miles furnell
screenwriter
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making messages stick
Miles Furnell is one of the business communications industry's leading script writers, with more than 60 international awards to his name during the last ten years.
He has scripted well over 150 different film and DVD projects for some of the world's largest companies, ranging from hard-hitting drama to heart-warming comedy, and from factual documentary to animated fantasy.
The key to Miles' success is a combination of creativity and commercial awareness. The result - engaging programmes which really work!
and the winner is...
At the 2010 IVCA Awards, Miles picked up a Silver Award for Best Script for Don't Be Your Your Own Worst Enemy, produced by Grosvenor TV for The Ministry of Defence, making it three Best Script Awards in three years, having won Gold in both 2008 & 2009.
The film, which tackles the challenging subject of drugs, alcohol and absence within the three services, also won the Gold Award for Effective Communication, based on the overall success of the film and associated promotional campaign.
Miles Furnell was born in Nottingham in 1965 and spent the early part of his working life in sales and management roles, before returning to college to study Media Production Management.
In 1996, he joined The Edge Picture Company and worked his way up to Senior Producer, developing a reputation as one of the leading writer / producers in the business communications industry. In 2004 he joined Cheerful Scout to head up the Production department and helped them win major new clients such as Centrica, the COI, Deloitte and T-Mobile.
In the summer of 2005, Miles and his Italian wife moved to the Maremma, the southernmost part of Tuscany. It's from there that Miles now works as a freelance screenwriter. Away from his computer, Miles enjoys photography, painting and above all, spending time with his family
Age 6
Age 8
Age 4
Age 40+
Age 6mths
Age 3
changing the world
The films Miles has written have helped to motivate the workforce, simplify procedure, engender culture change, improve customer service, humanise the brand, increase sales, recruit the best, raise millions for charity, open the conference, celebrate the centenary, eliminate descrimination, tackle violence, introduce new services, warn of the dangers, bring the values to life, launch the 10-year strategy, promote the product, reduce fraud, keep people alive and save the planet.
with a simple philosophy
If you can entertain people then you have a much better chance of getting your messages to stick.
Miles' particular skill is in creating strong stories that people can relate to, with memorable characters and sharp, credible dialogue.
The secret is in not trying to make a story out of the business message, but weaving the business message into a good story.
the grim reaper
the week
when's dad coming home
sticks and stones
boiling point
on the record
tick tock
can you cut it?
comedy clips
2010 IVCA AWARDS
GOLD forEffective Communication: Don't Be Your Own Worst Enemy - MoD
SILVER forBest Script: Don't Be Your Own Worst Enemy - MoD
2010 NEW YORK FESTIVALS
SILVER for Internal Use : On The Record - DOCET
2009IVCA AWARDS
GOLD for Best Script: The Week - Lloyds TSB
SILVER for Internal Interactive Media: On The Record - DOCET
SILVER for Regular Communications: Connect TV - Lloyds TSB
BRONZE for Motivational Training: On The Record - DOCET
2009 NEW YORK FESTIVALS
SILVER for Internal Productions: Internal Use The Week - Lloyds TSB
BRONZE for Internal Productions: Internal Use: Can You Cut It - Lloyds TSB
SILVER for Internal Productions: Internal Use: New Look New Branch - Lloyds TSB
2008IVCA AWARDS
GRAND PRIX: The Grim Reaper - COI/Army
GOLD for Best Script: The Grim Reaper - COI/Army
GOLD for Health & Safety: The Grim Reaper - COI/Army
GOLD for Motivational Training: The Grim Reaper - COI/Army
2008NEW YORK FESTIVALS
GOLD for Security & Safety: The Grim Reaper - COI/Army
SILVER for Training: Professional: Deja Vu - Lloyds TSB
2007 IVCA AWARDS
BRONZE for Internal Communications: The Spirit of Lexus - Lexus Motors
2007 NEW YORK FESTIVALS
