Jilly Gardiner

MUDDY POOL PRODUCTIONS

Stage - Screen - Prose - Tutoring - Content/Copywriting
Script Analysis/Mentoring

Liverpool born and bred, Jilly is a writer of plays, screen, prose and non-fiction.  She is a fully qualified teacher and lecturer, relaying to her students that the ability to create is inherent in us all.   She has a passion for storytelling with a gritty, realist edge, but with the natural humour that comes with it.  

Jilly is writer and executive producer of Being Keegan, starring Stephen Graham, and directed by Stephanie Zari.  The film has won a number of international awards, including Best Short Film at the Scottish International Mental Health Arts Festival, and the International Film Festival of Wales.  You will find Being Keegan on Amazon UK and USA.  IMDb Being Keegan and Trailer

One of the winners of the Windsor Award for New Writing (The Kenneth Branagh Award), Jilly was also nominated for Best Screenwriter at the BAFTA Qualifying Underwire Film Festival. Jilly's work has been chosen for production at London's Lost Theatre, Riverside Studios and Canal Cafe Theatre, as well as Swansea Grand and Cambridge’s ADC Theatre, and Dubai’s DUCTAC Theatre, and has been Highly Commended at the London Screenwriters Festival.

Jilly divides her time between teaching scriptwriting/ creative writing and mentoring scripts in the professional and higher education sector including Winchester University and MetFilm school. She also teaches various forms of creative writing and scriptwriting in adult education, Recovery Colleges, City Lit London and Activate Learning. Jilly undertakes private tuition for all ages and abilities in creative writing, scriptwriting, digital storytelling, online blogging and life writing, and has a strong interest in the mental health benefits of creative writing.

With a Masters Degree in Scriptwriting, and a BA (hon) Degree in Journalism, Jilly spent the earlier part of her career working in TV broadcasting, studio and transmissions in Cardiff, Wales.
She is  currently working on and developing new projects for both stage,  screen, prose and non-fiction articles. 
Being Keegan full film streaming

Being Keegan full film streaming

Watch Being Keegan on Omeleto NOW!

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NYC Midnight Judge

NYC Midnight Judge

Jilly has the pleasure of being a judge in the international storytelling competition NYC Midnight.

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Education and the Class Divide

Education and the Class Divide

My article published in the Oxford Open Learning site - How class still dictates the education received by students. https://www.ool.co.uk/blog/education-and-the-class-divide/

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Tapping into the Subconscious to Bring out Creativity

Tapping into the Subconscious to Bring out Creativity

My article published on Oxford Open Learning website - how to be creative by delving into the subconscious

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Overcoming Adult Learning Anxiety

Overcoming Adult Learning Anxiety

Read my article on how to overcome adult learning anxiety to be successful in adult education.

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Feb 2021 - BEING KEEGAN ON FILM SHORTAGE

Feb 2021 - BEING KEEGAN ON FILM SHORTAGE

Being Keegan chosen for Children's Mental Health Week!

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Oct 2020 - Being Keegan on Amazon Prime!

Oct 2020 - Being Keegan on Amazon Prime!

We are delighted to say that BEING KEEGAN is now streaming on Amazon Prime! Please watch, and if you like then please leave a review!

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July 2020 FILM OF THE WEEK - BITPIX HOLLYSHORTS

July 2020 FILM OF THE WEEK - BITPIX HOLLYSHORTS

Being Keegan Film of the week! Bitpix Los Angeles.

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BEING KEEGAN - BERLIN SHORT FILM FESTIVAL SELECTION 2020

BEING KEEGAN - BERLIN SHORT FILM FESTIVAL SELECTION 2020

Being Keegan selected for the Berlin Short Film Festival 2020!

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Jilly has more than a decade teaching storytelling in its various forms to people of all ages and abilities, these include advanced learners at post graduate level to beginners in the subject, as well as being a practitioner for stage and for film. She has also taught content creation for social media and websites to encourage traffic.

SCRIPT ANALYSIS SERVICE

SCRIPT ANALYSIS SERVICE

Comprehensive written constructive feedback on any length script (screen or stage), to help improve and strengthen your creative work.

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WRITING TUITION

WRITING TUITION

Online and face to face Writing Tuition - By email or video link (Face Time, Skype etc.by a highly experienced and fully qualified teacher and practitioner).

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ONLINE WEB CONTENT WRITING

ONLINE WEB CONTENT WRITING

Make the most of your webpages to draw your customers/ clients and audience in. Writing content that jumps off the page through aesthetics and marketing storytelling. Using SEO to target your audience and optimise views and traffic to your site.

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ONLINE SCRIPT SUPERVISION/ MENTORING

One to one supervision, mentoring you through various changes and drafts of your script, to bring it up to industry standard, ready for production or submission.

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CREATIVE WRITING FOR SECOND LANGUAGE LEARNERS

Jilly has extensive experience in teaching script writing and creative writing to students at home and abroad whose first language is not English. Creative writing can be a way to improve on the English language and build confidence further, and can be more fun than standard ESOL English language learning - We very much welcome students whose first language is not English.

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Writing to improve mental health imageWriting to improve mental health image
Mental Health Benefits:

Creative writing has been proven to have very positive properties for people suffering from issues concerning their mental health, including helping with self expression, building confidence, organising thoughts and feelings, improving mood, reducing stress levels and improving motivation.

