Script Consultancy, Project development & Coaching
Ineke's films distinguish themselves by their unusual narrative structure and vivid expression of the imagination.
Jeroen's radio drama productions revived the Dutch radio play with their cinematographic style, sparse use of voice over and realistic characterization achieved through their use of natural dialogues.
Jeroen's strength lies in plot, psychology and dialogues, Ineke's strength lies in analysis, development and vizualisation.
Our taste is broad, from art house to genre films, but we are especially interested in films with a distinctive author's signature. We see it as our mission to help filmmakers to develop their own vision.
Script analysis
The treatment of scripts are evaluated on their themes, characters, dialogues, structure, plot and subplots. We can also offer advice on improvements in the form of concrete suggestions. Our written report forms the basis for a verbal consultation, and can be provided on request.
Development and coaching
Young authors may especially need independent back-up while developing their project. This process differs from case to case, but will include an thorough analysis of synopsis, treatment and/or script.
As a coach we have more distance to the actual writing and development. We help the writer to safeguard the fundaments and original idea during the writing process, and provide constructive criticism when needed.
Good ideas for films can strand, because the author has difficulty putting them on paper in a transparent and readable way. We can offer advice on the construction and writing of applications.
Project assessment
Quickscan/Reading report:
An assessment can help a producer, broadcaster or funding body in their decision-making about a project. We can provide a reading report of 1-3 pages, which analyzes the most revelant aspects of the project: plot, characters, themes, structure, originality and audience appeal.
Adaptations:
An assessment of 2-6 pages, in which we advise if the original (source) material is suitable for adaptation to the screen. Original material can be a novel, but could also be a play or historical event. The analysis will focus on possible narrative structures, themes, dramatic conflict, leading- and supporting characters. Complementary to the assessment we can, if appropreate (for example, in case of a novel) deliver a summary. This analysis could form the groundwork for the development of a synopsis or treatment.
Documentary coaching and assessment
Coaching:
Many documentaries start with an idea or a subject. We can advise the filmmaker on developing a concept or film-plan, in which the central theme, the narrative structure, style and form are developed. We can also help to extract a concrete film story from (completed) research materials, or rewrite an already existing documentary film plan.
Project assessment:
On basis of a film plan, research report or other materials we can provide an assessment focussing on the potential for a documentary. We advise on format, theme, narrative, characters and the current or social framework in which the documentary can be positioned.
In development/financing
The Big Silence – 3x55’/ S&S for NTR Radio 4
3-part radio drama adapted from Erik Menkvelds novel about the relation between two important Dutch composers of the early 20th century: Alphons Diepenbrock and Matthijs Vermeulen.
A The Hague Affair – audiovisual exhibition installation for the National Archive.
In the late 1700’s Sophia Noortwijck and her mother were sentenced by the Dutch Court for prostitution, forgery and theft. The court case against these ‘nouveau riche’ of the Golden Age culminated in a scandal, that destroyed Sophia’s reputation.
The Oblivious – transmedial project / Seriousfilm for Mediafund
Rumour has it that a secret society of rabbits are invading the city. Signs of their presence appear, but no one knows who they are, or what their agenda is. An undercover film team has managed to shoot a documentary about these mysterious rabbits. A film that takes us on a trail of discovery in public space.
In production 2013
Koos van Leeuwen’s gaze – 52’ / S&S for NCRV and Mediafund
Television documentary by Ineke Smits about Rotterdam based forensic doctor Koos van Leeuwen. For the past twelve years he has determined the time and cause of death of six people per week on average by reconstructing the last hours of their lives.
Stand by your President – 80’ / IDTV for NCRV, Mediafund, CoBo and Film Fund
Feature documentary by Ineke Smits about Sandra Roelofs, a Dutch girl who became the First Lady of exotic but politically instable Georgia. After eight years in office her husband, the now controversial President, cannot be re-elected.
The Spider – 70 x 14’ / Palantino Producties for NTR and Mediafund
70 episode radio serial by Jeroen Stout, based on the IRT affaire. In an attempt to put the top of Dutch criminals behind bars, police detective Wytze Hofstra becomes the victim of his own ambitions.
Over Stout&Smits
INEKE SMITS completed a Master in directing and script writing at the National Film and Television School in London, after which she directed several shorts for Dutch television. Her collaboration with novelist Arthur Japin led, in 2001, to their first internationally awarded feature Magonia. Since then she has realized several prize winning documentaries which have premiered at the International Documentary Festival Amsterdam. In 2004 she wrote a feature script The House of my Fathers at Binger Filmlab and her second feature The Aviatrix of Kazbek was the closing film of the International Film Festival Rotterdam 2011. In 2011 Ineke began development of The Oblivious, a trans-medial project in collaboration with media designer Paul Swagerman, visual artist Giny Vos and theatre maker Dave Schwab, and completed another feature script, N.N. with film critic Dana Linssen; both projects are now at a development and financing stage. Ineke currently has two documentaries in production and is an advisor on individual projects and to funds and organisations (Binger Filmlab, Hubert Bals Fund, and others).
JEROEN STOUT worked for several years as a film critic for the Dutch public broadcaster NTR. Next to journalism he has specialized in radio plays. Among others he wrote and directed Lee de Forest – Spirit of the Pioneer (Prix Italia) in 2005 and the popular 70-episode serial Sledge Hammer, which was broadcast by Radio 1 in 2010. In the framework of the 2012 International Film Festival Rotterdam he wrote and directed the Hive, an audiotour in Rotterdam. Jeroen is currently directing a new radio serial, The Spider, he writes reviews and conducts interviews for the Filmkrant, a leading Dutch film magazine. For the Cultural Press Acency he moderates talkshows at cultural events such as the International Film Festival Rotterdam and Holland Festival. Jeroen also coaches young radio-makers and directors.
Website design: Paul Swagerman
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