Quote: James Williams @ February 6, 2008, 12:00 AM*Sobs into moth-eaten eiderdown*
You have an eiderdown?
You lucky posh, silver spoon mouthed Bastard!
Critique as s&m Page 3
I am beginning to believe that sitcom writers are like Kamikaze pilots
Those that hit the aircraft carrier goto a heavenly place, and therefore can not advise us waiting to take off.
e.g. any one whose ever had a success is now so rich why would they take peanuts from peons like us to read our attempts.
so I guess we all have to comfort each other like a ship full of lusty sailors on a long Antarctic cod hunting expedition.
But no-one ever seems to moan about the equally vague and unhelpful 'yes, that's great' etc.
For me, if someone says 'that's crap' and runs off, then I take that as a comment on the fundamental issue of comedy - which is that it just didn't make them laugh. If someone's doing stand up they make a note of what gets a laugh and what doesn't, simple as.
They don't stand there waiting for someone in the audience to say 'yes I can see where you were going with that one, but I think the second line........'
Quote: Griff @ February 6, 2008, 12:12 AM[
I plan to send him some scripts to review one day, because I really like his book on sitcom writing. I've read a bunch of them and his book is by far my favourite.
Oh, right. I was looking at it on Amazon ages ago and I seem to recall and it had some relatively poor reviews. But if I had the money I'd undoubtedly give him a punt.
I'd like a really good sitcom-writing book actually. Wasn't sure there were any really good ones out there.
Quote: ian_w @ February 6, 2008, 12:17 AMBut no-one ever seems to moan about the equally vague and unhelpful 'yes, that's great' etc.
For me, if someone says 'that's crap' and runs off, then I take that as a comment on the fundamental issue of comedy - which is that it just didn't make them laugh. If someone's doing stand up they make a note of what gets a laugh and what doesn't, simple as.
They don't stand there waiting for someone in the audience to say 'yes I can see where you were going with that one, but I think the second line........'
If someone thinks it's great then presumably they think there is no or limited room for improvement anyway!!
And we're not talking about stand-up in performance, which is wholly different.
Read the book, and did his course it's actually pretty good. He's pretty much an expert on the fundamentals and structures of Sitcom, and will help you dodge the most egregious errors, and rookie mistakes.
The book is good, but it's a horrible publisher who made him cut lots of bits, hence it can seem scanty but is otherwise good.
I have a signed copy, and a signed copy of the sitcom writing book by that guy what wrote On the Buses
I think this is one of those threads to avoid like the plague.
Quote: Charley @ February 5, 2008, 11:54 PMI will do it for a fiver. I am eating wall & sofa here!
You'll do anything for a fiver.
Quote: sootyj @ February 6, 2008, 12:22 AMRead the book, and did his course it's actually pretty good. He's pretty much an expert on the fundamentals and structures of Sitcom, and will help you dodge the most egregious errors, and rookie mistakes.
The book is good, but it's a horrible publisher who made him cut lots of bits, hence it can seem scanty but is otherwise good.
I have a signed copy, and a signed copy of the sitcom writing book by that guy what wrote On the Buses
It's the cost that puts me off mostly. I'm sure he puts a lot of time and effort into reading the scripts.
Publishers eh.
Meant this more as a reccomendation for his fine book,
I intend to use his skills only when I'm pretty much happy with my script, and had it peer evaluated.
Then will find out it sucks, and will buy a small dog purely for the purpose of taunting, and belittling, to make myself feel better
I'm just gonna buy the small dog. Cut out the middle man and save loads of money.
I shall put it's food on a high stool it can't reach and scold it for not eating it.
I will buy it a large ball it can not fit it's teeth round and scold it for losing it.
I will take it to a Great Dane farm, and belittle it (if it is a boy dog) for not being able to reach the bitches naughty bits 5 feet over his head.
I find one of the most damning criticisms, and the one you haven't got any real comeback for, is that they don't think it's funny enough. You can deal with technical or structural problems with a script, but if they don't think you're that funny then you're stuffed.
Quote: sootyj @ February 5, 2008, 11:30 PM, Marc Blake is only £75.
And for £85 he'll read your script as well, arf ! arf !
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Quote: chipolata @ February 6, 2008, 10:38 AMI find one of the most damning criticisms, and the one you haven't got any real comeback for, is that they don't think it's funny enough. You can deal with technical or structural problems with a script, but if they don't think you're that funny then you're stuffed.
I don't think it's that damning.
A couple of people said that about my sitcom cript... so I'm adding more jokes!!
& some of the existing gags could have been missed due to lack of direction in the script, so I'm putting a couple of EXASPERATED LOOKs etc. in as well.
I'll say what I find a major problem with many 'amateur' scripts I see - too many jokes that are not top-drawer. They're not top-drawer becase the writer has exercised no restraint in what jokes to include, and often it leads to an unbelievable mess. People think a scatter-gun effect is ok (which it is if all the jokes are great) but use it as an excuse not to edit the crap jokes out.
I'm not saying every joke has to be that funny, but it has to "fit" within the dynamics of the piece. Sometimes it's clear that a writer has a joke that they think is great that they "must use" and it's been fairly obviously shoe-horned into the script.
So, really, if the characters are there and the plot is there but it's just not funny enough... I don't see it's too big a problem to add more laughs. The only problem is making them appear natural and not shoe-horned.
I agree with what you say, although the real problem is lack of talent. Most people's scripts or gags are not bad - but that's all. They can put in more jokes, but they will be as averagely amusing and averagely imaginative and as unexpected as their other jokes. They're just not good enough.
Quote: Godot Taxis @ February 6, 2008, 2:26 PMI agree with what you say, although the real problem is lack of talent. Most people's scripts or gags are not bad - but that's all. They can put in more jokes, but they will be as averagely amusing and averagely imaginative and as unexpected as their other jokes. They're just not good enough.
Well, Chimes of Freedom has already kindly informed me that I fit into this category! 
