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4Laughs Editor
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quote: Originally posted by dannyjb1:
There is a lot of talk about recuiting people for\from 'new media'. Is this something that Babycow are interested in or even actively persuing?
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4Laughs Editor
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quote: Originally posted by hedge:
Sorry, Ric, I seem to suffer from foot in mouth on these forums,I suppose I'm just asking how much use an agent can be in help a new writer target their work to the right prod co but that's probably down to how good the agent is ... ignore - next
Foot in Mouth is a good physical joke. Good agents are vital. It is hard to always look one, two or three steps ahead but sites like this do provide a lot of important information and there is also the point of ambition mentioned in this thread. If you write with professional ambition you have to be prepared to be knocked back regularly without assuming it is soemone elses fault. |
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4Laughs Editor
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quote: Originally posted by hedge:
Radio!!!! That's what I was going to ask about! Is TV material more generally sought after than radio or is that something Armand the small green hamster whispered in my ear?
You just have differnet people to approach. Baby Cow only look at radio if it something we feel can then be developed for TV (a la Mighty Boosh) or is just an idea we really love (Nebulous). It is not always cost effective for a comany like us. But there are comapnies that specialise in Radio comedy and do it very well. |
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4Laughs Editor
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quote: Originally posted by Frankie Rage: I think a lot of the questions about getting your material in front of the right people and in the right format could be answered by reading any book on 'Sales and Marketing' techniques.. and by studying the web sites of production companies.. and there are plenty of books on writing techiques too.. plus studying the scripts of successful shows (old and new).. I also reckon that every general question asked (except the 'haribo' jokes!) has a Common Sense answer, which you ALL in fact already know!!! Poor old Ric but he is a good 'un for pitching in like this. His answers are all worth reading as they provide a confirmation as to what you (we) need to do: Write something good and sell it well!  The 'How?' is all around you!!!
This is a good point but I think that this is a complex business and there are so many ways to fail and succeed that it can seem very confusing whether you feel that you are on the inside or outside. It is also very fickle which is why it is always worth trying but never worth believing the hype. Being able to be paid to write, perform, develop etc is a privelige and hard work and none of the questions are stupid. It's really intersting for me and Davina. |
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4Laughs Editor
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quote: Originally posted by Experimental Tyres:
I only had time to dip in today for literally 2 minutes but it was good to see Ric here and open to questions.
Would I be right in saying?
1. No company on earth busy enough to claim to be succesful could possibly read and constructively reply to all scripts/correspondence as much as we'd like.
2. The best script is a well targeted orgasmicly good script. What is good is subjective naturally so make sure you've done your homework and are sending it to the right people. The Hitler killing kittens idea could be fantastic if sent to the right people...the far far right people.
2.5 Luck. Make sure you have amazing luck at all times. Make sure your brilliant script arrives on the editor's desk when the sun is shining and he/she got laid the night before.
3. Of course the enjoyment of writing is most important and at the end of the day the joy of writing is the winner etc. but most people need some form of acceptance or acknowledgement. eg. feedback, or ideally commissioning which brings the evil but necessary burden of financial gain...money grabbing wenches, marriage, divorce, living in a bus station toilet, death.
4.Make sure you're not just full of hot air and no action, lazy and demotivated like myself. (note to self: be a silent pro-active script writing super hero).
I notice Ric ducked my question on his occasional beard...telling, very telling.
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4Laughs Editor
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quote: Originally posted by Experimental Tyres:
I only had time to dip in today for literally 2 minutes but it was good to see Ric here and open to questions.
Would I be right in saying?
1. No company on earth busy enough to claim to be succesful could possibly read and constructively reply to all scripts/correspondence as much as we'd like.
2. The best script is a well targeted orgasmicly good script. What is good is subjective naturally so make sure you've done your homework and are sending it to the right people. The Hitler killing kittens idea could be fantastic if sent to the right people...the far far right people.
2.5 Luck. Make sure you have amazing luck at all times. Make sure your brilliant script arrives on the editor's desk when the sun is shining and he/she got laid the night before.
3. Of course the enjoyment of writing is most important and at the end of the day the joy of writing is the winner etc. but most people need some form of acceptance or acknowledgement. eg. feedback, or ideally commissioning which brings the evil but necessary burden of financial gain...money grabbing wenches, marriage, divorce, living in a bus station toilet, death.
4.Make sure you're not just full of hot air and no action, lazy and demotivated like myself. (note to self: be a silent pro-active script writing super hero).
