Interesting article about Pilots Page 2

Quote: ContainsNuts @ October 16, 2007, 1:47 PM

Interestingly, whilst the BBC were mulling over the Office Gervais and Merchant did write the rest of series one so when the BBC finaly came back (six months later) and said 'When can we start filming?' they said 'Now', but at least they had big interest.

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You might find that they loved what they were doing and weren't just writing it to 'make it'. Or that they totally believed in it, and were going to get the series made one way of the other, even perhaps funding it themselves? Who knows?

In interview now they may not tell you what was really driving them then.

I am writing a sitcom/dramedy and if I'm enjoying myself enough I'll write the whole six episodes or more whether a Production Company show an interest or not, if I believe in it enough.

I'll also get it made, if I decide to, even if it's by amateurs with cheap gear and a lot enthusiasm.

To me, it's my art and even if it never gets made, so what? It's mine, I wanted to write it and I'm writing it! If it gets made, Huzzah! But that's not my driving force.. and I am not prepared to follow fashion either, 'start fashions, don't follow them', is what I learnt from the teachers I respect..

Frankie xxx

That's fair enough Frankie. Each to their own. I think we were giving advice on how best to get a sitcom into the industry/made.

Just out of interest why would get it filmed for yourself? That's quite a self-indulgence?

Yikes sorry Seefacts.

Quote: Frankie Rage @ October 17, 2007, 6:47 PM

You might find that they loved what they were doing and weren't just writing it to 'make it'. Or that they totally believed in it, and were going to get the series made one way of the other, even perhaps funding it themselves? Who knows?

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Thats what I'm doing with mine. I've honestly got that much faith in the project that I think.

well we've written 5 episodes so far of the Newman Series, so when we're picked up we can spend the time that we woulda done writing, refining honing the already done scripts. And of course Booze and Celebration Hookers.

Quote: SlagA @ October 17, 2007, 7:04 PM

Yikes sorry Seefacts.

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Not a problem Slaga.

Quote: ContainsNuts @ October 17, 2007, 6:55 PM

That's fair enough Frankie. Each to their own. I think we were giving advice on how best to get a sitcom into the industry/made.

Just out of interest why would get it filmed for yourself? That's quite a self-indulgence?

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Yes, I understand that you are giving advice but I am not sure the advice you are giving is right for everybody. I don't think it's a case of following what the text book has to say. There is no text book. Do a lot of pilots and hope something sticks? It may work, but on the other hand, if you put all your effort into one quality 'break through' piece, that extra effort might just make the difference???

Each to his own, as you say.

Why get my sitcom filmed myself? To see it realised in it's final form. Scripts are just blueprints/plans. It's like sheet music. It's not music until musicians play it.

Of course, like any of us I'd love a Production Company to produce what I've written or take it on and help me develop it further. But if they don't then I'll produce it myself, if I still want to, to the best standard I can and then I'll try and sell it again but with a 'rough demo' of what it could be 'done properly'.

First and foremost, I am doing it because I love doing it. I find it therapeutic, invigorating and it enhances my life, so it can never be wasted time! It makes me feel more alive!!! For much of my life, that itself has been enough!!!

Quote: Gavin @ October 17, 2007, 7:11 PM

Booze and Celebration Hookers.

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Yaaay! That's right, that's exactly it! Nail on the head!!

Huzzah!!!

A man after my own heart!!!

Agree with Frankie here.

Me and writing partner have written a radio sitcom but have done the whole series in order to record it ourselves (eventually). We have the recording equipment available and it was always our intention to record it so we have a final 'product'. If no-one picks it up in the meantime, it will (again, eventually) get made by us.

I suppose it depends on writing cos you enjoy it or writing to try and start a new career in the industry. The second option may grind you down more, that's all. Don't worry about 'when will I make it'; do it cos you love it.

Dan

OK, but I feel that even if you produce a whole series the productions companies will only ever want to see one before they ask for more. And they won't have a problem if you don't have them written or filmed. Also the trend is to make pilots first so they might not want to see any more.

I don't think you'd be doing your talent justice by putting all your eggs in one basket when you don't need to. Why not submit your first episode and see if it gets anywhere at least. You can learn from the feedback and not realise you may have made a huge mistake (as many here have said the feedback has pointed out). I don't see how you can lose this way and its the industry advice (one thing they all agree on!).

