1 in a 1,000 - I'm *quite* pleased.
So, obviously I did it for the credit and the love of it, but timing my sketch (thanks Lewis for stretching it out!) came in at about 1min 37secs - is that £36 for the first minute, £18 for the second 30 seconds, £18 for the next part 30 seconds = £72?
The main reason I ask is that I set myself a target of £60 (i.e. 4 one-liners) for the series...
I think they'll just round it up to two minutes, so it should still work out as £72. But don't hold me to that!
I'm new this whole newsjack palava, but I read that they prefer short, punchy sketches, so I wondering, how long is too long for a newsjack sketch?
From your experiences, what is the acceptable upper limit of a sketch length?
(I'm struggling to crop one of mine down at the moment)
I'd say a page is about right.
But I've never got a sketch on newsjack
Or seen a woman naked.
Or had a kebab.
Quote: sootyj @ September 17 2011, 10:30 AM BSTI'd say a page is about right.
But I've never got a sketch on newsjack
Or seen a woman naked.
Or had a kebab.
Ha!
Jesus! I barely fit the introductions onto the first page! That's the bit I'm struggling with the most: The set up of the sketches (the justin + newsjack interviewer bits) take far longer than I'd like to but they're necessary to frame the picture before I start to paint it, as it were, and because they're mostly made up of boring explanation, it's hard to make them amusing. Do you have any tips on how to set up the sketch as quickly as possible?
(Oddly enough, my sketch is a six-pager about a kebab-eating naked woman, does that qualify as a loosejack sketch?)
One sketch and a one-liner completed, so I'm already ahead of my last week's Super Mario ghost kart!
Yeah don't spend too long on the set-up, the audience will be aware of most news stories.
Also last week there was a story about two chat-bots having an arguement, I avoided it because I thought I'd have to explain what a chatbot is. But Newsjack just explained it as two computers talking. So simplifying seems to be a good idea.
All this is coming from someone who has never had a sketch on Newsjack. Although I once did see a boob.
Quote: ShoePie @ September 17 2011, 11:12 AM BSTYeah don't spend too long on the set-up, the audience will be aware of most news stories.
That's true! I suppose it's probably safe to assume the listening/live audience will be clued up on the latest news stories by virtue of the fact that they're tuning into a news-based comedy show! 
Thanks! I'll do my best to chop down my intro's to cover the gist of the story.
Quote: ShoePieAlthough I once did see a boob.
Being breastfed by your mother you doesn't count.
Quote: Lazarus Goldfinger @ September 17 2011, 10:27 AM BSTI'm new this whole newsjack palava, but I read that they prefer short, punchy sketches, so I wondering, how long is too long for a newsjack sketch?
From your experiences, what is the acceptable upper limit of a sketch length?(I'm struggling to crop one of mine down at the moment)
How to lay out a Newsjack script.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/writersroom/2010/01/newsjack_script_smart_or_smart.shtml
Never more than three pages. Ideally two for a sketch with substance. One for something quicker.
All I can suggest is strip everything out.
Anything that feels like it is explaining should go or be no more than a single line.
nb I watched Shoepie being breastfed does that count?
Thanks, RJ and Sootyj. I've been trying to convince myself that shorter is better for years, so this confirmation has given me peace of mind. I'll try to hack it down to a two pager (In fact, I might try to enter one-liner versions of my sketches as well, to cover both bases).
P.S. I'm lucky enough to see a pair of lovely big boobies every night, ever since I hit 16 stone.
If it helps my Strictly sketch barely stretched to the second page (double spaced, Arial 12 point) and they cut it.
Quote: Big Jack @ September 17 2011, 8:30 PM BSTIf it helps my Strictly sketch barely stretched to the second page (double spaced, Arial 12 point) and they cut it.
Gosh, that is alarming, 'cos they really seemed to belt your sketch out on the show as well! It's a real challenge for a novice like me to get all the vital info down AND try to keep it funny in such a small space. You have to be in and out really quickly AND include a strong punch. A bit like Chris Brown on a date (one for the kidz).
Thanks BigJack, and congratulations on getting it on by the way.
(I haven't even typed anything up yet, and I'm out watching football all day tomorrow, I'd better log off and get typing.)
I've written my three sketches for the week.
Ha Ha! Ian - I've just noticed you still have the footer from the start of the last NJ series.
two sketches sent off this week - a 100% improvement from last week in terms of volume - however quality has remained unbroadcastable.
Ambitions for this series are 4 one liners and a sketch. - I'm 3 one liners and a Sketch to go.
Missed the live chat through work commitments - is there a transcript? the replay option isn't working for me.
