Writing for Dark Horse Comics, Gestalt Publishing and Theatre

For a while now, I have only existed outside of daylight hours.

This is because I have been busily working on a new project for Dark Horse Comics. The project is being illustrated by my good mate Colin Wilson, which gives us even more reason to drink coffee and talk for hours. I can't say too much more at this stage but there will be an official announcement in early 2009.

I am also working on a number of exciting projects with Gestalt Publishing. Gestalt are doing some big things at the moment and working with some wonderful creators, like award-winning artists Shaun Tan and Ben Templesmith and authors James Barclay and Terry Dowling.

Meanwhile, my play 'Falling Praying' will be on at the Melbourne Arts Centre from Wednesday the 17th of December to Saturday the 20th.

Falling Praying
"Two people meet. They fall for each other. Then they fall out of a plane. This is the story of what happens next."

Bookings through Ticketmaster, here's the link.

My play 'Drip' has also just been selected for Short and Sweet Sydney in 2009.

A Book Gets The Greenlight. 'Falling Praying' Wins Awards And Believe Begins.

This week saw a new project I'm writing get the green light from the publisher. More news as I can speak about it.

My short play 'Falling Praying' has tonight won the People's Choice and Judge's Choice awards at Crash Test Drama. A big thank you to Harry Paternoster, Cath Krejany, Paul Goddard, Charity Shaw and Jane Miller.

This Wednesday my play 'Believe' begins a two week run as part of Dante's Spring Carnivale. All welcome.

Lastly, the recent success of 'The Example' has seen it hit the number 1 spot in "Script Squirrel's Top 40". To read it and some other great plays head here.

'Variety' Reports Colin Wilson's 'Headshot' Has Been Optioned by Warner Brothers.

Colin Wilson is the talented guy who illustrated my stories White Dove III (current release date; March 09) and The Example (also due to be published next year).

Variety and several other sources have today announced that Warner Brothers have acquired the rights to Matz and Colin's Graphic Novel series "Du Plomb Dans la Tête" or "Headshot".
Alessandro Camon of "Thank You for Smoking" fame has been set to write the script. Alexandra Milchan and "Smallville" creators Alfred Gough and Miles Millar are set to produce.

Unbelievable Colin. Congratulations!

Colin and I are also working on a huge comic book project for a well-known property which I will be announcing (without much detail) very soon.

Here's one of Colin's covers.

More Theatre News

My new play 'Falling, Praying' has made it into the Top Twenty' of Short and Sweet to be performed at the Melbourne Arts Centre in December.

Meanwhile 'Drip' is currently on at The Carlton Courthouse in Playspotting as part of the Melbourne Fringe Festival.

I should also mention that my mum, Anna Taylor, also has an installation piece in the Fringe Festival at BUS gallery in Lonsdale Street Melbourne titled 'Deception'.

Deception is an installation of a multitude of abstracted forms, created from knitted wire suspended from the ceiling. These laborious and delicate forms make reference to displaced communities, balancing a fragile appearance with the harshness of their construction.

Artist Anna Taylor


Her website can be found here

My play 'Believe' will be produced at Dante's on Gertrude street from the 20th of October to the 1st of November.

'The Example' is finished in the UK for a while but it received some great reviews and I recently received this from the producer

"Our most recent Brighton and Edinburgh Festival new writing showcases have enjoyed unparalleled success this year, and I am delighted to offer you the following credits, that as a member of our "Top 16" playlist, give you the rights to use in connection with your work..."

Brighton Festival Angel Award 2008 for Artistic Excellence - Public Vote

Edinburgh Fringe First Nomination 2008

Top 5 Shortlist Carol Tambor (New York) "Best of Edinburgh" Award

Well done again to everybody at Bite-Size theatre.

'Drip' in Playspotting 'Falling, Praying' and Betterfly shortlisted

(Lifted from another site)

Melbourne Writers’ Theatre presents its 7th Annual 10-minute play festival, MelBorn08, showcasing eleven of the sometimes raw, sometimes beautifully polished creations of some very talented writers. The plays were chosen from 138 entries, for their ideas, for their theatricality, and most of all for their potential to provide meaning and enjoyment to an audience. They present a mixture of styles, and indeed topics, that may not appear in mainstream theatre, but each has something unique to say about the human condition. Robert Chuter, Artistic Director has scoured Melbourne for the best directors and actors, to support our 11 best writers. Last year the show was a sell out, and many missed a great night of theatre. This year, get in early!

