Helen Black
@WriterHBlack
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Writes novels and TV. BAFTA, Emmy, Broadcast nominated. RTS winner. Watches footie and eats fried egg sandwiches
Displaced northerner
Joined November 2017
A brilliant article about why women need to be involved in writing women’s stories . And if Jimmy McGovern - one of our finest writers believes that, then maybe a few writers out there ought to open their ears.
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Pitching your crime drama to different broadcasters. BBC - it’s set up north. ITV - it’s true. C4 - we’re thinking 1986.C5 - in one location .Sky - with helicopters. Amazon - and Nicole Kidman. Netflix - it’s Manchester but with baseball and thanksgiving. BritBox - no one dies.
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Them: we’re looking for complex, flawed, difficult female characters. Also them: why isn’t she nice?.#writerslife.
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Sorry but Nanowrimo saying the use of AI is fine and condemnation of it is ‘classist’ is the biggest pile of horse wank . Working class writers are perfectly able to write their own yanno… words. We don’t need your IP stealing, environmentally disastrous tech bro shite.
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The TV industry will say they need more working class creatives/stories and set up panels/schemes as if the problem is finding them, as if it’s never occurred to us to work in telly . Truth is we’re here.We pitch you stuff .We try to work with you.You turn us/our stories down.
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First look image of a thing I wrote with relative new comer Jimmy McGovern. You know you wanna watch this, right? Right? . #TimeS2
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I fucking won!!!!!.
Praised by judges for its “fast paced storytelling matched with terrific performances," Life and Death in the Warehouse takes home the Single Drama award! #RTSAwards
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7 years ago I wrote a script for a bit of fun. I’d read interviews with @PhelpsieSarah and @jed_mercurio and decided to give it go. Why not? Oh the naivety 🤣🤣🤣. Anyways here I am and my own show airs tonight .#thewives.
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6 years ago today I met my agent .The beast of the east had covered London in snow so I wore walking boots . Over a brew in her funky office I said I knew nothing about TV, or any producers, I was already old and had written only one script . She said ‘yes but a lovely script’.
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Sorry but I’m never gonna get bored of seeing my name next to Jimmy’s.
📢 Bella Ramsey, Jodie Whittaker, Tamara Lawrance & Siobhan Finneran star in the second series of Jimmy McGovern’s BBC drama Time. Co-written by Jimmy McGovern & Helen Black, it's a moving and high-stakes portrayal of life inside a women's prison. More ➡️
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Writers are always urged to treat every note seriously . But I’m remembering the time I wrote a script about a young fella falling in love with his foster sister whilst grieving for his dad and the note was …. Could his dad be alive and living in the cellar . This is the battle.
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Over 4 years ago a no-experience me did my first writers room and met a lovely runner who then got promoted to script editor . Now he’s a dev exec at one of the most successful prods and we’re having one of our regular catch ups. Be Nice To People .They remember.I do too.
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Did a session last night for emerging writers on the New Writing North scheme funded by C4.I brought along a dev exec/script editor from an indie I do a lot of work with . And here are some things he said .1. Get an agent. I know, I know.
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My tuppence on the WGA writers strike against screen writing as a gig economy. Well here in the U.K. it already is. We don’t have staff writers or rooms where we’re employed. Instead we move from gig to gig.
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Don’t know if anyone needs to hear this but if you’re struggling to get work in the TV industry right now - it’s not you .Things are VERY quiet. Ignore the ‘highest ever spend’ shite - things costing a lot does not equate to lots of work.
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Liverpool really is the land of beautiful girls innit?. Mean literal wall to wall queens.
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Don’t usually go to the theatre. A little mannered, middle class for me. But man. Jodie Comer in Prima Facie tonight. Fucking top.
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So I’m doing a thing.
. @channel5_tv 5 has greenlit new drama, The Wives (6×60’), a domestic thriller created by Helen Black and produced by @GaumontTV UK, in association with @BanijayRights for international distribution.
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So this happened today.
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TV producers - we want new fresh working class voices . TV producers all crammed in shit hotels in Edinburgh, watching monologues with a glass of warm wine being performed by that bloke from RADA who’s dad. .
