Looks very interesting but for me, something I expected to happen as I had written a sitcom about terrorism (called Cell A Vie), with very similar intentions to Morris and was told that there was zero chance of anyone taking a gamble on it.
Anyone else had anything similar? Your "fresh idea" appearing at roughly the same time as something similar appears on television? I wonder how many of us are writing very similar sitcoms to each other right now.
I was pitching a Rom-Zom-Com two years before Shaun of the Dead came out. I even have the tagline registered. I also wrote an animated superhero comedy about the time Finding Nemo was in the cinema. Both total co-incidences.
And mine were shite in comparison.
mine was Phoenix Nights
In one part I even had a horse coming onto the dance floor as in...Pheonix Nights
Not a sitcom, but I did write a pilot about survivors on an island... then Lost showed up. I had an idea about a psychiatrist... then Huff came out.
I sliced some bread the other day...
No seriously, I hate the 'can't do this' nonsense. It can all change with the right script and company. I remember being told that there will never be a sitcom set in a brothel - by a teacher - and Respectable (not to everyone's taste) came out a few weeks later.
To be fair, I should imagine a few people thought about the terrorist angle as it is on the radar at the moment. Oh, I didn't mean that pun.
Agreed with ContainsNuts, news triggers identical themes. The advantage of being in the biz means your script gets made before all the other 'similar' ideas begin filtering up from the submissions department.
BUT this is not as great a disadvantage as it first appears because it's how you put your own UNIQUE twist to, often done-to-death, stories that make them work or fail.
TV / radio is desperate not for scripts (shock) but 'voices.' Your voice is what will eventually get you noticed. Scripts can be edited, writers can be mentored and trained, but your take on life is something that can never be taught, stolen, or passed on. It is the sum of all your experiences, modified by your personality. 
I've got quite a deep voice, does that help? It certainly doesn't when I phone the school.
All mime artists, give up your aspirations now. 
Quote: David Bussell @ January 15, 2008, 4:27 PMI also wrote an animated superhero comedy about the time Finding Nemo was in the cinema.
Dave - I think you're stretching the 'they came up with the same idea' concept a little bit with that one. Personally I had an idea about an animated pair of trousers and then 'Cars' came out.
I'm always amazed that there is no public involvement in the decision making process about whether or not they commission a sitcom - if they make some pilots, surely show them in a cinema to a load of people and then give them questionaires of the way out. I guess even earlier in the process if they get a funny script, but are not sure the concept will be popular, they could poll people.
Quote: Simon Stratton @ January 15, 2008, 7:12 PMDave - I think you're stretching the 'they came up with the same idea' concept a little bit with that one. Personally I had an idea about an animated pair of trousers and then 'Cars' came out.
I was making the point that the next movie Pixar released was The Incredibles.
I had an idea about a sitcom about abducting a child in Portugel but the producer wanted to turn into into Reality TV 
Quote: David Bussell @ January 15, 2008, 7:21 PMI was making the point that the next movie Pixar released was The Incredibles.
You wrote The Incredibles? You must be rich!
Quote: garyd @ January 16, 2008, 12:01 AMAbout as funny as it is well written!!!
Dick head!!
And yes, I do realise I've probably blown any chance of being accepted on this site.
Me and my principles!
You're not as bad as some! 
Quote: garyd @ January 16, 2008, 12:03 AMAnd yes, I do realise I've probably blown any chance of being accepted on this site.
Me and my principles!
For those as confused as I am, the above applied to my passing critique on the below.
January 15, 2008, 10:53 PM GMT Edited by ajp29 on January 15 2008, 10:53 PM GMT
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I had an idea about a sitcom about abducting a child in Portugel but the producer wanted to turn into into Reality TV