Quote: AJGO @ February 24 2013, 2:51 PM GMTTim! Tim! Can you explain this please? I hate not understanding stuff..
I think Newsjacks have contracts for example, but they're not long term. Complete for what they are.
Money and sitcoms Page 6
Quote: Tim Azure @ February 24 2013, 3:53 PM GMTI think Newsjacks have contracts for example, but they're not long term. Complete for what they are.
Complete contracts as in having an agent? Or a long-term/full-time writing job? It's the word 'complete' that's confusing me.. I need to make sure my check-list of ways to make myself feel like a failure is up to date!
Quote: AJGO @ February 24 2013, 4:14 PM GMTComplete contracts as in having an agent? Or a long-term/full-time writing job? It's the word 'complete' that's confusing me.. I need to make sure my check-list of ways to make myself feel like a failure is up to date!
Agents are organised by the writer, not the BBC's contract, so the latter.
The other thing you can do is ask whoever you're dealing with at the Indie if they can recommend an agent. Quite often they'll even call one for you. But really you're best off getting as many interviews with agents as possible and choosing the best one who has your best interests at heart.
Quote: Marc P @ February 23 2013, 10:51 AM GMTThe other obvious thing to do is to speak the producer/editor who wants to option the script and ask them who they would recommend as an agent.
Quote: Marc P @ February 25 2013, 10:52 AM GMT
D'oh! 
Quote: Tim Azure @ February 25 2013, 9:35 AM GMTAgents are organised by the writer, not the BBC's contract, so the latter.
Okay, I still have no idea what you meant by most writers on this site don't have 'complete contracts'. Thanks for attempting to explain though!
Quote: AJGO @ February 24 2013, 4:14 PM GMTComplete contracts as in having an agent? Or a long-term/full-time writing job?
Probably long term more than full time. A number of famous writers still only do it part time. Terry Pratchett for example carried on his day job for years.
"Complete" is just better word to use than "more professional" or "better"...
Quote: Tim Azure @ February 25 2013, 3:48 PM GMTProbably long term more than full time. A number of famous writers still only do it part time. Terry Pratchett for example carried on his day job for years.
"Complete" is just better word to use than "more professional" or "better"...
Ahkay, so a contract from option to production to broadcast for TV sortofthing?
All the writers I know who make a living from it work from random project to random project (except Marc P of course, who reclines on his chaise with a G&T and airily dictates the future of all creativity).
That is true of course. And to help you out further Ajgo - 'a complete contract' is a meaningless term. Sorry Tim. You either have a contract or you don't.
Like I said. Meaningless term.
Quote: Marc P @ February 26 2013, 9:36 AM GMTLike I said. Meaningless term.
All words are meaningless. Our lives are wasted. 
The people round here don't have sitcoms, or don't write for The Now Show.
This is what I mean.
Quote: Tim Azure @ February 26 2013, 12:18 PM GMTAll words are meaningless. Our lives are wasted.
The people round here don't have sitcoms, or don't write for The Now Show.
This is what I mean.
Loads of people on BCG make money from writing or are achieving things that are going in the right direction. It's a brilliant place to get a variety of quality advice! (From people who understand what words mean, obvs, not me!).
And in fairness, I think I recall BCGer Anorak (Horrible Histories, HIGNFY, stand-up career spanning years, etc) saying somewhere that there's only about 500 people in the country making a full-time standard living wage from writing comedy.
I like to creep some comedy in here and there, whatever the medium.