NEW SCRIPT LIBRARY SCRIPTS
I have added several scripts to my SCRIPT LIBRARY. My script library is made up of unproduced scripts – all of which I think are excellent (and SHOULD be produced!)
A huge thank you to all these writers for allowing me to include their scripts. I wanted to include them because I think they’re all great – and I hope they will inspire you in the same way they did me when I read them –
Script-Library – Philip Shelley, Script Consultant
OUTLINES
3 pitches by Rory Platt
First, not a script, but three pitches by RORY PLATT – The Ones; Extension; Fred And Mary. We ask the 12 writers on the Channel 4 screenwriting course to give their script editor a one or two page pitch of three ideas they may want to write on the course. These three written pitches by Rory are an object lesson in how to write these incredibly tricky documents – crystal clear, very well-written and all interesting and entertaining ideas.
Rory is a screenwriter and playwright from Manchester. His work for stage has been performed at the VAULT festival, the Southwark Playhouse, Theatre503, the Hope Mill Theatre and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. In 2022 he took part in the BBC Northern Voices, while in 2024 he received a mentorship through Channel 4’s 4Screenwriting programme, prior to gaining a place on 4Screenwriting in 2025.
STAGE PLAY
VENISON – Christopher Adams
The stage play script that got Chris onto the Channel 4 screenwriting course this year. I loved this script – and I was delighted to hear that it recently won the Carlo Annoni International Playwriting Prize (English language) — a prize dedicated to LGBTQ+ scripts.
When Tristan meets Kyle, a young, ambitious reporter, the two quickly fall in love, but Kyle’s success at work starts to have unintended consequences. A darkly funny drama with touches of queer horror, Venison examines competitiveness, ambition, and queer masculinity.
Christopher is a British-American playwright and screenwriter. He is a graduate of the 4Screenwriting course. His plays include Tumulus, Antigone, and Progression, which was shortlisted for the George Devine Award.
DRAMA PILOT EPISODES
MY TOTALLY PERFECT DEATH – James Doherty
James is a Northern Irish writer and director. This is the script that got him onto the 2024 Greenlight Screenwriting Lab in Ireland.
Logline: Death-obsessed teen Billie challenges her sad-sack psychiatrist Doc to settle the question: What makes this inherently meaningless, wretched, bullshit existence worth living?
James Doherty is an Irish-Mancunian writer/director drawn to stories with messy family dynamics. His TV debut as director THE FINAL COUNTDOWN was nominated at the Broadcast Awards 2025 (Best Single Drama) and his feature EVERYTHING NOT SAVED WILL BE LOST has been selected for Screen Ireland’s Perspectives scheme.
MISS – Ferdia MacAonghusa
…and this script got Ferdia onto the 2024 Greenlight Screenwriting Lab.
Sam, a recently paralysed war-correspondent, tries to start her new life as a Dublin teacher in the terrible school she went to.
Ferdia MacAonghusa is an Irish writer with story writing credits in Fair City and screenplays in development with Screen Ireland. He writes a narratology Substack: https://hauntedbythenarrative.substack.com/
THE SACRIFICE – Jo Budzilowicz
This script was short-listed for the 2025 Greenlight Screenwriting Lab.
Accused of murdering her high school boyfriend in a modern day witch hunt, Stella Moore fled her hometown. 25 years later, after the death of her beloved drama teacher, she returns home to a town steeped in secrets, a legacy of lost magic, and a high school production of Macbeth that awakens something long buried.
Jo Budzilowicz is a writer and documentary development executive, with roots at award-winning companies like The Documentary Group and Dogwoof. She loves writing messy, funny women and her work blends grounded emotion with genre, often exploring transformation, power, and the creative ways we process pain.
THE DIFF – Medeni Griffiths
This script was short-listed for the 2025 Channel 4 screenwriting course – a gritty and gripping Wales-based thriller.
Set on the mean streets of Cardiff, THE DIFF follows Vicky, a stretched social worker, who takes the law and her clients’ lives into her own hands, in a particularly thrilling and ruthless way.
Medeni is a BAFTA Cymru nominated writer/director whose work has played at the Film Society of Lincoln Center, NY. Her work focuses on complex characters with morally dubious, provocative narratives.
GALLOP – Dale Leadon-Bolger
This script was shortlisted for the 2025 Greenlight Screenwriting Lab – an excellent and original series pilot episode set in the world of horse racing in Ireland.
An ambitious young jockey becomes embroiled in the criminal underbelly of Irish horse racing and must do all that she can to protect those that she loves.
Dale is an Irish screenwriter, filmmaker and actor, whose writing and directing credits include the award-winning short film WEIGHT (Screen Ireland) and the documentary WHEN HORSES RUN (Virgin Media Television & Screen Ireland). He was part of the BBC Voices cohort in 2024 and is currently seeking representation as a writer/director.
COMEDY DRAMA PILOT EPISODE
THE WILD WEST – Niall McCarthy
This brilliant script got Niall a place on the 2025 Greenlight Screenwriting Lab.
Pilot of a Western series set in rural Ireland post the 2008 financial crash
Niall McCarthy is an Irish writer from Derry currently living in London. His debut play ‘Derry Boys’ concluded its full length run at Theatre503 in June 2025 and received multiple five-star reviews.
SCRIPT READING AND DEVELOPMENT Q&A Wednesday November 19th 6-8.30pm
https://script-consultant.co.uk/script-reading-development-qa/
This is a semi-regular zoom session for a maximum of 8 people in which I will try to answer all your questions about the world of script reading, script editing and script development – whether you have no industry experience and are looking to find ways to break into this area; or if you have a lot of experience but (for instance) are finding that next career step from in-house junior development executive to production script editor tricky.
A chance to not only ask all the questions you have but to get advice on your CV, how to approach potential employers, where the opportunities currently exist in the industry, more general principles of how to get work and maximise your professional potential, a chance to meet 7 other people with similar interests and ambitions, to share experiences and knowledge with your peers – and the opportunity to be part of an exclusive WhatsApp group where you can carry on the conversation, share tips and ask advice.
Some quotes from the course testimonials –
‘I highly recommend the session for anyone seeking genuine insider expertise and the chance to connect with other like-minded professionals.’
‘…packed with insightful advice around starting an editorial career in the industry. I received feedback on my CV and clear, actionable pointers to use when contacting companies for script reading work. Philip’s focus on the ‘how to’ of finding opportunities really sets the session apart – I came away inspired with pages of notes and a mile long to-do list!’
‘Our chat answered a number of my longstanding industry questions and provided practical advice and direction on the next steps to take with my career. Highly recommended.’
CHANNEL 4 SCREENWRITING COURSE 2026
We received a record number of scripts for the Channel 4 screenwriting course – a grand total of 2766. Thank you very much for your entry. The team of 9 readers – and me – are already tucking into the scripts but won’t be able to get back to you about them until early December. We hugely appreciate all the interest in the course and we will do our best to do full justice to the scripts in the reading process.
The next newsletter will be on Friday October 24th
Best wishes
Phil
PHILIP SHELLEY
Twitter / Blue Sky: @PhilipShelley1
Friday October 9th 2025
