Ah! This might get personal.
Quote: sootyj @ 26th November 2013, 4:23 PM GMTOuch is it me youre referring to?
Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Just looked at your "Volunteers" sketch. Will offer a critique soon.
Quote: ashleybrownmedia @ 26th November 2013, 4:27 PM GMTor me?!
Don't think I've seen anything of yours.
Obviously my opinion is far from sacrosant.
great chance for a plug -
https://www.comedy.co.uk/forums/thread/29204/
https://www.comedy.co.uk/forums/thread/29162/
haha but nah admittedly I've only just joined this board so I couldn't possibly comment on the quality as compared to what it was in the past but I think it is great to see people being creative and trying things out for peer review.
Writing is hard and it's a lot easier to just sit around and wait for the next 'IT Crowd' or the next 'Peep Show' (just examples as I know not everyone loves those shows of course) etc as opposed to trying to write it. I know when I first started frequenting screenwriting boards ten years ago (I was only 13 admittedly) the stuff I was posting was awful, but I got some gentle reviews and it helped me progress as a writer - if I hadn't I certainly wouldn't still be writing now, and even though I've been lucky enough to sell a script in the past I'm still progressing as writer as we all are.
The last couple of days seem to show what a sickly beast poor old critique has become.
In all the sniping and unhappiness from all sides I find myself wondering as Bushbaby used to say.
Where are the moderators.
If as it would appear to, this site wants to be seen as an influential comedy site. Where new talent makes it and gets spotted.
Then improve critique or delete it. As at the moment it is a trollish embarrassment. Perhaps if no one can post till making 20 or 100 posts else where, including old posters like myself.
In fairness I imagine the staff have had other things to occupy themselves with in last couple of days, and today are probably enjoying swell-deserved rest.
But certainly we are going through one of those phases where one hopes no-one is looking at the forum and deciding whether to join.
Though any potential troll will of course be rubbing their hands at how easy it is to stir up trouble on here.
nb showcase is where you go where you sort of don't want negative feedback, as it's where you put finished works.
But well you're going to get it anyway.
But if you put stuff in critique your expressly expecting feedback, if you're bitching about it. Then you've missed the point worse than Khan Noonian Sing trying to kill James T Kirk in the Wrath of Kahn. Of course you can also critique your critique, I certainly want to learn to be a better critic.
Has anyone ever written a thread on what critique means, either? I.e. what constructive criticism is? The idea of workshopping an idea is to have people point out what worked, what didn't and how to improve it. If you're unable to give those points, it's not really worth stepping in. So if I read something and see no merit in it whatsoever, or I really don't know how it can be saved, I generally won't bother saying anything. If I think it's got some legs (no matter how small) I will point out why it's not working in its current form and where I think the writer should focus.
I also sometimes avoid commenting if the script is technically fine but doesn't make me laugh. The reason for this is that there's loads of comedy that doesn't make me laugh but others find hilarious. I think we get quite a lot of "it's just not funny" from people, even if other posters have said they thought it was funny (this generally disproves the fact that it's "not funny"). Trying to help someone improve a sketch that is written in a style you will never find funny (I can't stand puns, for example) is difficult and sometimes it's just best avoided.
Posters need to know that their work is there to be criticised. I personally try to find something in even the best sketches to offer up for improvement since that's why the sketch has been posted in the first place. Critiquers need to know it's not a competition and they should only critique if they feel they are able to give pointers as to what exactly isn't working and, ideally, how it should be changed to make it work.
I think I tend to get good criticism here, and it has been helpful.
Excellent post Sglen.
There's a term I thing of as technically or structurally funny. Where you can see how something could be funny, when filmed or produced. And alot of the time it's what you're going for.
The best stuff in critique is stuff that goes through multiple rewrites with loads of feedback.
And sometimes if a work is hopeless, it's actually helpful to point this out. Some posters have come back from hopeless writing, to actually being pretty seriously good writers.
Stick around SGlen you're about one of the best things to happen to critique in a while.
Quote: sootyj @ 1st December 2013, 7:21 PM GMTStick around SGlen you're about one of the best things to happen to critique in a while.
Careful you've just been praised by the forum equivalent of the old guy in Wetherspoons, mumbling into his beer about communism and the post office stealing his dreams. The one who never leaves, and who's beloved dog that follows him everywhere is probably dead.
When done rightly critque is useful for everyone. I've lost count of the times I've pointed out something that didn't work in someones elses skecth and then saw that same problem in my own work.
Too much navel gazing doesn't help. Leave it be. Funnily enough it seems to work best nowadays when there's a series of Newsjack on. You get lots more people posting and lots more people trying to give genuine and constructive feedback.
Quote: blahblah @ 1st December 2013, 7:39 PM GMTI've lost count of the times I've pointed out something that didn't work in someones elses skecth and then saw that same problem in my own work.
Yes, well said, that's exactly why I frequent it, every day's a school day. Admittedly I don't comment on everything, and I especially steer clear of Newsjack subs, because I don't enjoy that sort of show in the first place, but I try to do ebough to earn my place.
And the Skit Comp is incredibly useful for forcing one to come up with ideas.
Quote: sglen @ 1st December 2013, 7:13 PM GMTI also sometimes avoid commenting if the script is technically fine but doesn't make me laugh. The reason for this is that there's loads of comedy that doesn't make me laugh but others find hilarious. I think we get quite a lot of "it's just not funny" from people, even if other posters have said they thought it was funny (this generally disproves the fact that it's "not funny"). Trying to help someone improve a sketch that is written in a style you will never find funny (I can't stand puns, for example) is difficult and sometimes it's just best avoided.
Very much agree. A nail has well and truly just been struck upon its head.
Quote: blahblah @ 1st December 2013, 7:39 PM GMTWhen done rightly critque is useful for everyone. I've lost count of the times I've pointed out something that didn't work in someones elses skecth and then saw that same problem in my own work.
This is so true. I once served on the board of a 'literary' magazine and learned a lot from having to read the submissions, some of which were sorely lacking in what was needed.
Oi Keewik
Ya fookin Bawbag I shit your fookin literary shite mag.
Where's the stories on Rangers ya gobshite
Alex Salmind