Well as a collective of mutually supportive writers I got some very useful contacts from LSCW.
And that writers dock sketch compo sounds amazing.
Our new Writers Area - ideas please! Page 6
Not sure if my post disappeared in amongst many others, but I suggested a blog, or somthing similar, from Marc Blake.
The website promotes him and it might be a good idea as it could give unsure writers that little bit of an extra nudge to send their script to him.
Quote: Griff @ November 7 2008, 2:23 PM GMTWell, it's up to Mark and Aaron anyway. They're the ones doing the work, they will have some reason for wanting to change the status quo, and they'll do whatever suits their evil purposes best I would think.
*sits and strokes pussy*
half kitten half monkey?
Quote: Dolly Dagger @ November 7 2008, 2:06 PM GMTI think we should come up with some sort of emblem or symbol - you know, the sort of thing that will look good on a flag, armbands, that type of thing. Maybe we could take a symbol from an old world religion and adapt it. Then there's uniforms. I'm thinking something mean-looking but stylish.
This always happens... I go away from the computer for a day only to come back to find yet another evil organisation forming whilst I've been away. Can I be vice chancellor? 
Anyway, thanks everyone for pitching in - lots of passionate view points - nice to see everyone cares about the direction the site takes.
Firstly, just to say, in the initial stages it's only going to be new advice & insight content being delivered... but after a while we could well branch out into things like script uploads (that one's for you Marc) and other such new functionality. Basically, what I'm saying is, let's not get too far ahead of ourselves with this discussion!
What I will say in regards to the 'members only' area now though, is I think both sides have a valid point of view. This website is doing well because anyone can join in, no matter what level you're at - I certainly want to keep that.
However, Griff does have a point... producers may be more willing to engage the site if there was also a slightly more private section for them to interact with yourselves. I know there's a few producers who currently read, but dare not get involved in the discussions because these threads are very public, and would no doubt result in a million and one scripts landing in their inbox. So there probably is a need for a 'members only' bit. But it shouldn't be a threatening idea - just think of it as a way of adding to the opportunities rather than reducing them.
Anyway, like I say, let's not get carried away on that topic any further yet. I'd most be interested for now in what it is in regards to the industry / the art of comedy writing that you'd most like to know more about. There's already been some good ideas for articles, interviews, features etc in this thread... but keep them coming please!
Could we have a Writer's Wives section please?
Quote: Mark @ November 7 2008, 8:38 PM GMTI'd most be interested for now in what it is in regards to the industry / the art of comedy writing that you'd most like to know more about.
I think perhaps a good thing would be to hear from producers and especially commissioners on the subject of what they're actually looking for, what the current trends are, what's getting commissioned and why etc. I've only started getting this sort of info through my agent who has meetings with these people, and it's very helpful in terms of tailoring my work to what's marketable, but before I was being represented that sort of valuable information was very thin on the ground and so you're working blind in one sense.
I'm echoing other people's thoughts but we need to hear more from the people who will potentially be buying our stuff. I think it'd be great to have some Q&A sessions with people like Shane Allen, Lucy Lumsden, Mark Freeland, Micheal Jacob etc. All the people that make things happen. Also advice from prodcos like Baby Cow, Objective, Hat Trick etc. And of course writers who've "made it", and by "made it" I don't mean got a sketch on News Revue.
That's what I'd like to see.
And the Writer's Wives section.
And for those writers who aren't lesbians, husbands.
One thing I think is most difficult for new writers is rewrites. So would be good to have some examples of early and final broadcast scripts (both sketches and sitcoms) to see how they changed and comments on why the most important changes were made.
As Lee says, would definitely be good to have some detailed examples of how people broke into the industry.
I'll second that.
I remember Graham Linehan (Father Ted) writing once that the first draft was always awful whatever happened and it was just a case of getting some words down on the page.
It would be interesting (and hopefully reassuring) to see a first draft and a final draft for a script just for comparison etc. I'm sure plenty of lessons could be learnt.
Re-writing is easy - you just cut out the crap. And if it is running short in terms of word count just add some more stage directions.
Quote: Winterlight @ November 6 2008, 1:45 PM GMTI was thinking that perhaps we could have a "Seefacts says..." forum.
We'd put questions to Seefacts about how the industry works and he could tell us.
I could tell you. It wouldn't accurate, true, up-to-date or helpful, but I could tell you.
New writer's area sounds good though, look forward to seeing it!
Quote: Nigel Kelly @ November 6 2008, 1:58 PM GMTQuite true, Seefacts Sutcliffe is talented, very serious and totally committed for the rest of his natural life.
I need to BE committed - that'd be best for us all.
I just dug out and uploaded the Sitcom Trials writers Guide, which I wrote back in 2000. It's in the blog at http://www.myspace.com/sitcomtrials
I was, let's face it, a bit full of myself. Two radio pilots and I thought I could tell everybody else how to write sitcom. I haven't noticed the telly being full of my stuff ever since. However I think my guidelines make a lot of sense, and they cost a lot less than Robert McKee's to read. Let me know what you think.
Kev F
sitcomtrials.co.uk
PS: 4 episodes from the Sitcom Trials TV series are now up on the Trials' YouTube channel, along with live clips starring Justin Lee Collins, Tony Robinson and Miranda Hart, at: http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=69020E394F073EC2
I don't know what it says about me, but every time I skim the title of this thread I read "Our new Writers Area - ladies please!"
Cheers Kev. Good read.
Dan