Critiques

Hi all, something which has been bugging me for a while about reading the sketches in the critique forum - would it be possible for people to specify which media the sketch is for?

There's a world of difference between radio, stage and TV sketches. Sometimes I read things and think if it's on radio, then that gag would work. If it's on stage, the audience would see it straight away.

Similarly, a radio sketch can get away with just being dialogue - a TV sketch can use the medium to convey visual gags aswell.

I know I don't always leave comments, mostly because other people get there first and there's nothing left to say; but it would be really helpful if people could just include their intended medium somewhere.

Thank you.

That's OK but some of the sketches in critique are at the development stage (most of mine are) where maybe medium is not really the issue. I don't know about you but when I start a sketch I don't think 'oh, yeah this is a radio sketch..' but maybe you do. There's no one right way, eh?

Generally people post whether it's a radio sketch before hand and if not, everyone generally assumes it's a visual based sketch.

You will see more "SFX:" on a radio-based sketch than physical actions such as "JOHN picks his nose" in a visual based sketch.

But if you really are unsure, just post asking, we don't bite

Quote: Paul W @ January 18, 2008, 6:15 PM

we don't bite

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Oh yes we do!

Great, now I'm worried about being bitten.

Frankie: yes, I always think about who the sketch is intended for - I'd find it difficult to write a sketch without knowing if anyone can see what's going on or not and if it's possible to keep things hidden until a specific moment.

I write very different sketches for stage than I do for TV - I don't recall writing many radio sketches; but I'm sure I have at some point.

I think the main reason I know beforehand is because every sketch I write is for sale, usually marketed towards a specific show.

Obviously though, it's whatever works for you; as you say there is no right way.

Paul: I didn't realise visual was the default medium; but even then, a stage sketch is very different from a TV sketch. The majority of the sketches I've read seem to be purely dialogue with no visual gags at all.

Having said that, I'm probably wrong - I don't pay massive amounts of attention.

Quote: Phill @ January 18, 2008, 6:33 PM

Paul: I didn't realise visual was the default medium; but even then, a stage sketch is very different from a TV sketch. The majority of the sketches I've read seem to be purely dialogue with no visual gags at all.

Having said that, I'm probably wrong - I don't pay massive amounts of attention.

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I tend to read nearly all the new posts going into the critique forum (Yes I'm that sad), unless I'm off the forum for a few days, it's too long or it just falls under my radar.

As Frankie mentioned people don't generally post with intention of it being set for TV, radio, stage ect, they just want feedback on whether people find it funny or not. Format and medium of the sketch tend to be at the back of most of our writers minds.

Quote: Phill @ January 18, 2008, 6:33 PM

Great, now I'm worried about being bitten.

Frankie: yes, I always think about who the sketch is intended for - I'd find it difficult to write a sketch without knowing if anyone can see what's going on or not and if it's possible to keep things hidden until a specific moment.

I write very different sketches for stage than I do for TV - I don't recall writing many radio sketches; but I'm sure I have at some point.

I think the main reason I know beforehand is because every sketch I write is for sale, usually marketed towards a specific show.

Obviously though, it's whatever works for you; as you say there is no right way.

Paul: I didn't realise visual was the default medium; but even then, a stage sketch is very different from a TV sketch. The majority of the sketches I've read seem to be purely dialogue with no visual gags at all.

Having said that, I'm probably wrong - I don't pay massive amounts of attention.

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I can see your point. My sketches tend to default to visual and video mostly, probably as I was brought up on TV comedy!

I think visual is the default medium as that is the 'natural medium' (we can all see and hear what is going on normally in our day to say existence) radio being an 'unatural medium' where we are stripped of our sight.

Interesting that every sketch you write is for sale. Does that mean you don't start/finish a piece of work unless you think it's saleable?

Just interested, not in any critical.

Interesting, I would have thought knowing what medium you're writing for is an intrinsic part of knowing whether something's funny or not - or at least knowing what kind of funny things you can include.

I think I've totally misunderstood the point of the critique forums and should learn to keep my fool mouth shut.

Phill since this is aimed at my sketch, perhaps I can just say the sketch was aimed at the BSG forum readers, not TV or radio. I'm sure others use the critiques prior to sending off sketches, but not in my case. Horses for courses I guess

My last post was a reply to Paul - something went screwy there.

"Does that mean you don't start/finish a piece of work unless you think it's saleable?"

No, it means I only write sketches I'm going to try and sell.

Is that the same thing?

Maybe.

I only write sketches for someone in particular. Last year (or maybe the year before) I wrote sketches almost exclusively for The Treason Show/NewsRevue; recently every sketch I've written was for a new BBC 3 show.

To be honest, I'm not much of a sketch writer - I tend to focus more on feature films, and a little TV now and then.

Quote: Rob B @ January 18, 2008, 7:24 PM

Phill since this is aimed at my sketch, perhaps I can just say the sketch was aimed at the BSG forum readers, not TV or radio. I'm sure others use the critiques prior to sending of sketches, but not in my case. Horse for courses I guess

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Wasn't aimed specifically at your sketch, Rob - yours was just the last one I read which reminded me I've been meaning to post this for a while.

No offence was intended to anyone. I just find it difficult to tell sometimes.

Quote: Phill @ January 18, 2008, 7:20 PM

Interesting, I would have thought knowing what medium you're writing for is an intrinsic part of knowing whether something's funny or not - or at least knowing what kind of funny things you can include.

I think I've totally misunderstood the point of the critique forums and should learn to keep my fool mouth shut.

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Hey maybe not. There are different peeps posting for different reasons in critique and some are beginners or not serious writers. It's probably not for an established commercial writer, posting stuff in BSG critique, unless they were perhaps new to comedy and experimenting with stuff.

I would put myself down as an experimenter. I have made no serious attempts to sell any of my writing (appart from a few comps) and am not yet ready to do so.

On the scripts front.. surely it becomes pretty obvious if it's an audio only or a visual fairly quickly? As does the diference between stage and TV. On TV there are an awful lot of visual reveals as the medium is clearly ideal for it. I think the BSG default is TV perhaps not surprisingly as we are a TV Sitcom site!

The format is not really that important as, it was mentioned earlier, most of the sketches are in the development stage. The idea is what is important. Then you can decide whether it will work visually or audibly.

Obviusly this only applies really to sketches. Sitcoms and longer scripts have to know what medium they are written for or they won't work.

To be honest, I've never had any trouble deciphering which format a sketch is on the critiques board.

Quote: Winterlight @ January 18, 2008, 8:13 PM

To be honest, I've never had any trouble deciphering which format a sketch is on the critiques board.

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Same here.

It's fine if you can't get your head round it, just take what you're reading with a pinch of salt and you can't go wrong on here.

You have commented on a couple of pieces of peoples work already and it's very constructive so thanks for that. It beats mine which are generally along the lines of yay or nay... which is unfortunately down to reading a large volume of sketches a day.

As for your own sketches Phil, don't hesitate to post, if you ask we'll look over them and pass on any comments we can.

I think he may be a professional screen-writer thinking we were all also professionals! Looking at his profile...

Don't worry, it's only PRODUCERS we bite! (..they're feckin' 'and off!)