Become a Patron for Myrn's Screenwriting Masters

Myrn Olwyn Devaney organizza questa raccolta fondi

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Dear friends,

Earlier this year, I was selected from thousands of applicants to study screenwriting on the MA programme at one of the world's top film schools. Unfortunately, even with a student loan and working part time, I'm not yet over the line to be able to afford to do the course.

As was the case with most of us last year, Miss Rona threw out my plans big time. I hadn't been living in London very long when the pandemic hit and having to rely on my savings to get by was difficult, but a lot of good came out of this period as well. Before I lost my office job, I was furloughed for a few months. While furloughed, I kept my 9-5 schedule in place and focused on teaching myself how to write scripts as best I could. I did online intro courses, listened to writing podcasts, read screenplays and screenwriting books, reached out to chat to people in the industry, and worked on my own projects.

I've had an encouraging response to my early written work. In 2020, I was awarded an OffWestEnd online commendation for my short online play The Jar, attached above if you fancy a watch. It premiered online at the beginning of the pandemic and was viewed over 4500 times. It also won ‘best playwright’ and received two other nominations for ‘best play’ and ‘best performer’ at this year's Scenesaver Awards . In 2021, my first full length play was shortlisted for Hope Mill Theatre’s Playwriting Prize and I had my first short story published, page 26 if you fancy a read. I'm currently a finalist on two British screenplay competitions, and have been invited to pitch a TV series I'm developing as part of one of them.

Anyone who knows me will know that I'm not great at asking for help, and that I'm a stickler for thinking I can handle everything on my own. I've been putting off launching this fundraiser for a while now but, as stubborn as I am, I recognise what a unique opportunity it is to study at the London Film School and I know how hard I'm willing to work to make it worth it. So I'm taking a leaf out of Amanda Palmer's book and humbly asking for your support in helping me turn this opportunity into an exciting career jump-off point.

I understand that not everyone is in a position to contribute financially, but I'd be so grateful if you were to even share my story with your network as you never know who it might reach. I hope to someday be in a position to help young people break into TV and film, an industry that's much harder to access if you're not from a wealthy background, so I have faith that there are people in this position now who share my belief in paying it forward.

The course fees are £14,628 for the year. My student loan will cover some of this, but I still have £3100 left to pay. I've set £10,000 as my goal because this would contribute £500 per month of the course to my maintenance fees. This would mean that I'd be able to support myself in London working part time which will allow me the necessary time to focus on the course. I don't reckon I'll have many days off over the next year, but if I was to reach my goal, it would be a massive help in making the year ahead a little more manageable!

Next year, I'll graduate having written a thesis, two short films, a feature film and a TV series. This will be the starter portfolio I'll enter the industry with and a key part in launching my career as a screenwriter. Your contribution, whether financial or otherwise, will help make these the best possible versions they can be, and I will be forever grateful to you because you are supporting my dreams. This is a generosity I will never forget or take for granted.

You're a star for taking the time out of your day to read my spiel! Any contribution you feel that you can make is so appreciated, and please don't hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions on any of the above.

Thank you so much!

All my love,

Myrn x