Gabriella Maria Apicella Date of Birth: 4th December 1979

Address: 30 Gisburn Mansions, N8 7EB

Telephone Number: 07951 338 006

E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.gabriellaapicella.com

PERSONAL STATEMENT

As a feminist writer of screenplays and short stories, I am most interested in subverting existing genres and stereotypes. My work is concerned with challenging perceptions, and bringing women-focused stories to the fore.

QUALIFICATIONS 2006 2:1 BA Film & Media Birkbeck College, University of London

ORGANISATIONS

Kingston University, Screenwriting Lecturer, 2013 – Present Day Over the three-year Filmmaking BA, I am responsible for introducing students to the principles of screenwriting, which they go on to develop in their second year through an optional assessed module I have co-devised with Joint Course Leader, Richard Squires. In their final year, I support students through the writing process of their graduation film via tutorials, and have had the pleasure of supervising five of the graduation film projects this last academic year, which involves regular meetings with the full crews to assess and offer support and guidance through each stage of production.

Central Film School London, Screenwriting Lecturer, 2015 – ongoing On the BA Screenwriting course I have jointly run the Adaptation module with colleagues Robin Mukherjee and Tanya Nash. In 2016 I became module leader for the “Introduction to Screenwriting” section of the course, having previously shared the post with Rob Ritchie.

Met Film School, Screenwriting Lecturer, 2017 – ongoing I have contributed on the BA Filmmaking course to deliver modules which aim to highlight the importance of storytelling as a foundation to a dynamic filmmaking career.

Co-Founder, UnderWire Festival, 2010 – Present Day UnderWire is a for UK-based female filmmakers recognising work across all filmmaking disciplines: Directing, Producing, Cinematography, Screenwriting, Editing, Sound Design, Composing, Animation, Production Design, Under-25. There is also the XX category which recognises films that challenge the sexual objectification of women, showing diverse characterisations and telling female-focused stories. Submissions in all genres are accepted, and since 2015 has included a curated Features strand. In 2016, the Festival received BAFTA accreditation.

The first festival took place between 18th and 21st November 2010 around Shoreditch, with the final weekend held at Amnesty International HQ. In 2011 the festival took place at the ShortWave cinema in Bermondsey. 2012’s festival ran at The Ritzy in Brixton. In 2013 and 2014 it was held at The Yard in Hackney Wick, and in 2015, when I returned to co-produce, the Festival took place at Hackney Picturehouse. 2016 was the festival’s biggest year, taking place across some of the UK’s most prestigious venues including: BFI, Barbican, Prince Charles Cinema, ArtHouse Crouch End, Genesis Cinema.

Through my role at UnderWire I have developed close relationships with Women in Film and Television, Molinaire Hoxton Post Production, London Festival, Shooting People, Animate Projects, Open City Docs Fest, and have maintained friendships with many filmmakers who I have met through the festival over the years - several of whom have progressed into feature film work (e.g. Peta Ridley, winning editor 2010 worked on Oscar-nominated 2014

feature documentary “Virunga”, Prano Bailey Bond who has two feature films in development with Silver Salt Productions, Georgia Parris who is the winner of the Film London’s 2017 Microwave scheme)

As part of my involvement, I have spoken at Women in Film and Television, The Smalls Festival, Glasgow Film Festival, Encounters Festival, and been interviewed by publications including Little White Lies and The Independent on Sunday.

Supporters of Underwire (excluding those mentioned above) include: Directors UK, BFI, Little White Lies, LOCO, BECTU, PCAM. Patrons include: Kim Longinotto, Laura Mulvey, Rebecca O’Brien, Nira Park, Maxine Peake.

For more information: www.underwirefestival.com

Director, Euroscript April 2008 – November 2017 As a Company Director I have key decision making responsibilities in collaboration with my colleagues. Since my involvement began, I have run monthly Development Workshops, and delivered a number of courses and workshops.

My specialist genre sessions are: I have also devised new courses, including:  Romantic Comedy  Introduction to Screenwriting  Social Drama and Coming of Age  Writing Female Characters  Biopics and True Stories.  Actors: Write Your Part

I regularly worked as a consultant on feature-length screenplays, delivering in-depth written feedback on projects to writers at all stages of their careers, and meeting with them face-to-face as required.

I also managed Euroscript’s relationships with the BFI and Underwire Festival.

At the BFI I have taught at the Future Film Academy since 2012, introducing participants to screenwriting practice and guiding them through redrafts of their scripts. My involvement at the Future Film Festivals has included the delivery of sessions on “Writing Female Characters”, “Low-Budget High-Concept Screenplays”, “The Essentials of Screenwriting” and “How to Make an Award Winning Short Film”. Together with colleague Ian Long, I designed a bespoke Masterclass on the use of suspense in Hitchcock’s films as part of the BFI’s retrospective in 2012, where we were joined by David Freeman who was the last screenwriter to work with Hitchcock. The relationship has evolved to include a mutually beneficial arrangement whereby Euroscript runs networking events and evening courses at the BFI.

From 2010 – 2014 I managed the “Script Clinics” at the London Screenwriters’ Festival, which is regularly mentioned by delegates as a festival highlight. These sessions run over the three days of the festival and a team of colleagues including myself see over 100 writers, giving face-to- face feedback on their projects. I continue to attend the annual festival as a “Script Doctor”.

Since UnderWire Festival’s inception in 2010, Euroscript has supported the Screenwriting award and through this relationship, a number of events have been facilitated at the festival including: “Script Clinics”; a panel on the onscreen portrayals of prostitution, bringing together academics, activists and filmmakers; a collaboration with the Central School of Speech and Drama to present a public table-read of that year’s screenwriting competition; a collaboration with LOCO (London Festival) to present a full day of training for comedy writers.

