38-495: William Gaminara (born 1956) is a British actor, screenwriter and playwright , probably best known for playing pathologist Professor Leo Dalton on the television series Silent Witness , from 2002 to 2013. His plays include According to Hoyle , The Three Lions and The Nightingales . Gaminara was born in 1956 in Lusaka , Northern Rhodesia . He was educated at Winchester College , Hampshire, England, and Lincoln College at
76-674: A film studio , production company , TV network, or producer, they often have to continue networking, mainly with directors or executives, and push to have their projects "chosen" and turned into films or TV shows. If interest in a script begins to fade, a project can go dead. The International Affiliation of Writers Guilds (IAWG) is the international federation of screenwriters' and playwrights' unions, who recognize union membership across international borders. They have 14 different affiliates across various nations who collectively work to verify original authorship, fight for fair compensation, and enforce copyright. Most professional screenwriters in
114-440: A "dated sitcom". Gaminara is married to Kate Lock, also an actor; they have two sons. Screenwriter A screenwriter (also called scriptwriter , scribe , or scenarist ) is someone who practices the craft of writing for visual mass media, known as screenwriting . These can include short films, feature-length films, television programs, television commercials, video games, and the growing area of online web series. In
152-567: A "gleefully irreverent glimpse 'behind the scenes'" with a "zingy script". A reviewer for The Independent writes that the "neat script combines light satire with good, old-fashioned farce". In 2018, his comedy–drama The Nightingales was produced at the New Theatre in Cardiff , directed by Christopher Luscombe and starring Ruth Jones . Jones, an acquaintance of Gaminara's, describes the play as "gripping" and "really funny", saying that Gaminara has
190-439: A "rather nifty construction" employing interleaved timelines, and praises the "whiplash severity" of its dialogue. Benedict Nightingale , in a review for The Times , writes that Gaminara has a "gift for funny dialogue" and considers the play's conclusion to demonstrate the independence of his viewpoint. During this period Gaminara also wrote episodes for the television series This Life (1997) and The Lakes (1999), as well as
228-591: A "superbly controlled performance", which "nails the slow, measured but warmly faux-colloquial rhetoric of the American church", according to a review in The Independent . Gardner, in The Guardian , describes Gaminara as "suggesting both the charisma and the arrogance" of his character, and Dominic Maxwell, in a review for The Times , considers that Gaminara "propels it all with conviction". Also in 2015, Gaminara took
266-480: A "wonderful ear for naturalistic dialogue" and "has tuned in with such insight to human nature and the ways we behave in groups and also how we relate to each other and what we choose to reveal about ourselves." Sam Marlowe, in a critical review for The Times of a production at the Theatre Royal, Bath , describes the play as "an inconsequential, darkish comedy" with "cardboard" characters and dialogue reminiscent of
304-441: A comedic approach to male identity and the relationships between men using the setting of a poker game. Dromgoole describes it as "quite wonderful", but overshadowed by the success of Dealer's Choice , a play on the same topic by Patrick Marber , which came out at almost the same time. Lyn Gardner , in a review of a 1995 production at Hampstead Theatre for The Guardian , describes it as a "feisty, sharply entertaining comedy" with
342-409: A first draft. Multi-step deals, where the writer is signed on for more than the first draft (typically including a rewrite) can earn a screenwriter more, with experienced WGA members earning up to $ 5,000,000 for their work. Non-union screenwriters can also work for a salary, but will typically earn less than a unionized screenwriter. Pay can vary dramatically for a non-unionized screenwriter. Some of
380-648: A position to further a project. Once the script is sold, the writer has only the rights that were agreed with the purchaser. A screenwriter becomes credible by having work that is recognized, which gives the writer the opportunity to earn a higher income. As more films are produced independently (outside the studio system), many up-and-coming screenwriters are turning to pitch fests, screenplay contests, and independent development services to gain access to established and credible independent producers. Many development executives are now working independently to incubate their own pet projects. Screenwriters are rarely involved in
418-439: A script to suit the desires of a director or studio . For instance, studio management may have a complaint that the motivations of the characters are unclear or that the dialogue is weak. Hollywood has shifted writers onto and off projects since its earliest days, and the assignment of credits is not always straightforward or complete, which poses a problem for film study. In his book Talking Pictures , Richard Corliss discussed
SECTION 10
#1733084729685456-749: A story that has become a powerful fable of our national identity. The astonishing story of Christine Keeler and the so-called Profumo affair is the Salem Witch Trial meets O.J. Simpson – a perfect storm of gender, class, race and power that resonates into the world we’re living in today." Filming began in Bristol in December 2018. Filming was also spotted on Lansdown Terrace Lane, Cheltenham , Gloucestershire . Abbey Green and North Parade Buildings in Bath can also be seen in episode 1. Keshet International handled