I notice Ric ducked my question on his occasional beard...telling, very telling.
MY ONE ABSOLUTE TIP FOR SENDING A SECRIPT TO ANYONE IS... MAKE US LAUGH ON THE FIRST PAGE AT LEAST ONCE. See beard response |
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4Laughs Editor
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quote: Originally posted by mousevale:
having sat through the hour long stint, I'm wondering if it might not be better to have questions forum so we could ask our questions with a level head i.e. not one full of haribo sweets and shiny things, as I'm not sure that Ric's imput although very interesting is all that importent on the tooth rotting attributes of sweets, unless it's a hint that script readers would be willing to take a bribe of some lemon sherbrts or pinneapple chunks? so maybe the live show is not such a good idea.... although fun It didn't acheive much and Ric's answers on last weeks questions after the event are extremly useful.
As for Franky telling us all off I can see where he's coming from but I have read the books seen the film downloaded scipts ranging from two pints of lager, to the shawshank redemption but unfortunatly I am not very educated and end up writing 20 pages in a day, I get it looked at and edited then write the next 20 pages etc, my scripts just happen if I plan them they end up dull and lifeless I simply have to write, the hardest part for me is i have 50 ideas in my head I have writen upwards of 10 scripts mostly comedy drama not sit-coms ranging from 35-360 pages some I think have huge possiblities but don't know where to send them, I know they are not perfect I know I can learn so much more but where the hell can I get good advise. the bbc writers room only takes one at a time and then it takes 3-4 month's to get it back.. Anyway now i have that off my chest I'll go and eat some sweets....
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4Laughs Editor
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quote: Originally posted by mousevale:
having sat through the hour long stint, I'm wondering if it might not be better to have questions forum so we could ask our questions with a level head i.e. not one full of haribo sweets and shiny things, as I'm not sure that Ric's imput although very interesting is all that importent on the tooth rotting attributes of sweets, unless it's a hint that script readers would be willing to take a bribe of some lemon sherbrts or pinneapple chunks? so maybe the live show is not such a good idea.... although fun It didn't acheive much and Ric's answers on last weeks questions after the event are extremly useful.
As for Franky telling us all off I can see where he's coming from but I have read the books seen the film downloaded scipts ranging from two pints of lager, to the shawshank redemption but unfortunatly I am not very educated and end up writing 20 pages in a day, I get it looked at and edited then write the next 20 pages etc, my scripts just happen if I plan them they end up dull and lifeless I simply have to write, the hardest part for me is i have 50 ideas in my head I have writen upwards of 10 scripts mostly comedy drama not sit-coms ranging from 35-360 pages some I think have huge possiblities but don't know where to send them, I know they are not perfect I know I can learn so much more but where the hell can I get good advise. the bbc writers room only takes one at a time and then it takes 3-4 month's to get it back.. Anyway now i have that off my chest I'll go and eat some sweets....
Interesting but I did spend a decade living with a dentist and occasioanly had to assist as an emergency nurse so I have seen the damage that poor oral hygeine can do. Alaway brush after sweets and drink water after juices or fruit teas (very acidic). |
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4Laughs Editor
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quote: Originally posted by dr vole:
You are of course right regarding sketch scripts Frankie, but what with Ric being a seasoned professional and that, I thought he may have some routes in that are less obvious.
The routes are to there for you to find. There are several people we have worked with beacuse something in the way they approcahed us clicked. It's very personal once you get past standard practices but being self critical, positive and not telling us the obvious is alweays good. |
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4Laughs Editor
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quote: Originally posted by Seth Gecko: quote: Originally posted by Frankie Rage:
But there are no magic answers other than the simple truth that you have to write something really good and then sell it well!... One of the biggest problems amateur writers have is an unwillingness to accept that it is their own mediocrity and/or laziness that is stopping them being successful...
