Matthew J Gunn
I’m a UK based author, writing tutor, and screen and stage writer. A full member of the Writers Guild of Great Britain, I graduated in Film with BA Hons in 1997 during the height of Britpop music! I was lucky enough to be tutored by the late great Ken Russell and Irish award-winning playwright Seamus Finnegan.
I’ve had feature scripts produced and distributed in recent years through Sony Home Entertainment, 4 Digital Media, Vertical Entertainment, Archstone Entertainment, and Greenway Entertainment. Alongside award selections at LA Neo Noir, LA Cinefest, London Portobello Road, and a feature spread in Digital Film Maker Magazine.
Stage plays I’ve written have been performed across London, Surrey, and Europe (Italy and Bulgaria) at the Rhoda McGraw, New Victoria and London Courtyard Theatre. Winning a European writers' award for my adaption of Samuel Beckett First Love.
I have managed and tutored writing workshops for students of all ages to ignite their flair and ambition in creating story content. Working with them to achieve their goals and be proud of what they create.
As an author, I have four published books. The first in 2005, then after a sixteen-year break, three released back-to-back at the start of 2021. The genres vary from crime-thriller, to coming of age, an apocalyptic sci-fi, and a Vietnam war story.
I support cancer research and hospice charities, giving proceeds of my novels in dedication and memory of my beautiful mum. I am a huge sports fan, in my younger years I played cricket to youth professional level. For my sins I’m a lifelong Liverpool FC fan, a full member of the club, and follow the New York Giants in American Football, stretching all the way back to the Bill Parcells era.
My motto is ‘Never give up on your dreams, believe in yourself, through dedication and hard work, you can achieve anything.’
I’ve had feature scripts produced and distributed in recent years through Sony Home Entertainment, 4 Digital Media, Vertical Entertainment, Archstone Entertainment, and Greenway Entertainment. Alongside award selections at LA Neo Noir, LA Cinefest, London Portobello Road, and a feature spread in Digital Film Maker Magazine.
Stage plays I’ve written have been performed across London, Surrey, and Europe (Italy and Bulgaria) at the Rhoda McGraw, New Victoria and London Courtyard Theatre. Winning a European writers' award for my adaption of Samuel Beckett First Love.
I have managed and tutored writing workshops for students of all ages to ignite their flair and ambition in creating story content. Working with them to achieve their goals and be proud of what they create.
As an author, I have four published books. The first in 2005, then after a sixteen-year break, three released back-to-back at the start of 2021. The genres vary from crime-thriller, to coming of age, an apocalyptic sci-fi, and a Vietnam war story.
I support cancer research and hospice charities, giving proceeds of my novels in dedication and memory of my beautiful mum. I am a huge sports fan, in my younger years I played cricket to youth professional level. For my sins I’m a lifelong Liverpool FC fan, a full member of the club, and follow the New York Giants in American Football, stretching all the way back to the Bill Parcells era.
My motto is ‘Never give up on your dreams, believe in yourself, through dedication and hard work, you can achieve anything.’
South East
MATTHEW J. GUNN
Screenwriter. Author. Stage Writer.
Concept Development & Treatments.
Script & Story Editor. Script & Story Reader.
Story Feedback. Writing Tutor.
CONTACT DETAILS
Mobile: UK+ 07849 555 952
Email: mjgunnwriter@yahoo.com
Skype: mjgunn13
Full Member Writers Guild of Great Britain
IMDB Listing: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3243433/
FEATURE CREDITS
INMATE ZERO (2019)
Genre: Dystopian-Horror
Company: Golden Crab Films & Ockham Films
Role: Original Screenplay & Story
Synopsis: Medical trails end up in a re-purposed prison for the world's most violent criminals. When experiments go wrong, the entire island becomes a terrifying, disease riddled maze for desperate survivors.
Released: Distribution/ Vertical Entertainment & Dimension Pictures.
RIDE BY (2019/20 -)
Genre: Urban Crime-Drama (based on a true story).
Company: Ockham Films
Role: Screenplay & Story
Synopsis: Thusha Kamaleswaran was the youngest victim of gun-crime in UK. This true story follows the tragic events from victim, police, and criminals points of view.
Released: Independent Cinemas, and Worldwide Festivals.
