Quote: don rushmore @ April 14 2009, 2:47 PM BSTI don't want to rain on your parade, guys, but apart from the judges, there doesn't seem to be a lot of feedback from people that weren't involved in the writing. Anyone can write a sketch and then sit back and say how wonderful it is, I do it all the time.
Don, is there ever a lot of feedback other than from those who took part? Not really!
Given that there were seven writers onboard, the sketch just seemed a little too easy, that's all. I certainly wasn't suggesting anyone should give up. There's some very good writers here, and I was just hoping to read some "new" jokes. But on a more positive note, I thought the pacing and structure was superb.
The problem with having this many writers is that you want to have a concept with room to breathe, so that we aren't stepping on each others' toes. I know I chose that concept for our team because there was a lot of room to move about in it. The majority of sketches that I write have about 5 lines of dialogue in them so that wouldn't really work with 6 or 7 people dipping in.
Too many cooks spoil the broth, so we had a buffet 
Quote: don rushmore @ April 14 2009, 2:47 PM BSTI don't want to rain on your parade, guys, but apart from the judges, there doesn't seem to be a lot of feedback from people that weren't involved in the writing. Anyone can write a sketch and then sit back and say how wonderful it is, I do it all the time.
As for the winning sketch, I found it quite poor. All you have done , essentially, is find a novel way to recycle classic comedy material. Most of the laughs come from gags that you didn't actually write.
I don't want to rain on your parade either, but in contrast to don rushmore, I won't.
I thought this was great and well done to all on creating two good sketches, one of which was very good indeed (the judges got it right, I think).
I guess it depends on people's reasons for doing this.
My primary goal with writing is always to have fun with it and I did. I also want to try working with different people and I was interested in it as an experiment.
As a bonus I liked the end results so it was 'job done' as far as I'm concerned.
I think if the net result people want is to write the best sketches ever, then this is not how to go about it but we may come up with some gems along the way.
Also, following on from the sketch writing workshop some of us did the other day - in the 'real' world of writing you'll probably be asked to work on sketches you didn't start and with people you don't know. So again it can be a useful exercise in that sense.
Even if no-one but us is interested, as long as those involved get something out of it I'll carry on!
Jx
Quote: Jane P @ April 14 2009, 9:27 PM BSTI guess it depends on people's reasons for doing this.
My primary goal with writing is always to have fun with it and I did. I also want to try working with different people and I was interested in it as an experiment.
As a bonus I liked the end results so it was 'job done' as far as I'm concerned.
I think if the net result people want is to write the best sketches ever, then this is not how to go about it but we may come up with some gems along the way.
Also, following on from the sketch writing workshop some of us did the other day - in the 'real' world of writing you'll probably be asked to work on sketches you didn't start and with people you don't know. So again it can be a useful exercise in that sense.
Even if no-one but us is interested, as long as those involved get something out of it I'll carry on!
Jx
That's sounds like the right attitude.
Just have fun and see it as a practice exercise.
Quote: Jane P @ April 14 2009, 1:17 PM BSTAnd Dolly and Marc should join forces to write the ultimate 'joint' sketch.
Thanks
Jane x
I'll do the smoking, he can do the writing.
Damn why am I always the stenographer.
Because you can spell it.
Sad. But true.
Well when I write with anyone I always end up fixing the drinks if that's any consolation.
Quote: Dolly Dagger @ April 14 2009, 10:49 PM BSTWell when I write with anyone I always end up fixing the drinks if that's any consolation.
Fixing the drinks?! Writing with you sounds dangerous. Like a literary Bond villain 
Quote: Jane P @ April 14 2009, 9:27 PM BSTI guess it depends on people's reasons for doing this.
My primary goal with writing is always to have fun with it and I did. I also want to try working with different people and I was interested in it as an experiment.
As a bonus I liked the end results so it was 'job done' as far as I'm concerned.
I think if the net result people want is to write the best sketches ever, then this is not how to go about it but we may come up with some gems along the way.
Also, following on from the sketch writing workshop some of us did the other day - in the 'real' world of writing you'll probably be asked to work on sketches you didn't start and with people you don't know. So again it can be a useful exercise in that sense.
Even if no-one but us is interested, as long as those involved get something out of it I'll carry on!
Jx
Well put Jane.
I reckon we should get the ball rolling straight away. Just about everyone participating checks this thread and for all the input required (a few lines, 24 hours) we could have another 2 sketches done and dusted by the weekend.
Quote: Dolly Dagger @ April 14 2009, 10:49 PM BSTWell when I write with anyone I always end up fixing the drinks if that's any consolation.
Sounds like a deal. The last thing I co wrote I reckon I was responsible for ninety fiver percent of because I had control of the computer. It didn't get made. Yet.
Quote: Rob0 @ April 14 2009, 11:30 PM BSTFixing the drinks?! Writing with you sounds dangerous. Like a literary Bond villain
Only very strong cocktails I'm afraid. I like sending people away drunk.