Interview with Scarlett Kefford from Script Sirens

midlandsmovies • Jun 08, 2020
Script Sirens is a new inclusive writing group based in the West Midlands and Midlands Movies speaks to its founder Scarlett Kefford about the aims and future goals of this exciting new project.

Hiya Scarlett,, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Hi yes – so I’m Scarlett Kefford and I founded Script Sirens. I’m a 27-year-old, disabled queer woman from Birmingham. I have worked as a production coordinator and second AD in TV drama, and as a production manager for short films and stop motion animation commercials. But after developing two chronic, incurable, health conditions, I have semi-retired from production and have been working on re-entering the industry in development and script writing instead.

And how was Script Sirens founded?
I founded Script Sirens last summer after lamenting to a career mentor of mine, Caroline Officer, that I hadn’t been able to find a writers group locally where I hadn’t felt patronised, uncomfortable or misunderstood. I hate to pull out what seems to be a bit of a mantra at the moment but the scene is very white, male and old. So Caroline said ‘Why don’t you do it yourself’ and with her and Vicky Jepson and Alison Grades help to connect me with other like-minded and unrepresented writers and providing a monthly meeting space – I did!

Sounds great. What are the goals of Script Sirens?
The primary aim of the group is to provide a welcoming, nurturing and safe space for women and non-binary writers of the arts to practise and hone their script writing craft with open dialogue, project feedback and collaborative projects. 

And who is involved at this stage?
We have a dozen core members of all ages and experiences. Myself, Carmen Capuano, Debbie Sutton, Louise Osbourne, Kayleigh Watson, Annabel Brightling, Holly Louise Psaliou, Miriam Sarin, Alexandra Taylor, Melina DeNiro and Jackie G. Lyndley.

Our members have won awards for short films, short plays and feature scripts, had work screened at events such as Artsfest and Birmingham Film Festival; and produced work for stage, screen and radio. As well as that, they have worked in non-writing roles (director, producer, production manager, researcher, performer) in television, film and theatre, delivered writing workshops and much more.

You have a new project called Going Viral. Can you tell our readers a bit about that?
#GoingViral is an experiment of multimedia storytelling filmed within the restrictions of social distancing guidelines – a dark comedy web series of interconnected stories. Planned and co-written over two weeks and produced and filmed over a further two weeks, #GoingViral is our first foray into performance and, with such a quick turnaround, shows what can still be achieved and that 2020 as a year need not go to waste. #GoingViral is set in our present lockdown situation, but is not about COVID-19. It is instead about how elements of life still continue during such crisis, for better or for worse. In sickness and cannibalism?

Where can people see Going Viral?
Because of it’s format designed for Instagram ep 1 is best viewed on our IGTV: https://www.instagram.com/scriptsirens. But all the episodes are on our YouTube channel (and 2,3,4 are best watched there!) - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCI46-11doHJCGj472t7cAJw

What do you think are the challenges faced by women and non-binary writers?
Oh dear – how long have you got? I don’t want to turn this into a #meetoo rant or long explanation about unconscious bias, as there are many resources that have written about this much more eloquently than myself, however, as mentioned before in our local scene – in my experience and for many of those who joined Script Sirens – the available writers' groups did not feel particularly welcoming or nurturing. Often they weren’t focused on scriptwriting alone, didn’t ‘get’ or value the subjects of our writing and there didn’t seem much push for getting much done; in terms of career progression. Also there are some experiences that have influenced our writing that our members certainly didn’t feel safe to speak about before they found us.

And so how do you think Script Sirens can help overcome those?
I have tried to create a safe and inclusive environment for women and non-binary writers to educate themselves and nurture and improve their professional skillset. Through peer to peer support, networking and industry connection and just getting on with making things ourselves. We value what we can achieve by working together on exciting creative projects and look forward to sharing them with Birmingham natives and the wider West Midlands

Who influences or is an inspiration for your own writing?
Oh so many! From a young age I was a huge Buffy fan so Marti Noxon and Jane Espeson I couldn’t not name first. But some of my contemporary writer inspirations are Phoebe Waller Bridge (of course!), Ava DuVernay and Charlie Covell.

What are the future plans for Script Sirens?
Before Covid-19 we had been producing a theatre showcase which would actually have been today (weds 24th June!) to invite industry professional from theatre, TV and radio to get a taste of our writers work. I would very much not like all that hard work to go to waste so depending on the changing government guidance I hope to find a new way of going ahead with this – perhaps filmed in a theatre and released online – I’ve been badgering the REP. I also had some meeting events with industry professionals lined up to speak and normal group sessions on writing TV series treatments planned – time will tell if these have to go online also.

And how can people get involved?
Follow us we can be found @scriptsirens on all social media platforms and if you are interested in joining or collaborating please email scriptsirens@gmail.com

And finally, are there any other Midlands creatives out there you’d recommend our readers checking out?
Yes! Drew Roper of Yamination Studios, Natalie Yesufu Adele-Edwards of Transition Stage Company, Caroline Officer of many talents including Exec Producing, Alison Grade check out her book The Freelance Bible, David Poole Director, Sam Wood Photographer and the band Sunshine Frisbee Laserbeam.

Thanks Scarlett for your time.
Thank you.

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