Frances first purchased  OPTIONS on the 'No' series of tween books by the well-known and awarded Melbourne children's author Krista Bell  in 2004, for adaption to screen as 'No Strings' (working title).   Scripts registered with AWG.  

Frances is seeking a producer or director for her project which is  available in Feature Script or TV Series idea.

Loglines:  Young champion diver Xanthe only has free-time for Julia, her bestie since primary school. But can their princess-promises survive their dreams, different schools, new friends and injury?  Can two princess-wannabes stay friends as they follow their dreams?   Of course they can!

Synopsis Excerpt:

During her early morning team workouts, Xanthe watches the sun rise over the Yarra and dreams of sitting on the beach, watching the sun set in Perth after winning the National Diving Championships.

Xanthe has been targeted as an elite athlete and begins training at the Australian Institute of Sport, she’s completely self-obsessed and focussed, driven far beyond her twelve years by her personal princess power mantra, to achieve her goal of one day competing at an Olympics.

Outside of diving, Xanthe only has Julia ~ her bestie since Primary School and fellow princess-practitioner ~ sharing salutes and dreams. Julia has also been talent identified as academically gifted and skips a year to a different school. As both are forced by their talent to mature quickly, the space between two very different dreamers grows.

 To read the full synopsis Contact Frances.

BACKGROUND: 

2004:  Frances met the well-known children's author Krista after enjoying her talk in the Children's Literature Centre, Perth in March, 2004 - they clicked instantly. 

Within months both had signed an option agreement on the first two books, No Regrets and No Strings with the proposed third book, (only a half-page idea) No Tears which would contain characters from the first two books.

Taking an option on all three books when only two were written meant Frances could freely base her screenplay on the character Xanthe, who she first fell in love with while reading No Regrets. 

Xanthe is Julia's best friend and the first book deals with that friendship beautifully. 

The second book in the series No Strings  focussed on Felix, the third of the three characters who inspired Frances to write her feature screenplay.

Frances jumped in boots and all to write the first 30 pages of a first draft within months which she sent to Krista on the 20th July 2004.  The document contained her deconstruction, re-imaginings and reconstructions ideas as well as the first 30 pages of her feature script. 

Krista sent the initial draft script to some very well-connected friends and was encouraged by their responses.

2006:  When the third in the series was published, Frances was very proud to officially launch No Tears in Perth for Krista.  The book has been very well received and even awarded.  (Reviews) 

That 1st draft grew like Topsy and is now a full feature length script.  It has also been suggested by producers the project would work well as a TV series, so a TV Series Idea document has also been put together. 

2009:  The feature script has been favourably read & assessed by prominant Eastern States producers, the AWG and Script Assess. & Development with Jared Morris ('Entourage' & 'The Pacific' TV Series) further mentoring the writer.

2011:Frances has been distracted with other projects but intends to once again focus on  "No Strings".  The current draft requires producer involvement before further development.

Comments received on the script:

2009: 'Head and shoulders above anything else out there.' Jared R. Morris ~(his script assessment service is highly recommend)Script Asessment & Development.

2009: 'Take it straight to Disney because there's no-one in Australia's big enough to do it justice.' Scott Meek, Senior Creative Consultant, Australian Film Commission assessor.

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Timeline:

Mar 2004:  Frances meets Krista Bell and is introduced to her 'No' series at the Children's Literature Centre.

17th May 2004:  Frances purchased the Options on  2 published teen novels (No Regrets and No Strings) and a proposed but unwritten third novel (No Tears) by Krista Bell. 

20th July 2004:  Just 4 months later, Frances sent Krista the first 30 pages and substantial notes on the proposed adaptation to feature 'No Strings'.  

Jan 2006:  The first full draft feature script registered with AWG and sent to two prominent contacts provided by Krista.

Mar 2006: Hugely encouraging and constructive comments received on the 1st full draft, from two well-known producers of features and TV series.

20th Aug 2006: Frances officially launched the book 'No Strings' by Krista Bell at Pages Cafe in the State Library with a capacity audience.

Mar 2007: AWG Assessment purchased.

June 2007: Full Assessment & Development Notes on 4th draft received from J.R. Morris of Script Assessment & Development. 

The script has caught the interest of various producers but as often happens in this business, nothing has solidified yet. 

Jan 2011:  The 7th draft of 'No Strings' has been (of course) been registered with AWG and is available to producers.