Or The Saggy Potato.
The Life and Times of Jeremy Spicer Page 11
Quote: Dolly Dagger @ December 22 2009, 4:51 PM GMTWhat accents can/can't you do James? I have a couple of ideas for character monologues already... you could even just record them as audio and get some feedback.
I can do Cockney well. Not bad at a Scottish accent. Passable Welsh and Irish but just about passable. I can do a Lancastrian accent quite well sort of like Robb Wilton.
Quote: James Cotter @ December 28 2009, 12:06 PM GMTI can do Cockney well... Passable Welsh...
I love doing Cockneys too but like you James, I pass on the Welsh. No class, imo. 
You're developing all the time, James. It'll come. Just patience and more time in groundwork prior to filming will help you move onward.
Quote: SlagA @ December 28 2009, 12:23 PM GMTYou're developing all the time, James. It'll come. Just patience and more time in groundwork prior to filming will help you move onward.
I think that is the key more work on the script. I'm spending a lot of time working on my latest script. I won't rush this one plus there is less pressure with this one as I am not in it so I can focus more on the script rather then the performance.
Quote: Ronnie Anderson @ December 22 2009, 9:32 PM GMTI watched this again, this time while I wasn't wrapping presents. It is actually a lot better than back to class. I think the bits to camera were far too brent like and the bit where he takes calls were too like Partridge but some of the moments while he was taking calls were actually quite original.
There were two moments however which I think were brilliant (though in truth this only totalled about fifteen seconds of the programme) I like him telling people to stop calling and for some reason I laughed at him poitning out angrily that Jeremy Paxman had a swivel chair. I also love the fact you have included moments of seriounesses in the script.
I understand where you are coming from when you say you are writing subtle comedy and you might be wary that people who criticised your work do not like this sub genre so might not be worthy critiquers. However I love subtle dramatic comedy and I think you need to put more subtle jokes in it as like gavin and stacey you seem to be using realism as an excuse for not being funny. By jokes I don't mean gags just nice subtle comments and moments like the two I have just mentioned.
I really do like your performance and think you have a bit of an odd persoanlity (hopefully this doesn't offend you but you are a little bit of a tit) which comes through and so makes you a really strong performer.
I might email you a script in the new year as I have an idea of basing a character on a guy I knew from uni who reminds me quite a lot like you in both personality and looks.
I am glad you enjoyed some of it and I take your point about subtle comedy onboard.
I am also glad you enjoyed my performance but I am not quite sure what you mean by I have a odd personality. I think what your trying to say is I use my own negatives like ego and self-delusion and use them in my characters, I think that is what you mean.
Go ahead with the script I wouldn't mind giving it the once over and thanks for watching it twice your a saint 
Finally got round to watching these and just like everyone else, I have a couple of handy hints for you James -
Technical -
1. If you are going to be filming a sketch which is primarily a 'talking head', please insure that you have decent sound quality. The constant buzzing over the microphone from what sounded like an industrial air conditioner was both a constant annoyance and a distraction.
2. If you are filming a segment which is supposed to be in a studio late at night, don't have bright sunlight filtering in on the back wall. Even windowless radio studios are 'lit', so you should have had a couple of lamps on to create a semblance of reality.
3. Not being able to hear the other callers was a wasted opportunity to create some real character interaction.
Acting -
Can't fault it, I think you are quite a good actor.
Content -
This is where you fell down a bit. A mockumentary is based on a documentary and all documentaries follow the same principles as drama with a beginning, middle and end. And just like with drama there is an introduction, a conflict and a conflict resolution. Eg. 'Will Heston Transform Little Chef?' not 'Heston rambles to camera.'
I was hoping that Jeremy Spicer was going to be a parody of the Nick Ferrari / James Whale / Clive Bull style Phone In DJs. And during a couple of bits when you lost it with the listeners on air, I thought you were on to something but those bits were buried under a seemingly endless monologue of failure. I get it, you wanted to inject pathos into the character and make him out to be an intellectual wannabe, but you should really have exaggerated this to greater comic effect.
Personally, I think it would have been even better if you had filmed some bits away from the studio setting, showing us how Jeremy Spicer interacts with people in a more public environment. Would Spicer still be a pompous know it all, full of self righteous anger or would he be more kowtowed when faced with real situations of conflict?
Anyways, keep going James and hopefully, some of the more positive criticisms of your work will eventually filter through and you'll make something we can all celebrate.
Quote: Renegade Carpark @ December 28 2009, 3:39 PM GMTFinally got round to watching these and just like everyone else, I have a couple of handy hints for you James -
Technical -
1. If you are going to be filming a sketch which is primarily a 'talking head', please insure that you have decent sound quality. The constant buzzing over the microphone from what sounded like an industrial air conditioner was both a constant annoyance and a distraction.
