Writers' factory to produce future talent

Ewan McGregor in Trainspotting

Plans have been revealed for a world-class 'writers' factory' to produce future television dramas, film screenplays, sitcoms and radio plays.

The Scottish Arts Council (SCA) and Scottish Enterprise are carrying out a consultation on the best way to approach the initiative and how to attract industry expertise from the UK and abroad.

The feasibility study for the factory, which arts chiefs envisage would take the form of a one-year postgraduate course at a Scottish university, is to be completed by the end of May.

In 1997, the SCA funded a struggling young Edinburgh single mother and aspiring writer, Joanne Rowling.

JK Rowling benefited from SCA funding

The then unknown author of the successful Harry Potter books was awarded an £8,000 grant to help her write the second book in the series.

The SCA, which has a £56m budget to develop artistic creativity in Scotland, hopes the writers' factory will help nurture the stars of the future.

SCA chairman James Boyle said: "The writers' factory will support people who want to write for the media, particularly for television.

Future film focus

"We want to look at how we can offer writers the kind of training and experience in Scotland which will help them succeed in a competitive market place and get results worldwide.

"We also need to study industry demand and patterns of working practice to make sure that our writers get commissions.

"This sort of thing is very successful in the US and elsewhere and we hope to learn from that."

Scottish Screen welcomed the initiative.

The body helped in Ewan McGregor's latest movie, Solid Geometry, which has just completed shooting in Edinburgh.

A spokeswoman said: "We think the idea for a writers' factory is excellent news and we look forward to working with the SCA to bring this to fruition.

"The Scottish film industry is doing well at the moment but a writers' factory would really help to secure its long-term future."