DYSPLA presents this year’s Storymakers Residency Industry Table Read, hosted for the second year by Hat Trick Productions on 11th October 2022 at 6:00 pm.

The residency is designed to spotlight early career Neurodivergent Screenwriters from underrepresented backgrounds and provide an opportunity for Film and TV development producers to witness the benefits of an artist-led centered approach to script development.

It launched in 2019 with the support of Arts Council England and offers a holistic script-writing programme designed to accommodate the completion of a finished manuscript.

Over the last six months, the DYSPLA Storymakers Residency worked with three neurodivergent creatives to develop; two new stories about queer identities, Venus in 13, by Alex Clake, Man Code, by Ryan Walker-Edwards, 1 TV Treatment and story bible about a morally ambiguous teen dropout, NEET, by Krishna Modhwadia and a new avant-guard film about female orgasm, ‘Cum like a Woman’, also written by Alex Clake and produced by DYSPLA and seed funding by Earls Court Film Festival.

Residency writers worked with professional script editors and received mentorship by DYSPLA Founder, Lennie Varvarides. This support helped each writer understand how their Neurodivergence impacts and enhances their creative process.

“The DYSPLA Storymakers Residency 2022 program helped me stay accountable for my writing and has helped me to form a daily writing routine. Before the residency, writing felt like climbing up a mountain.”- Krishna Modhawadia, 2022

DYSPLA Storymakers Residency

The evening will offer two professional readings of Venus in 13, directed by Fi Kelly and Man Code, directed by Aliyah Hasinah followed by a Q&A with all three 2022 DYSPLA Storymakers Residency winners: Alex Clarke, Ryan Walker-Edwards and Krishna Modhwadia.

Winners:

Out of 285 applicants, three writers were offered DYSPLA residency: Krishna Modhwadia, Alex Clarke and Ryan Walker-Edwards – all of whom pitched outstanding story concepts.

Venus in 13 – Logline

“Glenda, an older lesbian, is struggling to move on after losing her wife but finds help from an unusual source – the bestselling audiobook “Venus in 13″ – where she discovers love is only a breath away”.

Clarke says: ‘[The Residency] means the freedom to finally make an artistic piece of work in a Neurodivergent way. I believe that there is a Neurodivergent Aesthetic that isn’t captured in mainstream storytelling.’

Man Code – Logline

Lucas, a computer techie goes on an ordeal when he invites Theo around for what he thought would be no strings attached fun. But it takes an odd turn when his ex-girlfriend returns home early.

Walker-Edwards says:

‘I love writing, telling stories, exploring different perspectives and narratives. [Neurodivergent creativity] is also about realizing that there is help out there for you as a Neurodivergent artist where you can have resources and can be given advice and support to tell your stories.’

Krishna Modhwadia :

Traditionally we have been taught to have to do things in a certain way and to conform to society as we know it. The amazing thing about DYSPLA and this Neurodivergent Residency is that they are helping nurture us and support us in a way that works best with our brains and that allows us to keep going.’

About DYSPLA

DYSPLA is a London based arts organization specializing in the creative and professional development of Neurodivergent artists and is leading the way on the Neurodivergent Aesthetic.

Event Details:

Date: Tuesday 11th Oct 2022

Start Time: 6:00 pm for a 6:30 pm start

End Time: 8:30 pm with Prosecco Reception until 9:00 pm

Location: Hat Trick Productions, 33 Oval Road, London NW1 7EA

Underground: Camden Station

RSVP for industry-only guest list

‘CUM, like a Women’ will premiere on the 15th November 2022 at The Soho Screening Rooms 14 D’Arblay Street London W1F 8DY. Click here for tickets.