horde.
Crimes of the Nebraskan Dead, although a genre piece, is a serious piece of work. Heavily researched and grounded in an authentic world, it functions as a legitimate Western, in the vein of Unforgiven and Deadwood. When the horror aspect occurs, it’s unexpected, brutal and bloody, maintaining the reality of the world we’re in, and although it touches on the tropes of “traditional” zombie horror, it introduces a number of unique and surprising elements. The climax of the movie opens up the possibility of a number of sequels.
Nebraska, 1878. Judas McKenna, a bounty hunter with a notorious past, rides into the sleepy town of Bethel to apprehend a murderous gang boss. It’s never easy, of course. These things usually involve a fair amount of gun-play, and this is no exception. A blood-bath ensues, and Judas demonstrates how he got his reputation as a stone cold killer. But that’s not the end of it, not even close. Without warning, Judas comes face-to-face with a kind of horror he’s never encountered before; the hideous, rotting, staggering kind that scratches and bites and tries to eat you. Judas is mortally wounded, but an experimental transfusion brings him back from the dead – back, but not quite the same. He flees the town, knowing the thing he encountered was just the first. A taster. There’s worse to come, and they can’t be stopped.
Fifty miles north, the town of Lethargy is oblivious to the approaching horror. An unscrupulous landowner, Smilin’ Jack Brennan, is using underhand methods to buy out local ranchers because of the oil that’s flowing beneath their land. The town sheriff is in love with a visiting chanteuse, unaware that her ambitions exceed the idea of being a lowly sheriff’s wife. Perhaps Smilin’ Jack is a more attractive prospect... When Judas rides into town, he’s recognised by a couple of cowboys with more whiskey-fuelled bravado than sense. Once again, he’s forced to prove his gun-slinging credentials and winds up in jail for his trouble. Maybe it’s the safest place to be, because all too soon a terrifying, blood-crazed army of the undead descends upon Lethargy, and the town is plunged into unrelenting horror. Judas, changed by his experience in Bethel, seems to have a weird understanding of these creatures – his skills with a Peacemaker don’t go amiss, either – and he’s soon battling alongside Jack and a small band of townsfolk, fighting for their lives against the monstrous, flesh-eating demonic horde.
Crimes of the Nebraskan Dead, although a genre piece, is a serious piece of work. Heavily researched and grounded in an authentic world, it functions as a legitimate Western, in the vein of Unforgiven and Deadwood. When the horror aspect occurs, it’s unexpected, brutal and bloody, maintaining the reality of the world we’re in, and although it touches on the tropes of “traditional” zombie horror, it introduces a number of unique and surprising elements. The climax of the movie opens up the possibility of a number of sequels.
“MEAT” (Horror) FEATURE FILM
A group of friends, heading for a remote cottage to celebrate New Year, are involved in a fender-bender that leaves them stranded in the wilderness. They decide to trek through the forest in the hope of finding rescue, unaware they’ve got a more serious problem – the guy they crashed into is a psychotic butcher, and he’s coming to get them! Meat is a darkly-comic slasher horror with a mind-bending finale. And clowns.
A group of friends, heading for a remote cottage to celebrate New Year, are involved in a fender-bender that leaves them stranded in the wilderness. They decide to trek through the forest in the hope of finding rescue, unaware they’ve got a more serious problem – the guy they crashed into is a psychotic butcher, and he’s coming to get them! Meat is a darkly-comic slasher horror with a mind-bending finale. And clowns.
“TREACLE BLACK, NARROW BRIGHT” (DRAMA) FEATURE FILM
A thought-provoking, emotional drama that centres on four characters: Nate, a struggling actor and his long-term girlfriend, Rachel – both struggling to come to terms with the unexpected death of their young son... Samaire, a beautiful young actress with deep emotional problems brought about by continued sexual abuse as a child... and Ellis, an old friend of Nate’s, a thoughtful and somewhat lost individual who suffers with Tourette’s Syndrome. Treacle Black examines what happens when the lives of these characters collide, and explores the themes of loss, love, despair and redemption in a complex, moving and ultimately uplifting story.
A thought-provoking, emotional drama that centres on four characters: Nate, a struggling actor and his long-term girlfriend, Rachel – both struggling to come to terms with the unexpected death of their young son... Samaire, a beautiful young actress with deep emotional problems brought about by continued sexual abuse as a child... and Ellis, an old friend of Nate’s, a thoughtful and somewhat lost individual who suffers with Tourette’s Syndrome. Treacle Black examines what happens when the lives of these characters collide, and explores the themes of loss, love, despair and redemption in a complex, moving and ultimately uplifting story.
“HARM” (Psychological Horror) FEATURE FILM
Harm is a contemporary horror film, centred around a social worker investigating suspicions of widespread child abuse on a West London housing estate. Dark, uncompromising and very disturbing, Harm has the potential to be the most terrifying British horror film since The Wicker Man.
Harm is a contemporary horror film, centred around a social worker investigating suspicions of widespread child abuse on a West London housing estate. Dark, uncompromising and very disturbing, Harm has the potential to be the most terrifying British horror film since The Wicker Man.
“SCI-FI” (Science Fiction/Thriller) FEATURE FILM
Jerry Calder can’t remember what happened to his wife. The police think he killed her, but all he can remember is waking up naked outside their cabin in Montana, and that she wasn’t there anymore. Months later, back home in England, Jerry witnesses the execution of an American stranger outside his cottage, but not before the guy whispers something to Jerry that might have something to do with those lost memories... And so begins a frantic adventure involving MI6, secret organizations, UFO fanatics, government cover-ups and a deadly task-force that will go to any lengths to prevent Jerry finding the truth.