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Working class people watch more TV then middle class people, especially working class women .Yet somehow the TV industry thinks the best people to make telly are middle class men . As folk on here like to say - make it make sense.
#Sherwood writer @mrJamesGraham calls for better working class representation on TV in powerful speech.
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I fucking love writing TV.I love the collaboration . I mean yeah notes can be painful .But having that team around you, people who don’t blink when you hand in 26 pages begging for help with story . People who keep their cool when you’re working through it . Fucking Love That.
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6/ there have been so so many rejections along the way and my agent has held my hand through them all .But here I am with BAFTA and international Emmy nominations, RTS wins for Life and Death, Time coming amount last autumn, with my own 6 parter filming as I type . To Frances.
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@Birdstontalent1 @tonyshoey I didn’t write a script till I was 49. Signed with an agent at 50.Just got a nom for a BAFTA.
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Here we go lads, cameras rollin’ rollin’ rollin’.FPP. Good luck to cast and crew. #TimeS2.
📢 Bella Ramsey, Jodie Whittaker, Tamara Lawrance & Siobhan Finneran star in the second series of Jimmy McGovern’s BBC drama Time. Co-written by Jimmy McGovern & Helen Black, it's a moving and high-stakes portrayal of life inside a women's prison. More ➡️
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So I wrote a film and they only went and made it!!!.#LifeandDeathintheWarehouse.
BBC Three announce new factual drama Life and Death IN The Warehouse @bbcthree.
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Someone once told me never to celebrate anything until it was announced in the Radio Times . Does this count?.
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I’m having a bit of a moment in telly .But let’s not get carried away, next year I’ll probs be doing a crowdfunder for a short film about seaweed.
When four wives become three, they’ll do anything to uncover the truth 👀. 📺 The Wives. Stream the Full Series Now on My5
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Here we go lads.
'Time 2' Writer Helen Black's 'Lily Valentine' Book Set for Series Adaptation From Studio Crook (EXCLUSIVE)
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Things I don’t understand about ITV’s position here .- they must already know what works for their audience .- they must get pitched more new ideas than they know what to do with (there’s a bin with my name on) .- writers are the cheap bit of production.
1/ WGGB strongly opposes @ITV s recent decision to appoint a Head of Generative AI Innovation, whose role will include using technology to help create ‘shows, films and digital-first content’.
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1/ As the first half of the year ends, I hope you had fun .My 6 months have been nothing short of miraculous . I went to the BAFTAs, and won 2 RTS awards .I wrote an ep on Joan.I co-wrote all 3 eps of Time S2.I have projects in dev at BBC and ITV.I’ve my own show.
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Okay this is getting fucking daft now . Life and Death in the Warehouse wins best TV film at the Venice TV Awards .
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England looking good but did everyone see the ad for ITV drama Joan?.I wrote an ep of that, I did.
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Right bloody hell, just gonna have to say it .Life and Death in the Warehouse had been nominated for an International Emmy 😲😲😲.
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I wrote tonight’s episode of Grantchester . Fabulous job .Fabulous team .Not always a given in this game.
Our favourite detective duo are returning to our screens! #Grantchester season 8 starts thursday 11th January at 9pm on ITV. 🎉🙌.@GrantchesterUK @ITV
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Could we ask Matt about his clothes. I think many many men would like to hear about the working husband's capsule wardrobe.
Working husband? How do you succeed at work? Matt, age 41, "I work hard on my posture and tone of voice so women take me seriously." Inspirational. Thanks Matt.
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My agent took me out for tea and cake today .We agreed that things are going well.She is without doubt the single most important factor in my TV career.
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Pssst. There’s gonna be a fancy screening of ep 1 of Time S2 and I’ll be on the Q&A panel
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Are you shitting me?????.
Nominees / Enwebeion.🎭 Television Drama / Drama Deledu 🎭. ✨ In My Skin.✨ Life and Death in the Warehouse.✨ Mincemeat (On The Edge).✨ Yr Amgueddfa. #BAFTACymru
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Putting out a novel or a film or a TV show or anything at all is so scary . We writers put everything we are into it .Our thoughts and our feelings are literally there for others to judge . There is nowhere for us to hide.
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An ickle thing I wrote with the legend that is Jimmy McGovern.#Time. And feast your eyes on the casting .😍😍😍.