Selected Plays

DRIP by Tom Taylor
SPACE TRAVEL UNLIMITED by Julia Britton
THE LETTER by Phoebe Hartley
TICKING BOXES by Brooke Fairley
THE NEEDLE AND THE DAMAGE DONE by Angus Brown
A CUP OF SUGAR by Jane Miller
THE TRICK by George Huxley
CATE BLANCHETT WANTS TO BE MY FRIEND ON FACEBOOK by Alex Broun
TEN YEARS by Therese Cloonan
LOVELY BITS by Mark Andrew

And for the first time at MelBorn08 - the Actors’ Choice!

CROSSED LINES by Brett Danalake & Iain Triffit

When:
September 24th to October 11th

Where:
Carlton Courthouse Theatre
349 Drummond St
Carlton Vic Web Link: MelBorn08 | Playspotting



'Believe' is also being produced in October while the two new plays I entered into Short and Sweet Melbourne, 'Falling, Praying' and 'Betterfly', have both been shortlisted.

It's great to see some familiar names on the shortlist, including Jane Miller, Alex Broun and the gigantic Norwegian Carl J Sorheim.

It's especially good to see 'We Need to Talk' make the cut, written by Katie Dircks - a playwright with a wonderful voice.

A Great Week - Film, TV, Comic Books And A Surprise Contact From The USA.

Earlier this week I was contacted out of the blue by Jeremy Kagan. Jeremy is the Emmy-award-winning director of Chicago Hope who has also directed a bazillion other TV and film projects including one of my favourites, The West Wing.
Jeremy saw my play 'The Example' at The Edinburgh Festival and appreciated my "insight, language and tension." He asked for a copy of the script to share with his graduate film directing students at USC. He also thought it would make a great short film and asked if I was interested in this... pretty amazing.

A huge thank-you to Nick Brice and everyone at Bite-Size theatre who obviously put on a great production.

Meanwhile, it looks like the TV series I was writing earlier this year is happening and, if all goes as planned, it could start shooting as early as November. Another series I've been working on also looks set to happen - unless it becomes a feature film instead. I'll give more details when I'm allowed... almost all of my working life is vague and secretive at the moment.

The film of A4 2 A3 is progressing well and I met with the producer, lead actor and director this week.

My play 'Drip' will be opening at the Carlton Courthouse on September 24 as part of Melborn '08 and the Fringe Festival. Drip is currently in the number 1 spot in the 'top 40' unproduced works over at Script Squirrel.

Most of my writing time has recently been given over to the writing of comic books. I currently have five different projects in the works, with the first to be published in January.
I also had a good chat about the future with DFC editor Will Fickling earlier this week. The DFC, based in Oxford, England, is a weekly comic book brought out by Random House. It would be fantastic to see something like this supported by a mainstream Australian publisher.
I've recently realised that writing comics is my dream job... it looks like that dream is coming true.

The upshot of all of this is I am on the brink of being a full-time writer. I'd like to give a huge thank-you to Megan and Finn for all of their support.

Thanks also to my editors and sounding boards, Megan and Kym, both of whom have had to listen to and comment on bizzare things for years while treading that fine line between criticism, support and just humoring me.

Lastly, I'd like to thank caffeine for all of its help with my writing between 12 and 4 in the morning.

White Dove III and 96000 Metres

There are several exciting Comic Book projects in the works at the moment; a number of which I can't talk about yet, but I will when I can.

I have two stories in an upcoming anthology; White Dove III illustrated by Colin Wilson (Judge Dredd, Star Wars, Point Blank) and 96000 Metres illustrated by Tom Bonin (Dicks). The anthology is due for publication in January - officially solicited in October. There are some other great well known creators involved. More when it's official.

Here is the first preview page from "White Dove III".

A4 2 A3 - The Film.

Last year Simon Barlow and myself wrote a musical called A4 2 A3 - a love story set in a photocopy store.

After it won the 'People's Choice' Award at the inaugural Short, Sweet and Song festival, the film rights were optioned.

All of this disappeared for a while but I'm happy to announce that it's back on. A new producer, a great lead in Joe Main and a fantastic director in Ben Shackleford; shooting is set to begin in December.

Tom Taylor Writing For Radio and The Example To Be Produced in Edinburgh.

