Pointers on going from script to screen!!

Hello all,

TO introduce myself; my name is James and suprise-suprise, I am an aspiring comedy writer/performer.

I am putting finishing touches on writing a 30-minute sitcom pilot, (with treatment and story for a full six part series to boot). I would be hoping to send this to the next Comedy Lab 2012 (with at least some sample scenes) and also to send it wherever I can to either get it solicited by an agent OR have a channel take it (and me) seriously and get it commisioned.

Easy to say that, I know. I am an optimist I am afraid, so naivety and ignorance is my forte. I beleive in what I am doing and want to achieve, and so I am going to go hell for leather to get my script made!!

Now for my question; Obviously it is not going to work in my favour that I am a complete unknown BUT - what can I do (if anything) to make myself seem more worthy when the time comes for me to unleash my script and my ideas? Is it going to completely go against me that I am inexperienced and unknown in the comedy world as a writer AND performer, or should the work speak for itself?

I was thinking along the lines of doing a string of mini webisodes for YouTube etc. (not necessarily sketches) of my character(s). I hope this will show my capabilities as writer and performer and also give a real sense of the potential of the world and characters I have created.

If anyone has any advice or pointers, it would be much appreciated. I am glad to now be part of this great online community which is filled with like-minded people.

Many thanks,

James

It's very difficult to say, James. There's a million people (yes, I counted them) putting up videos on YouTube in the hope of getting noticed and 99.9% (yes, I did the maths) don't get noticed.

Just write a very good sitcom and you should get noticed that way. Maybe try doing some live work too.

Quote: Ben @ September 7 2010, 9:25 PM BST

It's very difficult to say, James. There's a million people (yes, I counted them) putting up videos on YouTube in the hope of getting noticed and 99.9% (yes, I did the maths) don't get noticed.

Just write a very good sitcom and you should get noticed that way. Maybe try doing some live work too.

View original

Thanks for the reply Ben.

I am aware of the hundreds of thousands of people doing online skits etc. However, I think it is still probably something worth doing as an immediate reference point for anyone who wanted to see something in action?

I'm glad you have confirmed about getting noticed for the quality of the script (assuming it is of high quality).

When you say live work, do you mean stand-up? or do you mean perhaps trying to perform my script live at something like (or similar to) Edinburgh Fringe? I will mention that my script is intended for Single-Camera as opposed to Multi-Camera Studio.

Thanks

You might as well do some web stuff. If it's of good quality then that will show your commitment to making comedy well. Go for open door radio shows etc. as well just to get a couple of credits under your belt or to meet a couple of producers.

Might not help but it definitely can't hurt.

Quote: Jamesy @ September 7 2010, 9:15 PM BST

Hello all,

TO introduce myself; my name is James and suprise-suprise, I am an aspiring comedy writer/performer.

I am putting finishing touches on writing a 30-minute sitcom pilot, (with treatment and story for a full six part series to boot). I would be hoping to send this to the next Comedy Lab 2012 (with at least some sample scenes) and also to send it wherever I can to either get it solicited by an agent OR have a channel take it (and me) seriously and get it commisioned.

Easy to say that, I know. I am an optimist I am afraid, so naivety and ignorance is my forte. I beleive in what I am doing and want to achieve, and so I am going to go hell for leather to get my script made!!

Now for my question; Obviously it is not going to work in my favour that I am a complete unknown BUT - what can I do (if anything) to make myself seem more worthy when the time comes for me to unleash my script and my ideas? Is it going to completely go against me that I am inexperienced and unknown in the comedy world as a writer AND performer, or should the work speak for itself?

I was thinking along the lines of doing a string of mini webisodes for YouTube etc. (not necessarily sketches) of my character(s). I hope this will show my capabilities as writer and performer and also give a real sense of the potential of the world and characters I have created.

If anyone has any advice or pointers, it would be much appreciated. I am glad to now be part of this great online community which is filled with like-minded people.

Many thanks,

James

View original

Write often, use every method at your disposal to get your comedy noticed and develop some skills that aren't strictly about writing. Then keep doing that for about ten years. That last part's not a joke. Everyone starts off thinking it won't apply to them (I did) but there's every chance it will, so settle in for the long haul.

Hello James

YouTube is a fantastic tool to help get your stuff noticed. For instance I (very cheekily) sent a YouTube sketch to a Channel 4 commissioner who contacted me to say how much he enjoyed it, then he set a meeting up with a major Indie, which led me to shooting a ten minute sketch show taster with them. It can happen that way - there's no quicker and more direct way of showing off your stuff than sending them a YouTube link.

Also as Bussell says, there are other ways of getting on. Writing competitions, BBC schemes etc. Anything you can do to get your name remembered by producers. (Apart from sending them sliced-off body parts.)

Also, there's nothing wrong with being an optimist, you really have to be in order to stick at this biz given the competition.

One last thing; when things seem tough, try not to get upset about it. The moment you start railing against the injustice of so-called inferior shows turning up on the box when your script isn't getting its due is the beginning of a long and unpleasant road toward becoming a bitter crank no one wants any dealings with. Try not to think "I could write better than that piece of shit!" because what happens then is that you end up writing shit +1.