Quote: bushbaby @ June 23 2011, 12:54 PM BSTIt's mainly telling though, not showing
Exposition, innit...!
Sitcom Trials Manchester 2011 - scripts invited Page 18
Quote: RedZed333 @ June 23 2011, 12:57 PM BSTExposition, innit...!
I know and that's what 'they' say not to do. 
Oops I think we are going off topic again, Kev asked could we keep this thread for voting...sorry Kev
Quote: bushbaby @ June 23 2011, 12:54 PM BSTI don't really know what you mean Marc. the advice to the aspirant chef is fine but if he proceeds to just make a hash and nothing else, he hasn't followed the simple instructions
That's alright BB a lot of people don't. Putting some one up a tree is not an act. It's the end of the act. You have to build the tree first. And you don't just have people throw stones - that's not funny, what you do is have him try to extricate himself and by his actions compound his problems so there is no solution in sight and people can throw stones as he does this, that is the end of act two. You then cleverly take what you have written already and in an unexpected way get him out of the tree and demolish the tree so he can start building the tree again in the next ep and that is the end of Act 3. Status Quo ante foliage.
Quote: RedZed333 @ June 23 2011, 12:57 PM BSTExposition, innit...!
All story telling is exposition.
Quote: Marc P @ June 23 2011, 1:02 PM BSTThat's alright BB a lot of people don't. Putting some one up a tree is not an act. It's the end of the act. You have to build the tree first. And you don't just have people throw stones - that's not funny, what you do is have him try to extricate himself and by his actions compound his problems so there is no solution in sight and people can throw stones as he does this, that is the end of act two. You then cleverly take what you have written already and in an unexpected way get him out of the tree and demolish the tree so he can start building the tree again in the next ep and that is the end of Act 3. Status Quo ante foliage.
All story telling is exposition.
I think maybe you take it too literally, the throwing stones is putting obstacles for the character/s to overcome..i.e... the muddle
Yes story telling is exposition but sitcom should be showing
But who am I to say, my writing never gets anywhere anyway 
Have you ever tried getting two old age pensioners up a tree..?
Quote: RedZed333 @ June 23 2011, 1:08 PM BSTHave you ever tried getting two old age pensioners up a tree..?
Quote: bushbaby @ June 23 2011, 1:04 PM BSTI think maybe you take it too literally, the throwing stones is putting obstacles for the character/s to overcome..i.e... the muddle
Yes story telling is exposition but sitcom should be showing
But who am I to say, my writing never gets anywhere anyway
It's a play on words. Not a useful paradigm for people to work with. Exposition is showing. It's how you do it that counts.
Count how many gags/comedy moments in a sitcom such as Not Going Out for example, then separate them into a 'tell pile' and a 'show pile'...
Tell pile wins by a mile...
Quote: RedZed333 @ June 23 2011, 1:12 PM BSTCount how many gags/comedy moments in a sitcom such as Not Going Out for example, then separate them into a 'tell pile' and a 'show pile'...
Tell pile wins by a mile...
We are watching a character demonstrate his character - it's called showing even though he is telling a gag and it is within the context of the situation.
Quote: Marc P @ June 23 2011, 1:10 PM BSTIt's a play on words. Not a useful paradigm for people to work with. Exposition is showing. It's how you do it that counts.
yes, I think what I meant is that exposition can be used as showing or explaining......or something
We should perhaps open a new thread, its quite an interesting subject to discuss
Quote: Marc P @ June 23 2011, 1:14 PM BSTWe are watching a character demonstrate his character - it's called showing even though he is telling a gag and it is within the context of the situation.
You mean like Bob in Shit Happens..?
See, BushBaby, I knew I was f**king right..!
Quote: RedZed333 @ June 23 2011, 1:21 PM BSTYou mean like Bob in Shit Happens..?
See, BushBaby, I knew I was f**king right..!
It gets confusing, eh? Well, it is becoming confusing to me
Bob out of interest, why don't you write the beginning of the sitcom where Elsie falls and see where it takes you. I don't mean rewrite the whole thing, just see how it fares/progresses differently to the original one. I meant just as an exercise, then put it up on the critique forum 
Quote: RedZed333 @ June 23 2011, 1:21 PM BSTYou mean like Bob in Shit Happens..?
See, BushBaby, I knew I was f**king right..!
Sorry I haven't read that but I have watched Not GOing Out.
Quote: Marc P @ June 23 2011, 1:02 PM BSTThat's alright BB a lot of people don't. Putting some one up a tree is not an act. It's the end of the act. You have to build the tree first. And you don't just have people throw stones - that's not funny, what you do is have him try to extricate himself and by his actions compound his problems so there is no solution in sight and people can throw stones as he does this, that is the end of act two. You then cleverly take what you have written already and in an unexpected way get him out of the tree and demolish the tree so he can start building the tree again in the next ep and that is the end of Act 3. Status Quo ante foliage.
I haven't put a single tree in my script. I feel like such a fool...
Quote: Badge @ June 23 2011, 11:49 AM BSTFour years? Loser! I did mine in 3.
I'm an M.Math. Which will never be funny, regardless of any honour bestowed on me, by the queen...
Dan
Quote: swerytd @ June 23 2011, 1:27 PM BSTI haven't put a single tree in my script. I feel like such a fool...
Dan
Well, I've barked up a few wrong ones in my time