On Friday, Spicks and Specks producer Anthony Watt got in contact with me to say that 'The Comedy Hour' on ABC radio wanted to use a sketch I wrote titled '90% Percent of Victorian Patients Don't Go Home With Scissors Inside Them'... I know, it's a catchy title.

I've just come home from the taping where the sketch was really well received by the live audience and I learned that I was the first 'guest writer' the show has had... which is nice. The show airs every Monday night at 9 with my sketch probably being broadcast tonight or next week.

Meanwhile, my play 'The Example' has been selected for a 'World's Best 10-Minute-Plays' season at the Edinburgh Festival. The season is being produced by Bite Size Theatre.

'The Example' in Sydney, 'Drip' in Melborn 08 and 'Believe' in Spring.

My play 'Drip' has come through the Top 30 readings of Melborn 08 to make the cut for the Top Ten. This means it will be part of a three week season at the Carlton Courthouse from September 24th through to October 11th. It will also be published. The season is run by Melbourne Writers Theatre.

On the strength of it's 'Judges Choice Award' at Crash Test Drama, 'Believe' has been selected for the upcoming Spring Carnival at Dante's in October/November.

Meanwhile 'The Example' has been reviewed again as part of the new Shorter and Sweeter season at Sydney's Newtown Theatre.

The Example, by Tom Taylor and directed by Felicity Burke, touches on the war on terror, notions of trust and suspicion and the bases for them, bigotry, credulity, offbeat romance, superstition, alienation and more. All this, from an abandoned bag on a suburban railway platform.

- Australian Stage Online

I've also had news that the TV show is progressing and looking more and more likely... fingers crossed.

A playwright writing comics?

As well as writing for TV, film and (the usual) theatre, over the last year or so I've been quietly working away on several comic projects.
This all came about after meeting master illustrator Colin Wilson. Colin is currently the illustrator of Star Wars 'Rebellion' for Dark Horse comics as well as illustrating the online comic of Bionic Commando written by Andy Diggle, which you can read here.

Colin and I have a few things in the pipeline (and hopefully I can talk about some of that soon) but I thought I'd put an image from one of our 'in progress' projects.

As well as the work with Colin, I have a number of things in the pipeline with Tom Bonin, including being luck enough to write an issue of his detective comic 'Dicks'. I will hopefully be able to post some of his awesome work soon.

The Example in the Weekly.

There was a nice feature on the Example, which is currently touring regional Australia, in the Diamond Valley Weekly magazine today. Please note: my nose isn't this big. I was just very close to the lens.

The Example at the Frankston Arts Centre

I was fortunate enough to get along to the Frankston Arts Centre tonight to see my play The Example in Shorter and Sweeter. A really nice production with two great actors in Alan Flower and Sophie Cook. The Arts Centre itself was a bit of a surprise; the theatre was quite modern and seated 800. There was a very good house on the night too.

'Drip' makes the Top 30 of 'Melborn' 2008

Great to hear that my play 'Drip' has been selected for the top 30 of 'MelBorn' 08 in the Fringe Festival. Despite being on in Boston where it was also televised and had some very nice things said about it, 'Drip' hasn't had a lot of productions in Australia.

Click the photo for more info.

Tom Taylor's Believe wins the Judges Choice award at Crash Test Drama.

Congratulations and thanks to the cast of 'Believe'.

David Gannon, Carl J. Sørheim, Daniel Hall and Nick Gunn.

'Believe' has just won the Judges Choice Award at Crash Test Drama.

We actually tied with a great script by friend (and constant writing rival) Alex Broun.
For more on Alex check out www.alexbroun.com.

The Example by Tom Taylor travels across Australia with Shorter and Sweeter.

'The Example' is currently part of a twelve venue tour of Australia with seven other short plays in Shorter and Sweeter. These plays are supposed to be the 'best of the best' of Short and Sweet, not bad considering their have been over 5000 plays submitted to the festival.

