Pitching Question...

Apologies if this in the wrong board but clearly I'm an idiot if so haha.

Basically I have no experience of pitching a show, so would like some thoughts/answers on this situation.

Let's say (hypothetically) that I had written a really good sitcom and I was pitching it to a production company who were very interested and had the funds to produce it etc.

How would they react if I told them that I wanted to be in it? Let's say I was good enough to play the part I had written for myself but I was an unknown.

Would they flat out say no? Would they let me audition? Or what...?

I'm aware this is a question that could change depending on company, but just wanted a general answer as I often have this discussion with a friend who works for the Beeb.

Worked out for Ricky Gervais. I'd say how amenable they are completely depends on the situation. If you're the best man/woman for the job there's no reason they'd just say no.

John Stanley Productions (Matt Lucas' production company) openly invites show pitches - check their website

Quote: MCharsley @ 21st November 2013, 5:39 PM GMT

Worked out for Ricky Gervais. I'd say how amenable they are completely depends on the situation. If you're the best man/woman for the job there's no reason they'd just say no.

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Yeah but Steve Merchant was the brains behind that one - wasn't the pilot SM's final project for a BBC directing course?

You're right there, DeathbyMonkey, I remember reading that. Merchant was on the BBC production pool or whatever it was, and he already knew Gervais from briefly working with him on the radio so he approached him with the idea and it came from that.

I think...

Unless you're an actual star, I think the view would be your denying them a chance to offer it to a real star and drum up interest.

But if it's succesful then you can demand what you like.

Like cocaine bananas for the flying monkeys that guard your sky fortress.

Sorry to be cynical but you maybe jumping the gun.

Good luck.

Quote: sootyj @ 21st November 2013, 8:20 PM GMT

Unless you're an actual star, I think the view would be your denying them a chance to offer it to a real star and drum up interest.

But if it's succesful then you can demand what you like.

Like cocaine bananas for the flying monkeys that guard your sky fortress.

Sorry to be cynical but you maybe jumping the gun.

Good luck.

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I agree, but let's say there were a few main characters and I'd be playing only one of them so there would be places to bring in other big names?

I'd say that it's a question to ask much later in the day.

Quote: ashleybrownmedia @ 21st November 2013, 8:12 PM GMT

You're right there, DeathbyMonkey, I remember reading that. Merchant was on the BBC production pool or whatever it was, and he already knew Gervais from briefly working with him on the radio so he approached him with the idea and it came from that.

I think...

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Brent was Gervais' character. He would play around with it whilst Merchant and he worked in radio. The Office was a joint effort.

Also, although Gervais wasn't a big name, he had done stuff pre-the Office. He wasn't a complete newbie asking to be put in a script he'd written.

hi there,

yeah guys this was more of a speculative thing which stemmed from a discussion I had. I'm not thinking of walking over to the nearest production company demanding a role...

or am I...

and yes, Matthew, I had always assumed Gervais' first acting gig was in The Office until recently when I looked his career up and saw that he'd appeared in a few things before.

Out of interest, do you know if he ever had any formal acting training before they did the office?

Riki Gervaise had had his own show on C4 and was a significant part of their flagship topical show.

He was a pretty big deal.

Quote: ashleybrownmedia @ 21st November 2013, 8:40 PM GMT

hi there,

yeah guys this was more of a speculative thing which stemmed from a discussion I had. I'm not thinking of walking over to the nearest production company demanding a role...

or am I...

and yes, Matthew, I had always assumed Gervais' first acting gig was in The Office until recently when I looked his career up and saw that he'd appeared in a few things before.

Out of interest, do you know if he ever had any formal acting training before they did the office?

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I think his background was in corporate training wasn't it.

Ah! I had no idea I must admit, although in my defence I was only 10/11 when The Office first came on!

Do you have some of your performances in comedy sketches or shorts available to watch on YouTube?

If you want to play the character as well, I suggest you make some YouTube shorts/sketches etc doing it, a la the People Just Do Nothing guys.

Quote: Marc P @ 22nd November 2013, 3:52 PM GMT

Do you have some of your performances in comedy sketches or shorts available to watch on YouTube?

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why do you ask?

I'll be azure to research it thoroughly next time...