Jerry Calder can’t remember what happened to his wife. The police think he killed her, but all he can remember is waking up naked outside their cabin in Montana, and that she wasn’t there anymore. Months later, back home in England, Jerry witnesses the execution of an American stranger outside his cottage, but not before the guy whispers something to Jerry that might have something to do with those lost memories... And so begins a frantic adventure involving MI6, secret organizations, UFO fanatics, government cover-ups and a deadly task-force that will go to any lengths to prevent Jerry finding the truth.
“JOHNNY NO MATES” (Action/Thriller) FEATURE FILM
Following a series of random events, Johnny, an American living in London, is plunged into the world of organised crime and international arms dealing. He finds a father-figure in the form of an eccentric and volatile gang-lord, and love in the arms of his daughter. Johnny’s found his place in the world, and he’s happy for the first time – until a violent gang war breaks out with a rival firm – and a dogged police officer forces Johnny to wear a wire, turning him against his adopted family. With unrelenting pace, exhilarating action, romance and unpredictable twists and turns, Johnny No Mates is a stylish, brutal thriller that will satisfy any fans of GANGS OF LONDON.
Following a series of random events, Johnny, an American living in London, is plunged into the world of organised crime and international arms dealing. He finds a father-figure in the form of an eccentric and volatile gang-lord, and love in the arms of his daughter. Johnny’s found his place in the world, and he’s happy for the first time – until a violent gang war breaks out with a rival firm – and a dogged police officer forces Johnny to wear a wire, turning him against his adopted family. With unrelenting pace, exhilarating action, romance and unpredictable twists and turns, Johnny No Mates is a stylish, brutal thriller that will satisfy any fans of GANGS OF LONDON.
“DOUBLE SIX” (Thriller/Comedy) FEATURE FILM
Three young guys on a backpacking vacation arrive in Istanbul, determined to make the most of what the exotic city has to offer. At first, all goes according to plan – until one of them goes off the deep end and decides to make all their decisions based on the throw of a dice! Fast-paced, sexy, violent and funny, Double Six takes us on a dark journey into madness in one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
Three young guys on a backpacking vacation arrive in Istanbul, determined to make the most of what the exotic city has to offer. At first, all goes according to plan – until one of them goes off the deep end and decides to make all their decisions based on the throw of a dice! Fast-paced, sexy, violent and funny, Double Six takes us on a dark journey into madness in one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
other writing
"JUDAS" - A NOVEL (Work in Progress)
Many people say they've "got a novel in them", and maybe they have, but few of them realise the work involved in actually writing one! Man, it's hard! It's a lonely, solitary battle that tests your stamina and makes you question why you ever started writing it in the first place! But you persevere. You press on. You're steadfast in your belief in yourself and in the story you're telling. And bit-by-bit, if you're lucky, something brilliant begins to take shape!
I started writing JUDAS a couple of years ago, working on it whenever I had some free time, or when a burst of inspiration hit me. I'm happy to say I'm now in the final stages, and working on the last act of the story. A few more months of hard work and I'll have the first draft completed. I've enjoyed the process, and I'm confident it's a good story with memorable, engaging characters. I'm excited by the thought of finally getting it finished, by the thought of other people reading it, and the prospect of submitting it to publishers. I know it's a great piece of work, and I can't wait to share it with you. I'll keep you updated!
Many people say they've "got a novel in them", and maybe they have, but few of them realise the work involved in actually writing one! Man, it's hard! It's a lonely, solitary battle that tests your stamina and makes you question why you ever started writing it in the first place! But you persevere. You press on. You're steadfast in your belief in yourself and in the story you're telling. And bit-by-bit, if you're lucky, something brilliant begins to take shape!
I started writing JUDAS a couple of years ago, working on it whenever I had some free time, or when a burst of inspiration hit me. I'm happy to say I'm now in the final stages, and working on the last act of the story. A few more months of hard work and I'll have the first draft completed. I've enjoyed the process, and I'm confident it's a good story with memorable, engaging characters. I'm excited by the thought of finally getting it finished, by the thought of other people reading it, and the prospect of submitting it to publishers. I know it's a great piece of work, and I can't wait to share it with you. I'll keep you updated!
“BLIMEY!” - A CHILDREN'S BOOK (Work in Progress)
The world is in a state of panic. Something extraordinary is happening. Grown-ups are being sent home from work and schools are closing early. Harry's teachers are behaving very strangely and newspapers are blathering on about some sort of invasion!
Harry, a 9 year old boy, and Arthur, his talking dog, are on their way home when a flying saucer lands in the High Street.
The army abruptly turns up, along with a limousine containing the Prime Minister and the monumentally stupid President of the United States.
Aliens emerge from the spaceship and announce that the Earth will be destroyed unless its leaders can demonstrate why it deserves to be spared...by answering a series of tricky questions and bizarre riddles!
It quickly becomes obvious that the PM and the President aren't up to this vitally important task...and it falls upon Harry and Arthur to save the world!
The world is in a state of panic. Something extraordinary is happening. Grown-ups are being sent home from work and schools are closing early. Harry's teachers are behaving very strangely and newspapers are blathering on about some sort of invasion!
Harry, a 9 year old boy, and Arthur, his talking dog, are on their way home when a flying saucer lands in the High Street.
The army abruptly turns up, along with a limousine containing the Prime Minister and the monumentally stupid President of the United States.
Aliens emerge from the spaceship and announce that the Earth will be destroyed unless its leaders can demonstrate why it deserves to be spared...by answering a series of tricky questions and bizarre riddles!
It quickly becomes obvious that the PM and the President aren't up to this vitally important task...and it falls upon Harry and Arthur to save the world!