I think it's strange that so few of the 32 writers that got through aren't prepared to offer insight or advice on this forum, I see Griff and Russell but is there anyone out there, most of this thread is telling each other to carry on, it was always a long shot more so for some than others, If there are any of the successful writers out there listening why not drop in and give an insight in how you achieved what so many of us didn't.
By the way you're all brilliant.
I found a foolproof way to win the lottery.
Stay posted and I'll tell you how you too can share my good fortune.
Quote: Dicksplash @ March 16 2011, 1:51 PM GMTI think it's strange that so few of the 32 writers that got through aren't prepared to offer insight or advice on this forum, I see Griff and Russell but is there anyone out there, most of this thread is telling each other to carry on, it was always a long shot more so for some than others, If there are any of the successful writers out there listening why not drop in and give an insight in how you achieved what so many of us didn't.
By the way you're all brilliant.
I don't think it would work really Dick. The only thing one can do is to keep to sitcom rules firstly, write out in prose the storyline then do the dialogue.
On Robin kelly's comedy writing forum, one commenter says, sitcom is basically this...
1...A beginning
2..a middle [muddle]
3...and end where the problems set up in the story are resolved.
So, [it carries on] you put someone up a tree, throw stuff at him and then resolve how he gets down
Hope that helps.
To me the storyline is by far the hardest to do, particularly within the 15 minute time limit
Quote: Dicksplash @ March 16 2011, 1:51 PM GMTI think it's strange that so few of the 32 writers that got through aren't prepared to offer insight or advice on this forum, I see Griff and Russell but is there anyone out there, most of this thread is telling each other to carry on, it was always a long shot more so for some than others, If there are any of the successful writers out there listening why not drop in and give an insight in how you achieved what so many of us didn't.
By the way you're all brilliant.
I think working on their next two episodes would be a better use of their time for now? Besides, what could they really tell us that Simon and Declan haven't?
I agree, I found the story extremely hard to do and by getting myself tangled up in that I had to compromise on the precious few jokes I had for the premise.
Are you going to have better equipment this time Simon, lol.
Yep. Last time we didn't have a dedicated recorder, now we have. We used to use a decent mic recording directly into garageband on a macbook. it was...Ok. Nothing more.
I asked a sound engineer to recommend a good recorder that wouldn't break the bank and he suggested the Zoom H2. It's got mics facing East and West (as it were) so that actors can face each other across it rather than all be gathered around one forward-facing mic.
So far we've been emailing mp3 recordings to writers, but I might pursue putting a better (uncompressed) recording onto a CD and posting it. Then you'd have a full-quality stereo recording and you could copy it onto a smartphone/mp3 player as well. CDs and postage are so cheap that it wouldn't cost us much more. I'll see if there's enough interest.
Totally agree that the venue we used to use was acoustically hopeless. In those days we had no money and used to use a free room in a pub (everybody starts somewhere) now we hire a room in a Theatre. Which, incidentally, is partly why the workshop fee has gone up.
The rest is greed. Sheer greed.
Quote: sean knight @ March 16 2011, 2:07 PM GMTI agree, I found the story extremely hard to do and by getting myself tangled up in that I had to compromise on the precious few jokes I had for the premise.
me too but everybody would have the same problem...or should that be similar 
Im more interested in their back story, did they go to university on a creative writing course, did they attend workshops, and did they start by writing play's?
That interests me as I don't need to know how to write a sitcom, well I do obviously but I can get that from books and workshops Im interested in who the people are that went through, are they very different or have they followed a similar path to success?
There are far more people on here wondering what separates them from the winners, it would be insightful.
Hello there,
along with my writing partner, I am through to the next round of Sitcommission. We're also, with a different sitcom, through to the rather nebulous 'next round' of Laughing Stock. Each sitcom was written specifically for the relevant competition.