GOLD for PR - Government & Municipal: Introducing 101 - COI
SILVER for Community Affairs: Transformational Government - COI / Cabinet Office
SILVER Government & Municipal: Transformational Government - COI / Cabinet Office
2006 COMMUNICATIONS IN BUSINESS - AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE
Best Video: Only A Matter of Time - Allen & Overy
2006 IVCA AWARDS
BRONZE for Internal Communications Transformational Government - COI / Cabinet Office
BRONZE for Internal Multimedia Transformational Government - COI / Cabinet Office
2005 IVCA AWARDS
SILVER for Best Drama: Losing Control - Army Air Corps
SILVER for Practical Training No Second Chance - Royal Navy
BRONZE for Motivational Training: Losing Control - Army Air Corps
BRONZE for Animation, Graphics & Special Effects Tourism is Rebounding - Deloitte
2005 NEW YORK FESTIVALS
SILVER for Security: Boiling Point - London Underground
2004 IVCA AWARDS
GOLD for Education: Invisible Danger - Understanding Energy
GOLD for Industry Effectiveness: Stock Idol - B&Q
SILVER for Best Script: Boiling Point - London Underground
SILVER for Best Drama: Boiling Point - London Underground
SILVER for Motivational Training: Boiling Point - London Underground
BRONZE for Best Drama: Invisible Danger - Understanding Energy
BRONZE for Education: Pie, Mash &... - Ministry of Defence
2004 NEW YORK FESTIVALS
GOLD for Social Studies: Pie, Mash &... - Ministry of Defence
SILVER for Professional Training: Stars - Boots plc
2003 IVCA AWARDS
SILVER for Motivational Training: Sticks & Stones - Royal Navy
BRONZE for Internal Communications: Sticks & Stones - Royal Navy
2003 NEW YORK FESTIVALS
GOLD for PR - Non-profit or fundraising: Every Day Counts - Cystic Fibrosis Trust
SILVER for Motivational Communications: Questions - Amersham
2002 IVCA AWARDS
GRAND PRIX: When's Dad Coming Home - Alzheimer's Society
GOLD for Charity: When's Dad Coming Home - Alzheimer's Society
SILVER for Best Script: When's Dad Coming Home - Alzheimer's Society
SILVER for Motivational Training: Seeing Things - Debenhams:
Miles Furnell
Via Sassi Bianchi
Poggio Murella
58014(GR)
ITALIA
o: +44 (0)20 8144 7110
m: +39 349 221 5744
e:miles_milesfurnell.com
www.milesfurnell.com
A short selection of clips from corporate comedies, written by Miles Furnell
1. ColleagueShares - Royal Mail . A film to accompany the launch of an employee incentive, which tells the story of Simon and Nick. Simon is enthusiastic about the scheme whereas Nick is more cynical. Through their banter we learn about how the scheme works and answer many of the questions staff have about it.
2. Tick Tock - Information Commissioner's Office. Aimed at smaller councils and public authorities to explain their obligations regarding requests for information from members of the public.
3. Chez Sam - McDonalds. A practical training tool used as part of a course to help young restaurant managers to build a rapport with their customers and improve the customer experience.
4. Who's Out There? Lloyds Banking Group. A light-hearted film, in which a secret government department investigates the mysterious disappearance of a queue of people from inside a bank. For new girl Charlie there's a simple explanation, but for old-school John, something extra-terrestrial is involved.
the week - lloyds banking group
Under pressure Customer Service Manager and single mother Lynne has one week to turn things around at work. But first she needs to get her team on her side. The clock is ticking.
Produced by: The Edge Company
Writer: Miles Furnell
Director: Steve Bookbinder
DoP: Dave Meadows
AWARDS
2009 IVCA Gold Award - Best Script
2009 New York Festivals Silver - Internal Comms
Judges citation
"The day-to day pressures of managing colleagues in a retail banking environment are unglamorously portrayed in this well-crafted drama. The jury was particularly impressed by the observation and its extremely sharp dialogue. "
on the record - docet
An optometrist fails to diagnose a detached retina. At the fitness to practice hearing we hear from both parties - in testimony it's clear that there is a substantial difference between truth and fact.
