Quote: Griff @ November 6 2008, 4:12 PM GMTAlso hopefully with a restricted forum there would be less danger of muppets replying "YEAH BUT UR TV SHOWS ARE SH1T 1NNIT!!!"
You just can't resist attacking me.
Our new Writers Area - ideas please! Page 3
It's not Normans I hate, it's injustice.
Quote: Mark @ November 5 2008, 7:46 PM GMTEvening everyone,
As you may have noticed there's (finally) more activity happening in regards to the new website now. In about a week's time I'll have lots more info about everything, and will also be sending out an update email to those who have kindly offered to write guides for the new site.
First though, I wanted to talk a bit more about the comedy writing side of things. Without going into the boring nitty gritty, the basic plan is to extend the comedy writing community, services and info on this website into something even bigger and better on the new website.
As a result, a new writers area is currently being formulated behind the scenes. It will be focusing on sitcom, sketch and stand-up. Lots of advice articles from the experts and insight from those working in the industry.
Although we've got lots planned. I'd be interested to hear your ideas...
Here's the question then... what, in terms of comedy writing / performing, would you like to know more about or like us to provide more of?
All ideas or requests considered so please post away!
p.s. Please also see this thread about a writers conference idea: https://www.comedy.co.uk/forums/thread/10083
Perhaps a blog from Marc Blake, if he has time of course.
Quote: Griff @ November 6 2008, 1:59 PM GMTPresumably there'd still be all the existing Writers Discussion forums where people can post info about "open" writing contests and opportunities, so people would be no worse off anyway.
Not unless a successful "closed shop" results in a reduction in open opportunities, which are few enough as it is. Of course it could be that open opportunities would continue as before, and there would be the hoped for increase in opportunities for those in the club, in which case everyone wins; but that is not a given.
In any case, if anyone is setting up a closed membership comedy-writers-self-help-group, then I am not sure BSG is the place. BSG is an open resource, the primary function of which is to promote comedy appreciation rather than writing, and it does not seem right that any part of the site should be closed off.
I do not in any case, see any supportable criteria for a closed membership. Writing simply does not lend itself to quantitative criteria, and any subjective attempt to enforce qualitative criteria I would personally find repugnant.
Quote: Timbo @ November 6 2008, 6:51 PM GMTNot unless a successful "closed shop" results in a reduction in open opportunities, which are few enough as it is. Of course it could be that open opportunities would continue as before, and there would be the hoped for increase in opportunities for those in the club, in which case everyone wins; but that is not a given.
In any case, if anyone is setting up a closed membership comedy-writers-self-help-group, then I am not sure BSG is the place. BSG is an open resource, the primary function of which is to promote comedy appreciation rather than writing, and it does not seem right that any part of the site should be closed off.
I do not in any case, see any supportable criteria for a closed membership. Writing simply does not lend itself to quantitative criteria, and any subjective attempt to enforce qualitative criteria I would personally find repugnant.
Go back to Russia!
Quote: Timbo @ November 6 2008, 6:51 PM GMTIn any case, if anyone is setting up a closed membership comedy-writers-self-help-group, then I am not sure BSG is the place. BSG is an open resource, the primary function of which is to promote comedy appreciation rather than writing, and it does not seem right that any part of the site should be closed off.
Quote: Timbo @ November 6 2008, 6:51 PM GMTIn any case, if anyone is setting up a closed membership comedy-writers-self-help-group, then I am not sure BSG is the place. BSG is an open resource, the primary function of which is to promote comedy appreciation rather than writing, and it does not seem right that any part of the site should be closed off.
I do not in any case, see any supportable criteria for a closed membership. Writing simply does not lend itself to quantitative criteria, and any subjective attempt to enforce qualitative criteria I would personally find repugnant.
Double to this.
In general I like the forums as they are, with the main possible improvements just to the way you can search things and the number of sub-forums (e.g. it might be helpful to split critique into sketch, stand-up/gag and longer forms). Oh, and Marc P's idea of uploading material so that we don't mess with formatting.
Ta.
Righto - I'll start reading things better in the new year.
Quote: Griff @ November 6 2008, 10:58 PM GMTWhatever happens or doesn't happen on BSG isn't going to affect open opportunities in any way. It's not like the BBC are going to say "Oh let's stop running our national open script contests like Recorded For Training Purposes because there's some crappy closed forum on BSG we can announce it in instead".
But if you find the Writers Area repugnant, well, no-one's gonna make you join.
I agree that if it is crappy it is not going to affect anything; hence my use of the word "successful". The intention seems to be to give producers a way to open the door to new talent without letting just anybody in; that could increase opportunities for some, but could just possibly reduce them for others. But I agree that, if an overall increase in opportunity resulted, that risk would be acceptable.
Subject, that is, to finding a way to restrict access which is fair and objective. Which since this is a public site, which anyone is free to join, is where I really struggle with the concept.
I did not, of course, say that I found a writers area repugnant. I said that I would find deciding who could join based on qualitative criteria, i.e. on talent, to be repugnant.
So how would you propose to restrict access? I am interested to see if joining would be an option for me...
Well, we know of at least one producer who lurks, and I am sure others have discovered the site whilst trawling the web for any mention of their new show, so the possibility is there. It is just the doorkeeper thing that bothers me.
Maybe it could simply be restricted to members who have registered their Writers Directory Profile. And completed it properly.
Producers, writers, actors, etc, they all visit.
Quote: Aaron @ November 7 2008, 12:07 AM GMTProducers, writers, actors, etc, they all visit.
Prezunctly (if that's the right word?)
So they are already here and have the chance to ask all the people they are interested in all the right things, if they want (by PM if desired). I don't like the idea of a closed shop of selected people. Dolly's idea of having an area restricted to logins-not-lurkers seems reasonable though.
Aw, Langham.
I hope so! 
Yes Badge, it is.
Quote: zooo @ November 7 2008, 12:12 AM GMTAw, Langham.
I hope so!
The idea he'd be lurking on the internet? Behave!