RUSSELL LINEY
As a student of the arts, I learned all aspects of design required for working
within the advertising industry and became proficient in a variety of art forms:
graphic design, illustration, typography, calligraphy, photography,
photograpic processing and printing, silk screen printing, painting and fine art.
From 1976 to 1984 I worked in Nottinghamshire and London as a graphic designer
and exhibited my illustrations and photographs in London and North Yorkshire.
In 1993 I became a freelance designer and photographer, working for the charities
TRADE East Midlands and MESMAC London in the production of educational
material in the fight against HIV and AIDS.
I started to write in 2004. My writing is influenced by any number of things, including novels,
biographies, philosophical writing; independent, cult, classic, silent, and art house cinema;
modern abstract painting, the symbolism movement, modern abstract sculpture, and 20th century architecture;
the gay rights movement, the historical aspects and the progression of gay films through the decades;
and the futility of war.
First I wrote, produced, directed, and edited on video tape, two short independent art films:
NARCISSUS and SEVEN DEADLY SINS.
My first full-length play for the stage, MORE THAN A WOMAN - inspired by the courage,
determination, and talent of the screen actress Bette Davis in an industry run and dominated mainly by men - originated in 2004 as a short radio play titled, THE ALLEY DUSE.
In 2006 I expanded THE ALLEY DUSE into a one act play, titled,
AN EVENING IN THE COMPANY OF A FALLING STAR.
On the advice of BBC film producer and mentor, Mark Shivas, and my writing tutor
Jean Binta Breeze, I completely revised and extended
AN EVENING IN THE COMPANY OF A FALLING STAR into a two act play with cabaret numbers,
and an optional prologue: MORE THAN A WOMAN.
MORE THAN A WOMAN premiered in 2015 at the University of Leicester, performed by L U Theatre
and was published in paperback, in 2018.
Two more plays THE BOYS ON THE ROCK and STEAMING QUEENS are works in progress.
A short film screenplay, THE LAST DANCE BEFORE THE CHIMES OF MIDNIGHT is completed.
A novella: OUTLAWS OF THE GREENWOOD is nearly completed.
My first full length novel, MY DEATH WAITS THERE… is awaiting publication.
I published a trilogy of appraisals about the trilogy of films by writer and director, Jon Garcia:
THE FALLS, TESTAMENT OF LOVE and COVENANT OF GRACE.
My complete full-length screenplay, SANDS-END - set between 1984 and 1987 - was inspired by
many visits to the town of Whitby on the North Yorkshire coast. The Gothic atmosphere of the town
before the day-trippers had arrived and after they had left, the remoteness of Sands-end village,
the local painters, sculptors, and potters, Whitby’s remoteness from large towns and cities
and its close proximity to the North Yorkshire moors, Whitby’s influence on writers of supernatural stories,
the relentless cold weather conditions, the hardened colour of the local residents, and the folk music scene;
all of which I absorbed over a period of 30 years have formed the backbone of the screenplay.
Contact ~ beforecelluloidafterdigital@gmail.com
MY VISION
My purpose in writing is to satisfy my need
to create passionate and engaging works
for public consumption. My ultimate aim is
to find a publisher for my completed writing,
and an agent to pitch and promote
my completed screenplays and stage plays.
I am currently acting as self manager and agent
in the process of sending out proposals
of the following completed works
to individual film production companies.
The original stage play, and screenplay of my play:
More Than A Woman
A short original screenplay:
The Last Dance
Before The Chimes Of Midnight
And an original full length feature screenplay:
Sands-end
I am compiling a directory of talented,
new film makers, working within the UK;
some of whose films I have facilitated,
and whose talents I hope to utilise in the
event of producing my films cooperatively.
Contact ~ beforecelluloidafterdigital@gmail.com
SELF PUBLISHING
The other option and direction I take,
is to go down the self-publishing route
and design and distribute
the books myself.
Speaking from experience,
this is far easier, and not
as expensive as some
independent writers might think.
In 2018 I designed and co-produced my play:
More Than A Woman - pictured above - in
paperback book format.
Photograph of Bette Davis in the Public Domain
Contact ~ beforecelluloidafterdigital@gmail.com