Showing posts with label furquan akhtar. Show all posts
Showing posts with label furquan akhtar. Show all posts

Wednesday, 27 March 2019

Furquan Akhtar: Coronation Street, the show that shaped me


There's a wonderful interview in Broadcast magazine with Furquan Akhtar who used to work as a storyline on Coronation Street. 

We interviewed Furquan some time ago while he was still working at Coronation Street and you can read his words here.

In Broadcast magazine, Furquan talks about how Coronation Street has shaped him and his writing life.  Furquan has also written for Hollyoaks and CBBC shows The Dumping Ground and Wolfblood

It's well worth a read and it's here.
 
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Monday, 29 May 2017

Martyn Hett draws in the crowds as we celebrate the 'Iconic' Corrie fan

I made the journey to the vigil for Martyn Hett on Sunday to pay my respects and show my support to his family and friends. I didn’t know Martyn as well as a lot of you, but he was, in my eyes, the head of the Corrie fandom and I was distraught when I found out he’d died in the Manchester blast. It took a while for it to sink in that we’d never be able to see more of his silliness on YouTube, laugh at his hilarious and sarcastic Tweets, follow what amazing things he was doing next in life or bump into him and his entourage on Canal Street in Manchester. It was even more tragic that Martin was due to travel to the US in the week he died, I’m sure he’d have taken America by storm. In fact I know he would have.

  

As I approached Heaton Moor Park, just North of Manchester City centre, I heard a roar of laughter. And it really was a roar. There were SO MANY people at the vigil. I walked in through the gates into the crowd and joined the celebration of Martyn’s life.

On stage at the front of the park were Martyn’s closest family and friends. I felt a lump in my throat as I stood in awe of their bravery. They told stories, joked about things Martyn used to say and do, how his ex-boyfriend had to pursue him for some time before Martyn finally agreed to start a relationship, and how a friend once told Martyn they were going through a rough time so he travelled hundreds of miles to cheer them up, but they never actually talked about the problem, they just went out and had fun. That was Martyn’s way so that was generally the mood of the vigil.




But it was also sombre at times, small groups of friends huddled and cuddled, especially when a local choir started to belt out emotive classics like Man in the Mirror. I had my trusty sunglasses to hide my tears, as I'd done they day before when arriving in Manchester to the strangest atmosphere. It was like Mancunians were determined not to let recent events keep them down. But once the floodgates open, it's hard not to sob a little and try to find a way understand recent events. That was the case too at Martyn's vigil.

Cast and crew of Coronation Street were at the vigil too. In the week following Martyn’s death they’d referred to Martyn as ‘a friend of the show’. And he was. Jennie McAlpine, writer Furquan Akhtar, Dolly-Rose Campbell, Shobna Gulati and exec producer Kate Oates were all present, among others to show their respects. They held up the letters 'ICONIC' as people listened to the choir and began to light candles as the sun set over South Manchester.



Martyn's step father ended the family's speeches with these words, which I think help encourage us all to live life to the fullest like Martyn did: 'I see Martyn as a comet hurtling through the universe. At some point that comet had to crash, but we can now all pick up a little piece of that comet and take it away with us. We can all BE MORE MARTYN'.

I will.



@StevieDawson 


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Monday, 27 January 2014

Listen: Interview with Coronation Street Story Associate

A little while ago, we had an exclusive interview with Coronation Street Story Associate Furquan Akhtar.  You can read all about him here and find out what he does on our favourite show.

Now, Furquan's been interviewed on BBC Radio Manchester.  He talks about his work as a Story Associate on Corrie, what he does and how he does it.  It's very interesting stuff indeed.  He says there are 18 current writers on Corrie and he has to remind himself it's not real life!

Furquan reveals a little about the new Muslim family that will be joining Coronation Street too.

You can listen to the interview here.  Furquan comes in around the 44 minutes mark.

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Wednesday, 23 October 2013

Interview with Coronation Street Story Associate, Furquan Akhtar

It's time to meet Furquan Akhtar who is one of the Story Associates on Coronation Street.

