British Comedy Guide

BBC Comedy College Page 16

Full details about this scheme, including the email address to send your CV to: https://www.comedy.co.uk/news/news.php?story=000409

Anyone here going to enter this then?

Great stuff, I'll be applying for this.

As for the debate about teaching people to be funny I don't think you can be taught how to be funny enough for public broadcast from scratch. You can be taught to be slightly funnier by learning the mechanics of sketches, jokes etc but its what you add to that as a person that counts.

I think you have to be naturally analytical, curious and imaginative to do any type of writing and I don't think you can learn that if you are not already. I think life shapes you a great deal. John Cleese says he watched a lot of comedy as a child and that was almost like training for him. Whilst that is probably true, a lot of people watch all sorts of stuff but don't end up in Monty Python.

So the 'training' is needed to hone in your talent. Its no coincidence that as kids novelists read a lot of books, directors watched a lot of films etc. I don't think you can have one without the other and I'm a firm believer you need both to get the best out of you. This is a good step for those just getting into the industry.

Quote: Seefacts @ March 11, 2008, 12:31 PM

Anyone here going to enter this then?

Yes. It's good because I've begun work on one script, just finished another one and have a few that could work. It's just a case of writing a good 10 pages.

I shall apply but don't know if my credentials are anywhere the required.

I fully expect to see at least someone from this huge pool of talent make it on the scheme.

Quote: Seefacts @ March 11, 2008, 12:31 PM

Anyone here going to enter this then?

I'm in. Again, I have no idea whether or not I have the credentials.

I'm going to give it a go.

And I'm going to have to crack on with it too! It clashes most horrifically with ScriptFrenzy. Micheal, how could you?

Yeah, I'll give it a go too.

Dan

Not many of us are suitable to be honest as he says: 'I'm aspiring to be the Arsène Wenger of the comedy world by finding writers with talent and helping them to develop and express it.'

Unfortunately, I'm English so I don't stand a chance of making the starting line-up! ;)

Quote: ContainsNuts @ March 11, 2008, 1:57 PM

Not many of us are suitable to be honest as he says: 'I'm aspiring to be the Arsène Wenger of the comedy world by finding writers with talent and helping them to develop and express it.'

Unfortunately, I'm English so I don't stand a chance of making the starting line-up! ;)

There's always Theo...

Quote: Micheal Jacob @ March 11, 2008, 3:26 PM

There's always Theo...

He's usually a sub, though...

I'm entering, but then I'll enter anything.

Ooh er.

More seriously I'm way to green, and under talented to win. I'm more hoping that my skits might get shown to some one else. I know at least 2 people who got into writing for the Beeb, by losing contests interestingly.

Decisions, decisions... I've only had sketches broadcast and I'm just finishing off a pilot for my first sitcom. What to send? I want to move into sitcom, but sketches have got me thus far. What would Theo do...?

Quote: ContainsNuts @ March 11, 2008, 4:07 PM

Decisions, decisions... I've only had sketches broadcast and I'm just finishing off a pilot for my first sitcom. What to send? I want to move into sitcom, but sketches have got me thus far. What would Theo do...?

You think you've got problems. I've had nothing broadcast, I'm English and I'm a Spurs fan.

I'm going to enter several times using my schizophrenia as a cover.

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