A ROOM TO DIE FOR (2017)
Genre: Psychological-Horror
Company: Champagne Charlie Productions
Role: Screenwriter & Producer
Synopsis: When a broke young couple rent a room in an elderly couple's house, horror unfolds as no one appears to be who they really are.
Festivals: Award nominated at British Horror Festival (screened at Empire, London)
Released: Distribution/ 4Digital Media & Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.
RASH (2017)
Genre: Crime-Drama / Found-Footage
Company: Swing of the Shovel Productions
Role: Screenwriter & Producer
Synopsis: A musician, a female police officer and a paranoid conspiracy theorist, collide across the same forty-eight hours leading to tragedy in London.
Released: Distribution/ Greenway Entertainment (VOD, DVD, Prime)
FRANK PHOENIX (2016) / released as 100 BULLETS (2018)
Genre: Crime Neo-Noir
Company: Animus Pictures
Role: Screenwriter
Synopsis: Five years ago, Frank Phoenix robbed The Firm. Betrayed by his own crew and murdered the stolen gold was never found. But could Frank Phoenix still be alive? Someone is planning revenge.
Festivals: Award nominations at LA Neo Noir, Buffalo Niagara, LA Cinefest.
Released: Distribution/ Cinema Epoch as ‘100 Bullets’
IMMIGRANT (2018)
Genre: Crime-Drama
Company: Medan Productions
Role: Screenwriter
Synopsis: An illegal immigrant cab driver meets a prostitute on the run from her brutal pimp. Can they escape London alive?
Released: VOD formats (including - iTunes, amazon)
THE WONDERFUL DIGBY (2016)
Genre: Music Documentary
Company: Swing of the Shovel Productions
Role: Screenwriter & Director
Synopsis: Following a grass roots performers live shows across UK and America, building his new stage persona 'The Wonderful Digby'.
Released: MY Production Ltd (including Amazon Prime).
TRILOGY ROOM 237 (2008)
Genre: Black-Comedy
Company: H2o Film & Casanova Entertainment
Role: Screenwriter
Synopsis: A lonely hit-woman, a grand-master chess player, and a schizophrenic psychiatrist lives collide in the same hotel.
Released: European Television release and worldwide film festivals
SLEEPING WITH FISHES (2006)
Genre: Crime Drama
Company: Stray Monkey Productions
Role: Screenwriter & Director
Synopsis: Keith, an addicted gambler has thirty-two hours to find £20k.
Released: London Portobello Road, and Sky Film (Propeller Network)
TELEVISION CREDITS
DEVELOPMENT PORTFOLIO (2018 - 2021)
Development of Television Serial Concept Portfolio.
5 x TV Serials. Series Treatments/Bibles and Pilot Episodes.
Titles/ Genre:
Rise (Science-Fiction): 10x60 minutes
Brothers Sinn (Detective-Comedy) 12x30 minutes
The Contact (Crime-Thriller) 12x60 minutes
The Other Side (Fantasy-Drama) 10x60 minutes
Pockets (Political-Drama) 12x60 minutes
Company: Gunn & Synnott Creative (GS Creative)
Role: Co-Concept Creator & Co-Script Writer
Development Packages, Treatments, and Bibles
Story Editor
Status: Pitching American Management to commissions Netflix / Amazon.
DEPTFORD TO ANTARCTICA (2017)
Genre: Drama
Company: White Lantern Films
Role: Co-Concept Creator and Pilot Script-Writer
Synopsis: Based on the autobiography of Greenpeace's co-founder, Pete Wilkinson.
Status: Development. Pitching Netflix, Amazon, E4, and BBC.
WHAT MAKES A FOOTBALL TEAM (2010/11)
Genre: Sporting Documentary
Company: Stray Monkey Productions & Sky Sports Xtra
Role: Co-Concept Creator
Synopsis: Looking at key football team areas from goalkeepers to defenders, midfielders to attackers, and managers calling the shots.
Status: Developed and made with Sky Sports Xtra team for online release
THEATRE CREDITS
TRANSFER DEADLINE DAY (2010)
Genre: Sporting-Comedy
Company: Stray Monkey Productions
Role: Writer & Director
Synopsis: A famous footballer is smuggled into a struggling club on transfer deadline day. But the manager, chairman, and ex-star player have other transfer plans!
