NEIL BISWAS
Current:
DARKNESS VISIBLE: original thriller set in Calcutta with funding from the BFI. Jason Newmark and Nisha Parti producing (Newscope Films/Parti Productions). Neil is writer/director.
WHY I WRITE CRIME FICTION: delivered revised first draft of screenplay (with author Stav Sherez) for Mint Pictures/Creative England. Neil is attached to direct.
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2016 LUCKY MAN– Co creator, Co-Exec and lead writer on series 1 for Carnival/Sky. First series was Sky 1’s highest rated original drama series. Series 3 is in production.
2014 GEISHA ASSASSINS: delivered one episode for Company Pictures/HBO. Commissioned to write series bible and another episode.
2011 SINBAD: Co-Exec Producer on series 1 and wrote episode 7. Impossible Pictures/Sky. TX August 2012.
2010 SKINS: Directed episodes 1 and 4 of Series IV for Company/Channel 4. “The show’s strongest first episode to date” – The Stage
SONIA AND JUHI: developed treatment for original feature with Manjinder Virk for the iFeatures scheme for South West Screen.
2009 THE TAKE: Adapted Martina Cole’s novel into a four part drama for Company Pictures/Sky. Top 10 Dramas of 2009 – The Observer.
THE COLD ROOM: written new spec feature. A redemptive love story.
2008 HEIST PROJECT: co-written treatment for original drama serial with Paul Wilmshurst for Company Pictures. Neil and Paul to co-write and direct.
2007 FORGIVEN: Creative Script Consultant on a single film for C4. Nominated for Best Single Drama, Broadcast Awards 2008.
SENSATION: written two hour television film about the rise of Brit Art/Damian Hirst for Twenty Twenty/C4.
2005/6 BRADFORD RIOTS: wrote and directed own 90’ single drama. Producer Nick Brown. Exec Producers Mark Bentley, Nick Kent and Kate Triggs. Oxford Film & Television/Channel 4 . Neil won the Arts Council Decibel Award 2007 and nominated for the BAFTA Breakthrough Talent Award 2007. Sacha Dhawan won the RTS Breakthrough On Screen Award. It was also nominated for a Grierson Award.
2004 MEASURE FOR MEASURE: wrote treatment for contemporary 90’ film for BBC1’s SHAKESPEARE season. Producer Pier Wilkie.
TWO MINUTES: written and directed short film for BBC’s WAYS TO GET EVEN/Jeremy Howe. Screened at BRIEF ENCOUNTERS festival 2003. TX: March 2004. 2003 BROTHERS: directed short film with kids from the Burdett Estate, Limehouse for Hi8us/ Primal Pics/APT Films. Screened at BANG Festival, Nottingham 2003.
DOUBLE HEARTBEAT: wrote and directed short film.
2002 SECOND GENERATION: two part original serial for Oxford TV (Mark Bentley & Nick Kent) / C4. Producer Catherine Wearing. Director Jon Sen. Cast includes Christopher Simpson, Parminder Nagra, Om Puri and Roshan Seth. TX: September 2003.
ENDINGS – wrote, directed and produced short film.
2001 IN A LAND OF PLENTY: wrote episodes 4,5, 6 & 7 of series based on Tim Pears’ novel for Sterling Films/ Talkback/ BBC2. TX: Jan & Feb 2001.
2000 FOCUS GROUP - Neil’s theatre company presented a series of plays as part of the Soho Theatre’s Autumn Lunchtime season. Six writers directed their own 20’ two hander plays. 23rd - 28th October.
Neil undertook 2 day course at the Lux Cinema in digital video.
1999 WISH: original stage play. Neil directed production May - June ‘99 at the Oval House Theatre.
1998 EXODUS: created play with Tara Arts Theatre Co. Battersea Arts Centre. 13th October - 1st November ‘98.
1997 WISH: written play commissioned by the National Theatre Studio. Royal Court rehearsed reading at the Drill Hall 3/7/97.
Playwrights Performing Arts Lab; took part in PAL workshop in the Summer.
1996 CRASH: successful run at the Croydon Warehouse, June ‘96.
SKIRMISHES: production at the Etcetera Theatre, Camden, March/ April ‘96. (Indent Theatre Co.).
DAWN CHORUS: short film script for submission to BBC/ C4 “Brief Encounters”.
1995/6 NATIONAL THEATRE STUDIO: completed attachment.
1994/95 OVER HEAR: second play completed regional tour. Venues included studios at Bristol Old Vic and Leicester Haymarket. Directed by Sita Ramamurphy.
HARDLY TOUCHING: radio play, commissioned by the BBC. Producer/ Director Claire Grove. Tx: Radio 4, May 95. Also produced as part of the TAPS scheme with Thames. Producer Jill James.
PROTECTION: written 1st ep of serial for Carlton TV’s Screenwriting Course. DISLOCATE: developed and wrote play commissioned by Paddington Arts (Youth Theatre Group). Produced Summer ‘95.
IN THE MIX: written pilot episode of new comedy series for Humphrey Barclay Productions/ BBC.
1994 SKIRMISHES: written four short stories for the stage. Had rehearsed reading at Royal Court Upstairs. Director Roxana Silbert.
CRASH: full length stage play had rehearsed reading August at the 1994 New Play Festival, Old Red Lion. Director Chrissie Harmar Brown
OVER HEAR: stage play received rehearsed reading at Waterman’s Art Centre as part of Asian Drama Festival, Summer 94. Director Sita Ramamurthy.
SKIN: short play for the Soho Theatre Company’s THE BODY POLITIC. Director Alex Perrin. Received rehearsed reading and publication at Interplay 94, Townsville, Australia in July.
SAMPRADAYA: commissioned to write libretto for ENO’s Baylis Programme. Composer Todd McNeal. Opera performed at The Cotton Centre, Tooley St, London and at Interplay 94, Townsville, Australia.
SHANTI: wrote scenario for Akshaya Dance Theatre. Performed at the Purcell Room, May 94. And touring in Spring 95.
1993 OVERHEAR: original full length play had rehearsed reading at the Royal Court Young People’s Theatre in Autumn 1993. Director Sita Ramamurthy.
CRASH: first play included in Directors’ Week at The Cockpit Theatre. Director Chrissie Harmar Brown.
Started running 4 bi-weekly workshops for THE POST OFFICE by Rabindinath Tagore - director Jill Pavin - to be performed Autumn, Studio Theatre, London. Joined “Write Stuff” - Black Writers Group run by Sita Ramamurthy and Liz Colgin. Wrote 10 min piece NATHAN as part of Zoetrope by Dipak Verma: performed by RCYPT at Commonwealth Institute - directed by Carl Miller.
1992 Wrote first plays CRASH and OVER HEAR and joined Royal Court Writers Group under tutor Andrew Alty
Neil graduated from Oxford University with an Honours Degree in English Literature in 1992.
Neil is represented by UTA in the US - Josh Hornstock and Jeremy Barber.
Neil is represented by FRANCES ARNOLD ROCHELLE STEVENS & CO 2 Terretts Place Upper Street London N1 1QZ Tel: 020 7359 3900