Production Companies.

I know this may have been discussed before but I can't find the thread anywhere.

I have a sitcom finished and after a couple of re-writes and editing feel it is ready to send off. I shall be sending it to some production companies as well as some agents as recommended by 'How To Be A Sitcom Writer' .

What I have found so far though is when trying to get addresses and contact information is that Writers Room and Avalon seem to be the only places that accept unsolicitied scripts. Is this the case or am I missing a trick here?

I checked the list they had on here a few months ago and took off about fifteen names from there and they are the one's I checked out last night.

Any help from anyone would be much appreciated.

https://www.comedy.co.uk/company/overview/

Have a look over these.

I've been sending out my sitcom over the last week and I've found that unless they explicitly say "no unsolicited scripts" then sending an enquiring email can sometimes bring results. Also I've found that like 50% of the places that do accept unsolicited stuff want to see a synopsis first so if you haven't already I'd suggest putting one together.

Hope that helps.

There is Screenplay Productions who take unsolicited scripts, and there has some discussion about them on the threads recently. Look for Jan Jung I think the thread is called.

Speaking of Screenplay Productions, what is everyone else's experience with them? I sent a script their way in April and still haven't heard back.

It's getting harder and harder for unheard-of writers to get their stuff read. Even Baby Cow have closed the doors on unsolicited stuff now.

HOWEVER there are always ways and means. A preliminary email along the lines of this sometimes helps.

"Dear ____

I hope you don't mind me introducing myself. I'm a comedy writer and a big admirer of your company's shows, and I was wondering if I could possibly send you a small script sample. I realise you don't normally take unsolicited stuff but I thought I'd be very cheeky and ask anyway."

This type of letter has worked for me in the past. It also helps vastly if you have some sort of connection with the producer, something like

Dear____

I hope you don't mind me contacting you, but I saw you in that talk the other day and...etc

(OR)

Dear ___

I'm a comedy writer and you were recommewended to me by ____etc

Just be nice, not too formal, not too familiar, and hope for the best.

Another great way is to get your stuff up on YouTube. A quick click on a link is always going to be easier for a frazzled producer to deal with than reams of text. As I say, there's always ways and means.

Yeah but what's in the blanks?????

Quote: Marc P @ July 30 2009, 5:28 PM BST

Yeah but what's in the blanks?????

View original

"C**t"

Quote: Lee Henman @ July 30 2009, 5:32 PM BST

"C**t"

View original

Hi guys. Was wondering if any of you could tell me much about channel K.

Quote: Lee Henman @ July 30 2009, 5:32 PM BST

"C**t"

View original

Can I say you referred me?

This is the type of letter with which one might approach a TV comedy production company...

Dear Self-serving Motherf**ker,

I know you don't usually accept unsolicited scripts. Then again I don't remember anyone (other than that dippy f**king commissioning editor) inviting YOU to deliver that god-awful sketch show last year? You send me shit through the telly, I send you shit through the post - quid pro quo. (Your PR department described said comedy miscarriage as "fresh, innovative and wildly original", so you'll forgive me if I've read the words "scripts only accepted from a recognised agency" with an equal degree of scepticism.)

The reason I have chosen to send YOU my script is that I am a MASSIVE fan of that show you produced. You know, that one years ago? Before you unwisely set up your own company? I did (naturally) sit through your most recent show as well - and should you invite me for a meeting I will gladly lick your smug scrotum and say how fantastically "brave" it was (though please try not to discuss it beyond the first episode as, let's face it, none of the critics bothered to - it would save some embarrassment for both of us).

Coincidentally, I happened to meet one of your "development executives" when he attended the Media Guardian TV Festival. Not at the actual event, of course, but late one evening in a notorious gay "bear" bar, where he propositioned me whilst boasting he could use his expenses account to buy large quantities of cocaine. If he's still in your employment (I see from your company website he's described as a "great addition to our comedy family" - so may well have been made redundant by now), I'm sure you'll find that he remembers me, how "obliging" I was, and also the intriguing comments he made about you - both as a boss and as a man (for some reason the words "Karen Taylor" and "urinary catheter" seem to spring to mind?).

I fully appreciate that a comedy production company such as yours (i.e. one not yet in liquidation) must receive far more scripts than your secretary can ever hope to burn/fly-tip. However, I think you'll find that my sitcom is trying something (hopefully!) original and innovative - it's got nothing to do with students, offices, superheroes or the f**king internet for a start! Don't be put-off by the fact it is called 'Hancock'. Nor that the lead character wears a Homburg, lives in (North!) Cheam and tends to say 'Stone me!' a lot. I am going in a COMPLETELY DIFFERENT direction with the sitcom genre; plus I feel that the general public is sufficiently moronic to be ready for a new take on what (to an industry insider) might feel like old territory. I have only enclosed the pilot episode, but I have five series already written should you want to see more (yes, I'm that kind of comedy writer).

Anyway, keep up the good work (with whatever it is you actually do since the TV gravy train ran out of money). Oh - and I see that you recently signed that hot young sketch troupe from the Edinburgh Festival, Gleeful Baby Mugabe's Poo Factory - so you could probably do with reading some material which doesn't require a) the IQ of a malformed foetus, or b) the quixotic sense of humour of a serial rapist - to be considered amusing.

Yours in anticipation,

Kez Laughington

Comedy Writer (or "Typey-Typey Word Slut", as you probably know us)

P.S. I forgot to mention casting ideas! Me in the lead, obviously. I'd of course welcome any other suggestions you may have, so long as it's ME in the lead. If Dan f**king Clark gets to do it then I don't see any reason why I shouldn't.

P.P.S. I'm not on there myself, but why not check out YouTube for comedy clips? Oh, how silly of me! I forgot that that's what you do every single moment of your paltry existence, in the desperate hope of finding the "next big thing in the new wave of comedy" - you tongue-faced c**tpizzle.

Quote: Sebastian Orange-News @ July 30 2009, 6:58 PM BST

Was wondering if any of you could tell me much about channel K.

View original

Well you know the breakfast cereal 'Special K'? Very popular in the 1980's, promoted itself as some sort of diet aid, with absolutely no evidence, right? Well it's got nothing to with that...

I think Channel K is technically in existence, but for the life of me I can't think of any comedy show it's been involved in recently. Sorry.

Channel K, director of programming is Matt Tiller, in Manchester. Given it's pretty much a one man op with the back-up of Channel X in London, I'd say they have a fantastic reputation for getting stuff away.

http://www.channelk.co.uk/

they've just made six part Lunch Monkeys for Beeb3 - formerly Admin - written by David Isaac and directed by Matt Lipsey. They always seem to land Comedy Lab commissions.

Matt really knows his onions and I can't speak highly enough of him.

Quote: Griff @ July 31 2009, 12:14 AM BST

Hunter S. Thompson never had much time for ingratiating himself with producers.

Dear Holly,

Okay, you lazy bitch, ...etc
R.S.V.P

HUNTER

View original

Is this out of copywright? Can I use it as a template for some letters to some people?

Mind you.... 'Casted' ???