BBC Three opportunity for a sitcom writer.... Page 8

I did the same course as Tate, but she'd already been going for a while and was aparently head and shoulders ahead of the class.

But also whats wrong with doing a course and paying to do it, just for fun?

Steve Sunshine is easily one of the, if not the best writer on this forumn. But unless he's being very discrete seems to have no great ambition to be the next Mary Whitehouse Experience.

And I'm doing a course in singing fairly soon. I'll probably sound slightly less like a howler monkey raping a yelping gibbon, but what the f**k it's fun. That's the point isn't it?

Quote: Jack Daniels @ October 13 2011, 7:10 PM BST

Hello Mark. Here comes a lengthy post before I'm sent packing.

Lastly, SootyJ, sorry if my opinions embarassed you. You may have noticed (or not) that I stopped any exchange with you the second you began refering to another member as a "bully" because their opinion clashed with yours. That is a hirrible accusation, and having 1million posts to your name and spending 24hours a day here doesn't give you any seniority over another member.

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Good grief Bill Hicks is alive and well and living on BCG.

And still not as funny as he's made out to be.

So, in summary:

This is probably a scam or something not quite right (thanks Mr Jacob!)

And writers should write but not do anything as underhanded as show their work to anyone or allow actors to read it out in front of audiences.

having trudged through all posts on this thread, I am just left wondering what, if this is a scam, is the benefit to the people running it?.

Apparantly ideas are easy, it's the writing that's the skill so what's the point of collecting ideas, unless as suggested its to pitch them all to the Beeb, which is surely what we all want anyway.

If there is no cost involved, what's the worst that can happen?

And thirdly where do unpublished writers go to have thier efforts even looked at these days ( apart from writers room), even prodco's that were reading my stuff a couple of years ago don't want them now, even the one's that were quite positive.

Of course that might be just because I have got worse which when you consider the starting point of my writng; is very worrying.

To any of the people reading this, who are in a position where they have sold stuff already this won't affect them anyway,they don't need to enter, to anybody else, it would be interesting to know the split on that , surely it can't hurt.you might just get a break, surley we deserve it , it's not fair to deprive the world of future classics such as "Our lady of the duck pond" or the never to be remembered "Kensington Smiths dream"

just a thought
J26

Quote: spiggle @ October 13 2011, 9:23 PM BST

Definite scam.

See http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090616123955AAKgQM2

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But that's a completely different area, unrelated to what we're talking about here. This has nothing to do with the "eclipse/twilight" saga, nor with Explore Talent.

Mind you, eclipse TV still haven't replied to my email so I'm writing this off.

<rips up sole copy of Kensington Smith's Dream of the Lady of the Duck Pond and swears loudly>

Dan

Quote: Matthew Stott @ October 14 2011, 8:57 AM BST

Lots of American comics and funny writers come up through things like the UCB in the States. Which is like a badge of quality over there, it seems.

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Yes, they still seem to be slicker and more professional than us. And we still seem to prefer acting like 'gifted amateurs'.

And in recent years they've also started being as funny as us, which isn't fair.

Quote: Kev F @ October 13 2011, 11:35 PM BST

There's something about some people and their misguided lies that is the very definition of goading.

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I wish you'd stop using such long words...

Quote: Johnny26 @ October 14 2011, 10:49 AM BST

having trudged through all posts on this thread, I am just left wondering what, if this is a scam, is the benefit to the people running it?.

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At some point in the game when you've written stuffed and invested your time and felt involved. They'll ask you for money and then a bit more.

Call it development costs or something.

At least that's my guess.

As for where to send stuff, get to know producers send stuff and hope. Also go for every open access contest going.

Quote: Johnny26 @ October 14 2011, 10:49 AM BST

having trudged through all posts on this thread, I am just left wondering what, if this is a scam, is the benefit to the people running it?.

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My theory is this is not a company, but a 'playful' individual. Someone perhaps who would find it funny to put a fake opp on these boards, to see what responses they get from posters on here.

Why else would this really be the only place they've advertised it? Surely if you had a blank commission from the BBC you'd want to cast your net far and wide to get the best possible entries?

Quote: AngieBaby @ October 14 2011, 1:58 PM BST

My theory is this is not a company, but a 'playful' individual. Someone perhaps who would find it funny to put a fake opp on these boards, to see what responses they get from posters on here.

Why else would this really be the only place they've advertised it? Surely if you had a blank commission from the BBC you'd want to cast your net far and wide to get the best possible entries?

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You do mean a comedy troll seeing what wider internet response they get from posting on Mandy? And not poor old Marooned?!

Quote: AngieBaby @ October 14 2011, 1:58 PM BST

My theory is this is not a company, but a 'playful' individual. Someone perhaps who would find it funny to put a fake opp on these boards, to see what responses they get from posters on here.

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That would make the OP a troll though, and I don't buy that.

Quote: Jinky @ October 14 2011, 7:32 AM BST

Out of interest, how many comedians/comedy writers started off by going on a course?

(And are willing to admit it)

Sarah Millican did, I think. Any others?

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I didn't start off by going on a course (there weren't that many in the days of steam radio), but I once spent a fantastically inspiring weekend about 15 years ago listening to an American movie-making teacher called Dov Siemens explain how anyone can make a movie.

I have yet to make a movie. You may look on this as testament to the fact that either I'm a sucker, or he's a charlatan (or both). However I learned more in that weekend about taking a professional approach to writing than I had in the previous 12 years or so of writing and performing.

Quote: AJGO @ October 14 2011, 2:01 PM BST

You do mean a comedy troll seeing what wider internet response they get from posting on Mandy? And not poor old Marooned?!

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I Marooned, sorry didn't mean to suugest that at all.

What can I say,if I get suspicious about something I'm going to make wild accusations based on nothing. I am female after all.

Quote: AngieBaby @ October 14 2011, 2:47 PM BST

I Marooned, sorry didn't mean to suugest that at all.

What can I say,if I get suspicious about something I'm going to make wild accusations based on nothing. I am female after all.

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Could well be a wind-up from some random muppet with nowt better to do than anonymously read comedy websites to see if he's having an effect.

If it turns out to be nothing to do with any genuine Andrew Newman then ex C4/Objective guy should track him and sell online tickets through BCG to view the smackdown

Quote: AJGO @ October 14 2011, 2:53 PM BST

If it turns out to be nothing to do with any genuine Andrew Newman then ex C4/Objective guy should track him and sell online tickets through BCG to view the smackdown

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To be fair, I don't think this Andrew Newman is claiming to be the Andrew Newman from Channel 4.

So let's not tar and feather the guy on that particular point.