Creative Writing (Multidiscipline) graduate Alan Taylor has sold options on his debut feature screenplay Amongst Sheep to Italian Production Company Geko Movies for a four figure sum with five figures on the table for development.
Geko, a production company whose clients include Italy’s major broadcaster Rai, and international companies like Mercedes Benz and Ducati, will now have the rights to develop Amongst Sheep for the International Television market.
Taylor, who took modules on screenwriting, children’s writing, the novel and journalism whilst studying at The Northern School of Writing at University of Salford, is only a year away from graduation, but already exciting interest as a new screenwriter.
Speaking to us about the deal, Taylor said, “I got so much out of the CWM course, both in education and as an experience as a whole. I didn’t expect much when starting university at 40. My goal was simply to be the most qualified man at the job centre, but your encouragement and feedback made a real difference, and having tutors who took my writing seriously helped me take it more seriously myself.”
CWM programme leader David Savill said, “Alan was a joy to work with, and took every opportunity coming. He exemplifies so many of our students: a multi-talented, overlooked talent from the North-West of England who proudly puts his region and culture into all of his work. I suspect what Geko recognised was the authenticity and fresh voice in Alan’s writing.”
