Quote: Griff @ December 1 2009, 2:51 PM GMTWasn't a response to you Tim! My response to you was the quote I put next to yours.
Yeah Tim, Griff will only disagree with me.
Depressing News for Writers Page 6
Quote: Griff @ December 1 2009, 2:54 PM GMTNo I won't
Always seems to me they've got a much better career structure in place in the States for comedy writers. In that they actually appear to have one at all. Am I right about that or am I merely talking out of my box-hole?
For me personally, I see the formula as talent, desire, ability to network which leads to the much-needed contacts, and personality (because producers need to know they can work with you happily, without precociousness, and without you flaking out on them halfway through a big budget).
As to which of those is most important, I think it varies from situation to situation.
I hope I have the first two coupled with a likeable easy-going personality but my ability to network and make contacts is poor. I am congenitally and terminally shy. But I've highlighted this aspect of my personality as something that needs improvement in 2010.
Quote: Griff @ December 1 2009, 2:50 PM GMTYep, the slush pile is full of Van Goghs.
In Van Gogh's case, it was.
Weird, that Van Gogh would be lauded and yet he died a personal and artistic failure. For him the slush pile was all he really knew. What a bitter bitter pill, the poor sod.
Quote: Griff @ December 1 2009, 3:07 PM GMTWell, like I said, I can see why writers choose to cast themselves as Van Goghs misunderstood by a conspiracy of philistines. I just don't think it's an approach I'd personally find helpful.
What do you find helpful (genuine question, no sarcasm intended)?
Quote: Griff @ December 1 2009, 3:13 PM GMTWell, choosing to believe that the industry is run by smart people with good intentions and if your script doesn't get picked, it's because it's not good enough or you've sent it to the wrong person.
I would say I think along those lines too, to be honest.
I think alot of the politics, etc mentioned in this thread come into play further along the line.
Quote: Dolly Dagger @ December 1 2009, 3:14 PM GMTI would say I think along those lines too, to be honest.
Same here.
P.S. I see myself more as a complete Pollock or at worst a Dick... Van Dyke.
Quote: Griff @ December 1 2009, 3:13 PM GMTif your script doesn't get picked, it's because it's not good enough or you've sent it to the wrong person.
And if it IS good enough and you HAVE sent to the right person, you've probably sent it at the wrong time.
Life's a bitch.
Quote: Ming the Mirthless @ December 1 2009, 3:21 PM GMTAnd if it IS good enough and you HAVE sent to the right person, you've probably sent it at the wrong time.
That is another aspect - well noted, Ming.
You can be missed one or two times it is true, but if you keep at it and send more stuff in and better stuff in to more people you will be noticed, eventually, hopefully. Attitude is probably more important than ability in this respect. Cream rises they say but then so does scum. Welcome to the media.
Quote: Marc P @ December 1 2009, 3:23 PM GMTone or two times
On my planet, we call that 'once or twice'.
We are highly advanced.
Quote: Ming the Mirthless @ December 1 2009, 3:30 PM GMTOn my planet, we call that 'once or twice'.
We are highly advanced.
Well that planet hasn't got a highly sophisticated sense of meaning. There is a difference.
Quote: Tim Walker @ December 1 2009, 2:38 PM GMTMaybe they should just give Cowell a show to find new writers...? 'The EXT. Factor'
L. O. L. Nice one.
I don't know if anyone has ever entered ABBA (Alfred, something, Bursary Award...can't remember...) for Radio 4; but the script developer for Radio 4 Drama Manchester said that the best scripts didn't even make the long list for that. She didn't tell me why that might have happened though...