Good evening All,
I have been writing and performing stand up for a few months now(albeit not very good stand up) but, have also had an idea for a sitcom that I would like to write. The trouble is where do I start?? I have an idea a few characters and some scenarios but, that's about it!!
Any feedback or suggestions would be gratefully received.
Many thanks,
Jason.
The best piece of advice I can give you is always try to carry a little pad around with you when you're out. Once you start writing a sitcom, you become a little obsessed with building up your collection of funny ideas, so you'll need something to write them on. Of course you could always opt for a dictaphone instead, but that would make you appear a bit Alan Partridge-esque.
I particularly like Porridge, so when I picked up a copy of the scripts for the show. That really helped me with structure.
Quote: Trinder @ November 12 2011, 1:00 PM GMTI particularly like Porridge, so when I picked up a copy of the scripts for the show. That really helped me with structure.
Porridge...? I'll have get some of that next time I'm in Tescos...
Quote: Trinder @ November 12 2011, 1:00 PM GMTI particularly like Porridge, so when I picked up a copy of the scripts for the show. That really helped me with structure.
I've got that book as well.
Hi,
Thanks for your replies, I'll have a look into the scripts idea as that would be a good place to start (structurally) and would help with writing techniques.
I do carry a note book round currently as I have been writing stand up but, haven't really utilised it for sit com ideas so I will have to start!!
Thanks for the advice!!
Jason.
I would suggest you write something, anything, put it on here and see what feedback you get...
I have the book 'Father Ted - The Complete Scripts' and before each episode Graham Linehan and Arthur Matthews discuss the episode and how they came up with their ideas and what they think of the finished product, etc. It really is a brilliant book and invaluable for sitcom writing in my opinion.
Quote: Ringo @ November 14 2011, 12:52 PM GMTI have the book 'Father Ted - The Complete Scripts' and before each episode Graham Linehan and Arthur Matthews discuss the episode and how they came up with their ideas and what they think of the finished product, etc. It really is a brilliant book and invaluable for sitcom writing in my opinion.
Ringo, shame about your sitcom. Out of the Trees, wasn't it?
EDIT: That would be a cool joke, but I find Ringo wasn't in Out of the Trees. He was in another sitcom by Douglas Adams and Graham Chapman called (unsurprisingly) The Ringo Starr Show.
Wrong Ringo Tim. I have never drummed. :-)
Quote: Ringo @ November 14 2011, 2:18 PM GMTWrong Ringo Tim. I have never drummed. :-)
So, you have something in common, then.
Quote: Ringo @ November 14 2011, 2:18 PM GMTWrong Ringo Tim. I have never drummed. :-)
Kind of the point of the joke really... (such as it was)
Joke? Where?
I found Marc Blake's book 'How to be a Sitcom Writer' very useful. Also BBC Writers Room pages on the main web site have sample scripts you can download to give you an idea of format/length structure etc. They also have, I think it's still there, a formatting tool to download, although I have to admit to never managing to get it to work, but I'm no Word expert which may have something to do with it.
Start with the characters. Who are they and why are they forced to be together. Why will we like them and why don't they like each other. Or do they like each other too much?
Then, move onto the story. What happens? Don't tell the audience show them. Bear in mind what type of show you intend it to be. Is it single camera, shot like a movie in a few locations, or in front of a studio audience? This may dictate the number of locations and limit the number of exterior shots you can have.
Then, make it funny. But not a list of jokes. Ideally every line should tell the audience something about the character, drive the story forward or be funny. If you can make as many lines as you can be all of these then that would be even better.
Hope this helps.
Write.