Quote: sglen @ December 1 2009, 3:40 PM GMTI don't know if anyone has ever entered ABBA
I'd have walked a mile over broken glass to enter ONE of them.
The other three?
No thanks.
Depressing News for Writers Page 7
Momma mia!
Quote: Griff @ December 1 2009, 2:34 PM GMTSo I'd put my guess at closer to one in a thousand. But it's only a guess. My gripe was with the suggestion "oh there MUST be some TV-able scripts in the submissions pile" as if the production companies have just been too thick to notice them.
I wasn't saying they were thick; of course there will be lots of reasons why a script isn't picked up, I'm just saying I can't believe, out of hundreds, that there isn't the odd one 'good enough' for TV. That seems absurd to me. Most will be bad, but there's always going to be some, if you're playing with those numbers, that could make a perfectly good show.
Anyway, there's only so many times I can repeat the exact same thing, so there it is, my big opinion. Eat it!
I think I've mentioned this on here before but when 'a friend' was on work experience at a company (not comedy) and was sent to an industrial estate to pick the finalists for a national competition. As an intern she was not paid and for all the bosses knew - knew nothing about the subject in question. But there she was trying to go through all these competition entries to find suitable finalists.
The room was full of these competition entries and she tried to be as fair as possible and pick the best, but she didn't even have enough time to look at anywhere near all the entries.
That experience has always made me wonder about who is looking at anything submitted anywhere and even if it ever properly looked at.
I've worked in TV (not comedy) and we had over 1,100 applications to appear on the show I last worked on as a researcher (I assisted on casting). A crew of 4 of us read all of them between us. We obviously had criteria on what to reject but we still read them all. Possibly not an industry standard but I wasn't led to believe this was an odd thing to do.
In terms of TV comedy, given that some of it will be visual I reckon getting a short visual version of your idea out there (be it live performance, YouTube clip or even showreel DVDesque thing) could do wonders for writers sending unsolicited stuff to production companies. I think more writers on these forums should try and make their work spring to life if they can.
Quote: Elise Bramich @ December 1 2009, 4:13 PM GMTI think more writers on these forums should try and make their work spring to life if they can.
Quite right too. 
I heard from someone who heard from someone at the Writers' Room that they get 1000 a *day* (I still don't actually believe this figure, certainly judging by my own output!), but even then, by Griff's 1 in 1000 estimate, that means there would be 365 decent enough scripts a year. Plus a bonus one every four years.
There are not that many good new sitcoms a year, are there?
In fact, judging by those stats, I would say it's 1 in 365,000. And most people don't even seem to like Mouth To Mouth! Ba Boom Boom Tsch!
Dan
Quote: Griff @ December 1 2009, 2:57 PM GMTCan I just point out before Dolly starts up with her persecution complex that I just wrote a big long post disagreeing with Matthew Stott.
Yeah, well, we all like to bitch-slap Matthew around from time to time. Fish in a barrel syndrome. 
Quote: Elise Bramich @ December 1 2009, 4:13 PM GMTIn terms of TV comedy, given that some of it will be visual I reckon getting a short visual version of your idea out there (be it live performance, YouTube clip or even showreel DVDesque thing) could do wonders for writers sending unsolicited stuff to production companies. I think more writers on these forums should try and make their work spring to life if they can.
I've found that whenever I've entered a comp which required a performing element I've done better than just when a script is required, but I wouldn't necessarily say that have stuff filmed is a huge help to be honest.
Quote: swerytd @ December 1 2009, 4:16 PM GMTI heard from someone who heard from someone at the Writers' Room that they get 1000 a *day* (I still don't actually believe this figure, certainly judging by my own output!),
Writersroom people have told me, first-hand, that they get 10,000 scripts a year. Only 300 of them are ever read beyond the first 10 pages.
Quote: Griff @ December 1 2009, 4:09 PM GMTOh and this is the BCG. You know the rules. We repeat ourselves endlessly and whoever keeps going the longest wins the argument.
Nonsense, Griff.
I shall now list the reasons why you are wrong...
Quote: Kevin Murphy @ December 1 2009, 4:19 PM GMTWritersroom people have told me, first-hand, that they get 10,000 scripts a year. Only 300 of them are ever read beyond the first 10 pages.
That sounds a lot more reasonable.
<wipes brow>
Dan
Quote: sglen @ December 1 2009, 4:20 PM GMTSO! Ignoring the "depressing" news, what do you reckon IS the best plan of action? It's always seemed to me that the topical radio shows are the way forward. Anyone reckon they've got the answer?!
It's not an "answer", but Northern Laughs and open-door radio shows seem to have got my foot in the door. I'm just waiting for it to slam now.
Quote: Kevin Murphy @ December 1 2009, 4:22 PM GMTIt's not an "answer", but Northern Laughs and open-door radio shows seem to have got my foot in the door. I'm just waiting for it to slam now.
What do you mean about foot in the door though? I've done well on such things, but to be honest it doesn't seem to have made much difference. 
Quote: Kevin Murphy @ December 1 2009, 4:22 PM GMTIt's not an "answer", but Northern Laughs and open-door radio shows seem to have got my foot in the door. I'm just waiting for it to slam now.
I'm really hoping for Northern Laughs. Sounds like a great opportunity. Are you going to try and go on to Comedy College? Seems like the Northen Laughs way is the best way there...