tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272008603641292743.post7700173557658154546..comments2024-03-22T07:38:11.573+00:00Comments on Sitcom Geek: Script CompetitionsJames Caryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01315185952705396144noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272008603641292743.post-47823088600634830562016-11-05T14:21:54.495+00:002016-11-05T14:21:54.495+00:00been reading your blog all day, you could call it ...been reading your blog all day, you could call it procrastination, I'm choosing to call it research. I was going to enter channel 4s comedy blaps last year, I had what I considered to be a finished pilot. Instead of entering, I shut my computer off and forgot about the script for a few months. I came back to it later and started from scratch - only now, after a year of fiddling, re-writing and editing am I approaching something worth sending in.. I have another 26 days to get it working properly..Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15959424321581892897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272008603641292743.post-60357270252456985942016-10-31T19:15:11.121+00:002016-10-31T19:15:11.121+00:00Excellent post. Thanks for this. Excellent post. Thanks for this. Nick Whittlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04116715279195004346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272008603641292743.post-85378265678358038842013-07-03T09:57:38.946+01:002013-07-03T09:57:38.946+01:00Interesting blog post. Has to be said though that ...Interesting blog post. Has to be said though that some competitions/script calls give very specific outlines (sitcom must have three characters, one an alien, be set in a funeral parlour and contain constant references to cheese) yet a very short lead time. Therefore they are basically asking usually inexperienced writers to come up with an idea *and* write the script in a very short time - not use a script they have already. A looser brief would allow us to submit that script we've been honing for months. Presumably when there's a specific brief they deliberately don't want old work dusted off and submitted for the sake of it, but at the same time they need to understand that what they'll get won't be anyone's best, honed work.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272008603641292743.post-92187067379213158852012-03-20T14:16:35.633+00:002012-03-20T14:16:35.633+00:00Given producing the complete thing is so hard unle...Given producing the complete thing is so hard unless you are full time (then it's easy?!!) wouldn't script competitions that take synopsis + one scene and give some feedback be more use?<br />I'd rather be told "it'll never fly" early than later. Or is it all part of my 10,000 hrs to get good at it?<br />I can see constructive feedback takes time but that could be the "prize" - only the top 10 get it (be nice if top 10% got a "you weren't totally awful" reply as well).<br />Competitions are the only deadline you have if you are starting out & writing without a deadline is (often literally) endless.<br />DaveAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272008603641292743.post-52698745509922658982011-09-08T20:58:04.586+01:002011-09-08T20:58:04.586+01:00You could also say that out of every 10,000 sitcom...You could also say that out of every 10,000 sitcom scripts the BBC actually produces, only 100 are any good.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272008603641292743.post-85418095034424557752011-04-15T14:51:09.953+01:002011-04-15T14:51:09.953+01:00Hi James,
I saw Paul Ashton from BBC Writersroom ...Hi James,<br /><br />I saw Paul Ashton from BBC Writersroom speaking yesterday. He said they had 1800 scripts for the last sitcom writing competition. That's on top of the 5000 or so unsolicited scripts they get every year too. Cor blimey guvnor.<br /><br />I've entered a few of their competitions in the past, but not for a while now - probably because I feel other avenues have worked for me. But I did find them useful in the beginning mainly because it was like I'd been given a brief - instead of that terrible thing of being given the option to write anything.<br /><br />I've also had feedback from the writersroom, back before I had an agent, and that was a definite encouragement to go further. I do feel for them there though as every writing event I've ever been to there's always one or two nutjobs who are really angry that no-one's noticed their genius yet. They get very angry with the BBC especially, after all they pay their license fee so the BBC owes them... er!<br /><br />Anyway - good post. I've been working on a TV Sitcom idea and could have rushed to meet the recent competition deadlines but I wanted to take Graham Linehan's advice from the excellent Screenwipe S5E5 about not starting the script until it was properly formed in my head - until it was ready!Myleshttp://www.bromc.co.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272008603641292743.post-15189710980254595202011-04-13T12:04:13.905+01:002011-04-13T12:04:13.905+01:00This is quite heartening to read. I have writern q...This is quite heartening to read. I have writern quite a few pilots now and only two have been sent to the BBC. I suppose for writers who are writing with no inway into the industry, time is a precious thing. Especially because writing is extra curricular due to jobs, etc. And then there's the crippling fear that we'll never get to where we feel we should be. That said, I think I should just send you our script? Go on. I'll buy you a pint if you cleverly drop it in the hands of a producer who won't reply....... And this is me being dignified.Tim Woodallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00007981094856737777noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272008603641292743.post-51659551760934722192011-04-13T12:03:25.380+01:002011-04-13T12:03:25.380+01:00Excellent post. Thank you. This helps affirm the p...Excellent post. Thank you. This helps affirm the position that I'm now taking ... to write what I'm good at and passionate about and to wait until it's ready before sending it out.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com