British Comedy Guide

The Spicer Life Episode Three The Misunderstanding Page 4

It's not really a Bearpit Tim.
James gets a unique kind of feedback for a variety of reasons
And I did like much of the script, but the monologue was far too long to do it justice, and my attention inevitably wandered.

Quote: Steve Sunshine @ July 22 2011, 11:14 PM BST

It's not really a Bearpit Tim.

I'm glad someone said that, cos it's true.

Back to this project. As you might have gathered, I haven't listened to it and I probably won't. But I have taken an interest, thanks to previous Cotter projects. So I have read most of the feedback. And James, if you have read what I have, there's a chance you might not have taken in the same things that I have. So, hopefully to assist you, here are some of the main points that I think people have made:

1) It's too long. Way too long. Even very generous critics are getting bored by it. Would you be better offering this character to an audience in sharper vignettes?

2) The plot comes in too late. See point 1.

3) It's gag-lite. Not as big a problem as 1 and 2 in my mind - you can fix this if the characters and setting work - but if you don't get 1 and 2 right no-one's going to wait for the gags.

4) The voice is wrong (some say annoying). Your defence seems to be along the lines of "this is his voice and I have done others for other characters so this is what he sounds like". If people are bored by his voice then you need to change it. That's a "no-brainer" in current parlance.

Finally, a couple of personal observations. You have 6 episodes or more already written but it is still a "work in progress". I'm not sure these two things are compatible. You are defending what has already been written as though it's part of the canon. Ditch it if it isn't any good.

Secondly, you are still in the habit of thanking people for the positive things they say, and asking "why?" of anyone who says something negative. Do it the other way round and you might get something more interesting and useful.

Badge deserves that £50

Everything he said is ABSOLUTELY spot on.
If you ignore his summary it would be a shame.

And no this isn't a bearpit, I used to defend my stuff to the death with the bbc etc "If they don't get it it's their fault, I'll show them" Years later I'd reteroapply what I know now and realise things weren't as good as maybe they could've been.

A poem is never finished, only abandoned
(Random Brent-ism there)

A poem is never finished only abandoned.
At least that is what I have found, Ed.

As Leo said to the Pope.

Marc, help me I don't get that?

The quote comes from Leonardo Da Vinci - Art isn't finished just abandoned.

As Jack changed it to a poem, I made a poem of it was all. :)

Quote: RedZed333 @ July 22 2011, 10:41 PM BST

Now I'd pay a dollar to hear that...

One thing about DJs is that you only ever really hear them in short, sharp, bursts, they are mainly just there to link the records they play and speak very little...

Can you imagine Tony Blackburn, or any DJ come to think of it, droning on for 10 minutes at a time...?

That's why I suggested starting off with something a bit shorter, something hot, build up a fanbase and then expand from there...

I've done that already. You keep coming back to the whole radio DJ thing yes he is a radio presenter on his university station but when he's talking in these monologues he is not on the radio! I have said to you directly in the last two threads and in a PM. I also said in a previous thread that closet comparison would be Marion and Geoff now if you think of it like that it's more unstable what I'm doing it although it doesn't mean it's anywhere as good.

Quote: Steve Sunshine @ July 22 2011, 10:42 PM BST

I thought the voice sounded a lot better this time.
And if you were deliberately toning it down then it worked for me in that sense.

For these Spicer mono0logues I'd go with Marc P's advice and use your own voice.
When you are acting and doing an impression at the same time, the acting often seems to suffer

:) Thank you.

It is almost my own voice in no way is it an impersonation. If I wanted to do a Tony Blackburn I would do it like Tony Blackburn not like Jeremy Spicer.

Quote: Tim Azure @ July 22 2011, 11:03 PM BST

Actually I'm a bit unsure of what you hope to achieve, James. This is a bearpit. Rude reviews are just part of it.

I understand that Tim but in my naive way I would like to think we could be civil.

So who he is talking to?

Quote: sootyj @ July 23 2011, 11:04 AM BST

So who he is talking to?

You asked me in the last two threads and I answered you. It's a video diary type of thing. And audio diary if you like. He's not broadcasting to anyone. Who's Patricia Routledge talking to in A Woman of No Importance?

Someone of no importance?
Only messing James, so its a talking head only audio.

Marc I am still none the wiser, was it a pun or a put down?

Quote: Teddy Paddalack @ July 23 2011, 11:14 AM BST

Only messing James, so its a talking head only audio.

:) Yes.

Quote: James Cotter @ July 23 2011, 11:09 AM BST

You asked me in the last two threads and I answered you. It's a video diary type of thing. And audio diary if you like. He's not broadcasting to anyone. Who's Patricia Routledge talking to in A Woman of No Importance?

The fact that she has no one to talk is part of her mental collapse and need to feel in control. It's an integral part of her character
.

At times you come across as a guy doodling on post it notes and sticking them on the walls of the Louvre.

Also by selecting a character who would regularly talks on his own as a DJ, you've made it even more confusing.

Quote: sootyj @ July 23 2011, 11:26 AM BST

The fact that she has no one to talk is part of her mental collapse and need to feel in control. It's an integral part of her character.

At times you come across as a guy doodling on post it notes and sticking them on the walls of the Louvre.

Also by selecting a character who would regularly talks on his own as a DJ, you've made it even more confusing.

Fine how about her as Irene in Alan Bennett's A Lady of Letters she has no mental problems there and I could go. I really don't why it's confusing when I sated these were monologues in the introduction of each thread as well as it was the BCG who suggested that I do them in the first place!

Quote: James Cotter @ July 23 2011, 11:30 AM BST

it was the BCG who suggested that I do them in the first place!

Best yet!

"It's all your fault!"

Quote: Badge @ July 23 2011, 11:34 AM BST

Best yet!

"It's all your fault!"

Just love it when I get told do this and I do it and then get asked why I did that for!

Share this page