Jilly works with several organisations and a charity which strive to use creative writing as a positive therapy to improve mental health as a whole. We very much welcome people who may suffer from a variety of health issues, where they are looking for a way to improve their general wellbeing.

Jilly is a Mental Health First Aider.
Awards imageAwards image
  • AWARDS RELATING TO JILLY:
  • WINNER -  BEST SHORT FILM - Being Keegan
    Nov 1, 2018 - International Film Festival of Wales
  • BEST BRITISH SHORT  - Being Keegan
    Oct 2018 - Winchester International Film Festival.
  • BEST SCREENWRITER (Nominated)  (BAFTA qualifying) - Being Keegan
    Oct 2018 - Underwire Film Festival, London (BAFTA qualifying festival)
  • WINNER - BEST INTERNATIONAL SHORT DRAMA- Being Keegan
    May 2018 - Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival
  • WINNER - AUDIENCE AWARD- Being Keegan
    Apr 2018 h - TMFF, 2018 UK
  • WINNER - DIRECTOR'S CHOICE AWARD - Being Keegan
    Apr 2018 - IndieFlicks, UK
  • HIGHLY COMMENDED  - Yellow Rose
    Oct 2011 - London Screenwriting Festival
  • A WINNER - NEW DRAMA WRITING - Kenneth Branagh Award (Formerly the Windsor Award) - The Muddy Pool
    Oct 2007  - Windsor Festival
BEING KEEGAN

BEING KEEGAN

BEING KEEGAN is a psychological, coming of age short film starring BAFTA nominated Stephen Graham (This is England, Boardwalk Empire). When a tormented naval officer returns home to Liverpool, the city's streets become a landscape for redemption and atonement as he is forced to confront his past.

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Not Quite the Dog and Duck (Stage)

Not Quite the Dog and Duck (Stage)

Hard of hearing pensioners, Margaret and Alfred, arrange to meet after hooking up on an Internet dating site. They delightfully chat to one another in a trendy wine-bar, neither realising that the other is their blind date. A light-hearted comedy, illustrating that being over eighty doesn’t mean you’re over the hill.

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A Date with Doris (Stage)

A Date with Doris (Stage)

She's a feisty pensioner on the prowl for a new man - God help him!

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The Muddy Pool (Stage)

The Muddy Pool (Stage)

It's Maisee's worst day ever! Not only is she fed up with her parents arguing all the time, but she's been told she's getting one of those smelly ugly things called a baby brother or sister! Could it really get any worse? At least she has her best friend to confide in... the River Mersey

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Red Card (Stage)

Red Card (Stage)

Red Card takes place in 1977 Liverpool, and tells the story of two football mad kids, Jay and Sean. Their dream is to hold the cup up in Anfield one day like their football hero, Kevin Keegan. It explores the relationship between Sean and Jay, and how the very young have a spark and excitement for the future.. a feeling that they can be whatever they want to be. But when tragedy happens, the reality of growing up and experiencing the events of life and death can wreck plans, incite cynicism and shatter lives.

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Yellow Rose (Screen short)

When two pensioners meet on a blind date in this modern age of technology - things don't always run smoothly.

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Any questions, queries or comments - please write in the box below, and I will get back to you ASAP! Thanks..

  • United Kingdom

 Jilly is amazing with lots of experience. My 11year old son loves and looking forward to every session. The lessons are very well prepared, great materials used and all with professional approach. We are so glad we have found Jilly. 

Ms Wepa-RybaPrivate Creative Writing Tutoring
     

 'I Really enjoyed the course. Jilly was a great teacher and made it very interesting' 'Jilly the tutor is really good, she listens to us..' 'Course was brilliant. Jilly is a very good teacher..' 'The course has made me feel more confident about myself..' 

Adult Learning StudentsCreative writing for mental health
03Oct

Story Prompts to get you writing!

Writers' block?  

I have written a series of short writing prompts for you to use as a springboard into your own imagination!  

Please contact me and I will give you a personal writers' prompt to start your writing journey!


1). 'She opened the door, and there he was......'

2) 'The fire was getting closer....'

3) 'Looking through the window, his worst fears were finally confirmed....'

4) 'Digging her toes into the warm sand, It was a hard choice, but she knew what her next move had to be....


5). 'She couldn't put her finger on it, but there was something different about the way he looked at her today....' 

6). 'She cautiously walked towards the wardrobe, carefully placing her fingers on the handle...'


These will be expanded and updated regularly for you to be inspired!... Use my contact page if you want more information.


Web Content Writer

Your website is the window to your product, and the content, aesthetics and professionalism of your site will determine whether customers, clients or audiences will choose you or choose one of your competitors.

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Screenwriter

Screenwriter - Develop new writing for screen - open to new projects and collaborations

Playwright

Playwright - Develop new writing for stage - open to new projects and collaborations

Proofreading

Proofreading and Editing - Welcome new work.

Storytelling

Substantial experience storytelling in industry and in academic institutions.

Voice Artist

Remotely or in studio - I have my own professional studio, and welcome work in this line.

Film Lecturer

Substantial experience teaching various film elements and production in academic institutions up to post graduate level.

Scriptwriting and Creative Writing Lecturer

10 years experience teaching Scriptwriting and Creative Writing for various mediums in a number of academic institutions to post graduate level.

Script Reading Service

Comprehensive written constructive feedback on any length script (screen or stage) to help improve and strengthen your creative work.

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Copywriting

Writing copy and targeted articles to help promote and direct traffic to your website.