2. If you are filming a segment which is supposed to be in a studio late at night, don't have bright sunlight filtering in on the back wall. Even windowless radio studios are 'lit', so you should have had a couple of lamps on to create a semblance of reality.
3. Not being able to hear the other callers was a wasted opportunity to create some real character interaction.
Acting -
Can't fault it, I think you are quite a good actor.
Content -
This is where you fell down a bit. A mockumentary is based on a documentary and all documentaries follow the same principles as drama with a beginning, middle and end. And just like with drama there is an introduction, a conflict and a conflict resolution. Eg. 'Will Heston Transform Little Chef?' not 'Heston rambles to camera.'
I was hoping that Jeremy Spicer was going to be a parody of the Nick Ferrari / James Whale / Clive Bull style Phone In DJs. And during a couple of bits when you lost it with the listeners on air, I thought you were on to something but those bits were buried under a seemingly endless monologue of failure. I get it, you wanted to inject pathos into the character and make him out to be an intellectual wannabe, but you should really have exaggerated this to greater comic effect.
Personally, I think it would have been even better if you had filmed some bits away from the studio setting, showing us how Jeremy Spicer interacts with people in a more public environment. Would Spicer still be a pompous know it all, full of self righteous anger or would he be more kowtowed when faced with real situations of conflict?
Anyways, keep going James and hopefully, some of the more positive criticisms of your work will eventually filter through and you'll make something we can all celebrate.
I agree with your first point but unfortunately we were filming at a live radio station and they had to have the air con on as the place would overheat.
The room we used was a basement studio and was very depressing to be in. The one major draw back apart from the lack of space was the window with the sunlight coming through. We did are best to cover it up and I wanted in to feel pretty dark and depressive we could have used a windowless, lighted studio with all modcons but Jeremy wouldn't look right in there.
Point three. In the original script we were going to exactly that but as mentioned earlier it will then become to similar to Down The Line.
Thank you very much for the acting complement.
A lot of people before I put in on here said it was darker and more depressing then they thought it would be the only reason is because I wanted to go down a different route with inane radio host as over the top broadcasters has been done to death very well by Partridge, Smashy and Nicey and so on...
All in all I agree that there needs to be more structure and more jokes. Thanks for the feedback
Quote: James Cotter @ December 28 2009, 12:06 PM GMTI can do Cockney well. Not bad at a Scottish accent. Passable Welsh and Irish but just about passable. I can do a Lancastrian accent quite well sort of like Robb Wilton.
I have a few ideas for characters that I'll run by you soon.
Quote: Dolly Dagger @ December 28 2009, 7:07 PM GMTI have a few ideas for characters that I'll run by you soon.
Ok thanks.
Quote: James Cotter @ December 28 2009, 3:07 PM GMTI am also glad you enjoyed my performance but I am not quite sure what you mean by I have a odd personality. I think what your trying to say is I use my own negatives like ego and self-delusion and use them in my characters, I think that is what you mean.
Sort of. I suppose a better way to put it is that you have a strong personality which translates to a strong presence on screen but I do think when you have totally nailed a character to play you will be brilliant. I admire your passion about Jeremy Spicer but at the moment he is far too much of a crossbread of Alan Partridge and David Brent and he feels more like someone you've created rather than a real person.
Quote: Ronnie Anderson @ December 28 2009, 10:09 PM GMTSort of. I suppose a better way to put it is that you have a strong personality which translates to a strong presence on screen but I do think when you have totally nailed a character to play you will be brilliant. I admire your passion about Jeremy Spicer but at the moment he is far too much of a crossbread of Alan Partridge and David Brent and he feels more like someone you've created rather than a real person.
Thank you very much for your comments. I agree that there needs to be more life put in to Jeremy to make him more real but I think in a situation when he's dealing with other people he could be a good character.
Yes that might bring out more of his individuality because now for the most part he seems too generic.
Quote: Ronnie Anderson @ December 29 2009, 12:45 PM GMTYes that might bring out more of his individuality because now for the most part he seems too generic.
I quite agree but it's hard to bring out personality with out interaction. There is already a few characters that have been developed to interact with Jeremy.
James why don't you make him a DJ at a university radio station? Write about what you know. Jeremy is convinced he is the next best thing since the Digital radio, he just needs to be discovered. He is doing a performance based degree but never gets the lead parts. It's not because of lack of talent it's to do with who you know etc, just like in the real world. Only it's not even Cambridge and footlights etc, it's at the University of Biggleswade. He can even make small documentary films whoch he sends in for awards but never gets shortlisted. Jeremy Spicer is convinced he is a genius the only trouble is no one else can see it. But he's not downhearted, he's got a few years yet until he is Van Gogh's age... and meanwhile he has still got a complete set of ears!
That is a kick ass plan Marc I'd go with it Mr Cotter.