Full dates and venues

Araluen Arts Centre, Alice Springs, N.T. 30 April/ 1 May 2008
Darwin Entertainment Centre, N.T. 3 May 2008
Cairns Civic Theatre QLD. 6 May 2008
Riverway Arts Centre Thuringowa, QLD. 8 May 2008
Pilbeam Theatre, Rockhampton Performing Arts Centre QLD. 10 May 2008
Brisbane Powerhouse QLD. 13 – 17 May 2008
Jetty Memorial Theatre, Coffs Harbour, NSW. 20- 21 May 2008
The Little Theatre, Woy Woy NSW. 23-24 May 2008
The Drum Theatre, Dandenong, VIC. 27 May 2008
Frankston Arts Centre, VIC. 29 May 2008
Warrnambool Regional Performing Arts Centre, VIC. 31 May 2008
Canberra Theatre Centre, ACT. 3 June – 7 June 2008



More info can be found here.

Short Sighted Nominated for the Australian Institute of Music 'Best Musical' Award.

I've just gotten back from Sydney where Simon Barlow and I have seen our new musical 'Short Sighted' performed. Despite some issues, 'Short Sighted' still managed to pick up a nomination for the Australian Institute of Music 'Best Musical' Award.

Supernova

As part of the new TV show, I was lucky enough to interview Comic Book creators and other celebrities on camera at Supernova.

Including...

John Rhys-Davies (Gimli from Lord of The Rings)

James Kyson Lee (Ando from Heroes)

Jewel Staite (Kaylee from Firefly)

It's not every day you can say "I had to arm-wrestle The Incredible Hulk... in a professional capacity."

A Short Play For A Competition

A huge thank you to Amy Humphreys and Lawrence Price for their performance of a Short Play for a Competition at Dantes for the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.

Thanks guys.

Finalist in the Bite Size International Playwriting Competition.

'A Short Play for a Competition' has been selected as a Finalist in the Bite Size International Playwriting Competition in the UK. March and April are looking very busy for my plays. On March 29th I will have four different works on in Melbourne, Sydney and the UK.

The Pilot

Well, the pilot has been filmed and, as well as being the writer, I was asked to be the co-presenter of the show... which I said 'no' to... but they made me do it anyway.

I will have more news as I'm allowed speak about it but at the moment it's just 'fingers crossed'.

Also, I've been asked to write an issue of 'Dicks', Tom Bonin's mythology / mystery / private detective comic book series.

http://tombonin.com/



I've finished the story and I'm really happy with it.

Short Sighted by Tom Taylor and Simon Barlow selected for Short, Sweet and Song

'Short Sighted', a new short musical written by Myself and Simon Barlow, has been selected for the Top Ten of Short Sweet and Song.

http://www.shortandsweet.org/node/329

Amazingly, Short Sighted will be performed in Sydney at the same time as our winning musical from last year 'A4 2 A3' (pictured) is performed at Dantes as part of the Melbourne Comedy Festival.



Another of my plays 'A Short Play for a Competition' will also be performed at Dantes in the first week.

ttp://www.comedyfestival.com.au/season/2008/show/120/

The Example goes on tour

My play The Example has just been selected for a twelve venue tour of Australia. Selected from over three thousand plays from the last five years of Short and Sweet, The Example will be produced with just seven other short plays in Shorter and Sweeter.

http://www.shortandsweet.org/shorter-and-sweeter

Also, I've just finished writing a fully-funded pilot which is filming on the 1st of March. More news to come.

Published in Australian Parents. I feel good... but old.

I've have a 2000 word article published in Australian Parents Magazine this month. I greet it with a mixture of "yay!" and "I'm old."

There have been several exciting developments on the TV writing front - more to come.

Shortsighted shortlisted for Short, Sweet and Song

A new short musical written by myself and Simon Barlow titled 'Shortsighted' has been Shortlisted for Short, Sweet and Song.

A musical about stargazing and mankind's lack of vision when looking to the future.

'Jack and Jill went up the hill... but what comes tumbling after?'

Our last musical 'A4 2 A3' won the People's Choice Award in last year's competition.

I'm official!

Below is my official page at Doolee.com: the world-wide playwrights database.

http://www.doollee.com/PlaywrightsT/taylor-tom-2.html

I'm in a database!

New Productions - Short and Sweet - Allen and Unwin

'Protest' is finished at Short and Sweet Melbourne but, fear not, it has been selected for Short and Sweet Sydney.

Also 'A Short Play for a Competition' and 'A4 2 A3' are set to get productions in The Melbourne Comedy Festival in 'Carnival of the Damned... Funny'.

I'm also meeting with Allen and Unwin this week to discuss something play - related. More as it develops... and it will develop damn it!

Plus I have an article being published later this month.

Barack Obama for King of the world!