How many of the writers on here would like to act in their sitcoms? I've never acted before (apart from in school), but would secretly like to give it a go. By the way, how hard would it be to get a part in your own show?
Would you like to act?
Well I’m no actor but I have thought about a Hitchcock type cameo role. Seen but not heard.
I wrote in a number of my sitcoms the character of a comedian who dress's as a dalek, and talks through a dalek voice changer.
I can't act but I could trundle around the set staccato barking my lines.
I can't lie, I'd love all my old school friends to see me on T.V. Does anyone else feel like this?
Quote: catskillz @ February 8, 2008, 9:07 AMI can't lie, I'd love all my old school friends to see me on T.V. Does anyone else feel like this?
No.
But I enjoyed acting at school so I would do it again, particularly as you would know your characters better than anyone. BTW good acting is a tough craft.
I have acted professionally and it's not as easy as it looks. It only looks easy when the actor is getting it right.
Continuation is really skilfull....i.e. a full length shot is done, then a medium, then a close up, so you have to do a scene three times. if you are smoking in the scene, you have to remember which word you puffed on it, or drinking a wine for instance, it has to be the same word in each shot when you lift the glass to your mouth. or even brushing your hair back with your hand. This is so when the editor cuts and mixes/matches scenes from long shot to close etc, the continuity with props is precise. Then you have to remember the 'frame', the amount of space you have or you go out of shot. and the lighting etc etc
But it is enjoyable.
Quote: bushbaby @ February 8, 2008, 9:53 AMContinuation is really skilfull....i.e. a full length shot is done, then a medium, then a close up, so you have to do a scene three times. if you are smoking in the scene, you have to remember which word you puffed on it, or drinking a wine for instance, it has to be the same word in each shot when you lift the glass to your mouth. or even brushing your hair back with your hand.
Me and my friends did some 'acting' at the weekend and we didn't do any of that stuff! I think it'll show! 
I wouldn't act as I suck at it, I'm like Swindon's wrong answer to Al Pacino. Kevin smith's silent Bob character is the way forward if you want to act in your own sitcom....but then even that was acted quite skillfully.
It probably won't show Shoepie but they'll not show as many shots of you if you haven't got it right... 
Quote: ShoePie @ February 8, 2008, 10:13 AMMe and my friends did some 'acting' at the weekend and we didn't do any of that stuff! I think it'll show!
I wouldn't act as I suck at it, I'm like Swindon's wrong answer to Al Pacino. Kevin smith's silent Bob character is the way forward if you want to act in your own sitcom....but then even that was acted quite skillfully.
I thought you were very good in cock hats !
Although I would find the idea of acting quite embarrassing, it's hard not to notice that most of the succesful sitcoms of recent years have involved writer/performers in some way. I think the best scenario is to work closely with a comedy actor, who will hopefully share your vision and perform your stuff how you want it.
Quote: Nick Rivers @ February 8, 2008, 10:55 AMI thought you were very good in cock hats !
Haha maybe, although I was playing a rowdy drunkard! Not really acting, that part could have been written for me!
I've 'acted' in my own stuff on stage and I am seriously,pitifully,bad. Normal people dont usually know whats going to come out of their mouths when they open them and thats the knack to acting-making it seem like you haven't learned and rehearsed the lines,and not letting your mood affect the delivery.Right now I could 'act' the gentlest/funniest scene in history and it'd come across like I was a constipated psycho just itching to shoot up the world,.I'd love to be able to do it (acting (and murder actually)) but its one of the many,many things I have no talent for.
I would love to make a couple of sneaky appearances, like as a postman or something lame, with a maximum of 2 lines!
It must be really strange, like creating your own world and then briefly physically entering into it! One of the great things about being a writer I suppose, you couldn't really do this if you were an artist or whatever.
Quote: catskillz @ February 8, 2008, 9:07 AMI can't lie, I'd love all my old school friends to see me on T.V. Does anyone else feel like this?
I suppose, though why your old school friends would feel inclined to see me on TV I'm not sure.
I was an actress. Honest. Almost in RADA so I was. My pregnancy stopped that.