re: Comedy script templates

Hello all,

Ive just started writing my first sitcom and would like some help.

1)Ive gone to BBC's writersroom.com and tried to download and save the "scriptsmart" template for sitcom's.Im useless with computers and if i've downloaded it correctly the template only has a box for your name and address and then says "fade in" and is then just allowing you to write your script in the centre of the page (as is usual) and thats it!
If one of your goodselves have downloaded scriptsmart can you tell me if "that is it!" and/or recommend another free sitcom template to download.

2)Im not sure I know if im writing a sit-com or comedy-drama! Ive heard that a comedy-drama as a rule should have more drama in it than comedy (could someone please give me an example) and sit-com's are apparently more about characters than the situation.Can anybody shed some light on this for me!

Sorry to be so demanding on my first thread,any help would be ace.

cheers,Matt

Hi Matt

When you started ScriptSmart up there should have been a box asking you what you wanted to write (TV Sitcom/radio sitcom/tv drama/etc)? Then there should be a new toolbar appear with speech bubbles and a clapperboard and other stuff. You should be able to click on these and it'll start formatting properly for you (ie. click on the 'Name' icon (silhouette of someone) and then input the name, then click on 'dialogue' (speech bubble) and it will flit over to the other side of the screen to input dialogue (you should be able to 'tab' between these two things).

How long is the thing you're writing? If it's half-an-hour call it a sitcom and get on with it. If it's an hour, make it a drama.

Hope this helps

Dan

Cheers Dan,

I'll go back and try again with your info in mind.
My comedy is 30 mins - so a sitcom it is then!

cheers,

Matt

Quote: Matt Webb @ February 20, 2008, 10:15 AM

Ive heard that a comedy-drama as a rule should have more drama in it than comedy (could someone please give me an example) and sit-com's are apparently more about characters than the situation.Can anybody shed some light on this for me!

View original

Comedy-Dramas would include stuff like Nighty Night, Extras, Shameless, Fat Friends, Cold Feet, etc.

A lot depends on which side of the mouth you poke your tongue when concentrating Matt,If its a thursday and you poke it out on the left, your fukked mate.

Quote: Perry Nium @ February 21, 2008, 11:08 AM

Comedy-Dramas would include stuff like Nighty Night, Extras, Shameless, Fat Friends, Cold Feet, etc.

View original

Nighty Night is definitely a sitcom.

Extras is a fine case in point though - the two series were most definitely sitcom, but the final special was a comedy drama. It's basically all down to pacing - a longer show is more likely to be a comedy drama because it has to fit some drama into it to keep people interested (research shows that people actually tire of just 90 minutes of gags)

Teachers is my favourite comedy drama.

Im confused! I feel my project is a mixture of sit-com and com/drama,
does a script need to be labelled as one or the other when you send it off? e.g In Extra's Andy Millman's character and the plot re:his career looks very com/drama,but the relationship between Barry and The Agent is very sit-commy.Im not sure what The Office is either?
Whereas My Family,Only fools and horses and Mog are defo sit-coms.
Does it really matter though?

Just write it and whatever it is, it is. The main thing is to make it good.

Quote: Badge @ February 21, 2008, 11:56 PM

Just write it and whatever it is, it is. The main thing is to make it good.

View original

I was going to say the same thing. Just do it.

And by the way - I would say Nighty Night is a sitcom.

I agree with the majority here... content is far more important than form. I now write using Final Draft under the BBC sitcom format. However, the first script that got me a meeting was set-out in a standard screenplay format (despite being sitcom).

I call comedy dramas, commas

I call most things question marks.

You're in Wales anyway, so it won't matter.