Sitcom Trials 2009 Page 17

Quote: Dolly Dagger @ May 14 2009, 2:25 PM BST

I didn't mean it should be done differently, I meant it's just a shame if you mainly write scripts that wouldn't be suitable to stage live.

View original

The idea of an online Sitcom Trials, where filmed entries could be uploaded and online voting, is something I mulled over for ages, and we had an early stab at in 2000 and 2001 with a company called Ha Bloody Ha. It failed cos no-one had broadband in those days. With the arrival of YouTube, of course, it's now completely do-able.

As a result, of course, everybody's already done it. Websites like Constant Comedy, Comedy Box, 4 Laughs, Funny or Die and others have all run contests where you upload your video and people vote. The trouble is, everybody uploads videos and nobody watches or votes. The online market is so stuffed with people showing their wares, its harder all the time to stand out. (As an example of this, the least-watched of the 300 odd videos I've uploaded are the Sitcom Trials ones. Go to http://youtube.com/sitcomtrials and click Most Watched to see just how those ratings pan out)

However the live stage show is a different kettle of fish. It's much more tangible, and much more entertaining than any online equivalent. This is why comedians perform live, and why the Edinburgh Fringe is full of acts trying to get on TV by performing on stage, it's simply much more direct, involving, alive.

If you're writing comedy material that can only be made on film, then carry on doing so, there are more opportunities than ever for your work to be seen. But if you want to write situation comedy, then The Sitcom Trials draws on sitcom's two closest cousins, stand-up and the stage, and throws in their bastard offspring the reality talent show to give you a unique opportunity for your comedy to be seen, engaged with, voted on and discarded. I mean promoted and bought. Obviously.

And it takes place in a prestigious theatre in central London with important people from the telly in the audience. That's what makes it so worth being part of.

If I haven't said it enough, congratulations again to Declan and Simon for keeping the Sitcom Trials flame alive with an excellent series of shows and a triumphant final.

Kev F http://sitcomtrials.co.uk

PS: My fave last night? If I'm honest The House On Cedar Street. I'll bet the voting was close.

I, for one, am glad that Kev wasn't on the judging panel.

Quote: Kev F @ May 14 2009, 4:48 PM BST

However the live stage show is a different kettle of fish. It's much more tangible, and much more entertaining than any online equivalent. This is why comedians perform live, and why the Edinburgh Fringe is full of acts trying to get on TV by performing on stage, it's simply much more direct, involving, alive.

If you're writing comedy material that can only be made on film, then carry on doing so, there are more opportunities than ever for your work to be seen. But if you want to write situation comedy, then The Sitcom Trials draws on sitcom's two closest cousins, stand-up and the stage, and throws in their bastard offspring the reality talent show to give you a unique opportunity for your comedy to be seen, engaged with, voted on and discarded. I mean promoted and bought. Obviously.

And it takes place in a prestigious theatre in central London with important people from the telly in the audience. That's what makes it so worth being part of.

If I haven't said it enough, congratulations again to Declan and Simon for keeping the Sitcom Trials flame alive with an excellent series of shows and a triumphant final.

Kev F http://sitcomtrials.co.uk

View original

Hi Kev

I'm not saying that it isn't a good opportunity, I'm just saying that it's not a suitable format for all scripts.

I've performed live (mainly stand-up) and filmed my scripts and find different types of humour work in a live environment and not everyone writes this type. I'm not saying the Sitcom Trials should adapt for this, just that not every sitcom idea is going to be suitable to submit.

I have been and seen one of the heats, btw.

Quote: Fred Sunshine @ May 14 2009, 3:10 PM BST

Were you in the final Ponderer ?

View original

Trainspotting was joint second, which was nice as we only got in on the audience vote. Two of my actors also took the acting prizes. So either my writing made them look great (bless my director for that interpretation), or they carried it - depending on how you look at it.

Quote: swerytd @ May 14 2009, 3:57 PM BST

I found attending the final and really fun positive experience, until I left the theatre and Ponderer ran directly at me and scared the living shit out of me quite frankly.

He was trying to catch the door from locking. Apparently.

Dan

View original

No, it was a barely disguised attempt on your life.

I really enjoyed watching the semi and the final. It really is a great discipline and I've already planned my entry on the way home.

(Make of all that what you will!)

And yes - good to meet you all!

will the recent finals be shown on YouTube?

All the sitcoms at 7pm were of a high standard. Played out well and all were funny.

