In what way Nogget?
Any advice on the sitcom writing process? Page 2
At least learn the formula before you break it.
Quote: Nogget @ July 11 2011, 10:55 AM BSTThat book gets recommended a lot, and while it has a lot going for it by providing 'a formula' for writing comedy, it might lead you to create 'formulaic' comedy. I can't imagine anyone writing Python by following its advice.
Maybe it's a Picasso thing; people need to know the rules before attempting to break them. Whoops.....I've just repeated Dave's post above!!
Quote: Peter Brouhaha @ July 11 2011, 11:46 AM BSTWhoops.....I've just repeated Dave's post above!!
What a formula thing to do!
That's Formula 1
Quote: David Bussell @ July 11 2011, 11:48 AM BSTWhat a formula thing to do!
Ha ha.....but look at the times of our posts, Dave.......you beat me to it by the thickness of a Rizzla. Still, first is first and second is nowhere. I'm a disgrace!!
Quote: billwill @ July 8 2011, 9:20 PM BSTYes, and the tip is: Don't waste your time looking up all those formatting details and trying to learn to be an Ace Word User.
I've done it all for you.
Cheers Bill, is that the end of the gift ones?
Quote: Peter Brouhaha @ July 11 2011, 11:52 AM BSTHa ha.....but look at the times of our posts, Dave.......you beat me to it by the thickness of a Rizzla. Still, first is first and second is nowhere. I'm a disgrace!!
Peter, you haven't just let yourself down, you've let all of us down.
Quote: Nogget @ July 11 2011, 10:55 AM BSTThat book gets recommended a lot, and while it has a lot going for it by providing 'a formula' for writing comedy, it might lead you to create 'formulaic' comedy. I can't imagine anyone writing Python by following its advice.
I wouldn't say it leads to a formulaic approach. It's looking more at structures and the basics of how comedy works. Python follows most of the same 'rules'.
The advice I always follow on rewriting is:
Second Draft = First Draft -10%.
Quote: Kev F @ July 7 2011, 10:22 AM BSTAsk yourself, first, why the hell do you want to write a sitcom? It never ceases to amaze me that thousands of people want to write situation comedies when writing almost anything else would be a much more likely way of making money and entertaining people.
Look at TV. How many sitcoms are there? How many people write them? How long have they been in the business? Now, having answered those questions, how likely do you think it is that you are ever going to get your situation comedy on the telly?
If you want to be a professional writer, why not look at TV writing, beginning with shows like Doctors. Or even better radio writing, the BBC uses the work of a lot of new writers all the time and has lots of opportunities for those willing to turn their hand to radio plays, short stories or indeed comedy.
If you want to entertain people, have you thought of stand up comedy? Or if that's too daunting, how about play writing for the stage. Every year the Edinburgh Fringe is full of teams of actors crying out for plays to perform.
Or why not write a screenplay or a novel? You could publish your novel yourself and find an audience instantly. And a completed screenplay has a chance, however remote, of getting optioned. Because there a lot of movies made every day. There are hardly any sitcoms made, especially in the UK. Ever.
Why sitcom? Do people think it's easier than other forms of writing? Cos it's not. You have to learn the skills and techniques of storytelling and scriptwriting, as in other forms, THEN you have be funny. Which most people simply aren't.
I speak as someone who has himself tried writing sitcom frequently over the last 20 years, with some limited success (two radio pilots and a TV series of The Sitcom Trials) and can't explain why he thought it was a good idea. But now I am happily writing other things and, delightfully, getting paid to do it. I'd love to write my own sitcom, but it's dropped way down my list of priorities. I'd be interested to learn why it's so high on many other peoples.
Kev F
Getting a (successful) sitcom made is a dream for the vast majority. It's chasing rainbows for sure, but for the very, very few who do achieve it, it's a life-changing event. The thought of reaching so many people with your characters and stories and jokes is intensely-exciting and that's why we keep trying.
Yes, there are other ways of making a living out of writing, but for those of us that simply get off making other people laugh, the thought of keeping a huge TV audience giggling for half an hour is just too big a hook to escape from. I'm lucky-enough to make a living from writing jokes on greeting cards and it still gives me a buzz when I see someone pick up one of my cards in WHSmith and laugh. So imagine the buzz I'd get from my own comedy series? That's what it's all about, the thrill of the laughter. It's the same thrill you get from making a funny comment down the pub that gets a laugh, times a thousand. That's the hook that makes you overcome the constant rejection, the disappointment, the projects that get cancelled at the last minute, the pointless interfering, the rewrites, the hours and hours and f**king hours wasted on creating ideas that are finally brushed-aside by some exec because "There's something similar on the slate" or because "We're looking for something a bit more upbeat" or "We're looking for something a bit more downbeat" or "We need a talent-led project" etc etc etc.
You're right Kev, it isn't easy. In fact it's mostly-shit. But personally I keep on trying because it's still my dream to create great comedy, and I don't want to be gasping my last in 40 years time, wondering "What if I'd just kept going?"
Jesus I just read that post back an hour later and realised that all it's missing is the Dambusters theme playing in the background.
Sorry everyone.
It was Jerusalem in my head...
Dan
I got the Grange Hill theme tune.
