Quote: Mikey Jackson @ March 26 2009, 8:13 PM GMTThat was just a bit of tongue-in-cheek-ness.
Wasn't supposed to be a critism.
Who knew?
With respect, until you're a an established, successful writer (even then, think twice), put your 'tongue-in-cheek-ness' into your characters - not within directions. It smacks of amateurism. 
Quote: Morrace @ March 26 2009, 7:45 PM GMTJust this second started reading it, Mikey. This leapt off the page:
"Now the WOMAN sits up in bed. The usual needless covering of breasts with duvet!"
As an aside, they took the piss out of that convention in Shoot The Pianist. It's quite a good film, and you can see how it inspired Tarantino in Pulp Fiction.
Unlucky, but don't let it put you off Mikey, just keep on at it.
Sorry to use this thread to announce my good news, but my sitcom script got put through to the next stage of the BBC Northern Laughs scheme, I was to have an interview at BBC Leeds...don't get too jealous though because I royally screwed up, as you weren't allowed to be in full-time education, which I missed. But I spoke on the phone with them today and have now got some addresses to send work to in the future and I know that at least a couple of people within the BBC like my stuff!
My point is, other than shameless bragging, that just keep sending stuff out, I haven't sent a lot of scripts out, but this is the first one that has actually moved to the next stage. So keep plugging away. 
21 pages and I don't wish to sound a twat but I've not laughed that much either
Well, where I say it's a comedy-drama, it's more of a drama really. (with maybe a few light-hearted moments)
Sorry to use this thread to announce my good news, but my sitcom script got put through to the next stage of the BBC Northern Laughs scheme, I was to have an interview at BBC Leeds...don't get too jealous though because I royally screwed up, as you weren't allowed to be in full-time education, which I missed. But I spoke on the phone with them today and have now got some addresses to send work to in the future and I know that at least a couple of people within the BBC like my stuff!
bugger. Ah well, at least you acquired some addys.
It took me a while to realise the Writersroom is little more than 'cultural advertising'; it gives the impression that the BBC is a creative meritocracy where talent will out, regardless of class or educational background. But it has been scientifically proven that if you take the average number of 'new talents' they find each year, multiply this by the Writersroom wage bill and overheads, cover it all with a class ceiling (sorry, glass ceiling) and boil your head for fifteen minutes, you end up disappointed. Oh, and good luck.
Well, I don't rely on WR, but I always like to make sure they've got something of mine.
With respect, until you're a an established, successful writer (even then, think twice), put your 'tongue-in-cheek-ness' into your characters - not within directions. It smacks of amateurism.
ok, ok, I'll loose the tongue in cheek.
Quote: Mikey Jackson @ March 26 2009, 5:06 PM GMTGot my script back from Writersroom.
Sorry, but no thanks!
I can understand this:
What arrrrrrre they looking for?
Have you looked at the blogs on the writersroom site, they seem to say what they are looking for
Quote: Martin H @ March 26 2009, 10:11 PM GMTSorry to use this thread to announce my good news, but my sitcom script got put through to the next stage of the BBC Northern Laughs scheme, I was to have an interview at BBC Leeds...don't get too jealous though because I royally screwed up, as you weren't allowed to be in full-time education, which I missed.
Gaaah! Bummer.
Mind you, I've been shortlisted too so I might've got your place. What region are you from?
Quote: Lee Henman @ March 26 2009, 11:11 PM GMTGaaah! Bummer.
Mind you, I've been shortlisted too
As well as Seefacts?
Quote: Lee Henman @ March 26 2009, 11:11 PM GMTGaaah! Bummer.
Mind you, I've been shortlisted too so I might've got your place. What region are you from?
Yorkshire, but I'm a dumbass and applied using the application for North East because I was rushing like a mad fool, after only noticing the competition a couple of days before the deadline!
Damn being in education! 
Good luck with it Lee.
Quote: Martin H @ March 26 2009, 11:17 PM GMTYorkshire, but I'm a dumbass and applied using the application for North East because I was rushing like a mad fool, after only noticing the competition a couple of days before the deadline!
Damn being in education!
Good luck with it Lee.
Cheers.
Re: the full-time education thing - did it not occur to you to lie? 
Quote: Marc P @ March 26 2009, 11:14 PM GMTAs well as Seefacts?
I'm not Northern enough.
Quote: Lee Henman @ March 26 2009, 11:31 PM GMTCheers.
Re: the full-time education thing - did it not occur to you to lie?
It did cross my mind, but I didn't want my first foot in the door to start with a lie! Plus the reason they don't accept people in full time education is because of the funding process, so it would cause legal complications and I didn't want things getting out of hand.
I'm just happy that people actually took the time to read my script and liked it and seemed happy to help.
Have you looked at the blogs on the writersroom site, they seem to say what they are looking for
Yes, Marc, I've read everything there is to read on their site.
Most of their advice points to this: They want writers with a unique voice, who can tell a good story.
Then they have that Read Scripts section, which I've studied.
Quote: Martin H @ March 26 2009, 11:35 PM GMTIt did cross my mind, but I didn't want my first foot in the door to start with a lie! Plus the reason they don't accept people in full time education is because of the funding process, so it would cause legal complications and I didn't want things getting out of hand.
I'm just happy that people actually took the time to read my script and liked it and seemed happy to help.
Yeah, I jest of course. Still, your script was chosen out of hundreds of submissions so it's a great morale boost.
Best of luck for the future mate
I'm just happy that people actually took the time to read my script and liked it and seemed happy to help.
Trouble is, it's so near but yet so far.
Bad luck with the rejection Mikey but I get the impression you are one of the most positive voices on here and it won't keep you down for long! I hope not anyway.
My own WR experience is two bog-standard returns, 10th page folded down. The first (in hindsight) was fair enough. The second piece I sent was way better than the first and other prodcos said some good things about it, but ultimaely it wasn't good enough either. I think with WR the thing to remember is they are never going to make anything that gets sent to them; and that a rejection doesn't mean you are on the same shitty level as all those hand-scrawled pieces of shit they receive. There are scales of rejection and they don't differentiate between the bottom 60% and the next 30%.
I think next time you should send your next one to prodcos at the same time as WR. You won't lose out time waiting for WR to get back to you.