A nerve-wracking 'that could have been me' career-destroying scenario presented as documentary.
Produced by: Cheerful Scout
Director: Andrew Gillman
DoP: Ben Turley
2009 IVCA Awards Silver - Internal Interactive Media
2009 IVCA Awards - Highly Commended - Best Script
"Using shock tactics and well-scripted drama, this project leaves viewers in no doubt as to their responsibilities to patients and consequences of lack of attention"
the grim reaper - army (ceso)
Survive the streets of Baghdad, die on the streets of Bolton. Young soldiers returning from warzones are much more likely to be killed in a road traffic accident than civilians. This film, which uses dark humour to deliver its message, aims to give its audience a wake up call.
Produced by: The Edge Picture Company / COI
DoP: David Meadows
2008 IVCA Awards - Grand Prix
2008 IVCA Awards - Gold - Best Script
2008 IVCA Awards - Gold - Health & Safety
2008 IVCA Awards - Gold - Motivational Training
2008 New York Festivals - Gold - Security / Safety
"This year's Grand Prix winner has numerous outstanding qualities...
But above all it had a clear and powerful concept that brought all the elements together. script, style and technique meshed seamlessly to create a memorable and effective piece of work."
sticks and stones - royal navy
Sticks & Stones was a film which Miles wrote and produced for The Edge Picture Company, to help the Royal Navy tackle bullying, harassment and racism. It''s a hard-hitting docu-drama directed by Steve Bookbinder, which features five case studies and is shown once a year to all RN personnel as part of their equal opportunities training.
Produced by: The Edge Picture Company
DoP: Patrick Rowe
2003 IVCA Awards - Silver - Motivational Training
2003 IVCA Awards - Bronze - Internal Communications
boiling point - london underground
Surveys show that up to 60 per cent of London Underground staff have been abused in some way by members of the public. Boiling Point is a hard-hitting drama-documentary used as part of a training course to help staff deal with challenging behaviour.
The film is designed to feel like a real documentary, reflecting the actual behaviour and attitudes of staff members, which very often cause problems to escalate.
2004 IVCA Awards - Silver - Best Script
2004 IVCA Awards - Silver - Best Drama
2004 IVCA Awards - Silver - Motivational Training
tick tock - information commisioner's office
The Freedom of Information Act deals with access to official information, and applies to most public authorities. It also applies to companies which are wholly owned by public authorities.
Tick Tock is a short comedy film, designed to help smaller councils and public authorities understand the act and their obligations within it, and tells the story of Angus, Information Officer of a rural parish council, whose record keeping is a little disorganised.
2009 IVCA Awards - Highly Commended - Public Relations
when's dad coming home - alzheimers society
When’s Dad Coming Home? was written and produced by Miles Furnell whilst at The Edge Picture Company, for the Alzheimers Society in support of the Tesco Charity of the Year 2001. It's a four-minute drama, which provides a moving account of Roy and his wife, whose lives are devastatingly affected when Roy is struck by the disease, and helped inspire Tesco staff to raise over £2million for the charity.
2002 IVCA AWARDS - GRAND PRIX
2002 IVCA AWARDS - Gold - Charity & Public Welfare
2002 IVCA AWARDS - Silver Best Script
2002 New York Festivals - GRAND PRIX
2002 New York Festivals - Gold - PR (Non Profit)
2002 US International Film & TV Awards - Gold - PR
can you cut it? - lloyds banking group
Lloyds Banking Group wanted a practical training tool to help branch staff improve their selling skills using a 5 step selling process designed to build a relationship with customes, establishing their needs and selling benefits.
As a change to the norm of seeing yet another bank interior, Miles wrote a story about two rival hairdressers, one whose pursuit of hairdressing glory for his own agenda helps the other, who is able to listen to clients and sell products and services based on their needs.
2009 New York Festivals - Bronze - Internal Communications
© miles furnell 2010
