4Laughs Web Site
Does anyone else find this an extremely user-unfriendly web site to navigate? (it might just be me).
They could do with a few dates to indicate when things have been uploaded.
Am I right in thinking that the video content is the only active part of the site?
I couldn't even access my own profile on that website!
Yes, 4laugh does have a lot of access problems and I'm surprised they haven't managed to get it sorted, it's not like they're strapped for cash, they have sponsorship now and it's channel 4.
Part of the reason I don't return to the site very often.
But they do appear to be offering people a lot more in the way of "chances" to get into the biz. But unfortunatly it still doesn't interest me for some strange reason.
I'm sure the Slags will sing it's praises (they over took me in the comedy ladder ARGH!)
Ay, we love 4Laughs for the community and (Chris, Davina, and now Fay) gave us encouragement at an early stage. The comedy ladder was a big draw but also (we realised much later) a distraction because we spent so much time getting entries ready that we were neglecting the real job of making a platform for ourselves. The stark truth is no producer cares how high up the comedy ladder you are. It's much better to invest your time in a script that lands on their desk. So in some ways the closing of the ladder, though a draw, is a good thing for all the acts there.
Have a soft spot for the place, even though we arrived late, we still lurk there and enter comps when time allows. The prizes have improved but like BBC's (much vaunted, misrepresented, overhyped, and sadly closed) Comedy Soup; it's yet to be demonstrated whether 4Laughs is ever going to be 'the' in place for producers to trawl for talent, especially when that talent has and is in the process of making inroads elsewhere in the biz.
The website has upload problems and a faschist forum that makes Orwell's vision of the future seem wildly optimistic but The Slaggs owe them. And we try not to forget our debts. So stick with it. They are decent guys trying to do a thankless job of interfacing between acts and C4.
I think I was one of the first 20 - 30 on the forum along with Frankie now I think about it.
Quote: Paul W @ February 17, 2008, 5:32 PMI think I was one of the first 20 - 30 on the forum along with Frankie now I think about it.
I joined the 4Laughs forum in July 2006.
I think I was one of the first on as well, though I dont really do much over there at the moment, there seems a lot less that you actually can do, but I still have a soft spot for it and hope it perks up again.
Yeah Frostyboy and your good self Matt were some of the "Vetrans" of the forum as well.
Was Ruby an early member too?
Remember Handsomeis?
Quote: frostyboy @ February 17, 2008, 6:06 PMRemember Handsomeis?
Oh yes, couldnt put up with him, a prize, big headed, self rightious idiot as I recall.
Their testbed section hardly ever seems to update. Things that I posted months ago are still on the front page!
I too have a softspot for it, it was 4laughs that got me trying comedy in the first place. I will always value the encouragement from chris and davina.
Hope it perks up, at the mo it's like watching your favourite pet slowly die.
remember scholosses or something... it started Scho - I thought he was a great writer but he all of a sudden left.
For what its worth, i think the main issues with 4Laughs have been:
1) the website - lots of technical issues, as a website developer I don't agree that they can't be fixed. I know its not the fault of the people who run it, but as a package its let the project down quite badly
2) Site's purpose - Its hosted by Channel 4 and says its a collaboration with Baby Cow. I think its understandable that a lot of people expected more regular opportunities to progress their careers within these outfits.
The community idea is nice but useful to a degree, maybe if you are starting out or want feedback. But a lot of people are looking for the next step. They are encouraged here to write sketches but from what I can gather there are no shows at Baby Cow or Channel 4 to submit them. There is some real talent here.
3) Relevance - I am happy to be wrong here, but as fun as writing reviews and blogs are, are they going to lead anywhere if you want a career in sketch-writing or sitcom? I've had to limit my time on these as I'm trying to write sketches and sitcoms and get the feeling that these can only distract me.
I'm fully supportive of 4Laughs and took to it from the BETA site. I think it needs to just get its identity clear to the community. There have been a lot of changes of late: staff turnover, new sponsorship, fewer comps/caps/blogs. without a lot of communication where it is going.
I don't know if others share any of these ideas, I'm just bringing them to the table in hope it can make the site better.
I had trouble on it but I thought it was just my age.