British Comedy Guide

Laughing Stock 2011 Page 5

Quote: Griff @ January 25 2011, 10:41 AM GMT

Would this be an appropriate time for a Bussell plc IPO? I'm in for everything I can raise.

Your money would be in safe hands, Griff. Provided you're not the kind of person who likes a return on an investment.

Quote: David Bussell @ January 25 2011, 10:50 AM GMT

Provided you're not the kind of person who likes a return on an investment.

He's not. Have you followed his writing career? There's certainly been no return on the time he's invested in that.

Quote: Comedy Bloke @ January 23 2011, 3:29 PM GMT

Has anyone noticed that the address given on the BBC writersroom 'opportunities' page is slightly different to the address listed in 'Terms and Conditions'?

379 Euston Road or 378-381 Euston Road? Which is correct?

Probably doesn't matter and both addresses are no doubt correct but just thought I'd ask. Thanks.

I think you'll notice that 379 is between 378 and 381 so I think you'll be safe.

Just polishing up my Sit(Com)mission so I'll see what I've got after that. I don't think you can send the same thing to both because the terms say you shouldn't have offered it elsewhere - or words to that effect.

Quote: Chappers @ January 25 2011, 10:43 PM GMT

I don't think you can send the same thing to both because the terms say you shouldn't have offered it elsewhere

If the rules do state that, just change ONE word. Then, technically speaking, you'll have two different scripts, one for 'Laughing Stock' and one for the 'Sitcom Mission'.

If you are sending the same script to each, one will have stage directions and the other will have set directions. Im sending the same to both but I noticed that not everything that works on a set will work on stage so it will definitely be tweaked to fit each and therefore make the scripts slightly different.

Quote: don rushmore @ January 25 2011, 11:42 PM GMT

If the rules do state that, just change ONE word. Then, technically speaking, you'll have two different scripts, one for 'Laughing Stock' and one for the 'Sitcom Mission'.

Yes, I'm doing this. With the BBC one closing just one week after the sitcommission one, I do think that they are expecting this, and quite honestly, hoping to benefit from this. They should, in theory, receive better edited, maybe even better written scripts.

[quote name="Griff" post="721252" date="January 28 2011, 6:32 PM GMT"]
Why on earth would the BBC take Sitcom Mission into account in their planning?

Because they know what they are doing, as any hugely successful business should. This alternative competition provides an extremely useful service for the BBC comedy dept. SM are showcasing eight sitcoms on stage, that's akin to giving eight potential new sitcoms a pilot and saving the BBC much money and effort. If these shows turn out to be good, then the BBC will want them! By getting the same scripts in and recognising something good in them themselves, they can see how they perform on stage and assess their potential.

With a 'major' competition closing a week later, this gives a welcome reprieve to writers who just missed the deadline for SM or buggered up a scene. There is absolutely no coincidence at all about the planning of the BBC's deadline. They'll be expecting, welcoming many SM submitted scripts. IMO.

Quote: Griff @ January 28 2011, 6:32 PM GMT

And why would the fact that a script has been sent somewhere else a week previously (to an opportunity with a stage brief rather than a TV one, and then hastily converted) mean it is better edited and written than one that was written for TV and not sent to Sitcom Mission?

Well, a reasonable question this, but I know mine will be. I may change or drop a line or two that're bothering me or even add something for the TV format. If it's too hasty, it'll show, I agree. But if anyone can't convert a few stage directions into TV directions comfortably and tidily in the space of seven days, then I would suggest giving up writing now. I fancy many scripts will be tweaked in that following week for comp. No.2.

Quote: Alfred J Kipper @ January 29 2011, 5:03 AM GMT

Well, a reasonable question this, but I know mine will be. I may change or drop a line or two that're bothering me or even add something for the TV format. If it's too hasty, it'll show, I agree. But if anyone can't convert a few stage directions into TV directions comfortably and tidily in the space of seven days, then I would suggest giving up writing now. I fancy many scripts will be tweaked in that following week for comp. No.2.

Here's the 3 Stooges tweaked for radio

CURLY
Ouch you have just put your finger up my nose

MOE
Yesand you are now slapping my head.

LARRY
Ouch I have fallen over

See a few tweaks and just as funny.

Quote: Griff @ January 29 2011, 12:07 PM GMT

You've missed my point spectacularly with both replies, but it's not worth debating further. Good luck with your entries, anyway.

Laughing out loud I worry about your blood pressure, Griff. I sometimes think the internet was designed solely to send you to an early grave.

Quote: Alfred J Kipper @ January 29 2011, 5:03 AM GMT

Well, a reasonable question this, but I know mine will be. I may change or drop a line or two that're bothering me or even add something for the TV format. If it's too hasty, it'll show, I agree. But if anyone can't convert a few stage directions into TV directions comfortably and tidily in the space of seven days, then I would suggest giving up writing now. I fancy many scripts will be tweaked in that following week for comp. No.2.

Yes, shouldn't be too much trouble doubling the entire running time in 7 days.

Quote: Griff @ January 29 2011, 2:49 PM GMT

Actually you don't need to double the running time - BBC comp will take 15 minute entries.

In that case I'll octuple the running time of my Sitcom Mission entry instead, so I have a full length feature film script at the end of it.

Quote: Griff @ January 29 2011, 2:49 PM GMT

Actually you don't need to double the running time - BBC comp will take 15 minute entries.

This is why I suggested the BBC planned their deadline when they did, and assumed they will welcome TV versions of the same scripts sent to SM.

In other words, they cannot really give any greater hint to serious script writers that they should give their pedantic analistic side a day off and show their daring, commercially nousey salesy side here. Of course they'll accept them, there may be a gem or two in there. Their business is finding and acquiring them!

Quote: Alfred J Kipper @ January 29 2011, 4:39 PM GMT

This is why I suggested the BBC planned their deadline when they did, and assumed they will welcome TV versions of the same scripts sent to SM.

In other words, they cannot really give any greater hint to serious script writers that they should give their pedantic analistic side a day off and show their daring, commercially nousey salesy side here. Of course they'll accept them, there may be a gem or two in there. Their business is finding and acquiring them!

Except you're still better off writing a quality 30 minute script that can be submitted elsewhere, rather than a 15 minute curio that can be submitted to far less places.

In fact the good thing about Laughing Stock is that you have a durable script you can submit to other places. With Sitcom Commission you're still left with either 1 or 3 scripts that you've got to tinker with and tweak if you want to submit elsewhere.

I find it amazing that anyone could think that they're planning around Sitcom-mission. Nothing against that comp, but blimey. That's insane.

The whole bonus of Sitcom-mission for the BBC (assuming they send anyone over at all) is that it weeds out the rubbish and leaves, in theory, quality finalists. You get other people to waste time reading unworkable stuff.

Just so everyone's aware, one of the BBC Writersroom mods has been saying that they want the scripts double-spaced for this (couldn't see anything about it in the T&Cs).

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