I've got about 4 or 5 projects in mind and there is no way I would be able to complete them all if I wrote a whole series for each of them. I feel you should give yourself more of a chance because if you have three pilots and company/contact finally asks to see them, then they might not like the idea of one sitcom but you've got two different ones that they might like. If you've only got one series of one sitcom and they don't like the idea then that's it.

I'm just trying to advice you for the best. But do what you got to do.

As ContainsNuts says, it is a case of do what you wanna do.

Personally I'd prefer 6 pilots I can put out and then amend as interest dictates than have one complete series that may need totally radical rewrites. For example the removal / restyling of a character they don't like or the welding together of two supporting characters (which is not unheard of).

If it is self-produced (Swertyd's example) then go for the full series. Then you have a product you can pump out, in a easily digestible form (CD / DVD) as oppossed to dreaded A4.

Personally, I'd be devastated to invest a year of my life writing something that is going to sit on a shelf. As writers, our words need platforms, not shelves. Yes, it's fun (as it should be) but deadly serious fun for me.

While I agree you should not just focus on one idea and that's your lot, you have to remember that if a pilot is rejected, it can still be a good idea.

I'm sure you've all heard the story about Steptoe & Son whereby they just created two rag & bone men to start with, and it was only later when they thought they could be father & son. Your pilot may be rejected and then you discover something that makes the idea really take off. So don't readily dismiss these things and throw them away. It might still work.

I think those of us who are writing more than one episode are finding layers and layers of new things about our characters. I certainly am. And that can really only be done by writing more and more dialogue for them and getting to know them even better.

I know some of you are out to be comedy writers full time but I don't think people can keep coming up with the goods on a permanent basis. Simon Nye makes a good fist of it, but a lot of his stuff is pretty average. I'm much more in the Gervais/Merchant way of thinking. Make selective ideas as best you can.

In the end there is no 'right way', there are several paths you can take.

It's good to share opinions.

Good luck!

All roads lead to Rome, but you may not get there or make it through the gates..

Quote: David H @ October 18, 2007, 12:22 PM

I think those of us who are writing more than one episode are finding layers and layers of new things about our characters. I certainly am. And that can really only be done by writing more and more dialogue for them and getting to know them even better.

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Good point David! This is reminding me of the ham-fisted first attempt at a pilot and how much better it is after we rewrote following writing the writing of four 'other' episodes.

Mind you, it's still getting rejected

Dan

Personally I write because I love it. I'm not just a writer, however, I love working with film, sound, geeking up on current technology and getting insight into what's possible to film so my scripts are filmable.

But when it comes to the writing, you can't lose focus. If you're head's busy with aspects like "what is the industry looking for"? your scripts will suffer. And no matter how many or few scripts you write, chances are they'll be over-looked.

You think the BBC were looking for a mocumentary style sitcom about something as boring as an office? I am DEAD CERTAIN they weren't.

They don't know what they're looking for. There are some format issues that they need in order for the project to be made feasible. But format is our craft. It's the screenwriter's lathe that we must master, but it's not the template.

And if you don't get the thing made, that's no bearing on you as a person. You are NOT a failure. You're adding to the body of work of a medium of art and enriching it.

As for writing many sitcoms starting with a Pilot and only drafting the subsequent episodes, you may become very good at being a "Pilot Writer" (forgive the self-indulgent quote marks!) But I think the feeling of accomplishment of completing a series of a sitcom is worth the "pointless effort".

What are you? A whore to the industry or the fuel of an industry? Write, you bastards! Write like the wind!
So write. Be merry. Focus.

You're way too optimistic for this forum!

Right, hands up! Who's got the cynical conversion machine?

Dan

Quote: swerytd @ October 25, 2007, 9:06 AM

You're way too optimistic for this forum!

Right, hands up! Who's got the cynical conversion machine?

Dan

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I had the cynical part of my brain lobotomised as part of a scientific experiment funded by the BBC to find out why Celebrity Come Dancing was a load of shit.

They discovered it wasn't the cynical part of the brain, but the inescapable fact that it was shit that was the problem. They're repeating the test for Strictly Come Dancing on Ice.

This time they're removing the part of the brain that deals with reasoning, but I have no idea why?

LAME! Sorry!