British Comedy Guide

WRITERS WANTED for MySpace Comedy

Good day to you good people. Sorry for the blunt advert, but this seemed the best way of getting peoples attention.

I need to put together a writing team, and I thought this was a good place to come.

I work for Comedybox, we're creating stuff for MySpace's comedy channel: myspace.com/comedyuk, and currently looking for sharp writers to help generate topical content. We'll pay for every sketch we film.

We're NOT looking for dialouge-led, straight, dramatic sketch writing. Myspace have given us a very specific brief, we're looking for writers that understand internet comedy, not just writing TV style sketches that happen to be online. We have plenty of this stuff already.

We're working to an audience of 12-21 year olds, not necessarily bothered by traditional comedy formats. We want clever, simple ideas they'll forward to other people. Ideally sketches should be around one minute long.

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR:

TOPICAL CONTENT
Not exactly political, but gags and sketches based around stuff in the media. Currently in production we've got a Christian Bale rant sketch, and a series of Prince Harry apologising to ethnic minorities. That sort of thing.

CELEBRITIES
This is the most successful video we've ever made: http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=48404374
and this is very good.... http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=39641635

For obvious reasons these appeal directly to our viewers.

ONE-GAG SKETCHES/REVEALS
Simple stuff that's well thought through. Must be funny from the word go. Stong reveals and puns work well, with good twists.

VIRALS/PRANKS/COOL STUFF
Awkward moments, gross things, dumb slapstick...you know where we're coming from. Not Dogs on Skateboards, but pretty simple gags.

All sketches must be cheap to make in terms of props/locations etc. We've got the facilities to film/edit/direct/cast etc. We just need the ideas.

Any questions, ideas or scripts please send to
marc.burrows@warnermusic.com

Thanks
Marc B

That Ramsay one is actually pretty damn funny.

Quote: Griff @ February 5 2009, 8:06 PM GMT

What's your deadline on this, Marc?

Take as long as you like.

There's no real deadline, because we're constantly making clips. Obviously topical content enforces it's own deadline.

To clarify some of the queries I'm getting...

- We'll pay about £100 for a script that we actually film, unfortunately we just don't have the budget to pay for any scripts that we don't end up using. There is no commissioning/pilot fee.

- We do accept external productions...if you can shoot and edit something yourself that's great, however we need to see some evidence that you can make a good job of it (showreel, the people you're using, equipment etc) as we're expected to deliver sketches that are professionally edited with sharp sound, we'd also need to be involved at the planning stage. Obviously we pay more for outside productions.

Thanks for all the submissions so far, I'll be in touch!
Marc B

PS this is a good example of what we like: http://tinyurl.com/cm4ema

Quote: Marcbox @ February 6 2009, 2:54 PM GMT

PS this is a good example of what we like: http://tinyurl.com/cm4ema

Actually Marc B that is pretty darn good!

Quote: Marc P @ February 6 2009, 3:11 PM GMT

Marc B

Please tell me there's not an alphabet full of Marc's out there. :(

bloody marcists

I'm a Marc W if that's any help?

Quote: Afinkawan @ February 6 2009, 3:24 PM GMT

I'm a Marc W if that's any help?

That puts you near the bottom of the Marc Hierarchy. I'm waiting for Marc A to pipe up. He's the Alpha Marc.

Quote: Marc P @ February 6 2009, 3:11 PM GMT

Actually Marc B that is pretty darn good!

Why thank you Marc P. We came up with idea and wrote that on Wednesday, filmed it yesterday, and edited it this morning and got it out this afternoon. What we're really looking for is people who can work that fast on very topical ideas.

Haha, that is a good sketch. I wish I could write topical stuff.

Yeah, liked the sketch too - spot on!

Quote: Marcbox @ February 6 2009, 2:54 PM GMT

PS this is a good example of what we like: http://tinyurl.com/cm4ema

I found it rather predictable. When a sketch is titled "Christian Bale's Public Apology" you just know what has to happen, don't you.

Quote: Dashcroft @ February 6 2009, 4:30 PM GMT

I found it rather predictable. When a sketch is titled "Christian Bale's Public Apology" you just know what has to happen, don't you.

I think everyone knew what was going to happen but not how and why. It was executed very well. That's what a spoof is by the way.

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