“I live in the now quite well known Northern town of Bolton in the UK, and have been writing for some years now honing my craft in every spare minute I get in between working full time. As well as writing for the screen, I particularly have a passion for the theatre and some of my work is concentrated in this area to which I’ve been receiving some interest and recognition recently.

“I’ve been entering the BSSC/Kaos since it began and my work has grown alongside it. Working constantly alone with little chance for feedback from any source, I find Kaos is a great way to gauge your improvement as a writer, so for me it’s been particularly helpful as I’ve watched myself moving up and up through the rounds each year to reach 1st runner up.

“I’m constantly writing and I’ve presently finished a full length comedy/thriller Stage play I’ve been writing for a year now; I’m also working on further writing projects.“

I have just won a privileged place on a brand new scheme with Bolton University and in association with highly established Production Companies such as Abbott Vision, (Paul Abbott- Shameless/Linda Green/Cracker/ Clocking Off, etc) Red productions (Casanova,/Queer as folk, Bob & Rose, etc), Lime Pictures (Hollyoaks, apparitions), The BBC writer’s room, ITV, LA Productions, Made in Manchester and R.S.J. Productions.

This is a brand new pilot scheme, it’s a year’s mentorship, and I will be working with the above production companies and the Bolton University team and the other writers who won a place. It’s a life changing opportunity and it’s thanks to entering and winning the BSSC that gave me a script commissioned/professional production of ‘Room to Let’ that made me eligible to enter for a prized place on this ground breaking scheme.

I will work on the script that I submitted, and also develop the skills to work with team members on a team/industry project along with workshops and master classes and in conjunction with being mentored by top industry professionals, including Paul Abbott and all the above amazing Production Companies. At the end of the scheme, all companies get first refusal on my scripts.

I really want to thank Kaos/BSSC as it’s not just about winning the competition and having the dream of your film being made; it’s also about the opportunities that can arise from that achievement and success. I have a lot of hard work to do now writing, and will update this biography again next year when the scheme has ended.

Linda has recently had published a collection of short stories – THE GEOMETRY OF DESIRE. The collection has sold well and been very favourably reviewed. Linda’s short fiction has been well placed in competitions, published, broadcast and anthologised.

Her new collection THE TEMPERATURE OF WATER is due for publication with David Ling in 2007.

Linda writes commercials for a living and has done so for the past 10 years – these include countless radio ads and more than 30 television commercials - in other words, small but perfectly formed dramas of 30 – 60 seconds for the large and small screen.

Linda trained as a journalist and has attended Victoria University and Fiona Kidman’s short fiction workshops and Avalon Television’s screenwriting course.

THE HANDKERCHIEF is based on a story from her newly completed collection.

“THE HANDKERCHIEF has been a joy to write, its layers and its emotional, aural and visual potential has meant I could explore the story in a variety of forms, film being the most exciting for me because all the senses are brought into play.”

Niccol has placed well in many competitions, both in this country and internationally, including the prestigious HQ magazine annual short story competition. The title story ‘The Geometry of Desire’ was a finalist in this and was included in the Oxford Book of New Zealand Love Stories.

Fiona Kidman says Niccol’s writing has understated wit and moments of deep tenderness. These love stories are by turn humorous, poignant and insightful, and offer a view of love from a number of angles. She brings sensitivity and warmth to her writing and these thoughtful stories will attract and intrigue readers.

The colourful characters created by Niccol come from widely differing backgrounds but are all searching for something. A style-obsessed architect realises it’s what’s on the inside that counts; a man is so preoccupied with collecting that he lets the most precious thing of all slip through his fingers; a girl’s first experience of falling in love changes her view of the world; a man tries to swim against the tide of middle-age.

Niccol is a former journalist who now works in advertising. Her other writing projects include screenplays – her brother is writer/director Andrew Niccol.

She lives on the Kapiti Coast with her husband Eion and their young daughter Eve. Keen decorators and collectors, their striking Raumati house has featured in Home and Entertaining and Your Home and Garden.

Currently on the faculty of a small private college where he teaches screenwriting and directing in the college’s School of Digital Arts.

Holds a B.S. in Industrial Design and an M.A. in Theatre Arts.

Numerous completed theatrical feature screenplays and two TV series pilot teleplays.

Presently engaged in pre-production for the family / sci-fi TV series pilot of 317.

The Stars Don’t Twinkle in Outer Space was Hank’s first short screenplay.

Winning the BSSC gave me tons of confidence and opened quite a few doors. I need to try to keep them open. The contest folks are great to work with and are truly serious about what they do.

Living with wife Sue, and daughter Kimberly, in Rochester Wisconsin, USA, Mr. Beach has been involved with independent film since 1991 when he launched his first short film, The Storm That Follows Me.

To date he has written, directed and edited four short films, and authored five feature scripts. Simon Rumley, director of The Handyman, is currently collaborating with Mr. Beach on his most current screenplay, Dues, which is expected to go into production in 2005. Mr. Beach is an avid backpacker and works professionally as a feature film production sound mixer