494-532: A technical product, a brief " scenario ", "treatment", or "synopsis" that is a written synopsis of what is to be filmed. Screenwriting is a contracted freelance profession, not a hired position. No education is required to be a professional screenwriter, but good storytelling abilities and imagination give aspiring screenwriters an advantage. Many screenwriters start their careers doing speculative work ("work on spec"), practicing their screenwriting with no guaranteed financial compensation. If one of these scripts
532-461: Is put out about a project that a film studio , production company , or producer wants done, they are referred to as "open" assignments. Open assignments are more competitive. If screenwriters are competing for an open assignment, more established writers usually win the assignments. A screenwriter can also be approached and personally offered a writing assignment. Many screenwriters also work as full- or part-time script doctors , attempting to better
570-412: Is sold, it is called a spec script . Amateur screenwriters will often pursue this work as "writers in training," leading these spec scripts to often go uncredited or come from unknown screenwriters. Further separating professional and amateur screenwriters is that professionals are usually represented by a talent agency . These screenwriter-specific employment agencies work to handle the business side of
608-600: The University of Oxford . Gaminara had a minor role in the 1986 film Comrades , directed by Bill Douglas . His early television credits include Dr Andrew Bower in Casualty (1989–92) and Will Newman in Attachments (2000–02). His most notable television role was Professor Leo Dalton in the BBC crime drama series Silent Witness . He played Dalton from 2002 until 2013, and reprised
646-400: The silent era , screenwriters were denoted by terms such as photoplaywright , photoplay writer , photoplay dramatist , and screen playwright . Screenwriting historian Steven Maras notes that these early writers were often understood as being the authors of the films as shown, and argues that they could not be precisely equated with present-day screenwriters because they were responsible for
684-614: The Hearse and Smell the Flowers (1992), about water-purifier salesmen, is influenced by David Mamet 's Glengarry Glen Ross . Michael Billington , in a review of a 1992 production at Hampstead Theatre for The Guardian , praises its encapsulation of the "guile, bluster and conviction" of a "perfect pitch" but criticises its "heavy-handed tendency to moralise". The director Dominic Dromgoole describes it as "smoothly accomplished, but unambitious". His second play, According to Hoyle (1995), takes
722-760: The People at the Chichester Festival Theatre , directed by Howard Davies ; Gaminara plays the principal antagonist Peter Stockmann "chillingly", according to Christopher Hart 's review for The Sunday Times . Susannah Clapp , in a review for The Observer , describes Gaminara's performance as "finely slippery", and Ann Treneman in The Times praises his "small-town fury". Since his time on Silent Witness , Gaminara has taken occasional television roles, including in The Trial of Christine Keeler (BBC One; 2019–20),
760-602: The U.S. are unionized and are represented by the Writers Guild of America (WGA). Although membership in the WGA is recommended, it is not required of a screenwriter to join. The WGA is the final arbiter on awarding writing credit for projects under its jurisdiction. The WGA also looks upon and verifies film copyright materials. Other notable screenwriters' unions include the Writers' Guild of Great Britain , representing screenwriters in
798-564: The UK, and La Guilde Française des Scénaristes, representing screenwriters in France. Minimum salaries for union screenwriters in the US are set by the Writers Guild of America . The median compensation for a first draft from a first time screenwriter is $ 100,000, while the most experienced members have a median compensation of $ 450,000. The most experienced WGA members have reported up to $ 4,000,0000 compensation for
SECTION 20
#1733084729685836-404: The crime drama Honour (ITV; 2020), as well as guest appearances in the sitcom Catastrophe (Channel 4) and the crime drama Death In Paradise (BBC One; 2022). He plays Dr Richard Locke in the long-running radio soap opera, The Archers . He also voices audiobooks , including Bernard Cornwell 's Sharpe novels and John Christopher 's The Tripods . Gaminara's first play, Back Up
874-510: The distribution rights internationally, with Endeavor Content in the United States. The show received generally positive reviews. On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes , 77% of 13 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.9/10. The website's consensus reads: "Though its non-linear plotting distracts, The Trial of Christine Keeler remains an engaging -- if somewhat redundant -- lesson in history carried by
912-505: The highest amounts paid to writers for spec screenplays: $ 5 million: $ 2 million: $ 1 million: The Trial of Christine Keeler The Trial of Christine Keeler is a British television series based on the chain of events surrounding the Profumo affair in the 1960s. The six-part series premiered on BBC One in the United Kingdom on 29 December 2019. The series
950-475: The historian's dilemma: "A writer may be given screen credit for work he didn't do (as with Sidney Buchman on Holiday ), or be denied credit for work he did do (as with Sidney Buchman on The Awful Truth )." After a screenwriter finishes a project, they pair with an industry-based representative, such as a producer, director, literary agent , entertainment lawyer, or entertainment executive. The partnerships often pitch their project to investors or others in
