Radio v AmDram advice please!

Apologies for the newbie question...

We've written a situation based sketch show, which we are naively hoping will be embraced by an independent production company (unlikely, I admit). We're planning on starting to send it off this week.

In the meantime, a friend from the local amateur dramatics group has been in touch to say that they are looking for sketches or even a whole show for their next performance and they are keen to read it.

What are people's thoughts? If we give it away to the am-dram people, will we be killing off any (slim) chance of a production company taking it on as it's already been performed, or is it worth handing it over on the slight chance that a comedy commissioner might just be sitting in the audience. Would it help or hinder for it to have been performed already?

A thousand thankyous!

Unless you sign over rights to the AmDram group you're fully entitled to take your script elsewhere afterwards. My advice would be to give the group permission to perform your material and attend their performance for an objective look at your material. Seeing how it plays to a crowd will only help you tighten your script.

Also if you record the amdram version you can send a video clip.#

People generally prefer watching to reading and it shows iniative

Production companies want to receive good scripts; they don't care how they became good. Staging a performance of it will almost certainly show you bits of the script you'll want to improve.

Quote: David Bussell @ September 20 2011, 10:12 AM BST

Unless you sign over rights to the AmDram group you're fully entitled to take your script elsewhere afterwards. My advice would be to give the group permission to perform your material and attend their performance for an objective look at your material. Seeing how it plays to a crowd will only help you tighten your script.

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This.

Do it before you send it out. Not sure production companies are looking for situation based sketch shows unless it is from performers/creators by the way. David and Matthew know more about this I think?

Quote: Marc P @ September 20 2011, 10:30 AM BST

Not sure production companies are looking for situation based sketch shows unless it is from performers/creators by the way. David and Matthew know more about this I think?

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That does seem to be the case, yes. You'd be far better off writing narrative.

Yeh sitcom script seems to be the accepted "master piece" by which people are judged.

Thanks all - lots of really useful advice.

I will consult with my co-writer, but my feeling is that we should work with the am-dram people and see it as part of the process.

In terms of format (though not humour), I would say it is close to Little Britain in that it is a series of sketches based around a location...except that it has 4 key characters who turn up in various sketches.

The sketches work individually, so it sounds like we may be better trying to push them individually if they don't like the whole show.

Ta!

Quote: Bill Dyer @ September 20 2011, 11:07 AM BST

Thanks all - lots of really useful advice.

I will consult with my co-writer, but my feeling is that we should work with the am-dram people and see it as part of the process.

In terms of format (though not humour), I would say it is close to Little Britain in that it is a series of sketches based around a location...except that it has 4 key characters who turn up in various sketches.

The sketches work individually, so it sounds like we may be better trying to push them individually if they don't like the whole show.

Ta!

View original

Quite honestly, the only way you're going to get your sketches on air is to write for an existing production or shoot your own pilot (preferably with some name talent involved). Prod co's aren't interested in sketch show scripts from unknown writers. I really can't think of single exception to that rule.