Personally, my favourite was the surreal The House On Cedar Street. For the first five minutes, I was literally thinking 'What the f**k is going on here?' but, as with The Mighty Boosh, I soon caught up with the surrealness of it all. For me, it was the most laugh-out-loud funniest of the night. It is *very* niche though, and I suspect what may have held it back is that it could never been mainstream enough to make a real impact on TV. It was great though!

Next, I thought Ponderer's Trainspotting was excellent. Very funny again, though wrists slapped for that 'pier pressure' joke. Enjoyed the interaction between the cast members and there was a lot of laughs to be had. It also contained a version of Simon Munnery...

Then, I thought Welcome To The Jungle was the next best. This felt the best sitcom 'episode' of the night, to be fair to it. It had a plot that was resolved by the end and tried a bit of 'sleight of hand' on you. It could potentially be very mainstream and I could see the appeal it would have to non-comedy afficionados. Well-written though.

From Riga To Rotherham was very good too. The Eastern European character stealing the show (as this sort of 'outlandish' character always seems to) but his originality of character I particularly liked.

I thought Boarders was the weakest of the five (in the final though, so not bad at all). Problem here, I suspect, is that this played out like one of those really, really dark sitcoms where you're not sure whether to laugh or be a bit concerned about some of the things. As such, a small theatre with an audience is probably not best setting for it, as it plays as though it should be a laughter-track free production, to build that aura of foreboding. Still had lots of funny moments though.

Bear in mind, the show at 5pm was the one judged, not the 7pm show that I saw. So I may have had a different view if I'd have seen that one.

Well done to all of them, though. To get to the final is no mean feat and they all had their merits.

Dan

Quote: swerytd @ May 15 2009, 3:37 PM BST

As such, a small theatre with an audience is probably not best setting for it, as it plays as though it should be a laughter-track free production, to build that aura of foreboding. Still had lots of funny moments though.

View original

That was what I was trying to say earlier.

I meant that for one of the shows in particular, not for the whole shebang.

You don't get a lot of shebang nowadays...

Dan

Quote: swerytd @ May 15 2009, 3:37 PM BST

All the sitcoms at 7pm were of a high standard. Played out well and all were funny.

Personally, my favourite was the surreal The House On Cedar Street. For the first five minutes, I was literally thinking 'What the f**k is going on here?' but, as with The Mighty Boosh, I soon caught up with the surrealness of it all. For me, it was the most laugh-out-loud funniest of the night. It is *very* niche though, and I suspect what may have held it back is that it could never been mainstream enough to make a real impact on TV. It was great though!

Next, I thought Ponderer's Trainspotting was excellent. Very funny again, though wrists slapped for that 'pier pressure' joke. Enjoyed the interaction between the cast members and there was a lot of laughs to be had. It also contained a version of Simon Munnery...

Then, I thought Welcome To The Jungle was the next best. This felt the best sitcom 'episode' of the night, to be fair to it. It had a plot that was resolved by the end and tried a bit of 'sleight of hand' on you. It could potentially be very mainstream and I could see the appeal it would have to non-comedy afficionados. Well-written though.

From Riga To Rotherham was very good too. The Eastern European character stealing the show (as this sort of 'outlandish' character always seems to) but his originality of character I particularly liked.

I thought Boarders was the weakest of the five (in the final though, so not bad at all). Problem here, I suspect, is that this played out like one of those really, really dark sitcoms where you're not sure whether to laugh or be a bit concerned about some of the things. As such, a small theatre with an audience is probably not best setting for it, as it plays as though it should be a laughter-track free production, to build that aura of foreboding. Still had lots of funny moments though.

Bear in mind, the show at 5pm was the one judged, not the 7pm show that I saw. So I may have had a different view if I'd have seen that one.

Well done to all of them, though. To get to the final is no mean feat and they all had their merits.

Dan

View original

Thanks for that Dan, interesting to hear your thoughts. I assume it was you I heard groaning after the pier pressure thing (or was it the whole audience)?

I think the point you make about the different shows is very germaine, I've been amazed throughout by the variation in response (more so than in prformance) between shows.

There was at least five of us at the back

Dan

Chortle review of the final: http://2009.chortle.co.uk/shows/misc_live_shows/s/16982/sitcom_trials

Dan

Quote: swerytd @ May 15 2009, 11:07 PM BST

There was at least five of us at the back

Dan

View original

Including the chortle reviewer by the look of things

Interesting to read the Chortle review. Thanks for posting.

Just to let everyone know, there's still two places left on our 'How To Get In The Yes Pile' workshop this coming Saturday, May 23.

Email us at info@every1sacritic.com for further information.

Cheers, Declan and Simon

That wasn't a bad review overall - although I still don't agree with the judges.