What next for my sitcom script?

I've written a sitcom script that I've got great faith in, which has received some decent and promising feedback from the guys at Sitcom Mission, although it didn't make the longlist for their competition.

I'm after some advice as to where to head next. Obviously there's the BBC's current opportunity Laugh Track, but I'm unsure whether my idea would work as a studio based sitcom. It's more similar in tone to shows like The Thick of It, Peep Show and Spaced.

Should I rewrite it and just send to BBC Writersroom?

A studio based sitcom has more of a chance

Certainly enter it in the Laugh Track. Writers Room is famously a long shot. Also get to know producers write to them and nicely ask if they're happy to read it.

Also try actors you like.

And be sure it's as good as it can be.

Maybe film some of it and see if works as well as you think it does on the page on the screen?

Quote: Kevin Mears @ March 6 2012, 1:55 PM GMT

I've written a sitcom script that I've got great faith in, which has received some decent and promising feedback from the guys at Sitcom Mission, although it didn't make the longlist for their competition.

I'm after some advice as to where to head next. Obviously there's the BBC's current opportunity Laugh Track, but I'm unsure whether my idea would work as a studio based sitcom. It's more similar in tone to shows like The Thick of It, Peep Show and Spaced.

Should I rewrite it and just send to BBC Writersroom?

View original

I'd say you would do well to squeeze every little bit out of the feedback you received before you think of sending it anywhere else.
It's good that there was positive things within that feedback but that would suggest that what wasn't quite right may be quite a big thing (It certainly was with mine)
I know it's very difficult, sometimes, to look at your own work's faults but it really has to be done. Maybe leave it alone for a while and write something else? at least that way when you come back to it you'll have 'fresh eyes' and you'll also have written something else and will be better for it.
There were 32 places on the longlist and if a script doesn't get on that it would seem very unlikely that it (as it stands) would stand out amongst the scripts that land anywhere else.

[quote name="rwayne" post="858538" date="March 6 2012, 4:20 PM GMT"
There were 32 places on the longlist and if a script doesn't get on that it would seem very unlikely that it (as it stands) would stand out amongst the scripts that land anywhere else.[/quote]
This was two different person's opinions, who, as they would be the first to admit and have done, differ on those opinions. It's a big wide world out there and time and timing mean more than anything else is the real truth. Punt it about, see what other people think. If you think it is ready to be seen, which you clearly do. Read the BBC original script editor's report on the first Fawlty Towers script. Also Simon and Dec were reading things for a particular, fifteen minute theatrically staged show. There are a great deal of skinless cats running around in television.

Who, exactly, are you replying to?
If it's Kevin then not really any point quoting part of my post.
I'll give my opinion and feel free to give yours. Just leave me out of it. Thanks.

Both.

Then help yourself to another 'oh dear!'

Quote: rwayne @ March 6 2012, 7:30 PM GMT

Who, exactly, are you replying to?
If it's Kevin then not really any point quoting part of my post.
I'll give my opinion and feel free to give yours. Just leave me out of it. Thanks.

View original

Snippy!

Thanks for your help everyone. I'm going to attempt to rewrite it within the "constraints" of a studio sitcom to see where I get with that, then if need be rewrite it once more in the way I'd intended it.

Best of luck with it Kevin.