Hello everyone,
I was wondering how you come up with ideas for your sitcoms?
I know some are based on the inter-relationships between people, Steptoe and son for example is about a father/son. OFAH about three generations of men in the same family, all without a woman in their lives.
Others are based on a great character, partridge, blackadder, frazier, fawlty etc. And how that character relates or doesn't relate to the world around him/her.
What others are there?
Thankyou in advance. Jacparov.
Make the characters first then put them in a situation that would bring the best out of them.
(note: this is advice that was given to me - not made by me.)
Your catch-phrase gave me an idea. Why not write one set on a farm. Don't think that's been done before.....er.....has it?
sunnyside farm, had phil daniels and possibly matt lucas.
Something like a theme park could have room for some crazy characters and funny situations...
Quote: Up4it @ February 15, 2008, 8:08 PMYour catch-phrase gave me an idea. Why not write one set on a farm. Don't think that's been done before.....er.....has it?
I think there was one called beast possibly by simon nye about a vet, which is similar.
On the theme of the thread: do you base a sitcom on the setting alone up4it?
If you base it just on character, what do you base it on ie what is the theme of it? Human nature perhaps? Problems of age?(young, old or middle aged.)
I normally think of a setting and then try to make some situations. The characters evolve from that.
For me, it's the premise or world first. Mine are normally bizarre because I do have a slight issue with relating to the real world. 
Once I have the world I get the characters needed to drive it. For example, I needed a robot for one show but wanted 'cheap and unique'. I constructed a list of famous robots and listed their characters. The robot we created then had a list of traits unlike any in the other well-know robots characters. And I made him humanoid for cheapness. Not Kryten humanoid but identical to human. I do this with other characters by looking at role within the sitcom. I list what is crucial for that character to possess and then slot in reasons to hate the other people in their world.
I tend to draw relationship maps linking people by relationship type (if any) and positive and negative feelings (What will make these people ally or oppose each other?)
Finally I think about locations. A few of ours are seen as one-camera varied locations but we have been working on a violent and anarchistic studio sitcom with a few basic sets that avoid the 'flat' setup.
Quote: David Chapman @ February 15, 2008, 8:35 PMI normally think of a setting and then try to make some situations. The characters evolve from that.
Interesting, as an exercise in writing recently I am writing a draft based purely in a trapped lift and two characters. I'll never send it off but it is proving interesting - and difficult.
So you just think of say a type of bar/workplace/home or whatever and go from that?
Quote: SlagA @ February 15, 2008, 8:39 PMFor me, it's the premise or world first. Mine are normally bizarre because I do have a slight issue with relating to the real world.
Once I have the world I get the characters needed to drive it. For example, I needed a robot for one show but wanted 'cheap and unique'. I constructed a list of famous robots and listed their characters. The robot we created then had a list of traits unlike any in the other well-know robots characters. And I made him humanoid for cheapness. Not Kryten humanoid but identical to human. I do this with other characters by looking at role within the sitcom. I list what is crucial for that character to possess and then slot in reasons to hate the other people in their world.
I tend to draw relationship maps linking people by relationship type (if any) and positive and negative feelings (What will make these people ally or oppose each other?)
Finally I think about locations. A few of ours are seen as one-camera varied locations but we have been working on a violent and anarchistic studio sitcom with a few basic sets that avoid the 'flat' setup.
I would never of thought of doing it that way, but I quite like the idea. Do you have any examples of the sitcoms on your website slaga?
Quote: David Chapman @ February 15, 2008, 8:35 PMI normally think of a setting and then try to make some situations. The characters evolve from that.
Snap!
We did ours completely randomly. we just went 'lets write a sitcom' listed random people's names, and chose a setting. It was simpler than I thought it would be..
(note: when I say 'we' I'm not referring to myself as 2 people, I'm talking about my friend, Dom Mental on here, aswell, as we're writing together.)
PS
Quote: SlagA @ February 15, 2008, 8:39 PMFor me, it's the premise or world first. Mine are normally bizarre because I do have a slight issue with relating to the real world.
Wait a minute... There's a real world?
Quote: jacparov @ February 15, 2008, 8:45 PMInteresting, as an exercise in writing recently I am writing a draft based purely in a trapped lift and two characters. I'll never send it off but it is proving interesting - and difficult.
So you just think of say a type of bar/workplace/home or whatever and go from that?
Yes - but that's not saying a lot as I've never sold anything.
I do think that te lift thing is a common setting though. Loads of people try that one.
yes i know, thats why i'll never send it off. Its just a useful exercise.
Quote: David Chapman @ February 15, 2008, 8:55 PMYes - but that's not saying a lot as I've never sold anything.
I do think that te lift thing is a common setting though. Loads of people try that one.
Yeah why not lock them in a loo instead 
Setup first - jobs, who lives with who, how are the connected. Then I give them character traits that will cause conflict or are inappropriate to those jobs.