Performances: London Courtyard Theatre
FIRST LOVE (2009)
Genre: Black-Comedy
Company: H2o Theatre
Role: Writer (adaptation of Samuel Beckett's short story)
Synopsis: A homeless man debates the course of true love.
Performances: Across Europe. *Winner of European playwright award.
HOT PANTS & FLARES (2008)
Genre: Musical
Company: MADS Stage & Dance School
Role: Writer
Synopsis: In the late 1970s disco is in full swing as a group of teenagers embrace the new music, fight one another and fall in and out of love.
Performances: Rhoda McGraw Theatre.
STICKS & STONES (1999–2000)
Genre: War-Drama
Company: Gutted Film & theatre Company
Role: Script Editor & Assistant Director
Synopsis: Spanning thirty years following two family’s lives torn apart by Bloody Sunday.
Performances: Performances 1999 Jacksons Lane & 2001 Tricycle
*Irish Post Award Winning Play
NOVELS
CITY OF SHADOWS (2021)
Role: Author
Genre: Science-Fiction
Synopsis: After an apocalypse, Ashcroft believes he’s the last human left. Until he meets another survivor, Joplin. Together they must survive a diseased world and the mysterious ‘Shadows’ that begin to hunt them.
BEAUTIFUL ANNA RAVAN (2020-‘21)
Role: Story Consultant and Story Editor
Genre: Crime-Thriller
Synopsis: The mysterious loner Noonan helps a beautiful woman, Anna Raven, on the run from her violent criminal husband. Together they journey across the coastal shorelines to escape both their pasts pursued by a crazed hitman.
BREAK-IN (2021)
Role: Author
Genre: Crime-Thriller
Synopsis: Writer Matt Ryan moves to a coastal village where notorious underworld figure Burton has retired. After he’s broken into Matt uncovers a secret conspiracy leading back to World War II.
HORSEMAN (2019-2020)
Role: Story Editor
Genre: Superhero Comic Book
Synopsis: The galloping heroic adventures of Jim Stallion, stable-boy by day, crime fighter by night, he is HORSEMAN! A new thoroughbred of hero!
THE STONE KILLERS (2021)
Role: Author
Genre: Vietnam War-Drama
Synopsis: 1971, the soldiers of Bravo Company return home from Vietnam to find a country that no longer wants them. Offered mercenary work by ‘The Agency’ they fight on the Cambodian border against a brutal warlord.
BRITPOP (2005)
Published: Author House
Role: Author as MJ Gunn
Genre: Coming-of-Age
Synopsis: Seven students keep a personal diary about University life during the Britpop music years of 1994-1997 in a strange windy city that holds many secrets.
RADIO CREDITS
BRITPOP TARTS (2010)
Genre: Soap-Opera
Company: Forge Radio
Role: Serial Writer & Concept Creator
Synopsis: Jarvis, Liam, Noel, Damon, and Justine get into mischief round Camden Town at the height of Britpop!
WRITING WORKSHOP TUTOR
BRADFIELD COLLEGE
Years: 2012-16
Course: Film Screenwriting Workshops
Level: A Levels
Role: Head Workshop Tutor & Course Manager
BIRBECK UNIVERSITY OF LONDON
Years: 2009-17
Course: Writing for TV
Level: MA Level
Role: Guest Speaker & Workshop Tutor
QMC, WOKING, GUILDFORD & STRODES COLLEGES
Years: 2008-17
Course: Creative Writing & Film Making Workshop
Level: GCSE. A Level.
Role: Head Workshop Tutor & Course Manager
Screenwriter. Author. Stage Writer.
Concept Development & Treatments.
Script & Story Editor. Script & Story Reader.
Story Feedback. Writing Tutor.
CONTACT DETAILS
Mobile: UK+ 07849 555 952
Email: mjgunnwriter@yahoo.com
Skype: mjgunn13
Full Member Writers Guild of Great Britain
IMDB Listing: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3243433/
FEATURE CREDITS
INMATE ZERO (2019)
Genre: Dystopian-Horror
Company: Golden Crab Films & Ockham Films
Role: Original Screenplay & Story
Synopsis: Medical trails end up in a re-purposed prison for the world's most violent criminals. When experiments go wrong, the entire island becomes a terrifying, disease riddled maze for desperate survivors.
