Quote: Seefacts @ September 5, 2007, 7:36 PMWhere's our Seinfeld?
Looking up synonyms for 'knob'
BBC Writersroom Page 3
Quote: SlagA @ September 5, 2007, 7:12 PMTotally respect your view Robin and it is very detailed (plus I'm familiar with your blog for a good while - excellent stuff).
The problem is when none of the many scripts sent to the Writers Room get into the next stage yet those SAME scripts sent to individual producers WITHIN the BBC get excellent comments, get into the next stage, and result in solicited requests for more.
Surely something is not right when the Writers Room can't spot what their own producers can?
I can only speak from personal experience, though.
There was a time when the comedy department insisted on reading unsolicited scripts themselves because specialists were more likely to see the potential. Now the writersroom read everything. It's possible a writersroom reader may be over-strict about the basics (characterisation, story and dialogue) and not see the potential.
What the comedy execs at the BBC tell me is that they are interested in funny and believe that if a writer is funny they can teach them the basics in development because funny is so rare.
I have personally got past those early stages at the writersroom with comedy as well as drama. I can do characterisation, story and dialogue but my funny isn't funny enough and I have to work on it. Likewise someone else could have the funny but their characterisation, story or dialogue still needs some work.
Interesting to read the above thread. When I first read through the writers room website it looked like the answer to a new writers dream.
I would like to know what SlagA's conspiracy theory is on these new writing initiatives.
He's already explained it to me, check this thread again.
Quote: Robin Kelly @ September 5, 2007, 1:31 PMWas it a one-off script or the pilot for a series? If it was the former than there are no half hour slots available and they would expect the writer to know that. If it was the latter, then was that clear? If it was clear then simply email the head of the writersroom and explain and he'll give it another read.
The BBC writersroom is the only network which accepts unsolicited scripts now, but giving up isn't really the answer, it's getting better.
They get about ten thousand scripts a year or 250-300 a week. That is tough competition and they can afford to pick the cream of the crop.
Each script has the first ten pages read (which is the same across most script reading departments all over the world) and if there is any sign of talent then the whole thing is read. Only 15% (1500) of those 10,000 gets a full read.
You might think it unfair that your script isn't read in full but I know from experience that you can tell within a few pages if the script is any good or not, sometimes from the first page. If a story hasn't started early, if the characters are clearly underdeveloped, if the dialogue is full of clichés or pointless banter then there's not much point in reading on. All those things suggest the writer isn't quite ready yet.
I have never read a script that has been rejected by the writersroom in the early stages that I would say was unfair - and I've read loads,. The latter stages - where you get encouragement and progress no further - *is* more subjective and so more likely to miss things but that's the same anywhere. People read scripts not robots, unfortunately.
So the first step, which the vast majority of us fail, is to get a script read in full. The next step is to get encouragement to send in your next script – that happens with 7% (105) of those 1500 scripts read in full.
The next hurdle is to have a good enough script so you're invited in to meet producers and script execs. That's 2% (30) of those 1500 scripts read in full. That's 30 out of 10,000.
I have reached that last stage so I know it's possible. I know people who started with the standard no comment rejection letters and then as they improved they got comments and then as they improved even more they got encouragement. A couple are writing for Doctors, one had a radio play on, etc.
It was the first episode in a series. I was half tempted to just add a few lines to make it up to 31 pages and see of that meant anything. I would have tried again but by that point I was getting further with other people.
This isn't to say that I would never submit to Writersroom again, it's just that my first experience gave the impression of an overworked department.
Hi Deferenz, welcome to the BSG 
Adam
Quote: Robin Kelly @ September 5, 2007, 1:31 PMI have never read a script that has been rejected by the writersroom in the early stages that I would say was unfair - and I've read loads,.
Do you want to read my rejected script? If their treatment of my script is typical, then they're returning material that could go straight into production, without further work.
Quote: Godot Taxis @ September 11, 2007, 11:55 PMDo you want to read my rejected script? If their treatment of my script is typical, then they're returning material that could go straight into production, without further work.
I'd be happy to read it.
Quote: Cameron Phillips @ September 11, 2007, 9:36 PMIt was the first episode in a series. I was half tempted to just add a few lines to make it up to 31 pages and see of that meant anything. I would have tried again but by that point I was getting further with other people.
This isn't to say that I would never submit to Writersroom again, it's just that my first experience gave the impression of an overworked department.
I would get another couple of reads of it, re-write if necessary, change the title and re-submit with 'first of six part series' on the cover page.
It's difficult as new writers to know exactly how good we are but where there is genuine reader incompetence or simply a reader that's a bit dim, don't give up until you know for sure.
Robin, I've sent you the first 10 pages of my sit..
A suitable response from you would be: "geez, those guys must have their head up their ass to reject this angel jism."
Quote: Robin Kelly @ September 12, 2007, 10:55 AMI'd be happy to read it.
I think you're opening the flood gates here.
There's loads of us here think we can do better than some of the rubbish we see on TV.
Quote: Deferenz @ September 11, 2007, 2:30 PMInteresting to read the above thread. When I first read through the writers room website it looked like the answer to a new writers dream.
I would like to know what SlagA's conspiracy theory is on these new writing initiatives.
Welcome Deferenz.
I think it's still one option but from now on I'm sending to several different companies - not just the BBC.
Quote: Godot Taxis @ September 12, 2007, 4:26 PMRobin, I've sent you the first 10 pages of my sit..
A suitable response from you would be: "geez, those guys must have their head up their ass to reject this angel jism."
I've replied personally, God. But I would say something generally about format in that you've used the studio sitcom half page format and if they are being idiotically literal in reading the first 10 pages then you're only getting five minutes to wow them rather than 10 minutes.
The comedy department prefers scripts to be in film format as it's a clear one page a minute (even if it's for a studio audience) and it saves paper. What they do is tick each gag and they expect three gags to a page. So in re-writing I try and make sure there are three gags on a page. Easier said than done.
Quote: David Chapman @ September 12, 2007, 6:10 PMI think you're opening the flood gates here.
There's loads of us here think we can do better than some of the rubbish we see on TV.
I'd be happy to read the first ten pages of film format (or first twenty pages if you're using studio format) of anyone's script which got a no-comment rejection by the writersroom if they really can't see anything wrong with it.
I do think like a reader, something we all need to learn to do, but I'd be pleased to point out any reader muppetry.
Surely adhering to rules such as "three gags a page" serves only to compromise artistic integrity?
Are we not at a point where we can judge sitcoms on more than just the number of laughs?
Robin, is it permissible to send a sitcom script direct to the writersroom in screenplay format as opposed to theirs?
The first script I sent to writers room appeared to have been read to the end as the reader mentioned in their letter that they liked the way the a particular joke weaved its way through the whole script.
So, this was encouraging. Last week I sent my second sitcom script to writers room having had some really favourable comments from Marc Blake and rewritten it before submission.
That said, I posted it to Baby Cow at the same time and today got an email rejection from them. I must say though, that being rejected after only a few days barely hurts at all.
same here, sent mine and got rejected today - only 9 days to wait for that.