NEW: Casting announced for second series of BBC prison drama #Time, including #DoctorWho's Jodie Whittaker. More details:.
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Going to Liverpool tomorrow to do an outreach event, press and then premier of Time (with a red carpet no less). I’m so frigging excited!!!! .And sorry but I’ll be UNBEARABLE all day
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Today is my birthday . I owe my rude good health (both mental and physical) to eating and drinking way too much, doing almost no exercise and giving even fewer fucks . Salud.
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Producers - don’t dance about saying you want to find new voices and then expect endless free work. Working class people cannot live on fresh air.Women need to become/remain financially independent . Development is part of what you do . Thanks for coming to my Ted Talk.
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Only the Sunday Times calling my script ‘earthy and clever’ . And yeah, I know this stuff shouldn’t matter and yet…. #thewives
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So I have my own show away .😍😍😍😍.But now I must write it.😲😲😲😲.Fortunately I have a lot of very lush people to help me .👌👌👌👌.
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Well Time S2 it’s been a journey, an honour, a pleasure .And now it’s a wrap
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So the script editor on my new show just asked me something and I’m like - oh wait, this is actually happening.This is A Thing .You are the script editor on The Thing .I am lead writer on The Thing .😲😲😲😲😲😲😲.
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Er yeah. So I won this thing. #writerslife #screenwriting
We are delighted to announce the winners of the @KudosTV North Writers' Award 👉 @KatieMulg @WriterHBlack Niki Rooney 👏👏👏
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Don’t know if this is helpful to anyone but I STILL get nervous every time I turn in a script . Nervous that it is in fact dog shit.Nervous that it’s too exposing .Nervous that everyone at the other end will sigh . The only difference now is I know that folks will help me fix it.
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So I’m off on set for this little beauty.
Bella Ramsey, Tamara Lawrance, Jodie Whittaker and Siobhan Finneran will star in season 2 of prison drama series ‘TIME.’. (
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Did a thing last night at the BFI. *note to self do not try to be funny when you’re sandwiched between Jimmy and Jodie
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Signing off from Malta with sore feet and head from the wrap party last night . Making a show is tough .Battles against time, budget, weather . Is it okay that I feel really fucking proud of myself?
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Stay strong . There are so few working class writers in the U.K. we all know each other.
“If working class people can’t be TV and movie writers anymore, then only the rich create culture.”. Wow. That is easily among the most provocative statements I’ve heard during this entire strike. @whipsical, what a quote. @Angela3vino, thx for sharing. #WGAStrong #writers.
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Ooh hello.
Production is underway on new C5 thriller, The Wives, written by @WriterHBlack and starring @dollyjoyner @Angela_Griffin @mouthwaite
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I wrote my very first script because I heard @PhelpsieSarah on this podcast. It won something and now I work in telly. So yeah. Have a listen.
Looking for a new #podcast to listen to over the weekend? Check out our latest interview with #writer Andrea Gibb @gibbzer the first in our new series 'Ask the Write Questions' plus our previous series including @jed_mercurio @PhelpsieSarah @jackthorne
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Well I think my dad must have been watching over me and mine today as my son went into anaphylactic shock again this time on his own - but managed to call the ambulance and take the epi pen before he passed out . Son is on the mend.
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Well colour me shocked.
New research exclusively seen by Channel 4 News shows just 1 in 12 creatives working in TV and Film in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are from working class backgrounds. Actor Samira Ahmed says her experience of drama school made her realise "you need connections".
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Me mam - just watched ep 3 do you know what happens next . Me - well yeah it’s on next week . Me mam - so you’ve written it already? . FML it’s not live Mam 🤣🤣🤣🤣.
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FB tells me that 5 yrs ago I got my first TV credit . Now Clink may not have turned out as we all hoped (the budget was £2.50 and a Twix) but my god I loved writing for it and learned so much . Another alumni @tonyshoey
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Me and some smashers.
And that’s a wrap #TheWives written by @HelenBlack coming soon -love all the actors in this photo what a team x ❤️
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FML .Life and Death in the Warehouse got nominated for a BAFTA 😲😲😲😲😲😲😲.
