Yahoo News Lincolnshire screenwriter says it's 'surreal' after working on Eddie Redmayne TV thriller
A Lincolnshire screenwriter who wrote episodes for the new remake of The Day of The Jackal starring Eddie Redmayne said it was "humbling" so see it advertised on bilboards across the UK.
Jessica Sinyard, originally from Hull but now based in West Lindsey, completed a master's at the National Film and Television School in 2019. Despite having no connections in the industry, she was determined to break through and hopes she can encourage other passionate writers to pursue their dreams.
She told Grimsby Live: "I started writing stories and scripts from a really early age, but took it seriously as a teenager... I knew that I wanted to be a screenwriter, but I wasn’t sure how I could bridge the gap with no prior industry connections.
"Once I’d completed a number of feature film scripts and television pilots in my own time, I began entering writing competitions and film festivals to receive industry-level feedback, and applying for local development schemes like Screen Yorkshire.
"It was the encouragement I got there, along with a firm foundation in film theory and analysis from Hull Uni — that meant I felt empowered to pursue screenwriting as a full-time career.
"Then I was accepted to the National Film and Television School in 2017 on a scholarship and signed with my agent just before graduating in 2019. Fortunately for me, I started working right away."
This year, Jessica wrote episodes for Vikings Valhalla on Netflix and The Day of the Jackal on Sky Atlantic. She said it "still feels surreal as it was such a high-profile show".
She added: "Screenwriting as a profession is intense, disciplined, and quite competitive, but I’m a compulsive and voracious writer and can’t imagine doing anything else. Don’t tell my employers but I would write for free!"
Jessica's dad Neil Sinyard, who she described as a "Hull lad", was an Emeritus Professor of Film Studies at the University of Hull where she studied for her undergraduate degree after he retired. "He is undoubtedly where my love of classic cinema comes from and especially appreciating and interpreting films not just as entertainment, but as both art and history," she said.
Billboards advertising The Day of Jackal have popped up all over the country and Jessica said it was a strange feeling to see them and know she was a key player in the show's creation.
"Seeing the billboard was a strange blend of feeling both really proud and really humbled," she said. "Proud because hard work and passion had taken me into my dream career, but humble because of all the support and encouragement I’d benefitted from along the way."
Jessica said she has been inspired by many writers and directors and loves Alfred Hitchcock, Gillian Flynn, Kathryn Bigelow, David Fincher, and Akira Kurosawa.
She added: "My work is often inspired by the tautly-plotted, paranoid thrillers of the 1970s in particular, and especially themes of power, control, and ordinary people under extraordinary pressure. I love a twist, psychologically rich and challenging characters, and especially a really well-crafted investigative drive."
Giving advice to others trying to break into the industry, she said: "I would love to encourage aspiring writers from an ordinary background such as mine to read voraciously and to write voraciously. Just start. Look for local resources — writers’ groups and local filmmakers — then expand to international festivals and competitions for feedback.
"If you don’t have any connections, like I didn’t, then this is a great way to make them. I would also encourage you: write in your own voice. Write to your own tastes, interests, and style.
"Not what you think is a trend or would sell. Being original and authentic is what will make you stand out, and it’s also the most creatively fulfilling. Trust your own voice."
The Day of the Jackal aired on Sky Atlantic and is available on Now TV
