The Pitch 2012


The winner of The Pitch 2012

Manchester based writer Simon Cookson won The Pitch 2012 with “The Light”. Entering the competition for the first time, he impressed the five top industry judges in the boardroom with his short drama film idea.

His story, based on the conversion of Saul on the road to Damascus is set in America in the 1950s during the Red Scare era. The 'Saul' character in the story suddenly rejects his former oppressive ways, but realises the biggest struggle will be to convince everyone else he’s truly a changed man. “The Light” is a story with, at its core, a conflicted, engaging protagonist with a simple desire - to be accepted.

Nick Park, one of the panels top industry judges, rated Simon’s idea by saying: “It was a clear story - a dramatic idea which had clarity to it. It was about someone caught in a conflict, with strong inner conflict and social conflict. Simon had a very clear vision about where it was set, what the story was about and the major beats of the story came across really clearly.”

Speaking about how he feels about winning, Simon says: “I’m still in a dream - it feels amazing! I have learnt an immeasurable amount of stuff throughout the process of this competition. Every step of the way has been very exciting! I absolutely adore this story, so in a couple of days time, once I’ve had chance to decompress and get back to reality I will be on with the job of developing it further. I’m just really, really happy but really, really tired!”

Luke Walton, the project’s director says: “I am very proud this year. All of our finalists were exceptional and the top three were outstanding.

Carolyn had a compelling human story and had produced one of the most outstanding pitches this year. Her account of Judas's betrayal in a contemporary setting was very strong indeed.

Aurora returned on Sunday (day two of The Pitch) with a dazzling reworking of her material - an exciting Victorian drama based on the story of the Lost Son. So it was a close thing this year with any one of the contestants poised to grab the prize.

Simon stood out to the judges because he had a particularly fresh original context. Going back to the McCarthy era in the States, I think was a clever way of replaying the story of Paul. He’s a talented young man and well placed for the challenges that lie ahead to realise his vision.”

The Pitch 2012 Runner up

Aurora Fearnley - Acappella

The Pitch 2012 Runner up

Carolyn Goodyear - Betrayal

140 Characters or Less

Amii Griffith

90 degres

matthieu landour

A True Hero

Demelza Jarrett

Acappella

Aurora Fearnley

Adam and Eve and Steve

Stephen Atherton

Alligator Pond

David Dossett

Babel

Gareth Morgan

Besieged

Steve Brehm

Betrayal

Carolyn Goodyear

Between Lambs and Lions

Ted Wilkes

Cain Killed Abel

Chantal Graham

Cebreo

Vonley Smith

Coat of Colours

Herman Green

Conception

Rod Cleasby

Danni Ad Champion of the world

Philip Noble

Divine Visitation

Gela Jenssen

Esther

Ollie Wiggins

FATUM

Tara Evans

Forbidden

Ann-Marie Hunte

Gifted

Mathieu Noel

Glance

Alex Marx

Haunter

Ronald Wright

I AM ABSALOM

Cindy Jackman

Insidious

Theodore Henry

King David - You Live In This World Now

Barry Friedman

Leja

helen anderson

Magi

Laura Evers Johns

My Book of Revelation

kirk tierney

MY WEAPON

Yunique Francis

Ninevah.

Joshua Mills

Oliver & Alexander

Yurena A de Dios

Risen

Mike Marriage

Running Waters

Carlos Silva

Ruth

Kristen Griffin

Samaritan

Richard Dinsdale

Sodom & Garmorrah

Fennella Best

Something Sweet

Basil Jones

sweet

Varujan Smallwood

The Agony

Alex Barrett

The Beginning of the End

Miriam Vaught

The Crusader

Callum Cormie

The Golden Calf

Toni Blair

The Last River

Kevin Andrews

The Law

Bianca Thorne

The Light

Simon Cookson

The Other Son

Harriet Jones

The Path

Kehinde Sonola

The Surrogate

Catherine Maher

The Talents

Christopher Richards

The Wise and Foolish Builders

Faye Fillingham

The Workers

Jason Young

To The End

Ricardo Burgher

TRANSCEND!

Karlos Cobham

Tunnel Vision

Andy Halliday

Unfailing Love

Rashiem Shepherd

Wrath

David Gilbank

You will be father of many nations

stella etonno

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