Sent mine last night.
In the words of Blackadder:
"Good luck everybody"
Writing for Newsjack (aka 7 on 7) Page 3
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I guess we're meant to send these sketches in the body of the email and not as attachments?
It's a shame we can't send four. Picking that last sketch is agonizing. And 4 is an even number. I sound a bit like Monk there 
Quote: Hennell @ February 19 2009, 6:37 AM GMTAnyone decide how topical the stuff needs to be? ( i.e. - does seat-of-the-pants on the deadline day writing get you bonus points?)
Hard to say, but I'd imagine that anything from the ten days it's open will get you brownie points.
I'm a bit confused why some of you are complaining you've only got 10 days to come up with some sketches... writers working on Radio 4's topical comedies like The Now Show only have 24 hours to come up with a bunch of material when they get the phone call - 7 On 7 is going to be good training for that sort of environment.
Frankly I think 7 On 7 is a great replacement for Tilt. Not only is it a longer run (4 extra episodes), but the brief is a bit more obvious too. Plus you've got Gareth Edwards producing who is currently the boss of radio comedy - he's a good person to get to know!
Quote: Mark @ February 19 2009, 4:27 PM GMTI'm a bit confused why some of you are complaining you've only got 10 days to come up with some sketches... writers working on Radio 4's topical comedies like The Now Show only have 24 hours to come up with a bunch of material - 7 On 7 is going to be good training for that sort of environment.
Frankly I think 7 On 7 is a great replacement for Tilt. Not only is it a longer run (4 extra episodes), but the brief is a bit more obvious too. Plus you've got Gareth Edwards producing who is currently the boss of radio comedy - he's a good person to get to know!
Agree with everything there.
Quote: Little Jersey Devil @ February 19 2009, 10:42 AM GMTI guess we're meant to send these sketches in the body of the email and not as attachments?
It's a shame we can't send four. Picking that last sketch is agonizing. And 4 is an even number. I sound a bit like Monk there
I would expect it to be the other way round, sent as attachments (preferably Word documents) with your name and contact details at the top of each page and the pages numbered.
I'm a bit confused why some of you are complaining you've only got 10 days to come up with some sketches... writers working on Radio 4's topical comedies like The Now Show only have 24 hours to come up with a bunch of material - 7 On 7 is going to be good training for that sort of environment.
Frankly I think 7 On 7 is a great replacement for Tilt. Not only is it a longer run (4 extra episodes), but the brief is a bit more obvious too. Plus you've got Gareth Edwards producing who is currently the boss of radio comedy - he's a good person to get to know!
Yeah, I agree with the above too.
They want writers who will come up with material at a moments notice.
I'm really excited about this show as it's the kind of thing I love writing.
I guess we're meant to send these sketches in the body of the email and not as attachments?
I sent mine as Word doc attachments.
It's a shame we can't send four. Picking that last sketch is agonizing.
Yeah, I spent the good part of 2 hours deciding on which one to send.
I could've done with a fourth one too.
Quote: Mark @ February 19 2009, 4:27 PM GMTI'm a bit confused why some of you are complaining you've only got 10 days to come up with some sketches...
I've already stated such a confusion. As far as I can see, ten days is more than long enough. If you can't write a few good sketches in ten days, then you're rubbish.
If you can't write a few good sketches in ten days, then you're rubbish.
Here, here!
I visit the BBC news site, find a news story and instantly, I have a sketch idea.
7 On 7 are going to want people to do exactly that.
I agree that 10 days is plenty of time. I came up with two sketches for this in half an hour. That's editing as well.
It's like Mikey said, you just have to read the story and get the sketch.
Yes agree with the quick turn around being key here. Topical by its nature indicates very short shelf life.
A hot story today is yesterday's news tomorrow and most will have about a week tops not unless they are earth-shattering or mega-tragic, and neither of those scenarios are fodder for many laughs.
From the brief I'd say that it's being pitched just right. It's a day by day review of the previous 7 days in news, sport trivia etc
Agree with Mikey J.
My approach is find the story - get the funny angle and write it there and then. Check grammar and presentation but don't try and work it to death or chances are that the "spark" could fizzle out and the gag becomes sanitised and cold.
Quote: Mark @ February 19 2009, 4:27 PM GMTI'm a bit confused why some of you are complaining you've only got 10 days to come up with some sketches... writers working on Radio 4's topical comedies like The Now Show only have 24 hours to come up with a bunch of material when they get the phone call - 7 On 7 is going to be good training for that sort of environment.
I'm not sure people are complaining in the way you suggest, Mark. Fortunately, anyone wisely viewing BSG/BCG/BCF will have got to know about this in plenty of time, but for anyone who only goes on Writersroom occasionally there's a chance of missing the deadline altogether. It's one thing to produce something for a show you know is coming up every week, but quite a different thing to produce something for a show you didn't even know was coming up.
Of course if the brief is to submit topical stuff, the stuff submitted should be written in a small window of opportunity, but it's also important to give people the opportunity to find out about the window, and that's the bit that can take some time.
Having said all that, the argument is pretty irrelevant for people reading this thread now as they still have plenty of time. I have submitted nowt yet, in the hope of more inspiring stories (and any lateness brownie points if there are any forthcoming - here's hoping for breaking news at 8am on Friday).
Quote: Badge @ February 20 2009, 1:35 AM GMT- here's hoping for breaking news at 8am on Friday).
BREAKING NEWS:
John Major, Edwin Curry, John Sergeant and a small Jack Russell called, Brandy, caught In flagrante delicto at Bognor Regis B&B
Quote: Badge @ February 20 2009, 1:35 AM GMTI'm not sure people are complaining in the way you suggest, Mark. Fortunately, anyone wisely viewing BSG/BCG/BCF will have got to know about this in plenty of time, but for anyone who only goes on Writersroom occasionally there's a chance of missing the deadline altogether. It's one thing to produce something for a show you know is coming up every week, but quite a different thing to produce something for a show you didn't even know was coming up.
Of course if the brief is to submit topical stuff, the stuff submitted should be written in a small window of opportunity, but it's also important to give people the opportunity to find out about the window, and that's the bit that can take some time.
Having said all that, the argument is pretty irrelevant for people reading this thread now as they still have plenty of time. I have submitted nowt yet, in the hope of more inspiring stories (and any lateness brownie points if there are any forthcoming - here's hoping for breaking news at 8am on Friday).
Yeah, but its your job to look for opportunities not anyone elses. If you missed it its no ones fault but your own.
Quote: ContainsNuts @ February 20 2009, 9:02 AM GMTYeah, but its your job to look for opportunities not anyone elses. If you missed it its no ones fault but your own.
Enough already! I haven't missed it... yet. And who needs to look when so many helpful BSG people post on here?
Quote: Blenkinsop @ February 20 2009, 7:53 AM GMTBREAKING NEWS:
John Major, Edwin Curry, John Sergeant and a small Jack Russell called, Brandy, caught In flagrante delicto at Bognor Regis B&B
Next Friday.