Released: Distribution/ Vertical Entertainment & Dimension Pictures.
RIDE BY (2019/20 -)
Genre: Urban Crime-Drama (based on a true story).
Company: Ockham Films
Role: Screenplay & Story
Synopsis: Thusha Kamaleswaran was the youngest victim of gun-crime in UK. This true story follows the tragic events from victim, police, and criminals points of view.
Released: Independent Cinemas, and Worldwide Festivals.
A ROOM TO DIE FOR (2017)
Genre: Psychological-Horror
Company: Champagne Charlie Productions
Role: Screenwriter & Producer
Synopsis: When a broke young couple rent a room in an elderly couple's house, horror unfolds as no one appears to be who they really are.
Festivals: Award nominated at British Horror Festival (screened at Empire, London)
Released: Distribution/ 4Digital Media & Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.
RASH (2017)
Genre: Crime-Drama / Found-Footage
Company: Swing of the Shovel Productions
Role: Screenwriter & Producer
Synopsis: A musician, a female police officer and a paranoid conspiracy theorist, collide across the same forty-eight hours leading to tragedy in London.
Released: Distribution/ Greenway Entertainment (VOD, DVD, Prime)
FRANK PHOENIX (2016) / released as 100 BULLETS (2018)
Genre: Crime Neo-Noir
Company: Animus Pictures
Role: Screenwriter
Synopsis: Five years ago, Frank Phoenix robbed The Firm. Betrayed by his own crew and murdered the stolen gold was never found. But could Frank Phoenix still be alive? Someone is planning revenge.
Festivals: Award nominations at LA Neo Noir, Buffalo Niagara, LA Cinefest.
Released: Distribution/ Cinema Epoch as ‘100 Bullets’
IMMIGRANT (2018)
Genre: Crime-Drama
Company: Medan Productions
Role: Screenwriter
Synopsis: An illegal immigrant cab driver meets a prostitute on the run from her brutal pimp. Can they escape London alive?
Released: VOD formats (including - iTunes, amazon)
THE WONDERFUL DIGBY (2016)
Genre: Music Documentary
Company: Swing of the Shovel Productions
Role: Screenwriter & Director
Synopsis: Following a grass roots performers live shows across UK and America, building his new stage persona 'The Wonderful Digby'.
Released: MY Production Ltd (including Amazon Prime).
TRILOGY ROOM 237 (2008)
Genre: Black-Comedy
Company: H2o Film & Casanova Entertainment
Role: Screenwriter
Synopsis: A lonely hit-woman, a grand-master chess player, and a schizophrenic psychiatrist lives collide in the same hotel.
Released: European Television release and worldwide film festivals
SLEEPING WITH FISHES (2006)
Genre: Crime Drama
Company: Stray Monkey Productions
Role: Screenwriter & Director
Synopsis: Keith, an addicted gambler has thirty-two hours to find £20k.
Released: London Portobello Road, and Sky Film (Propeller Network)
TELEVISION CREDITS
DEVELOPMENT PORTFOLIO (2018 - 2021)
Development of Television Serial Concept Portfolio.
5 x TV Serials. Series Treatments/Bibles and Pilot Episodes.
Titles/ Genre:
Rise (Science-Fiction): 10x60 minutes
Brothers Sinn (Detective-Comedy) 12x30 minutes
The Contact (Crime-Thriller) 12x60 minutes
The Other Side (Fantasy-Drama) 10x60 minutes
Pockets (Political-Drama) 12x60 minutes
Company: Gunn & Synnott Creative (GS Creative)
Role: Co-Concept Creator & Co-Script Writer
Development Packages, Treatments, and Bibles
Story Editor
Status: Pitching American Management to commissions Netflix / Amazon.
DEPTFORD TO ANTARCTICA (2017)
Genre: Drama
Company: White Lantern Films
Role: Co-Concept Creator and Pilot Script-Writer
Synopsis: Based on the autobiography of Greenpeace's co-founder, Pete Wilkinson.
Status: Development. Pitching Netflix, Amazon, E4, and BBC.
