Quote: Park Bench @ December 31 2011, 11:15 AM GMT. Want to get all the scenes structurally done today and do some more character work... Will leave the verbal gags until last.
I like this script already.
The Sitcom Mission 2012 Page 25
This thread is locked. No further replies can be posted.
Quote: Kev F @ December 29 2011, 10:35 PM GMTI'm sorry The Sitcom Trials don't get a mention in the acknowledgements, we like to think we played a small part in your success.
Kev F The Sitcom Trials
It's ok Kev, don't apologise.
And is that the royal 'we', Mrs Thatcher?
Okay. Twelve scenes more or less in place. May add a couple later to fill in plot/character gaps. One short scene I'm really happy about. It features a great visual/verbal gag that ties in perfectly with the plot. It was another one I conceived whilst asleep in bed (see my other post about good writers never sleeping). Not surprisingly, the female characters are turning out the be the most difficult to flesh out. May ask my other half if it's okay if I nip out to the pub tonight to do some research..
Hmm..maybe not.
Time for some alcohol.
Quote: Declan @ December 31 2011, 1:26 PM GMTIt's ok Kev, don't apologise.
And is that the royal 'we', Mrs Thatcher?
It may well be. And we give the Mission a passing mention in our Top Ten TV of 2011.
The "we" comes from that well known saying: there's no I in Sitcom Trials.
Admittedly we hadn't thought that through.
"...the Sitcom Trials and Sitcom Mission's continued existence seem almost futile."
And a Happy New Year to you too!
Quote: Declan @ December 31 2011, 11:41 PM GMT"...the Sitcom Trials and Sitcom Mission's continued existence seem almost futile."
Almost! I said almost!
For anyone who didn't read the blog, that sentence came in my praise for Fresh Meat, and its line up of half a dozen new comedy writers, all proving nearly as good as Sam Bain & Jesse Armstrong.
Of course the success stories from last year's Mission mean there's no question about the good job it's doing. Long may it last.
Quote: Kev F @ January 1 2012, 10:40 AM GMTAlmost! I said almost!
For anyone who didn't read the blog, that sentence came in my praise for Fresh Meat, and its line up of half a dozen new comedy writers, all proving nearly as good as Sam Bain & Jesse Armstrong.
Fresh Meat? The tiresomely empty and predictable student sitcom. Except for some reason they thought this paper-thin premise was worthy of bloating it into a dreary hour long comedy-drama. Despite the fact there was no drama in it.
I'd like to kick off this year by saying a huge 'thank you' for the amazing work that Mark and Aaron do for this website.
It's a brilliant resource for comedy writers, and long may it continue.
We owe you.
On the subject of booze, how do people feel about an occasional/monthly/bi-monthly comedy writers get together? Pubs are desperate for business. If we can promise them 30 people we'll get a free room somewhere.
We're a bit busy with workshops, scripts, meetings, upcoming shows etc so does anybody want to take on the mantle of social secretary?
Go on, go on, go on...you know you want to.
If not you who? If not now when?
Quote: chipolata @ January 1 2012, 11:59 AM GMTFresh Meat? The tiresomely empty and predictable student sitcom. Except for some reason they thought this paper-thin premise was worthy of bloating it into a dreary hour long comedy-drama. Despite the fact there was no drama in it.
Chip's always ready with an upbeat take on a show!
Talking of singing the praise of the Mission and the Trials, I just stumbled upon this little success story. The Same Paige a sitcom by Anna Bennetts that was staged as part of The Sitcom Trials when Simon & Declan were running it, has now been made for the screen and is in a competition which you, if you wish, can vote for.
The details are all here on Anna's website.
Here's to the Mission and/or the Trials turning over The Next Paige in 2012. Do you see what I did there?
Kev F
Sitcom Trials
Have you had confirmation about the judges and scouts turning up to the finals? All the big channels and prod companies are sending someone, I hope?
And any inklings of what some are after? You've said C4 would love a Smoking Room in there, any ideas on what others want?
Any styles of sitcom in demand more than others, have you heard? Ta.
Hi Alfred
We haven't had confirmation from the theatre yet about the exact date of the Grand Final, so judges aren't yet confirmed either. But we've been very well supported in the past.
And if you've written something utterly brilliant that the production companies and commissioners will fall over themselves for, you don't need to worry what they think they're looking for.
Okidoke. Just flipping back through the pages I noticed you nearly excluded what turned out to be the emphatic winner due to similarity issues! I bet that's a common thing these days, there being so many sitcoms already out there.
I see it a bit like a minefield with some old mines inactive, so you may get away with being similarish in theme or style, but if it's a newly laid one yours is close to, it could go boom! 
Do you see it the same way or am I being too bleak?
When we had industry judges in the heats in 2010, if they didn't like a sitcom then they'd compare it to something that was already out there because they were looking at it negatively. If they liked it, they concentrated on what they liked about it before comparing it to a similar sitcom, if they did at all.
Either way, it's still a good calling card and a funny and interesting script will open doors for you in this competition at least.
Yeah that's about how I imagined then. It brings home how defined you have to be now. And glad to see the winner getting lined up for something else, out of it. Getting noticed as a writer by the industry must be the main realistic aim here, really. Still a feat to pull off! Calling card will do me.