I don't see that there's anything useful we can offer in the way of 'writing tips' that hasn't been banged on about here for 90 pages, but if anyone's got any specific questions then I'll do my best to answer them! With the one exception - no you can't see the scripts, sorry.
cheers
Andrew
Quote: simon wright @ March 16 2011, 2:07 PM GMTYep. Last time we didn't have a dedicated recorder, now we have. We used to use a decent mic recording directly into garageband on a macbook. it was...Ok. Nothing more.
I asked a sound engineer to recommend a good recorder that wouldn't break the bank and he suggested the Zoom H2. It's got mics facing East and West (as it were) so that actors can face each other across it rather than all be gathered around one forward-facing mic.
So far we've been emailing mp3 recordings to writers, but I might pursue putting a better (uncompressed) recording onto a CD and posting it. Then you'd have a full-quality stereo recording and you could copy it onto a smartphone/mp3 player as well. CDs and postage are so cheap that it wouldn't cost us much more. I'll see if there's enough interest.
I've got a zoom h4N Simon, which I can highly recommend. ANd the two mics as you say gives a good stereo dimension which is adjustable. CD sounds good, also I'd think about factoring some lattitude for post editing. I.e not having people talk over each other and giving pauses after stage directions being read etc. SO even if it is not done as a radio play it can be edited as such. I can give you a link to what I did with mine when it was recorded by Bex at the last readings of you like so you can see what I mean?
Quote: Dicksplash @ March 16 2011, 2:10 PM GMTIm more interested in their back story, did they go to university on a creative writing course, did they attend workshops, and did they start by writing play's?
That interests me as I don't need to know how to write a sitcom, well I do obviously but I can get that from books and workshops Im interested in who the people are that went through, are they very different or have they followed a similar path to success?
Fair question. We met at drama school ten years ago, both university graduates, and we have worked together writing and performing live comedy shows since then. We've read the odd book now and then and the occasional workshop, but what's helped most is doing ten years of live shows direct to a live audience who are either laughing and engaged or they aren't.
Quote: Dicksplash @ March 16 2011, 2:10 PM GMTIm more interested in their back story, did they go to university on a creative writing course, did they attend workshops, and did they start by writing play's?
That interests me as I don't need to know how to write a sitcom, well I do obviously but I can get that from books and workshops Im interested in who the people are that went through, are they very different or have they followed a similar path to success?There are far more people on here wondering what separates them from the winners, it would be insightful.
Well, let's not get carried away here. They did well to get to the next round, but I hardly think we should be elevating them to guru status quite yet. There is a lot of advice out there for would-be writers, read that, read scripts for succesful sitcoms, don't fixate on Sitcom Mission as the answer to everything. It's just a competition. Let's try and keep some perspective.
Quote: Dicksplash @ March 16 2011, 2:10 PM GMTIm more interested in their back story, did they go to university on a creative writing course, did they attend workshops, and did they start by writing play's?
That interests me as I don't need to know how to write a sitcom, well I do obviously but I can get that from books and workshops Im interested in who the people are that went through, are they very different or have they followed a similar path to success?There are far more people on here wondering what separates them from the winners, it would be insightful.
Perhaps read my profile Dick.....I still feel I can write comedy 
and if I'm good enough for the beeb and Andy Harris........
I think Simon and Declan should have gone to Spec Savers
I'm possibly going to go to the May 7th Workshop (I'm working overtime on 2nd April) though may go with a different script/story that I've been working on. Even though I enjoy writing it, my sitcom mission entry looks crapper each time I read it.
Don't want to be inflicting that on actors, I've already inflicted it upon Simon and Declan 
Quote: andyblacksheep @ March 16 2011, 2:16 PM GMTFair question. We met at drama school ten years ago, both university graduates, and we have worked together writing and performing live comedy shows since then. We've read the odd book now and then and the occasional workshop, but what's helped most is doing ten years of live shows direct to a live audience who are either laughing and engaged or they aren't.
Thanks for replying.