Thought some people might find this interesting:
Writing Sketches, The Guardian
This thread is locked. No further replies can be posted.
Thanks Ladma very helpful and utterly dispiriting.
Knock Knock
You asked to see me Prime Minister.
Maybe the best intro I've ever seen.
Visions of a concerened Alistair Darling visitng a Gordy Brown driven by failure into becoming a standup!
All that in 2 lines, and they give it as an example of lousy writing.
The advice, particularly from Mitchell and Webb, is sound. I wonder whether perhaps Richard Herring paints an overly rosy picture of the opportunities available to sketch writers?
Quote: sootyj @ September 22 2008, 11:22 AM BSTKnock Knock
You asked to see me Prime Minister.
It was unclear to me, whether that was intended as an example of bad or good writing.
It's a bloody bad knock knock joke, I know that much.
Quote: Marc P @ September 22 2008, 11:34 AM BSTIt's a bloody bad knock knock joke, I know that much.
Oi! We were here first.
Quote: Graham Bandage @ September 22 2008, 11:36 AM BSTOi! We were here first.
Sorry, didn't realise the Tate thread was the same one. The Battle of the Threads is on!
Quote: Timbo @ September 22 2008, 11:28 AM BSTIt was unclear to me, whether that was intended as an example of bad or good writing.
I'm pretty sure it's intended as an example of bad writing, or at least clumsy "tell don't show" writing.
Quote: James Harris @ September 22 2008, 1:42 PM BSTI'm pretty sure it's intended as an example of bad writing, or at least clumsy "tell don't show" writing.
I guess. There is certainly nothing good about it, but in the context of a radio show, where you rely on dialogue to set the scene, it does not strike me as being that dreadful either (though you could probably get into the scene quicker). I suppose it depends on how much confidence you have in the ability of your actor to recognisably impersonate that prime minister...
A fairly useful article. Helps hammer home the basics of sketch writing, which is always helpful if you're a newcomer to writing.
I must admit, starting a radio sketch with exposition often seems the only way, but it is possible to go for a slicker approach. I'd advise checking out some radio sketch shows to see how to achieve this.
There aren't many radio opportunities at the moment. All I know of this year was Tilt.
There was that E4 Radio opportunity too, I guess.
Excellent and experienced sketch writers can easily find great work. It is plentiful if you are excellent and experienced. They are eating caviar daily, those experienced and excellent sketch writers.
I may be drinking light ale in moderation on Saturday evening, but those excellent and experienced sketch writers quaff vintage champagne nightly. They laugh long and loud all the way to the bank those exp..
Closed due to duplicate thread.