Now I have another question that concerns the story lines. I know that like in a normal movies, there is a major story line that starts in the first scene and ends in the last one. How does the rest work? According to one page every character has his own little story line next to the A line. According to another page, Every episode has about 3 mini stories (no big A line here). In both cases, the stories are interwoven. What is the general sitcom way of building a story?
It depends what kind of Sitcom you are writing. In Benidorm every character, or group of characters,will have their own story because that is how it is written. In Dad'S Army they will all be part of one story.
Think in terms of three acts even if it is for ITV. Have a beginning a middle and an end and make the episode about something, not just things happening randomly. ALthough there are sitcoms where that happens too ... like Nightingales for example, and probably Bottom too though i never got past a few bits of that.
It sitcoms were cakes you have a whole bakers shop. Choose the pastry product that you like to eat and go about your own recipie based on that. You can;t innovate froma vacuum.
Thanks, so modeling mine according one that I like a lot, you mean. That's how I developed my music writing skills and I know it works till the moment I went my own way. A general learning process for everything.
I don't know much about sitcom yet, learning the format right now and typing the first scene of an Ugly Betty script into Montage to get the hand of all the elements. I like all the classics like Cheers, Family ties, but am addicted at the moment to 2 and a half men.
thanks for the info.
André
Andreas, why don't you have a good look here: https://www.comedy.co.uk/writers/books.shtml
lots of stuff for you to read.
No worries Andreas. It's always the best way to go, write the kind of thing you want to see, read or hear and the chances are there will be more of your heart in it. Comedy works on a visceral level, no matter how clever it is if there is no heart in it, it won't work so well. My Family for example had a cleverish plot last week - a bit of a Deus Ex Machina ending mind - which we forgive because there is heart in it. With the relationships between the central characters who we believe in and care about, and we know they care about each other too. WIth Teenage Kicks though, there was no cleverness of plot, no real three dimensionality of characters, I didn't for one, believe in them as real people or as a real family, which means the comedy falls back on Adrian Edmondsons comic gurning, pratfalls, silly voices etc etc. I don't believe his heart was in the creating of it, the writing, and so I didn't warm to it so much. Not to criticise the show as such, one man's meat is another man's poison and Ade is a great actor and a great comedy performer. That particular pie I just didn't find particularly tasty enough for me to be hungry for the next slice.
My top tip is to get hold of a book called the Comic Toolbox by John Vorhaus,
http://www.amazon.com/Comic-Toolbox-Funny-Even-Youre/dp/1879505215
It's a corker.
I'm going to send one to Gordan Brown - I think he needs a few comedy tips. Like how to smile convincingly on camera for one.
Thanks for the tips and links, I will have a look at them. I bought the book Story from Robert Mckee in the past, great book, but more focused on Screenplay.
I second Vorhaus's book.
I have a signed copy. I actually did a three day workshop of his once.
I did his oneliner course once. Paid fifty quid and it lasted thirty seconds. Ah well, you live and learn.
Quote: Marc P @ April 15 2008, 9:59 AM BSTMy top tip is to get hold of a book called the Comic Toolbox by John Vorhaus,
http://www.amazon.com/Comic-Toolbox-Funny-Even-Youre/dp/1879505215
It's a corker.
Thanks for the tip Marc. I've just followed your link and managed to get this book for £6.16 on play.com.
Def.