Yeah but Talkback are an established production company, this is a low-budget company just getting into sitcom production it seems.
ScreenPlay Productions Page 3
Gordon Bennett, ladies and gentlemen, we writers complain about the lack of opportunities and when someone comes knocking we ... complain? Bloody writers for you, eh?
Take every opportunity as if it's the last.
The longer I go without an opportunity the longer I can convince myself that I'm not entirely rubbish. If one lives without any recognition then one can still die as an unrealised genius.
Brilliant concept. Your genius IS realised therefore I've ironically knackered your chances ... sorry.
Ah, I shall forget writing and move into concept designing. If anyone needs a concept then visit www.conceptyouall.com.
Why do I keep writing that instead of then? It's like some odd form of literary tourettes.
Quote: Martin Holmes @ November 12, 2007, 8:22 PMYeah but Talkback are an established production company, this is a low-budget company just getting into sitcom production it seems.
When it boils down to it, the indies who sell their comedies to the channels are in similar positions to oursevles. Who are the BBC going to enlist and commission out of, say Talkback and this smaller company with no television credits at all, when it comes to supplying a new comedy?
If a massive company and a tiny company go to the Beeb with an idea - who are the BBC going to listen to?
They'll listen to the little demon that's been saying "My Family!" for the last decade.
Quote: SlagA @ November 12, 2007, 8:26 PMGordon Bennett, ladies and gentlemen, we writers complain about the lack of opportunities and when someone comes knocking we ... complain? Bloody writers for you, eh?
Take every opportunity as if it's the last.
Is this an opportunity though? It's like all those competitions, or little companies who accept unsolicited stuff. I'm afraid the opportunity is only as good as the company it's from.
Quote: Seefacts @ November 12, 2007, 8:33 PMWhen it boils down to it, the indies who sell their comedies to the channels are in similar positions to oursevles. Who are the BBC going to enlist and commission out of, say Talkback and this smaller company with no television credits at all, when it comes to supplying a new comedy?
If a massive company and a tiny company go to the Beeb with an idea - who are the BBC going to listen to?
Yeah but if it's an opportunity to get work filmed I'm not going to turn it down. Plus the Beeb are more likely to pay attention to something in film form than script form I reckon, so it can't hurt. What would hurt is the company stealing my script and never speaking to me again and taking all credit, but hopefully that won't happen. 
Quote: Seefacts @ November 12, 2007, 8:35 PMIs this an opportunity though? It's like all those little companies who accept unsolicited stuff. I'm afraid the opportunity is only as good as the company it's from.
So the opposite (a big company that doesn't accept unsolicited scripts) is a better prospect?
My thinking is where did the big companies start? Were they blurted onto the stock exchange fully-formed? Plus any request to read your stuff is an opportunity to get more eyes, more ideas, more input into the script.
Quote: Martin Holmes @ November 12, 2007, 8:45 PMYeah but if it's an opportunity to get work filmed I'm not going to turn it down. Plus the Beeb are more likely to pay attention to something in film form than script form I reckon, so it can't hurt. What would hurt is the company stealing my script and never speaking to me again and taking all credit, but hopefully that won't happen.
Would they film it though, without a commission? That's very expensive and unlikely. Non-broadcast pilots only really get filmed when there's a massive channel interest in it.
Quote: SlagA @ November 12, 2007, 8:53 PMSo the opposite (a big company that doesn't accept unsolicited scripts) is a better prospect?
My thinking is where did the big companies start? Were they blurted onto the stock exchange fully-formed? Plus any request to read your stuff is an opportunity to get more eyes, more ideas, more input into the script.
Where did they start?
Open Mike - Jack Dee.
Talkback - Smith and Jones.
Tiger Aspect - Rowan Atkinson
So TV - Graham Norton
Celedor - Jasper Carrott
the list goes on. So, yes, they do come with massive backing and channel interest. That's why they're the biggest companies in the industry. Sad but true.
And yes, a big company who won't accept stuff is better - as I've said it IS possible to get through to these places.
It's an opportunity alright. Someone from within the business willing to read my stuff. I'm willing to let him.
Quote: earman2009 @ November 12, 2007, 9:05 PMIt's an opportunity alright. Someone from within the business willing to read my stuff. I'm willing to let him.
Depends who they are and what contacts they have.
Quote: Seefacts @ November 12, 2007, 9:08 PMDepends who they are and what contacts they have.
How? Somebody (anybody) reads (some of) your stuff and comments. That's potentially useful. Sitcoms posted in the Critique section here get next to no comments. Friends and family usually are too close to the piece to comment usefully.
Quote: Seefacts @ November 12, 2007, 9:03 PMWould they film it though, without a commission? That's very expensive. Non-broadcast pilots only really get filmed when there's massive channel interest.
Expensive? Before the advent of DV maybe so, but now not neccesarily the case. Equipment costs fall all the time. Personnel costs? Many non-working actors are willing to do a low-paid / unpaid job in between work, if it's better than sitting in the house (The recent Ray Burdiss video on YouTube is an example of a big name doing freebies.)
An example of a script that died on its ass, getting little interest, until a cheap filmed version was put before TV people? Wasn't that The Office?
Quote: Seefacts @ November 12, 2007, 9:03 PMWhere did they start?
Open Mike - Jack Dee.
Talkback - Smith and Jones.
Tiger Aspect - Rowan Atkinson
So TV - Graham Norton
Celedor - Jasper CarrottSo, yes, they do come with massive backing and channel interest.
So they all started off as big as they are now? With the same power and connections? Did they always come with massive backing and channel interest or did they grow? I don't know, you tell me.