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It’s only telly .It’s never only telly.
I wish I could tell Mackenzie Crook how much Detectorists has meant to me in the months since my husband died it’s literally been my safe comfort blanket I love it so much - if you see this Mackenzie - THANK YOU ❤️.
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Daughter starts a new job at an indie today (quite the achievement in the current climate) . Can we send her good vibes and energies?. ❤️❤️❤️.
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If I never see a show about working/benefit class people written by some middle class dude ever again, I’ll be fucking happy . Yeah mate it’s TERRIFYING in estates. We literally batter anyone arriving because . why not.
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Thank you to everyone who watched episode 2 of #time last night and all of you posting wonderful comments . That we’ve touched so many of you is truly gratifying.
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I wrote an episode of this piece of lushness.
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Am I the only one NOT surprised by the US election result? Just like I wasn’t surprised by Brexit?. But then I’m just a working class lass from a council estate in Pontefract….WTF do I know about anything?.
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I’ve been asked many times to work for peanuts, occasionally for free.I even had a producer tell me ‘you don’t need the money’.
Our country makes it - wants it - to be impossible to make a living in this business. It is treated like a luxuriant talent contest. Like wanting to be a ‘pop star.’ Even those of us making a living in the industry, are often asked to feel this way. That working is ‘lucky.’.
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And this is the crux of it . You’ll see a million schemes and courses and whatnot to ‘get people into the industry’ which talk as if there is endless work to be had .Maybe they say it to get bums on seats and grants in the bank .But they don’t believe it.
The TV industry is contracting. Production across the board is way down. BECTU recently surveyed its members and found 68% of them are currently out of work. Doctors was a much-needed ‘finger in the dam’ of this terrible situation. And now it’s gone with nothing to replace it. 8/.
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So C4’s New Writing North programme starts tonight with a view to helping a small group of talented northern TV writers.And yours truly is the ‘leader’ . God bless her and all who sail in her.
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Stop chasing huge IP and A list cast .Concentrate on what we do well - massive and quirky creativity .- wry sense of humour .- firm sense of place.
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Whenever there’s an attack on arts degrees I mention this;.I have a degree in law and masters in creative writing . I earn way more and pay way more tax as a TV writer than I ever did as a lawyer.
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Well now.
Our Single Drama nominees are up next! 📺👇. I AM RUTH .THE HOUSE .LIFE AND DEATH IN THE WAREHOUSE . #BAFTATVAwards with @pandocruises
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Read through tomorrow lads .😍😍😍.
. @channel5_tv 5 has greenlit new drama, The Wives (6×60’), a domestic thriller created by Helen Black and produced by @GaumontTV UK, in association with @BanijayRights for international distribution.
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I know it’s not the done thing to say your year has been banging… but mine has been…banging .So universe more of the same please . And spread it around eh? Let more folk have the big joy I’ve had.
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Had this convo with prods today. Writers pitching shows who essentially watch features and US TV.
"One thing you very often find is that people will be dying for a job in television, but they don't watch it. " Russell T Davies gives advice to those looking to break into the television industry 📺. You can watch the full interview with Russell T Davies on the Be Inspired
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A word on the culture of TV shows. The one I’ve just written on was a joy. Respectful, professional, room to play.This is top down .Lead writer, execs, producer, script editor - behave impeccably .Let’s stop pretending shows HAVE to be stress-shite-shops.
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So the dude who chucked me out of the London Screenwriter's Festival FB group for challenging the propriety of AI courses just emailed wondering if I wanted to PAY for a course on networking 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣.
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Two years ago today I was on set in Cardiff . We were just crawling out of the pandemic and had bugger all money to make a film called Life and Death in the Warehouse . It did alright as it goes
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4 years ago I was given a spot in a writers room by @EndorProds 🧵 .Didn’t have any credits or experience - had only written one script 🤫🤫🤫.But they took a chance on me . It was long (weeks) by U.K. standards but short by US standards . Man I learned so so much.
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Summat I wrote is gonna be on the telly box this year, so heads up imma be an annoying little fucker about it.
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Riddle me this….Why does a script converted to PDF just look so much…better?. Also why can you proof all day long in FD, and as soon as you read in PDF, them typos jump out like idk.
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