Quote: bushbaby @ October 7 2011, 6:13 PM BSTJack, I attended one of Declan's/Simon's workshops. They are worth every penny and cheaper than other such classes. I learned so much on that day, rewrote/resubmitted my script and it didn't get shortlisted.
That's not to say I'm a naff writer, I have been so close to acceptance even by ITV
BB, No offence but I don't feel at odds with the people who attend these courses. £75 a day to be told the basics you can find in any library book on the subject. When I was a kid starting out I myself could have had my head turned with various "learn how to shoot a film in 11 days" "The Writers Circle" type of charlatan shit.
This is something I care deeply about. People getting ripped off, bullshitted, and then them acting like some brainwashed cultees defending the ones who showed them a little attention and pandered to their esteem in exchange for some folding money.
Some people want to pay their money to have some prick sit them all in a circle and recite the 'rules' of comedy at them, then, have at it.
If not being shortlisted or even close to accepted was worth that money, so be it. Maybe you could have had that result all on your own.
Writing comedy isn't like teaching someone how to drive. It's mostly either in you or not.
My ONLY problem is with the wankers who organise these things looking to gain a quick payday on the back of empty promises, preying on the delusional and using the lure of people achieving their dreams.
Why not say "This course allows you to meet other writers" INSTEAD, it's all bullshit hyped up soundbites "Learn what producers are REALLY looking for" and other such nonsense.
These two, Declan and Simon provided a testimonial for the guy who wrote How Not... book. It's all a sham circle.
If someone sells a script it's because of their OWN talent, not because some tool in an hired function room got everybody to conform to a set of hack/forulaic rules etc etc.
There is no rules, beyond formatting and common sense - No Rules! There is NOTHING on ANY course that you can't find out for free. Nothing. Nothing at all. These people are selling public domain information and to all the "artists" who line up one by one kissing up to this fad practise - Good luck with relying on people like this for your artistic fulfillment.
When the credit card details have been processed these pricks won't be around when you're back to square one and you realised you've been "taught" what you already knew.
They've found an easy way to make a living, much like the Spanish timeshare people, that's fine. Most victims of cons deserve shortchanging, but - Preying on innocent delusions of people who just want to write, and to be tricked into thinking there's a "secret" way they haven't yet learned, is f'cking scum.
