The Albion Basement - show 2

Morning/afternoon/etc all

My little sketch group did our second audio show earlier in the year and I'll be putting up a few videos* of individual sketches each week. Feel free to comment, on any element at all, we like feedback of every nature (even when you're clearly wrong ).

Last time we did this, I put it in Critique, and a few people said it should go here. However, I'm well aware that the performances and recording quality aren't exactly of a professional standard, which I why I'm still unceertain this is the place for it, but here we are.

Anyway, enough excuses, here's the first of...I don;t know, however many we do before we get bored and/or everyone stops watching: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2Dh8sjNI3c&feature=youtu.be

As an aside, despite the image on the vid, this wasn't recorded at our normal haunt The Wheatsheaf, but unamplified to a very small crowd in a little bookshop in North Oxford, standing inches from the audience; this, incidentally, was f**king terrifying.

*I've checked, they are legally videos, even though nothing moves. If it's good enough for Derek Jarman, it's good enough for me.

That was very funny, It reminded me of a mix between Monty Python and the young ones.

Cheers, Carlos. Not the reference points I was expecting to read, but fine people to whom to be compared : )

BTW, although I've out this in Showcse, I'm happy for Critique levels of criticism - I find people are a little mor polite and conciliatory in this bit, but I say, bring it on.

It's good but it's not perfect. I think making it a porn film that the BBC would never show confuses it a bit and it feels a little stretched.
The discussion on what's offensive is great but it feels a little like a second sketch and would work better if they were protesting something that wasn't offensive.

Quote: sootyj @ 13th July 2014, 11:20 AM BST

It's good but it's not perfect. I think making it a porn film that the BBC would never show confuses it a bit and it feels a little stretched.
The discussion on what's offensive is great but it feels a little like a second sketch and would work better if they were protesting something that wasn't offensive.

View original

That's a good point, actually, Sooty. We could have written the sketch so that one announcer wanted to add an offence warning to an innocent film (say, Sound Of Music, which would allow scope for Nazi chat), and the other could argue that it's unecessary, and still end up at the same rant. Very good call.

The downside is that on both nights people laguhed at Nazi Cock Sluts...I think the people who didn't particularly care for the main conceptual thrust of the sketch still enjoyed the shouting and the rude words.

Here's this week's: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i68JbnSNGoY

It's a sketch about spies. I love sketches about spies. In fact, I've probably seen far more sketches about spies than I have films about spies, let alone expereince of spies in real life. It gives one a twisted perspective, much in the way that I steadfastly believe that all dogs bury bones, despite any reliable evidence; I also secretly believe the best restaurants in the world exclusively serve vast towers of mash with sausages sticking out of the side.

As it's Saturday, have another sketch (although I don't think you'll get one for the next few Saturdays, as the one whio understands computers is on holiday).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xslmLxmoaLc

Having missed a week, here we are agin. This recording features what can only be described as a Terry Jones Voice, let me know what you think:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJWEtiJ2U7M

See what you think about this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHvkmHP0pis&feature=youtu.be

Any comments welcome, of any nature.

All enjoyable, and very clever.

Soots has a point on Announcers, but your defence should be a wake up call to any writer (like me) who is too precious about internal logic.

Wooly Munitions was not particularly my cup of tea, but the out was jaw droppingly audacious. I am to sure if it is genius or a total cheat!

I think the second was 2 great ideas but it kinda doesn't work.

Thoughts on why.

1 It's 2 separate sketches cut and shut together which actually undermines each other. Crap focus group advisers good, DJ Jazy F not knowing how to party also good. Together poor.

2 The punchline is it's DJ Jazzy Jeff it runs over too long by about 2 minutes, so the punchline is kinda lost in the middle. I mean you can get away with it [for example Monty Pyythons lumberjack sketch]

3 You can't do the voices. DJ Jazzy Jeff being middle class could work, but its tricky.

4 It's much too long it needs to be way closer to 2 minutes than 4.

5 It's a nice punchline, but it only works if we believe Jazzy Jeff is good at partying.

Quote: sootyj @ 22nd September 2014, 11:48 AM BST

I think the second was 2 great ideas but it kinda doesn't work.

Thoughts on why.

1 It's 2 separate sketches cut and shut together which actually undermines each other. Crap focus group advisers good, DJ Jazy F not knowing how to party also good. Together poor.

2 The punchline is it's DJ Jazzy Jeff it runs over too long by about 2 minutes, so the punchline is kinda lost in the middle. I mean you can get away with it [for example Monty Pyythons lumberjack sketch]

3 You can't do the voices. DJ Jazzy Jeff being middle class could work, but its tricky.

4 It's much too long it needs to be way closer to 2 minutes than 4.

5 It's a nice punchline, but it only works if we believe Jazzy Jeff is good at partying.

View original

Really interesting response, thanks so much, Soots.

1 & 2. You're probably right about it being 2 sketches. The thing is, although the actual joke is that Jazzy Jeff is a political advisor, you can't just quit the sketch as soon as that's mentioned, that would feel half-arsed. I mean, *something* else has to happen, surely. Did the wrong thing happen and for too long? Well, quite possibly

3. Very interesting. The 1st draft had Jeff played completely straight, but when we tried to perform it none of us could make that work. The joke is definitely not "aren't black guys funny", and our attempted accents were either nonsensical or, frankly, borderline racist. We were about to throw it away until Dan did the posh voice, and it just seemed a better avenue to choose. I woudl argue that in actual fact the public school Jeff is the sore-thumb 2nd sketch idea wleded on; I'd love to hear someone deliver the original sketch who could make it work.

4. Probably. Still not found a formula that works for sketch length. I mean, this one didn't feel too long, because there's a certain rhythm to the exchanges, and people seemed to keep on enjoying the Jeff lines regardless of length; other much shorter sketches seemed to drag live. The funny thing is, perhaps I'm unusual, but I tend to find that a lot of sketches I hear/see are too short nowadays!

5. I think the punchline is a bit crap, and fundamentally flawed as you say. Got us out of it neatly though, so probably a C+ ending, all things considered.

Am I the only person who does not have a clue who DJ Jazzy Jeff is?

Not that it mattered, the sketch worked regardless, even if I have to a agree with soots that, for me, it dragged on a bit. (And I do like long sketches.)

He was (Will Smith) The Fresh Prince's DJ in the mid-80s, and I believe had some small parts in the "TFP Of Bel Air" later.

To be hoenst, it's not about him, it could have been any pop-cultural figure, but the rhythm and alliteration made DJJJ the choice.

Whilst I've got your attention, here's another one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksiB2RS6ihM

It's a bit different because it's a silly little vignette, rather than one of our normal sketches...plus it has yetr actual post-production! (Dno't get too excited, though).

Comments of all kidneys appreciated.