How long have you been writing your sitcom? Page 2

Well this script may be 95% of a load of crap, and frankly I don't want to invest to much effort in getting the 100% of crap. The next pilot maybe way, way better. Each pilot I've written has progressively improved. I'd hate to think I was still banging away at Funny Old Business my first pilot, which really was quite slack.

Ultimately one of the biggest mistakes any writer can make. Is to be overly wedded to weak material. I know in my skit writing I totally over hauled my style and had much better results.

Fancy a look? See if you think it's 95, or a 100% of a load of crap?

Quote: sootyj @ March 20, 2008, 5:44 PM

Well this script may be 95% of a load of crap, and frankly I don't want to invest to much effort in getting the 100% of crap. The next pilot maybe way, way better. Each pilot I've written has progressively improved. I'd hate to think I was still banging away at Funny Old Business my first pilot, which really was quite slack.

Ultimately one of the biggest mistakes any writer can make. Is to be overly wedded to weak material. I know in my skit writing I totally over hauled my style and had much better results.

Fancy a look? See if you think it's 95, or a 100% of a load of crap?

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Why the negativity in your ability?

Whoever got to the top thinking like that?

Yes, lets see the script - I always like reading the sitcoms that get posted.

"Can I ask why unless asked for you'd actually write more than one episode of a sitcom unless it was commissioned?"

In my case it's been optioned, but not commissioned yet. To be honest my sitcom is so odd I think I needed to write more than one episode from the outset, just to prove (to myself) that it would work!

Quote: David H @ March 20, 2008, 2:44 PM

What I find very embarrassing is that the scripts being commissioned are being re-written! When you see the pitiful attempts at comedy gracing our screens it makes you think, "How bad were they?"

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All scripts get re-written in part (*) as they go into production. Get used to it!
TV/Film production is a TEAM effort, the writer(s) is/are just one cog in the wheel; if you get too ego-centric about your scripts you will never make it as a TV/Film writer.

(*) there are all sorts of reasons, mainly to make production easier or even possible, other reasons include not encroaching on someone's copyright, getting permissions for quoted music or publications that appear on the set etc etc.

I think you've missed my point, Bill.

Re-writing is of course absolutely necessary to tighten things up. When you see classic shows you think what a great job they did re-writing. But a lot of the shows on for the last few years have undergone the same process and are still truly terrible. So there's obviously something very wrong somewhere.

Quote: David H @ March 20, 2008, 11:17 PM

I think you've missed my point, Bill.

Re-writing is of course absolutely necessary to tighten things up. When you see classic shows you think what a great job they did re-writing. But a lot of the shows on for the last few years have undergone the same process and are still truly terrible. So there's obviously something very wrong somewhere.

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You can't polish a turd.

Uninspired shows written by uninspired people.

Quote: Seefacts @ March 20, 2008, 11:19 PM

You can't polish a turd.

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You can if you freeze it first.

Sitcom as I endlessly say, is a phenomenally tough genre to write. Or at least write well. Hence I suppose it may take a long time to even find your true voice, let alone convince some one else to hear it.

Quote: David H @ March 20, 2008, 2:44 PM

What I find very embarrassing is that the scripts being commissioned are being re-written! When you see the pitiful attempts at comedy gracing our screens it makes you think, "How bad were they?"

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I think sometimes it's possible that too many people involved in production have to be pleased. It's not always rewrites to get it objectively better, but to please as many as possible. So you can get the lowest common denominator rather than the best possible version.

I had a brilliant night of writing, yesterday. It was one of those sessions that make you glad that you've taken so long, working on your script, and not sent it off sooner.