988-480: The last half of [the twentieth] century, what the Great American Novel was for the first half. Closet writers who used to dream of the glory of getting into print now dream of seeing their story on the big or small screen." Every screenplay and teleplay begins with a thought or idea, and screenwriters use their ideas to write scripts, with the intention of selling them and having them produced. In some cases
1026-524: The photojournalist Paul Watson in Dan O'Brien 's The Body of an American , a two-hander with Damien Molony . Gaminara describes the play as a "challenging and unconventional script which makes challenging and unconventional demands of an actor". Lyn Gardner , writing in The Guardian , describes the acting as "knockout", with the "muscular quality of a contest" whilst being "scrupulously generous"; she highlights
1064-422: The production of a film. Sometimes they come on as advisors, or if they are established, as a producer. Some screenwriters also direct. Although many scripts are sold each year, many do not make it into production because the number of scripts that are purchased every year exceeds the number of professional directors that are working in the film and TV industry . When a screenwriter finishes a project and sells it to
1102-434: The role in 2017 in the final episode of series 20. The role was at first subsidiary to Sam Ryan, played by Amanda Burton , but when Burton left the series and Gaminara's character Dalton headed the laboratory, the drama evolved into a three-hander between Dalton, Harry Cunningham ( Tom Ward ) and Nikki Alexander ( Emilia Fox ). After leaving Silent Witness , Gaminara appeared in several theatrical roles. In 2014, he played
1140-762: The screenplay for the BBC adaptation of Rachel Morris's novel, Ella and the Mothers (2002). His play The Three Lions was performed at the Pleasance Courtyard at the Edinburgh Festival in 2013, produced by Philip Wilson. A comedy about the unsuccessful English bid for the 2018 World Cup, it brings together David Beckham (Sean Browne), David Cameron (Dugald Bruce-Lockhart) and Prince William (Tom Davey). Lucinda Everett, writing in The Daily Telegraph , describes it as
1178-453: The screenwriting job, typically taking on legal, financial, and other important representative roles for the screenwriter. These professional screenwriters rarely work for free. There are a legion of would-be screenwriters who attempt to enter the film industry , but it often takes years of trial and error, failure, and gritty persistence to achieve success. In Writing Screenplays that Sell , Michael Hague writes, "Screenplays have become, for
William Gaminara - Misplaced Pages Continue
1216-505: The script is based on an existing property, such as a book or person's life story, which is adapted by the screenwriter. In most cases, a film project is initiated by a screenwriter. The initiator of the project gets the exclusive writing assignment. They are referred to as "exclusive" assignments or "pitched" assignments. Screenwriters who often pitch new projects, whether original or an adaptation, often do not have to worry about competing for assignments and are often more successful. When word
1254-506: The story as compelling today as it was to the people following every twist and turn in the headlines six decades ago. Lucy Mangan of The Guardian also gave the show 4 out of 5 stars, writing: " The Trial [...] remains a furiously fast, fun ride which doesn't let the deeper, darker issues fall from its grasp." However, Peter Crawley ended his review in The Irish Times by saying: Keeler, who we see at one point playing around with
1292-464: The strength of its performers." Writing in the Radio Times , Paul Kirkley gave the show 4 out of 5 stars, saying: In an age where politicians appear increasingly bulletproof in the face of scandal, there was a danger that The Trial of Christine Keeler' s sexual and political shenanigans might look tame in comparison. But there's something about the characters in this particular drama that, [...] makes
1330-575: The supporting role of General Groves in the premiere of Tom Morton-Smith 's Oppenheimer by the Royal Shakespeare Company at The Swan in Stratford-upon-Avon . Michael Billington , in a 5-star review for The Guardian , highlights "outstanding performances" from Gaminara among others, as does Kate Kellaway , in a later Guardian review. In 2016, he appeared in Ibsen 's An Enemy of
1368-562: The way in which the two actors each embody a large number of characters and are required to swap between roles abruptly. The production was also praised by Dominic Maxwell in The Times for "superb" acting on the part of both leads. The following year, he played the lead character, Pastor Paul, in Lucas Hnath 's The Christians at the Traverse Theatre during the Edinburgh Festival, giving
1406-501: Was 19. Both affairs were with prominent married men – Soviet Union naval attaché Yevgeny Ivanov , and Secretary of State for War , John Profumo , at the height of the Cold War . The Trial of Christine Keeler was announced as a project by the BBC in October 2017, with Amanda Coe attached to script. At the time, Coe stated, "I’m excited to have the opportunity to bring a fresh lens to
1444-526: Was adapted by screenwriter Amanda Coe and stars Sophie Cookson , James Norton , Ellie Bamber , Ben Miles , Visar Vishka, Emilia Fox , Nathan Stewart-Jarrett and Anthony Welsh . Christine Keeler , an English model and a showgirl, becomes entangled in a scandal at age 21, after a series of events involving her two ex-boyfriends Johnny Edgecombe and Lucky Gordon , in combination with MI5 's secret service intrigues. These combine to reveal publicly two of Keeler's affairs from two years before when she
#684315