"Eyes Down."
also a depressing example of a "first time writer" who still new all the right people and was in with the right crowd long before anyone looked at her script (as was Gervais of course)
Sitcom writing as a career Page 4
I'd agree about the "Eyes Down" writer, but I'd also ask if it's done her any good in the long run? Will a TV company or broadcaster be so keen to back her in the future with that albatross around her neck? She may ultimately look back on it as a poisoned chalice.
I'd be happy if I could maintain my current lifestyle financially, but write for a living. I'd even take a bit of a pay cut, I think. Actually, if all goes to plan, I may have to, for a while at least, so I could be eating my words this time next year.
Quote: M Lewis @ April 24 2008, 1:04 PM BST"Gervais would be rich by anybody's standards even without the American version of the Office"
Really? I cant see that?
He said in an interview (which I can't find a link to at the moment) that DVD sales from the original Office made him a millionaire. Sure, the US version (and associated trappings) subsequently made him stonkingly, stupidly rich - but he was already rich by anybody's standards. But then... the UK Office did break DVD box office records. It wasn't a run-of-the-mill affair.
Quote: Bomber @ April 24 2008, 10:11 PM BSTHe said in an interview (which I can't find a link to at the moment) that DVD sales from the original Office made him a millionaire.
Yes, no doubt. But it didnt make him rich. Sure he was well off and had some cash in the bank but "being a millionaire" is hardly set for life. (not living in London it isnt anyway, its a flat and a couple of years income if you stay in a lot)
Quote: M Lewis @ April 24 2008, 11:11 PM BSTYes, no doubt. But it didnt make him rich. Sure he was well off and had some cash in the bank but "being a millionaire" is hardly set for life. (not living in London it isnt anyway, its a flat and a couple of years income if you stay in a lot)
Five hundred grand a year is staying indoors money?
Quote: David Bussell @ April 25 2008, 7:24 AM BSTFive hundred grand a year is staying indoors money?
a) Wheres he generating £500k pa from if his only source were limited to the Office DVD sales?
b) and £300k pa net at 45 is not "rich", don't forget he's got zero pension or savings. Its not like he's had 20 years of that which someone in a "normal" job would have earnt working upto it.
I'm not saying he was broke - i'm saying without the success BEYOND the office (which was helped massively by the US office) he wouldn't be rich.
Quote: M Lewis @ April 25 2008, 9:58 AM BSTI'm not saying he was broke - i'm saying without the success BEYOND the office (which was helped massively by the US office) he wouldn't be rich.
But surely you can't disentangle his subsequent wealth and opportunities from The Office. It's what put him on the map and it's what gave rise to everything that followed.
I think the problem with this thread is that M Lewis doesn't like Ricky Gervais, and is trying to rewrite history so that his mammoth success is down purely to the success of the American Office. Which is frankly bollocks.
Don't people make more money from touring than anything else? I thought that's where the Little Britain boys were raking it in. The first two Gervais tours were relatively minor (albeit funny) and only cost £15 or so to get tickets. The last one was major though and the cheap seats were almost £40 each. He must have made an absolute packet from the tour.
Dan
Quote: M Lewis @ April 25 2008, 9:58 AM BSTa) Wheres he generating £500k pa from if his only source were limited to the Office DVD sales?
b) and £300k pa net at 45 is not "rich", don't forget he's got zero pension or savings. Its not like he's had 20 years of that which someone in a "normal" job would have earnt working upto it.
I'm not saying he was broke - i'm saying without the success BEYOND the office (which was helped massively by the US office) he wouldn't be rich.
I'm not talking about whether or not DVD sales made Gervais a millionaire, I'm talking about whether a million pounds spending money over two years is "staying indoors money".
Quote: David Bussell @ April 25 2008, 10:10 AM BSTI'm not talking about whether or not DVD sales made Gervais a millionaire, I'm talking about whether a million pounds spending money over two years is "staying indoors money".
£500,000 a year is not enough to fill your petrol tank nowadays...
Dan
Quote: David Bussell @ April 25 2008, 10:10 AM BSTI'm not talking about whether or not DVD sales made Gervais a millionaire, I'm talking about whether a million pounds spending money over two years is "staying indoors money".
I was responding the suggestion he was made a millionaire by the DVD sales and that a million pound (lets ignore the tax) would get him a ok london house (just) and leave a bit for two years income.
Quote: M Lewis @ April 25 2008, 10:28 AM BSTI was responding the suggestion he was made a millionaire by the DVD sales and that a million pound (lets ignore the tax) would get him a ok london house (just) and leave a bit for two years income.
I guess it comes down to your definition of OK in the end. I know I wouldn't have trouble being confortable with that sort of money.
Quote: chipolata @ April 25 2008, 10:09 AM BSTthat followed.
I think the problem with this thread is that M Lewis doesn't like Ricky Gervais.
No, i love his stuff. He's an inspiration, genuinely. My point is that anyone's career needs luck and skill along the way. His skill wrote the office, his luck got it made, his skill made it fantastic and deserving of the US looking at it for themselves, his luck saw them get it right and then his massive luck was them ending up with steve carell, the 40 year old virgin success, etc, etc.
Its just interesting that the biggest part of his wealth comes from something he wasnt directly related to. Not an attack on the bloke...good luck to him (not that he's short on luck....obviously 
)
Quote: David Bussell @ April 25 2008, 10:33 AM BSTI guess it comes down to your definition of OK in the end. I know I wouldn't have trouble being confortable with that sort of money.
That's fine but you wouldn't be "rich". If i said to my wife lets sell our business, take a million and retire rich - I'd get a frying pan to the head pretty quick!
You're right, luck comes into any career. Peep Show could have been cancelled after the first series and we'd have probably never heard of the guys who wrote it. And Richard Curtis's career might have taken quite a different tragectory if they'd decided that first series of Blackadder was shit and not commissioned a second.
As for syndication, it's every writers dream. John Sullivan must have been pretty happy when Dear John was remade for America and was a considerable success. But even if the American shows a disaster, the writers still get quite a bit of money out of it. Witness Steven Moffat and Coupling.