British Comedy Guide

The Sitcom Mission 2012 Page 28

Quote: Jon G @ January 9 2012, 11:44 AM GMT

Does anyone have any advice to offer on the wisdom of re-submitting last year's script (appropriately re-written to hopefully get over the failure issue!) vs submitting another episode (presuming the concept of the original idea is strong) vs instead working on a completely new idea?

Did you go on the workshop to address the problems? Or the medal feedback service?

I'd say it would be an uphill struggle, and that you'd need to make the revised script much better than you would have to make a new script, to get over the 'oh no not that again' factor.

But IIRC one of last year's finalists (The Box) was a re-entry with a different episode of the same concept, so not impossible by any means.

Quote: Marc P @ January 9 2012, 11:47 AM GMT

Did you go on the workshop to address the problems? Or the medal feedback service?

In fact I used the read-through and DVD service offered by Simon and Declan which I thought was absolutely superb. It was very clear that the topic / script had some very good points but it was also very clear it had several bad points. As these were identified and openly discussed as part of the service I was able to see how to re-work the ideas into a much better script.

To pick up on Andy's point, the 'oh no not that again' problem did nag at me, hence my question.

Just use what you learnt and write another script.

My Hero was rejected five years before it got made as a pilot... twice!

Quote: Marc P @ January 9 2012, 1:46 PM GMT

My Hero was rejected five years before it got made as a pilot... twice!

If only they'd gone with their first instinct.

Oooh sharp!! Did quite well as I remember. But if you mean the first casting in the first pilot I agree.

Quote: Jon G @ January 9 2012, 1:42 PM GMT

In fact I used the read-through and DVD service offered by Simon and Declan which I thought was absolutely superb.

I think that changes things - if the point of their feedback is to improve things, and you've improved things, then I'm sure they'll not only recognise that but appreciate having been able to help!

@Mark P - so who was originally cast as Thermoman, I'm curious!

Quote: andyblacksheep @ January 9 2012, 2:15 PM GMT

@Mark P - so who was originally cast as Thermoman, I'm curious!

Image

Can't really see him in the role?

Hi,
I've read the guidelines and still can't find the answer to what is probably a stupid question, but do you require 'character summaries' in the intro.
Cheers
Shirley

Quote: ShirleyMcFurley @ January 10 2012, 1:56 AM GMT

Hi,
I've read the guidelines and still can't find the answer to what is probably a stupid question, but do you require 'character summaries' in the intro.
Cheers
Shirley

It's not compulsory, but why wouldn't you guide the reader? Why wouldn't you use every tool you can to make us 'see' your characters? We read over a thousand scripts last year, so you should do everything you possibly can to make your cast stand out.

Right, time to break out the Wingdings font methinks.

Still trying to pull it all together. Not happy with opening third. May have to do a complete rewrite. Will have some quality time to get it sorted over the next week. Up to about 3500 words for the full episode script. Will need to amend it to bring it down to 15 minutes, but I do have a plan for that. Happy with the jokes that build the framework, just need to change some of the dialogue to make it wittier. At least it has a beginning, a middle and an end. May have to 'act it out' to see if it works, with the drapes closed.*

*based on an old Woody Allen joke.

Quote: simon wright @ January 10 2012, 7:26 AM GMT

It's not compulsory, but why wouldn't you guide the reader? Why wouldn't you use every tool you can to make us 'see' your characters? We read over a thousand scripts last year, so you should do everything you possibly can to make your cast stand out.

Cool - it's just that I wasn't sure whether you wanted 'show don't tell' - as any potential audience wouldn't have the benefit of character summeries, but now it's clarified, great.
Thanks for your help.

Shirley MF

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