There is nothing to writing, all you do is sit down with a laptop and bleed.
Since I can remember I've been obsessed with stories. I learned my craft as a boy by plagiarising Willard Price, Tolkien, Woody Allen, John Cooper Clarke and H.G. Wells, badly. I had no stories to tell yet, so I went and lived.
After a degree in Philosophy I formed a band and toured the world, releasing two satisfyingly lauded albums on Island Records with three top 40 singles along the way. The Observer were kind enough to say my lyrics were 'like Morrissey in a Paul Weller headlock', but nothing lasts forever.
I found my next creative outlet in Advertising. I was dubious, as a Bill Hicks fan, but soon came to understand that some of the best creative is crafted in this arena. I grew to love it. I care deeply about what I create. I would edit forever if it wasn't for deadlines, but I'm learning to get over that. Always learning.
I've been lucky enough to work for many of the world's most renowned agencies on great big global brands and not just chocolate bars, many that matter and make a real difference, like Greenpeace, Teenage Cancer Trust and The British Heart Foundation. But I'm still open to chocolate bars.
On the side I write screenplays. A short film I wrote and co-produced last year (RUNNING MAN, 2019) starring Rafferty Law, featured in fourteen of the most prestigious international film festivals and picked up a few awards. Now in development for a feature. During lockdown I've somehow managed to make a short film for LOVE magazine to highlight the impact of Covid on the mental health of young people. (Just got into Raindance). I got the green light to write an anthology of short films for the benefit of Teenage Cancer Trust. The first ‘THE HAT’ has just been nominated for BEST SHORT FILM AT RAINDANCE. Woop. (22nd Sep). And I've written and directed a music video too, just so you know I don’t hang about.
I will probably edit this tomorrow.
clareandjohnny.com
Work history
A
A
Senior Creative / WriterArmoured Squids
London, United KingdomFreelance
Skills
- Ad Copywriting
- Creative
- Creative Direction
- Music
- Script Writer
- Storytelling
- Concepting Ideas
- Song Writing
- Marketing
- Advertising