Furthest you've got with a sitcom

Seeing as this collection of Forums is called the British sitcom forums, I was wondering how many of you have submitted a sitcom idea to a company and had anything positive come out of it?

The majority of the material on this forum is in a sketch format, maybe it should rather be called the British Sketch Forums.

I just feel a bit despondent after one of the posts suggest that it is almost not worth posting a sitcom idea to anyone since unless you know people on the inside or you've made a name for yourself then you get nowhere.

Would appreciate hearing people's opinions on this.

At the end of the day the people who say that what do they know?

I've created a animated comedy and its getting very positive feedback, me and the team are onto episode 5 now and they keep getting better and better.

I am positive before the end of the year / Early Next Year it'll be picked up.

If its good enough and they can make alorra money from it, your onto a winner.

That's great Gavin, best of luck with it. What format does your animation take?

Its 3D, I'm researching some MO-Cap suits to save money on animation, intially the payment is larger but it allows in the long term for more natural cheaper animation.

I've got about half an hour of material for a sitcom or possible dramedy (hate that word!) but I am still sourcing/bedding in co-writers to help me with it, I have one guy in mind who likes it and has contributed to it and possibly a third. It's a long way off sending to a Production Company but I think we have a good premise. I started it in January this year so it's blood, sweat and tears at the mo...

On the sketches front I have had no success at all and we (JunkMales) have only had success in competitions to date, although members of the group have 'past lives' where they've done stuff, including radio, stage and TV work, but not 'the big time' clearly, or we'd be in Barbados now the cold weather has come!!!

I've had a sit-com on the radio. Radio Cymru. Broadcast in September 2001. It was called Tewach 'na Dwr(Thicker than water). Also had a pilot of another broadcast on Radio Wales in March 2004 called My Little Eye, but it wasn't picked up as a series.

The only thing I've ever done was for wherearethejoneses, the babycow online sitcom and as much fun that was it wouldn't pay the bills as you didn't get paid for it. Still good though to see actors perform the lines you'd written but I'm sure it is a hell of a lot sweeter if you get a cheque through the post as well!

Ive done Ok with sketches so far, but not so good with more long form shows. At the moment Baby Cow have just asked to see more of a half hour show Ive written and seem to be interested, so thats good, though I dont expect it to actually get picked up; but you never know, and its nice to be able to shuffle a little further down the line with something that would be entirely my own show than I have done before.

If you don't mind me asking Matthew where do you send you sketches to?

Quote: Dale Griffiths @ October 4, 2007, 6:17 PM

The majority of the material on this forum is in a sketch format, maybe it should rather be called the British Sketch Forums.

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The thing is Dale I think the overall idea of the site is to celebrate and discuss existing sitcoms.

The writers part is just a part of it - and it's easier to put on and comment on sketches.

To answer your question though - no - I haven't had much luck so far. Submitted three different sitcoms to various places and still trying.

Although if you look at the link below you'll probably wonder why I bother.

So far my immense talent ( ) is yet to be recognised by a production company and Andrew Collins hasn't allowed me to write for Not Going Out after I asked him ever so politely on the NGO thread. Nonetheless, I'll keep plucking away and believe that one day I'll have a lucky break, because you need to be lucky once.

I see thanks for that Dave. I do still enjoy writing anyway so even if nothing comes of it so be it.

Quote: Dale Griffiths @ October 4, 2007, 9:39 PM

I see thanks for that Dave. I do still enjoy writing anyway so even if nothing comes of it so be it.

View original

But put some of your stuff on here for us to look at though. Maybe a scene or two.

Dale, send your stuff off. It is the best way to cut thru the crowd. However, unsolicited uptake is small, so we need more than a pot luck postal strategy. Get a contact in the industry who will advise / read is hard but if you target the right person for your writing then it can happen.

But develop a multi-thread strategy to get yourself exposure.

Quote: Dale Griffiths @ October 4, 2007, 7:57 PM

If you don't mind me asking Matthew where do you send you sketches to?

View original

Just the same as everyone else really, sending them off too as many production companies as possible. So far this has worked on the odd occasion, with offers of work. Even if your good, the vast majority probably wont give you the time of day, but some will.