Matthew Cooper
Scriptwriter/ Script Consultant / Director
script, writer, for , hire, script consultant, script editor,
50 years old
Leeds United Kingdom
Professional Status
Employed
Unavailable
About Me
I’m a BAFTA nominated script writer for hire, script consultant, filmmaker, script editor and Script Doctor, from Leeds in the UK
Script Writer for hire
As a script writer I’ve written for EastEnders, Emmerdale, Hollyoaks and Family Affairs. I was BAFTA shortlisted for my work on Emmerdale and was the winner of the first ever Lloyds Bank Film Challenge and the Oscar Moore screenwriting award. Here is a partial list of my credits on the IMDb.
My first short film ‘Family Style’ was made for Channel Four in 1993 and starred a then unknown actor called Ewan McGregor and was directed by Justin Chadwick (The Long Walk to Freedom). I was formerly represented as a script writer by Peters, Fraser and Dunlop and the agent Jago Irwin.
Script Writer for hire
As a script writer I’ve written for EastEnders, Emmerdale, Hollyoaks and Family Affairs. I was BAFTA shortlisted for my work on Emmerdale and was the winner of the first ever Lloyds Bank Film Challenge and the Oscar Moore screenwriting award. Here is a partial list of my credits on the IMDb.
My first short film ‘Family Style’ was made for Channel Four in 1993 and starred a then unknown actor called Ewan McGregor and was directed by Justin Chadwick (The Long Walk to Freedom). I was formerly represented as a script writer by Peters, Fraser and Dunlop and the agent Jago Irwin.
Script Writer for Hire
matcoop.co.uk
Since September 2015
Full-time
Leeds
- Matthew Cooper – scriptwriter / director / script consultant
Based in the UK, Matthew is a BAFTA shortlisted and RTS nominated scriptwriter and director who has worked across all the UK's broadcast networks in a 25+ year career.
Matthew had his first script produced and broadcast on Channel Four when he was just 19 years old – the short film is the first acting credit for Ewan McGregor – the award-winning film launched both of their careers.
Matthew went on to sell a feature script to a US major before finding himself in the fast-paced world of UK soap operas. He started as a core writer on the Emmerdale team (at 27 he was the youngest writer they ever had) before moving onto the BBCs Eastenders where he wrote the iconic episode where ‘Alfie’ told ‘Kat’ he loved her for the first time–one of the highest watched episodes of the soap in its 20+ year history.
Matthew worked on CH4s Hollyoaks show as part of the team which tripled the show's viewing figures under producer Bryan Kirkwood. Matthew oversaw storylines that introduced the McQueen family and notorious club owner, gangster and double murderer Warren Fox, who was described as the first ‘realistic’ gangster character in UK soaps.
Matthew has worked as a script consultant and script doctor on various produced and released feature films on both sides of the Atlantic and acts as ‘player turned coach’ for new writers through his script consultant website.
As a director, Matthew has completed a trilogy of innovative low budget horror films based on the work of H. P. Lovecraft. The films are ‘Markham (2020)’ ‘At The Mountains of Madness (2021)’ and ‘When The Earth Gives Up The Dead (2022). The films were released for free online and all three films received good reviews. The films were made using a mix of ultra modern tech and retro analogue equipments – mixing Super 8mm with virtual soundstages – all done on ultra low budgets and completed during the Covid Pandemic.
Matthew is set to direct the feature film ‘Sober’ in 2023 starring Dean Smith (Still Open All Hours/Waterloo Road/Last Tango in Halifax/Coronations Street) and Tom Gibbons (Young Dracula/Funny Cow/The Archers).
Scriptwriter of online soap 'Dylan Ogden'
World of Hoopla
May 2007
to November 2007
- Matthew wrote 30 episodes.
- Producer Martyn Smith - Dragon's Den
- Director Ian Bevit - Coronation Street
- Writer and co-creator of online TV soap 'Dylan Ogden' aimed at teenagers and designed for online streaming.
Author - Soap Opera Script Writing Handbook
Warehouse Transmedia
January 2007
to January 2007
- A guide to writing for UK soap operas such as Eastenders, Emmerdale, Hollyoaks and Coronation Street.
- Co-author of the best selling Amazon Kindle book - UK Soap Opera Script Writing Handbook.
Writer - Hollyoaks
Lime Pictures
January 2005
to January 2007
- Storyline writer on Lime Pictures Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks. Was part of the team that tripled Hollyoaks viewing figures under producer Bryan Kirkwood and won various soap awards.
Screenwriter
Warehouse Transmedia
September 2006
to December 2006
- Uncredited ghost-screenwriter on a fully funded UK feature film. Also directed Seashell for Screen Yorkshire during this period.
Screenwriting tutor
Swarthmore College Leeds
January 2006
to September 2006
- Lectured on screenwriting in conjunction with the UK Film Council
Scriptwriter for Family Affairs
Channel 5
January 2003
to January 2004
- Writing episodes of Channel 5 soap Family Affairs.
Scriptwriter - Eastenders
BBC
January 2002
to January 2003
- Core series Episode writer for BBC soap Eastenders. Wrote the episode where Alfie told Kat he loved her amongst others.
Scriptwriter - Emmerdale
ITV
January 2000
to March 2001
- Episode writer of ITV soap Emmerdale. Was Bafta shortlisted and Royal Television Society nominated as best network newcomer for writing.
Feature film scriptwriter
Miramax
March 1995
to December 1995
- Writer for Miramax/British Screen on an original feature length screenplay 'The Business'. Script was taken from pitch to delivered screenplay through two drafts.
Scriptwriter - Family Style
Channel 4
December 1993
to March 1994
- The film featured Ewan McGregor and was directed by Justin Chadwick. Matthew went onto star in the TV documentary 'New Kids on the Box'.
- Winner of the first ever Lloyds Bank Film Challenge. Short film script 'Family Style' was shot in Tadcaster and broadcast in May 1994 on Channel 4.
- Television Production
- Scriptwriting
- Copywriting
- Storytelling
- Photography
- Video Editing
- Digital Media
- Video
- Film Production
- Social Media
- Television
- Video Production
- Videography
- Film
- Content Strategy
- New Media
- Blogging
- Email Marketing
- Screenwriter
- Creative Content Production
- Documentaries
- Broadcast
- Scripting
- Short Films
- Final Cut Pro
- Editing
- YouTube
- Social Networking
- Screenwriting
- Social Media Marketing
- Producing
- Web Video
- Media Production
- Feature Films
- Final Cut Studio
- Writing
