Script File

The Thief of Dubai

Three thousand years ago KING SOLOMON turns REZANA and her father Melik into Genies and throws them into lamps. In Dubai authorities now seek The Lamp which could start WWIII. Ex-military officer JACK STANFORD is blackmailed by the DIA to find the Lamp, which can grant three wishes, or one to bring back a life. Jack wants to bring back SABIA, killed during the second Gulf War.

  • Mark W Laing
    Writer
  • Project Type:
    Screenplay
  • Genres:
    Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Action-Adventure
  • Number of Pages:
    98
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • First-time Screenwriter:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • 2020 Script2Comic Contest (2020) Semifinalist December 20th, 2020
    Script2Comic Contest
    December 20, 2020
    Semifinalist
  • FilmFreeway Sunyvale Table Read Quarter Finalist

    September 20, 2023
    Quarter Finalist
Writer Biography - Mark W Laing

SAG and AFTRA actor.

Graduated from the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.

Five completed screenplays -- "The Thief of Dubai" was the No.1 most requested script on Virtual Pitch Fest in November while "May September" was the No.1 most requested script in October. "Box Canyon," was No.2 in October AND September. "Lost Causes" was No.1 in January.

Three scripts have a "recommend" from Script Reader Pro while "May September" has a "strong consider". "Cadence" has a "Recommend" from Extreme Screenwriting.

I had THREE scripts in the VPF top 20 most requested scripts for 2022 -- https://www.virtualpitchfest.com/the-vpf-20/.

Mentor to Film, Marketing, and writing students at Alma Mater, UEA (University of East Anglia). Photographer for KITS (Kids in the Spotlight, Inc.) Empowering Foster Youth Through Filmmaking.

Journalist, script reader, and screenwriter with four completed scripts, several treatments, and staged readings.

Sub editor\Journalist, The Daily Telegraph 1982-1983

Freelance sub editor\writer for the Daily Telegraph sports desk.

Freelance sub-editor, The Sun, Daily Mirror, Reader's Digest Books, Financial Times, Observer, Health and Social Services Journal, The Times, Sunday Times.

Sub Editor, The Oxford Mail, Oxford 1980-1982
Large regional evening newspaper. Movie reviews, book reviews, sports, and news editing and writing.

Education: University of East Anglia — English and American Studies, one year.
Bembridge School, Isle of Wight. Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.

Further Education: Sherwood Oaks Film School, Los Angeles; UCLA Writers' Extension, Los Angeles; TV Pilot and New Series Workshop, On The Page, Pilar Alexander, Richmond Writer's Circle, and New Richmond, UK; Original Writer's Group, Lavender Hill, London; Richmond Theatre Adult Scriptwriting group, Janna Gelfand's Writing Group, Greg Dean's Standup Comedy Workshop.

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Writer Statement

I write not because I can write - I write because I HAVE to write.