In an exclusive interview here on the Coronation Street Blog, we asked Furquan about his job and what it was like to shape the stories on our favourite soap.  So, here we go....

Can you explain your job please - how long you've been doing it and how you got the job, what your experience was before joining ITV?
I’ve worked at the show for over three years now and it was my first job in TV. I started as a Trainee and I’ve been fortunate enough to work in several different departments from production to archiving. I landed a more permanent job as an Editorial Assistant and was promoted this year to Story Associate. Being a Story Associate involves pitching stories, writing to tight deadlines and putting in long hours!

How is your job different to being a script writer?
Storylining is about creating the arcs for a story. The story has to have an arc across each scene, each episode and each block. We build this from what's pitched by the script writers and editorial team at story conference. We then take the pitches and talk them through. Then we see how they can play across the next three weeks.  We write the "beats" and help choreograph the story but it's only the first step of the process. It's up to our brilliant writers and Script Editing team to shape the storylines we give them into actual episodes. They have the final say and most importantly they create the fantastic dialogue Corrie is famous for.

Is being a Scriptwriter the "next step" for a Story Associate? Is that what you're aiming for yourself?
It's not the natural next step although it's a great jumping off point. Storyliners have gone on to write, script edit and produce. Some of the most prolific and successful writers in the country have had a stint in the Corrie story at one point in their career so it's definitely an exciting place to be. I hope to write in the future but at the moment I'm very happy with one of the most exciting day jobs in tele.

Can you describe a typical week at work?
Haha! In a short answer, no. That's what's great about it. From one week to the next you’re submerged in the wonderful world of Weatherfield. We work in three-week cycles, which spans three week's worth of story. The first week involves conference and story talk through. In week two we go away and write and then the producer gives you a storyline edit. You have to turn that around and then the Story Editor compiles them into episodes, which we'll work on again. This way you have had a hand in every story that plays on screen. 

Were you a Corrie fan before joining the show? If yes, how did that feel 'crossing over' to working and writing and helping to shape events and characters?
Oh definitely! Can you come from Manchester and not be? I have grown up with Corrie. It's the backdrop to many households and it definitely was in mine when I was growing up. I couldn’t believe it when I got the call to work at Corrie and I genuinely still feel excited walking on the cobbles.

Do you ever get star struck with the cast members?
I did when I first started.  The first cast member I met was Julie Hesmondhalgh and she set the bar really high! She's so lovely that she gives Hayley Cropper a run for her money. I've also had the privilege to meet a lot of the Corrie legends. It was an absolute privilege to cross paths with Bill Tarmey and Betty Driver.
Who are your favourite characters to write for?  Who would you have loved to have written for?
I should give a really diplomatic answer shouldn't I? I think the one thing that Corrie is brilliant at is family units. There are so many rich family units to choose from at the minute and each one brings a different joy with it. From the past - I think the Duckworths would have been an absolute riot to write for.

What advice would you give to anyone interested in working for a soap?
I was given two bits of advice. The first is quite obvious - persistence. It's such a difficult job market and I graduated in a recession so I know exactly what it's like. You just have to keep knocking on doors and trying. The second is a bit more obscure - tea. I was told that tea is a commodity. It's served me quite well. If you meet people for a tea or coffee and talk about your work or what you want to do - you instantly have a connection and a contact. You'd be surprised how many people are willing to do that.

What's your Top 3 favourite things about your job?
1) The people. If you look at how many cast members have been interviewed over the years - they always say that Corrie is a family. I'll be honest I thought that was luvvie nonsense before I worked here. I will eat humble pie and say that - I've made some friends for life here.
2) The Show. No one's bigger than the show. It's taken on a life of its own and it's a testament to Tony Warren's idea all those decades ago.
3) Storytelling. My nephew asked me what I do and I told him - I write stories. His eyes lit up. It's absolute privilege to get paid to do write stories for characters you love for a show that's a national treasure.

And finally, what's your favourite seat on the bus?
Without a doubt it's at the top, at the front and on the right. So it feels like you're driving it.

You can find out more about Furquan here and follow him on twitter @furquan


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