WHAT MAKES A FOOTBALL TEAM (2010/11)
Genre: Sporting Documentary
Company: Stray Monkey Productions & Sky Sports Xtra
Role: Co-Concept Creator
Synopsis: Looking at key football team areas from goalkeepers to defenders, midfielders to attackers, and managers calling the shots.
Status: Developed and made with Sky Sports Xtra team for online release
THEATRE CREDITS
TRANSFER DEADLINE DAY (2010)
Genre: Sporting-Comedy
Company: Stray Monkey Productions
Role: Writer & Director
Synopsis: A famous footballer is smuggled into a struggling club on transfer deadline day. But the manager, chairman, and ex-star player have other transfer plans!
Performances: London Courtyard Theatre
FIRST LOVE (2009)
Genre: Black-Comedy
Company: H2o Theatre
Role: Writer (adaptation of Samuel Beckett's short story)
Synopsis: A homeless man debates the course of true love.
Performances: Across Europe. *Winner of European playwright award.
HOT PANTS & FLARES (2008)
Genre: Musical
Company: MADS Stage & Dance School
Role: Writer
Synopsis: In the late 1970s disco is in full swing as a group of teenagers embrace the new music, fight one another and fall in and out of love.
Performances: Rhoda McGraw Theatre.
STICKS & STONES (1999–2000)
Genre: War-Drama
Company: Gutted Film & theatre Company
Role: Script Editor & Assistant Director
Synopsis: Spanning thirty years following two family’s lives torn apart by Bloody Sunday.
Performances: Performances 1999 Jacksons Lane & 2001 Tricycle
*Irish Post Award Winning Play
NOVELS
CITY OF SHADOWS (2021)
Role: Author
Genre: Science-Fiction
Synopsis: After an apocalypse, Ashcroft believes he’s the last human left. Until he meets another survivor, Joplin. Together they must survive a diseased world and the mysterious ‘Shadows’ that begin to hunt them.
BEAUTIFUL ANNA RAVAN (2020-‘21)
Role: Story Consultant and Story Editor
Genre: Crime-Thriller
Synopsis: The mysterious loner Noonan helps a beautiful woman, Anna Raven, on the run from her violent criminal husband. Together they journey across the coastal shorelines to escape both their pasts pursued by a crazed hitman.
BREAK-IN (2021)
Role: Author
Genre: Crime-Thriller
Synopsis: Writer Matt Ryan moves to a coastal village where notorious underworld figure Burton has retired. After he’s broken into Matt uncovers a secret conspiracy leading back to World War II.
HORSEMAN (2019-2020)
Role: Story Editor
Genre: Superhero Comic Book
Synopsis: The galloping heroic adventures of Jim Stallion, stable-boy by day, crime fighter by night, he is HORSEMAN! A new thoroughbred of hero!
THE STONE KILLERS (2021)
Role: Author
Genre: Vietnam War-Drama
Synopsis: 1971, the soldiers of Bravo Company return home from Vietnam to find a country that no longer wants them. Offered mercenary work by ‘The Agency’ they fight on the Cambodian border against a brutal warlord.
BRITPOP (2005)
Published: Author House
Role: Author as MJ Gunn
Genre: Coming-of-Age
Synopsis: Seven students keep a personal diary about University life during the Britpop music years of 1994-1997 in a strange windy city that holds many secrets.
RADIO CREDITS
BRITPOP TARTS (2010)
Genre: Soap-Opera
Company: Forge Radio
Role: Serial Writer & Concept Creator
Synopsis: Jarvis, Liam, Noel, Damon, and Justine get into mischief round Camden Town at the height of Britpop!
WRITING WORKSHOP TUTOR
BRADFIELD COLLEGE
Years: 2012-16
Course: Film Screenwriting Workshops
Level: A Levels
Role: Head Workshop Tutor & Course Manager
BIRBECK UNIVERSITY OF LONDON
Years: 2009-17
Course: Writing for TV
Level: MA Level
Role: Guest Speaker & Workshop Tutor
QMC, WOKING, GUILDFORD & STRODES COLLEGES
Years: 2008-17
Course: Creative Writing & Film Making Workshop
Level: GCSE. A Level.
Role: Head Workshop Tutor & Course Manager
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