Too many influences? Page 2

Quote: M Lewis @ February 3, 2008, 1:39 AM

Fair points. I've jigged it about and re-done some stuff to keep his interactions fresh.

Also, the way he interacts is dicated by those he meets. Episode 2 (god forbid!) is a kitchen that actually WANTS his help so he reacts very differently with no need to try and show anyone up. Although obvioulsy still is the same chartacter.

We also meet his boss and his wife so we see him with people he has to be different with.

Hard to not write the same gag over and over!

View original

It can be done though and you are obviously on the case. That's the main thing, that you can see the danger and you'll use your skills to avoid it as much as is humanly possible. If you can keep him doing different things when he's off camera that's going to help a lot. And also making sure the characters he's coming up against when he's on camera are well defined and 'different', as you say.

It's all good mate, you've plenty to be happy about I reckon!

thats my plan i guess. things come to a head when he interviews the builder who doesnt take any nonsense and it goes a bit pear shaped for simon.

actually, one of the tricky bits is that simon is in every scene (almost) because...well, because its a documentary and he's the presenter.

Mark films various goings on that Simons not in (and films simon when he doesnt realise) but its a bit...errr...Simon heavy.

I'm tempted to have Marks younger sister in on the act (as their helper) just so theres another regular character that can be filmed to break stuff up a bit. maybe she shows up in episode 2!

Sounds good ... you're on a roll!!!

Well - just finished it. Just needs tidying up and then, i suppose, leaving for a few days and re-read to see if its still funny (or at least still as funny!)

I think this script is sat on the horns of a dilemma: It is funny, and with an interesting concept, but the humour is only readily recognisable because much of it reads like a direct lift from The Office, with Simon and Mark standing in for Brent and Gareth.

So if we're talking turkey, while it might be good, I'm not entirely sure a producer would use that actual script. Perhaps they would read it, see you could write, and ask you for something else.

As it stands it seemed too derivative of Gervais and Merchant's oeuvre for me; I tried reading it without hearing Gervais's voice but it didn't happen. One would imagine that producers see Office clones all the time.

fair feedback. I suppose in my head i can see the character and Simon is very different to Brent. He's tall, fit, sharp suit. More Larry David than David Brent (personality, not looks!)

i suppose if someone said "its good, write me something else" i'd live with that as a result from the first thing i've written since school in 1990!