Blake Friedmann

Peter Speyer

Agent: Julian Friedmann
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Biography

A screenwriter and playwright, Peter has had features commissioned and produced by British Screen and the UK Film Council, including THE WOODEN CAMERA, Winner, Crystal Bear, Berlin, 2004; Winner, Best South African Film, 2004 and other international awards.

Peter has had stage plays commissioned by the Royal Shakespeare Company, two of which were produced by them. His latest play is THE BASTARD PROMPTER.

Peter works free-lance as the Associate Director of the Arista/Eurista Film Development workshops, having been an integral part of its programme and evolution since its inception. Most recently, he worked with Eurista on the innovative Filmlab initiative with SAFC (South Australia Film Corporation), an intensive three weeks to five select teams funded to make low budget feature films.

Peter has a degree and qualification in Psychology and Social Work (University of Cape Town). In the UK, he worked therapeutically for ten years with people who were mute, psychotic and suffering war fatigue, co-running a therapy centre for them.
He later worked therapeutically with survivors of the Nazi Holocaust, those who had spent the war years in Europe, in hiding and in concentration camps, as well as child and adult refugees to the UK. At the same time, he worked with refugees fleeing the war raging in Bosnia.


Current:

MULE
Producer, Philippa Campbell, Escapade
Feature film, in development
 
BROTHERLAND
Producer, Hans Pausch, Context
Feature film, in development

NIGHTBUS - writer/director
Co-writing with Simone Glover
Low-budget horror feature, in development

YOU ARE ME - writer/director
Linda James, Executive Producer, Slyfox Films
Short film, shooting 2009/2010

2008
RUBYxx JACK - director
Producer, Julia Bonet, Staff Productions
Written by Simone Glover
Short film

2004
WOODEN CAMERA
Feature Film produced by Olivier Delahaye: Winner of the Crystal Bear Award at the 2004 Berlin Film Festival: Co-winner of Best South African Film at Durban Film Festival and other international awards

ANNA LOPEZ IS DEAD
Feature film: British Screen Commission

STAR OF THE UNBORN
English rendering of feature film

THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD
Short film: Writer / Director / Producer

ANNA SOROR
Feature film: Elendil Productions

SHORT AND CURLIES: CHICKEN TALK
Channel 4 / British Screen: Director David Farr

IN THE HOLLOW OF THE DEEP SEA WAVE
British Screen Commission

DANIEL IN THE LION'S DEN
Feature film: detailed treatment


Plays:

Current             
THE BASTARD PROMPTER

2004             
SPARK IN THE ASHES
Royal Shakespeare Company: Commission

1989             
TELLING TALES
Arts Council Bursary

1987 / 88     
OLD YEAR'S EVE
The Pit: Royal Shakespeare Company: Director: Sarah Pia Anderson

1984             
SOMETHING'S BURNING
Lyric Studio, Hammersmith: Director Lucy Parker: BBC: Open Space

1982             
GETTING PLENTY
Temba Theatre Company: Tour of England and Wales: Director Sue Parrish

1982             
LIGHT UP FOR LIFE
The Pit: One Year on Festival: Royal Shakespeare Company: Director Alby James

1979             
GOOD HOPE
Royal Court, rehearsed reading: Director Roger Michell

 
Consultant:
Current         
Freelance film consultant / story editor: working with writers/ directors / producers in Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Sierra Leonne.

Current
Freelance Associate Director of the Arista/Eurista Film Workshops across Europe, Australia and New Zealand.
 

Courses:
1994             
PAL: Performing Arts Lab: screenwriting workshop: BBC nominated participant

1992             
Intensive two-month screenwriting course: student at National Film and Television School: Beaconsfield, UK

 
Education:
1978             
Bachelor of Social Science: social work and psychology: University of Cape Town:

CPSW: Certificate of Professional Social Work: University of Cape Town

 
Social Work / Therapy:
1991 / 4        
Worked therapeutically with survivors of the Nazi Holocaust; Refugees fleeing war in Bosnia: senior practitioner: Shalvata: Jewish Care

1988 / 91      
Trainer in creative therapies for NHS: private and voluntary services and social services departments: co-founded and ran New Avenues Training

1980 / 87      
Co-ran therapy centre for people with psychotic illnesses: Deputy Organiser: The Avenue Day Centre: Islington Social Services

1979 / 80      
Worked in hostel with recovering mentally ill: Agency worker: Haringay Social Services

1978 
Community worker / theatre workshop: Vrygrond shanty town: South Africa

 

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