In 2017 I represented Euroscript at the Glasgow Film Festival with a lecture on High Concept / Low Budget screenplays, and a development workshop.

For more information: www.euroscript.co.uk

Other organisations:

Volunteer Creative Writing Tutor, Eaves, (now NIA) 2012 – 2017

In the Summer of 2012 I began providing Creative Writing classes at The Scarlet Centre based at Eaves, working with women exiting prostitution. The aims of these classes are to provide a space for the women to express themselves creatively, and to increase their confidence by enabling them to regain ownership of their thoughts and feelings through writing. These sessions ran on a regular basis despite the numerous changes to the charity organisations through which they are run. They will resume when the charity’s resources are able to accommodate them.

Birkbeck College, University of London, 2009 – Present Day I have worked as a Sessional Lecturer in Screenwriting on the BA Film and Media programme. More recently, I have contributed to the MA programme as a speaker on the annual Industry Lectures series, and by facilitating workshopping sessions. Ideastap, 2014 I presented regular “Spa” sessions to Ideastap members on a variety of screenwriting topics, including Genre, Making Your Short Film (case study of “Honest Lies” – see below), Writing Female Characters.

CSSC, 2009 - 2011 I delivered 6-week Introduction to Creative Writing courses and 10-week Introduction to Screenwriting courses.

Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith, 2010 During the Spring and Summer terms of 2010 I delivered the Literacy component of the START project for young people that are not in employment, education or training as they worked to devise an original theatre piece. The pass-rate on the City & Guilds Literacy test was higher than any previous years following my involvement

SCREENPLAY

“The Knitting Circle Rapist Annihilation Squad” This feature length adaptation of the book by Derick Jenson and Stephanie McMillan is being produced by Paul Gallagher and Phil Falato of 12 Chairs Films.

“In This Body” – In development This feature length psychological horror set in Norway is in development.

“Prawn” 2017 (6 minutes) The treatment was one of 6 winners selected from over 200 entries to Directors’ UK’s “Challenge Alexa” competition. The film stars Cathy Tyson in the lead role and is directed by Nicola Quilter.

“The Lefthand Side” 2017 (5 minutes) Filmed for the London Sci-Fi Festival 48 hour film challenge co-directing with Emma Croft, and working with colleagues from Underwire Festival, Euroscript and involving students from Kingston University and Central Film School

“Other People’s Kisses” – 50 Kisses 2014 (Full film: 1 hour 28 minutes. “Other People’s Kisses segment: 4 mins) This short film featured in the first crowd-sourced feature film, “50 Kisses” released in the cinema February 2014, and online December 2014: http://www.50kissesfilm.com/ (from 44:39)

“Verity” 2013 (9 mins) Commissioned by Adminda Productions, and produced in collaboration with Rocket Room Pictures, this sci-fi dystopia imagines a world where women are farmed in order to restore populations. The film screened at the London Sci Fi Film Festival in June 2015. https://vimeo.com/93706992 Password: verity

“Honest Lies” 2013 (11 mins) Based on an original short story, I also produced this film, which was screened at London Short Film Festival 2015, funded through a successful Kickstarter campaign. It portrays a woman in

prostitution meeting with the wife of a client. https://vimeo.com/76670493 Password: supportexitingwomen

“Proof” 2010 (10 mins) Filming on this crime drama short took place on 10th February 2010. It was commissioned and directed by BBC cameraman Gordon Anderson and stars Richard Pryal and Ruth Kelleher.

“Do Nothing” 2009 (20 mins) Filming on this short film was completed in May 2009. Commissioned and Directed by Alejandro Davalos with cinematography by award-winning cameraman Alvaro Duran, the piece was filmed on location in Mexico.

OTHER FILM WORK

“Hooray for Hollywood” Following the stage production of this semi-autobiographical piece about child pornography by Raven Kaliana, I co-produced a short film version. This was shown at Amnesty International on 4th October 2011 accompanied by a discussion on ways to bring this industry to an end. The event welcomed representatives from, NSPCC, Childline, Stop it Now, NAPAC. More information about the piece can be found at www.hoorayforhollywood.co.uk

PROSE

New London Writers Two short fiction stories were published on this edited site in 2016: “The Nymph and the Satyr” and “Today I Choose” https://newlondonwriters.com/author/gabriella1979/

Storytails In January 2010 I launched Storytails: a monthly storytelling event in Stoke Newington for professional and non-professional writers that provided a relaxed setting for them to share their tales. Among professional writers Storytails welcomed were: Paul Bassett Davies, Nikesh Shukla, Emily Benet, Katy Darby. Profits from donations towards the running of the event were given to two local charities on alternating months. I contributed some short stories sporadically, but the focus was on showcasing the work of other writers. Storytails featured as part of the Stoke Newington Literary Festival from 2010 – 2013 and will return with “Storytrails” as part of 2017 festival programme.

“Haunted Language” In October 2009, Sound Artist Victoria Karlsson commissioned me to write prose for her piece that was exhibited as part of the “Noise Control” exhibition at the Image Music Text Gallery in Bethnal Green from 30th November - 6th December. The theme of the piece was “Memories” and it focused on issues and misconceptions around suicide and depression.

FACTUAL

Huffington Post Since October 2013 I have blogged for the Huffington Post on a variety of topics including prostitution and abortion, and the ways in which these subjects are presented on film. http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/gabriella-apicella/

Bitch Flicks I have written several articles about the representations of women in film for this U.S. based feminist film website. http://www.btchflcks.com/?s=gabriella+apicella

Articles include:  Motherhood in film and Television: Sherrybaby  An Emotional Response to Lovelace  Another Side of Marilyn Monroe  Two Documentaries about Aileen Wuornos

Pure Movies I began writing reviews and conducting interviews for this internet-based film website in 2010.