Cool. Lots to go on there! Thanks loads, Simon.
Dan
Who is the most successful writer who posts here? Page 6
Quote: Simon Stratton @ July 29 2008, 11:30 AM BSTI know other companies who don't care about the writing or humour, and the requirements there are 'does it fit a channel?' and 'is it an original idea that explores a under-exploited area of society?' (like - has there been a black sitcom recently?)
Depressingly, far too many seem to be of this mindset. I think it's important not to start any writing project on with the "Will this sell?" mentality. You've got to write about situations and characters that are funny to you. I once started a script on the basis that "this hasn't been done recently" and "this will serve a certain audience". I never finished it... Glad I didn't waste much time on it. However, the two pilots that are getting me somewhere are both ideas that I genuinely had great enthusiasm for and weren't written to a demographic. If the writing's good enough, funny enough, set in a world you enjoy, with characters you want to spend time with, then someone will be interested.
Quote: Dolly Dagger @ July 29 2008, 11:36 AM BSTWhat if you were mute or had bad laryngitis?
Then nothing got optioned that day. Them's the breaks.
Quote: Seefacts @ July 28 2008, 6:29 PM BSTYou're only annoyed because no one asked you to do one.
It's self selecting. And I actually liked yours the best. You have a big ego (no bad thing) and seem to have a vision, which is something singularly lacking in the other interviews. Whenever I read them I wondered why I, as a viewer, would be interested in watching or listening to their comedy.
Quote: chipolata @ July 29 2008, 12:24 PM BSTIt's self selecting. And I actually liked yours the best. You have a big ego (no bad thing) and seem to have a vision, which is something singularly lacking in the other interviews. Whenever I read them I wondered why I, as a viewer, would be interested in watching or listening to their comedy.
Interesting you say I 'have a vision'. Yes, I do. And it's good to know it comes across.
Thanks!
Funny thing about readers and sending scripts in is this.
The first 10 pages are read. If any good, they read the rest.
Now, if you watch some TV shows, especially dramas, nothing much ever happens in the first 10 or 15 minutes.
In fact, the average drama usually gets going about 20 mins or so into it.
(I know this is a comedy forum, but this is relevant to scripts)
I've written a pilot for a drama (as well as my comedy stuff) and, to make the first 10 pages good, I had to kick off the action straight away. No breather space, no getting to know character backgrounds or foibles; just STRAIGHT in, head first.
So, God knows how most scripts get a foot in.
It's true, I made a twelve minute short film once and it was over before it started.
Quote: Marc P @ July 29 2008, 2:17 PM BSTIt's true, I made a twelve minute short film once and it was over before it started.
Not unlike your career then?
Still looking for one of those.
Quote: Mikey J @ July 29 2008, 2:11 PM BSTFunny thing about readers and sending scripts in is this.
The first 10 pages are read. If any good, they read the rest.
Now, if you watch some TV shows, especially dramas, nothing much ever happens in the first 10 or 15 minutes.
In fact, the average drama usually gets going about 20 mins or so into it.
(I know this is a comedy forum, but this is relevant to scripts)I've written a pilot for a drama (as well as my comedy stuff) and, to make the first 10 pages good, I had to kick off the action straight away. No breather space, no getting to know character backgrounds or foibles; just STRAIGHT in, head first.
So, God knows how most scripts get a foot in.
That's not true, I read all of every script I was sent. You can judge a script on how well written it is in the first ten pages though.
Also it's amazing how many people didn't get their scripts proof-read. Full of typos, grammatical and cut-and-paste errors really p*ssed me off.
Quote: Marc P @ July 29 2008, 2:24 PM BSTStill looking for one of those.
McDonalds?
Who'd do you read for?
Fancy seeing my cellar?
Quote: chipolata @ July 29 2008, 12:24 PM BSTIt's self selecting.
Not sure I follow. What do you mean by self selecting?
Quote: Marc P @ July 29 2008, 2:24 PM BSTStill looking for one of those.
Aren't we all.
And in response to Bussel, self-selecting just means those writers largely got in touch with whoevers in charge of Meet the Writers. I assume. I haven't really studied the series. My criticism earlier was more a general criticism of writers. Believe it or not, we should be able to criticise ourselves.
Quote: chipolata @ July 29 2008, 2:56 PM BSTAnd in response to Bussell, self-selecting just means those writers largely got in touch with whoevers in charge of Meet the Writers. I assume. I haven't really studied the series. My criticism earlier was more a general criticism of writers. Believe it or not, we should be able to criticise ourselves.
Oh, I see.
You guessed wrong though - I actually approach writers to find out if they're interested in contributing. Believe it or not, some aren't.
And I agree wholeheartedly that we should be able to criticise ourselves as writers. Did I ever say otherwise?
In response to the thread question:
Most writers on here do not get commissioned but instead send to those outlets that accept our work. One of those is Newsrevue, and anyone reading their latest running order will have to concede that Joel Soetendorp is one of the most prolific writers for the show.
Thanks to Sootyj for bringing this to our attention, do you think you could get him to do an interview Sootyj/Bussell?