I've got a script but will the idea get pinched? Page 5

This is all great stuff. Thanks guys and girls. Its been very insightful and very kind of you to keep commenting and talking to me which I appreciate. I need to go back to the drawing board of my sitcom I think. I've run off with the story and characters just to draw in the audience whereas I think I could get away with pulling back to the beginning and giving more meat to the bones.

I'm a graphic designer by trade but ever since I left the profession I'm writing about I've always imagined it on the telly. I left 20 years ago so its always been burning away in me to get it out there. I've decided that this is the year I write it up and knock on some doors.

When my script is finished and I'm confident that it could go live who do you approach first? Producers, directors, an agent? I know Im running again before I can walk but I just wanted to know the protocol. Cheers.

"Well I've had some great feedback and I'm fully prepared to get the first draft of my script thrown back in my face.....and second and third"

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First thing I would say to that is, don't entertain the idea of trying to sell a script that isn't your best draft. You'll only get it thrown back in your face once. In fact they might not even bother to throw it back at all! Unless you meant posting a few scenes on here or the like to get feedback etc. In which case, shoot.

"What I've created isn't just a run of the mill <yawn> sitcom, there are many factors to my idea that's more than just the script and a couple of gags. My script has many visual gags and a very particular way to be filmed for best effect"

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What I don't think you're grasping, is that your idea isn't unique at its base level. At least it really shouldn't be. I'll try a metaphor! Visual gags, or particular visual styles are only superficial; the bodywork of a beautiful car, if you will. What lies beneath has to be a solid chassis or you're fuc*ed. This might sound like a paradox, but you can only break the rules by obeying them in the first place. In other words, while you're car might look different on the surface.....

I need to learn how to use the quote thing...

Ok thanks Wills. I feel like Luke from Star Wars learning the ways of the force...

Search ....your....feelings....you know your script is as run of the mill as all the others...

Noooooooo!!!!

...missed your last reply. VERY sensible Stu, really hope it turns out as good as you hope.

And hey, there are no 'experts' when it comes to being a fantastic writer. If you have that in you, the force is already there :-) That's the tricky bit!

Quote: Stu Legend @ 8th January 2015, 12:56 PM GMT

This is all great stuff. Thanks guys and girls. Its been very insightful and very kind of you to keep commenting and talking to me which I appreciate. I need to go back to the drawing board of my sitcom I think. I've run off with the story and characters just to draw in the audience whereas I think I could get away with pulling back to the beginning and giving more meat to the bones.

I'm a graphic designer by trade but ever since I left the profession I'm writing about I've always imagined it on the telly. I left 20 years ago so its always been burning away in me to get it out there. I've decided that this is the year I write it up and knock on some doors.

When my script is finished and I'm confident that it could go live who do you approach first? Producers, directors, an agent? I know Im running again before I can walk but I just wanted to know the protocol. Cheers.

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You have the right attitude.

There is no protocol as such Stu. Its a bit catch 22. A producer will only look at scripts from an agent An agent will only consider you if you have a track record. But this is basically just a filter that keeps 99.9 percent of would be sitcom writers/writers away. It is an industry there are people writing and working in it so they must have broken the catch 22 to get in. The main weapon in your arsenal is knowledge and contacts. Luckily both are relatively easy to get. But.... you have to have something to offer. If your only idea is one sitcom... you are batting on a very very sticky wicket. Never mind about making a film of your sitcom idea, why don;t you try staging it first. If you think it is impossible to stage - it isn't. Whatever it is. Try that, learn a bit about the craft of dramatising a narrative comedy in front of a live audience. You will learn more from doing that than practically anything before cameras start turning. Moreover you can get industry people to look at it! Actors, producers, directors, agents etc. Again it would be down to you. It has been twenty years in the speculative gestation - if you want to be serious about it, then be serious. Spend some money on some books some classes, some networking, some actors and/or editorial hire, book a space and make things happen.

Treat it like a business project and think what SIralan Lord Arsenal would say?! Having said that you should be having an enormous amount of fun doing this - otherwise whats the point

Does anyone on these forums write stuff currently for telly or have done in the past?

The most common piece of advice you will ever find is- write, write, WRITE!

You HAVE TO practice, like with anything. Just write anything, any old crap. Write sitcom scripts, write sketches, novels and jokes (see Marc P's crap).

As a graphic designer, I'm guessing you carried around a little sketchbook at some point, especially whilst you were learning. It's the same principle here. You're doodling essentially and a lot of it will be nonsensical but within there somewhere you might find your voice and something that really works for you. It just flows onto the page and it's just not you that enjoys it, this is where the ball starts rolling.

Forget about TV producers for a while, they're far, FAR up the ladder. You'll have more success writing sketches for productions that accept open submissions.

You mentioned that you have friends and contacts with cameras. GREAT! Get yourself on YouTube and start filming whatever floats your boat. If you're as good as you think,and your ideas are there and you have a tremendous amount of luck, these TV producers will come knocking at your door.

First step though is to just actually write.

Next step, submit anything you can to The Treason Show or Newsrevue and you'll get a taste of success when they send you a cheque for 28p.

This is your first step on the ladder!

Marc P I love the stage idea. Never occurred to me. I knew coming on this forum would be awesome. Great piece of advice, many thanks. I don't care what the other forum members say about you (and they some some harsh things) I think you're a great guy.

Thanks Lee. Smashing stuff.

i feel all warm inside!

Quote: Stu Legend @ 8th January 2015, 1:19 PM GMT

Marc P I love the stage idea. Never occurred to me. I knew coming on this forum would be awesome. Great piece of advice, many thanks. I don't care what the other forum members say about you (and they some some harsh things) I think you're a great guy.

Thanks Lee. Smashing stuff.

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I didn't get to be fat and smug by listening to what some ignorant f**kers on forums have to say. I got my poundage the hard way. Serious sofa time and deep fried product!

If people say harsh things about me I try not to cry and take solace in my poetry. People say that everyone has a limerick in them, I like to think that I have more than one!

Nicely put Marc P. Looks like my little side line is going to take up a whole lot of time. Damn my full time job and stupid crippling mortgage...pff.

..by the by my last comment was entirely genuine. It's great to see some constructive and useful conversation.

Quote: Stu Legend @ 8th January 2015, 1:30 PM GMT

Nicely put Marc P.

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Hey I'm a pro!

I'll just add..

If you want to write Sitcoms, know what happens. See how they are produced. Go to as many recording sessions as you can get tickets for.

Maybe a bit hard from mid wales,

google [tickets for sitcom]

Quote: Stu Legend @ 8th January 2015, 1:13 PM GMT

Does anyone on these forums write stuff currently for telly or have done in the past?

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I used to write Kojak, does that count?

Sorry, first useless comment for about 4 pages. Even though I am not an aspiring comedy writer, and pretty much just do it for fun, the two hour long sketch shows I staged with my group were amazingly rewarding, and easy to do (we just did audio to make things easier for ourselves), so I think that is a great idea.