The Sitcom Trials 2008 Page 17

From my point of view, in an ideal world I'd like it to be purely an audience vote, with the caveat that nobody can have any friends and that all the audience are unbiased, honest and fair. As that is impossible, I really think that the combination of "judges" and audience is the way to go. While I'm just happy to have the opportunity to see some proper actors perform what I've written, the experience could easily turn sour if another writer brought 50 friends and got through without even needing to raise a laugh. That just does the writer concerned a disservice anyway because the focus would be on the voting rather than their work, which may well have won anyway.

It's quite simple. Lose the competition aspect. If it's meaningless - which it seemingly is - why have it? The notion that the audience have to feel involved in the judging to enjoy the performances is at best misguided. If you are not staging shows that will engage an audience and make them laugh, then you are not staging very good shows - so what on earth is the point of that?

Quote: Marc P @ September 15 2008, 10:24 AM BST

It's quite simple. Lose the competition aspect. If it's meaningless - which it seemingly is - why have it? The notion that the audience have to feel involved in the judging to enjoy the performances is at best misguided. If you are not staging shows that will engage an audience and make them laugh, then you are not staging very good shows - so what on earth is the point of that?

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I like it when you get angry, Marc. You need to try and put more of that passion into your work.

It's not that so much that makes me angry, it's the idea that sabotage of other people's work is seemingly encouraged. That's not enbcouraging new talent, that's perpetuating an attitude that you get quite enough of in the industry already!

Re losing the voting or judging. Mmm. Not sure about that. People like voting and people like having other people vote for them. And most people like hearing what the judges have to say, especially these days. It's all the rage, you know!

I think also they probably struggle to get people to go, so they need to introduce the voting element as an attempt to encourage writers to briing as many people as they know along. Of course, this doesn't neccessarily mean the best will win, just the one with the biggest rent-a-mob.

(Also, Marc, I couldn't open your script on the Robin Kelly site).

Quote: chipolata @ September 15 2008, 10:52 AM BST

I think also they probably struggle to get people to go, so they need to introduce the voting element as an attempt to encourage writers to briing as many people as they know along. Of course, this doesn't neccessarily mean the best will win, just the one with the biggest rent-a-mob.

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Isn't there a universal truth in there somewhere? The writer with the biggest 'rent-a-mob' (aka fanbase) surely deserves to win? The reasoning here is that s/he's been able to convince people (via her art, of course..) that she deserves to win. This would lead on to the fact that young women with big tits write the best sitcoms!

I wonder how they get people from New Zealand to go to the trials and why is the comp not just for the UK?

Quote: bushbaby @ September 15 2008, 11:03 AM BST

I wonder how they get people from New Zealand to go to the trials and why is the comp not just for the UK?

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I thought it was. Although I haven't read any of the rules about it, so I'm not the best informed.

Quote: Frankie Rage @ September 15 2008, 10:58 AM BST

Isn't there a universal truth in there somewhere?

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No. I delibarately avoid putting universal truths in my posts.

I'm not sure the organiser's taking the mickey out of the entries they got is very encouraging for next year.

As for the popularity part - having lots of friends is a different skill from good writing so I don't see the direct connection.

Quote: Griff @ September 15 2008, 11:16 AM BST

It's not really encouraged, but it does happen.

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It's not good enough that it isn't actively encouraged, if it is happening then it should be actively discouraged. Otherwise it makes a farce out of a sitcom showcase.

Quote: Frankie Rage @ September 15 2008, 10:58 AM BST

The writer with the biggest mob surely deserves to win?

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Damn, misheard you. SlagA pulls trousers back up.

Quote: SlagA @ September 15 2008, 1:50 PM BST

Damn, misheard you. SlagA pulls trousers back up.

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Quality.

Talking of changing the subject, and taking us right back to the days when the Sitcom Trials was all about testing sitcoms out in front of an audience and then trying to sell the polished sitcoms themselves, here's a little gem I found in the Trials video vaults which I'd forgotten was there. It's Justin Lee Collins appearing in a sitcom by me called Rise & Shine (it's the Christmas Episode of R&S, the 4th out of 6 or 7 episodes we staged back in the early Bristol and London shows. We eventually got made into a radio pilot by the BBC, but no series, if you're keeping note). Enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlWg9x6TU78

Kev F
sitcomtrials.co.uk

NB: I've only clipped together JLC's brief appearances. As for watching the rest of the episode, well let's just say this would be one of the problems with webcasting the forthcoming shows, you really have to be there. Hilarious as it might be at the time, just pointing a camera at people on a comedy club stage really looks a little bit naff.