Simon Beaufoy

I attented the Bafta / BFI Screenwriters’ Lecture held at the BFI Southbank in which Simon Beaufoy gave a Q&A lecture on his Screenwriting.

Excerpt from pamphlet ‘Screenwriters. On Screenwriting’ as part of the season of The Bafta  and BFI Screenwriters’ Lectures 2010.

Whether a feel-good comedy or political drama, Beaufoy’s diverse range of work is always insightful and full of compassion for his characters.

His debut feature-length script, ‘The Full Monty’ (1997), enjoyed huge critical success. The comedy followed six unemployed men who turn to stripping as a money-earner, and gave Beaufoy his first BAFTA and Oscar nominations.

Scripts followed for ‘Among Giants’ (1998), a triangular love story about pylon painters in Yorkshire, and ‘The Darkest Light’ (1999). Beaufoy co-directed the latter with occasional collaborator Bille Eltringham – who also directed his script for ‘This is Not A Love Song’ (2002) in which a criminal duo are stalked across the Scottish moors.

He then wrote two very contrasting stories set in his hometown of Keighley. ‘Blow Dry’ (2001) brought the British Hairdressing Championship to town, whilst ‘Yasmin’ (2004) saw a British Muslim women caught in a post-9/11 nightmare when her Pakistani-born husband is falsely imprisoned as a terror suspect. Beaufoy’s television work includes the mini-series ‘Burn Up’ (2008), a political thriller that dealt with climate change.

Most recently, he enjoyed international success with his adaption of ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ (2008). The rags to riches tale earned Beaufoy his first BAFTA, Golden Globes and Oscar wins, among countless others. The film itself won seven BAFTA’s and eight Oscars, including Best Film at both.

Beaufoy’s next film is a second collaboration with Danny Boyle, ‘127 Hours’ (2010), a real-life drama starring James Franco.

To download the  audio file click this link and ignore the virus scan warning (as the file is approx 40mb)