Really looking forward to this series. I was kindly invited up to London before Christmas to extra in a scene.
The scene that was filmed was very funny. Plus got to meet the writer, the director and the brilliant Mr Mangan.
Free Agents Page 3
Oooh. You'll have to point it out to us when your scene's on.
What was Mangan like?
Quote: zooo @ February 9 2009, 6:29 PM GMTOooh. You'll have to point it out to us when your scene's on.
What was Mangan like?
Don't know as yet what episode it is in. It's a restaurant scene which was filmed in the NatWest tower. Being shot on film it took nearly 4 hours to complete a 3 minute scene. I was given a "prominent" background role by the lovely producer.
This involved me doing my best walking, talking and pretending to order dinner acting with a very pretty girl, who was plucked away from her real boyfriend and was probably 15 years younger than me - poor thing.
Didn't bother Mr Mangan too much as he was concentrating on acting. But he seemed very friendly as did all the crew. As a writer is was really useful to watch the process and be able to view the performances out of camera view.
God bless these extras though. Very hard to make conversation naturally when you're only allowed to whisper.
Quote: Tim Walker @ February 9 2009, 6:41 PM GMTGod bless these extras though. Very hard to make conversation naturally when you're only allowed to whisper.
Ahh, that's because you're not engaging them in their favourite specialist subject, which given the chance, they'll talk about endlessly: rhubarb - and it's many varieties.
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P.S. Chris Neil, the writer of Free Agents tells how he came to the decision to write this sitcom: http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2009/feb/07/free-agents-chris-niel
". . . I knew what I had to do. I'd hand in my company credit card, give up my expense account at the Ivy and try and be a writer. . ."
- He doesn't say how long it took between jacking in his well-paid job and achieving success in the sitcom world. Sounds like one followed the other quite smartly. (Whatever, the script itself then languished four years in development hell).
Quote: Danny K @ February 11 2009, 6:13 PM GMT- He doesn't say how long it took between jacking in his well-paid job and achieving success in the sitcom world. Sounds like one followed the other quite smartly. (Whatever, the script itself then languished four years in development hell).
You'd have thought he'd made quite a few contacts in the industry to be able to fling his work around. It's not like he was a plumber who jacked it all in and quickly became a writer!
Dan
Am really looking forward to the episode tomorrow - it was by a million miles the best thing on the Channel Four showcase from a year and a half ago- much better than Plus One.
Just saw the first episode. Two words - absolute shit.
Seriously, is this it? Is this what passes for comedy in 2009? Self indulgent waffle, one dimensional characters, unrealistic dialogue and a sum total of zero jokes. Set it in trendy London media land, full of unrecognisable, overly neurotic characters and throw in lots and lots of unnecessary swearing to cover up the fact that there isn't a single funny line. No wonder Channel 4 is going under, bunch of knob ends.
What a waste of a top notch cast.
Gah! This was commissioned. Double Gah! This was made with real money. Triple Gah! This was shown on a Friday night on a terrestrial channel.
Gah!
Disagree with you on pretty much everything. Still, everyone's entitled to their opinion. (I presuming you're not being deliberately provocative/ironic/parodying reaction.)
This was witty, funny, original and beautifully written and acted. Also looked great.
As far as the medialand setting was concerned, it seems the writer was following the advice to write about what you know, which in this case I guess is also what commissioning editors know.
I did not loathe this as much as I expected to, but Absolute Power and Trevor's World of Sport took on the PR world to rather more satirical effect.
Sorry Tim, I wasn't being ironic. My swearing was through anger, disappointment and general injustice, that rubbish like Free Agents is getting money spent on it.
I did not think Free Agents was witty, unless of course you consider 'then she stuck a glue stick up my arse' as being witty.
I did not think it was funny. I cannot remember a single funny moment.
I did not think it was original. Neurotic people working in the 'meeja' has been done to death.
I did not think it was beautifully written. See witty above.
I did think it was well acted and I did mention the top notch cast.
As you've stated, we're all entitled to our opinions. Please be kind enough to enlighten me as to which bit of the show you thought was laugh out loud funny.
Timbo, slightly missing the point, with respect. This is not about being a talent agent, that is merely a backdrop. This show is about loss, relationships and the superficial nature of the agency backdrop contrasts nicely with the emotional angst of the lead characters. Give this a proper chance, you might well end up loving these characters. It is a flawed argument to dismiss it because they work in the media. That is not the thrust of this show.
I'm more with Tim on this, although I also empathise with those who were led to expect a traditional sitcom with plenty of laughs. In fact I think it's time for another genre to be created as in my opinion Free Agents is not a sitcom.
It's not a romcom.
It's not a comedy-drama.
Nor is it light entertainment as that has an industry tag meaning variety entertainment shows with a 'safe' presenter up front ala Brian Connolly.
My brain's a bit thick at the moment so unless someone knows a genre that describes F/Agents and its ilk then I'm just going to opt for light comedy.
Once you view it as a 'light comedy', then the lack of constantly funny lines don't grate so much. Story is going to be so much more important to F/Agents than it is to say, Not Going Out.
Not Going Out, you can enjoy for sheer silliness, and don't misinterpret that as a derogatory opinion. I mean with NGOut you can giggle or guffaw without thinking any deeper about the characters - you can just enjoy the sheer wit of the high-speed gags alone. But as TimW alludes to, the relationship between the two main protagonists in F/Agents is what might engage some to encourage tuning in again.
As a sitcom, no I don't like it.
As a light comedy, I think it may have potential and looks as if it could have an unfolding/ongoing story that some viewers might find rewarding.
Are we sure this isn't a drama? I just watched it and it seemed like something my mum might watch on a Sunday evening while she did the ironing. Based on a novel about heartbreak which eventually leads to love.
But then they shove in Anthony Head's sweary sex mad monster character to make sure the Skins crowd watch it.
Quote: Tim Walker @ February 13 2009, 11:08 PM GMTTimbo, slightly missing the point, with respect. This is not about being a talent agent, that is merely a backdrop. This show is about loss, relationships and the superficial nature of the agency backdrop contrasts nicely with the emotional angst of the lead characters. Give this a proper chance, you might well end up loving these characters. It is a flawed argument to dismiss it because they work in the media. That is not the thrust of this show.
I agree it is about the emotions of the characters which is why I lke this more than most sitcoms about at the moment. The characters are not out and out comedy characters but if they were then I think it would ruin the whole premise of the show looking at the relationship of the two main characters, there are however some more obvious characters such as the Anthony Head pervy boss who is funny, however the character would almost definielty not be as succesful if it were played by a lesser actor.
Dear Renegade Carpark - if that is your real name? Not going to waste your or my time arguing over this. Some might say I have a vested interest in this show as I am working with one of the production companies. But I am completely honest. My show may be very different, but I just find this show very funny. Sorry. (Maybe it's because I can really identify with the estarnged Dad situation of Alex)