This seems to be a constant theme but I think you have to be more specific. It would help me for next Tuesday if you could think of specific questions regarding routes etc or approaches you have been considering. I will try and help where I can Well... There's obviously a lot of truth in that... The only cap on anyone's success (in any field) is the ceiling that lies above their own ability, and how low it may or may not be... So in that sense, it's absolutely right, that one of the most basic pre-requisites to becoming a professional writer, is that you have to have come up with something worthy of the tag... By the same token, though, I don't think 'talent' in itself is enough - not anymore... There are plenty of shows breaking through on TV that were simply in the right place at the right time, when someone had their chequebook open... And I'd say that's the biggest key to actually making something of your writing... It's not just a question of having the right 'product' and knowing how to 'sell it'... I think it's about coming along at the right TIME - when they happen to be looking to buy it... In the same way you'd have more chance of selling a vacuum door to door, if it just so happens the owner's current hoover has given up the ghost that morning... People do have different tastes, too, of course - so what provokes a flat rejection from one, can still get an enthusiastic response from another... Unless you can get them to COME TO YOU - via live work or possibly screening yourself on the Internet... It's unfornately always going to be a case of sheer fluke - unless, of course, you have something REALLY special that's got HIT written all over it... But I, too, was certainly very interested in Ric's response to what routes into the industry may prove most fruitful...
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Many thanks for all the responses Ric... I am sure we're all wanting to learn as much as we possibly can from next weeks session!!! ...appart from those of us who just want to make inane comments, but I guess they need to be accomodated / tolerated..  Frankie xxx |
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You've just got home from school too havn't you Frankie, my teacher said that if i'm good I can come out of the naughty corner next week, i've been there since February.
Ric's a top bloke, putting up with the mayhem around here.
I now have this weird image of him in a white dentist get up wearing a short skirt....scary mind I have.
The simple point is if it was easy, this writing lark we'd all be miwyonairs...
Respect for the god that is Ric.
(I would kneel but the back and the knees and the headaches and the constant running to the toilet have taken there toll)
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Yep... Many thanks for all those responses once again, Ric...  I'm extremely impressed with the lengths he's been going to to try and make this work and be a valuable experience for us all... I think it's definitely the 'approach' and initial contact aspect of the adventure I've been coming unstuck on - but I like the sound of that line there 'there are several people we have worked with because something about the way they approached us clicked'... Something to ponder for next week...
_________________________
"It's not finished... It's finished..."
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If you were to take an interest in the sales process Seth, you'd find out that 'The Approach' is one of the key issues in sales, and one of the most basic.. Oh, and I am not talking about glossy salesman and foot in the door selling either ('doorstepping' we call that..) I am talking about professional selling of the highest calibre!! Think you can't be sold to? Think Ric can't be sold to? Think again! Luck and timing... mmm In sales we often discuss these issues. There are differing techniques you can employ (depending on the size of the market) to dramatically increase your opportunity to be in the right place at the right time... In Professinal Sales we don't believe in luck (although it can happen..) we believe in something called 'Making your own luck' I have done 'Commission only selling' to make bigger money. This means you don't eat if you don't sell and therefore you can't rely on luck in any way. How is 'Making your own luck' done? Hey, maybe I should write a book? But it's already all in your local library.. One thing I can tell you is that when I have a sitcom pilot or a series of ten sketches I truly believe in, I will be in 'the right place at the right time' as I have twenty years of experience in doing that! But you have to have a good and RELEVANT product ABOVE ALL ELSE!!! For example, it would be no good trying to sell a early 1990's mobile phone right now (except as a novelty or collectors item..) |
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quote: Originally posted by Frankie Rage:
One thing I can tell you is that when I have a sitcom pilot or a series of ten sketches I truly believe in, I will be in 'the right place at the right time' as I have twenty years of experience in doing that!
I know this will sound like I am being awkward but I'm not, I am generally interested: Have you managed to sell any scripts or sketches? |
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quote: Originally posted by ScottTheDot: quote: Originally posted by Frankie Rage:
One thing I can tell you is that when I have a sitcom pilot or a series of ten sketches I truly believe in, I will be in 'the right place at the right time' as I have twenty years of experience in doing that!
I know this will sound like I am being awkward but I'm not, I am generally interested: Have you managed to sell any scripts or sketches?
It's a very fair question and the answer is no. To qualify that 'no' I will add that, I have not tried to sell any yet. I have won a few competitions on this site and that is all. You may then apply logic in a selective way and say that I therefore don't know what I am talking about and you might add that 'selling' 'sitcoms or sketches' is completely different than selling a 'product', to which I would of course say you are entitled to your opinion. But I would add that, a truly professional salesman is somewhat of a chameleon and modfies his approach depending on the client and what 'thing' he has for sale (product or service) and that the same basic sales & marketing techniques apply across the entire spectrum of anything that passes between people for money!! Scripts and 'ideas' included. |
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Disclaimer: (!)
The kind of 'top notch' selling I am talking about requires TOTAL and SINCERE belief in the product, or you'd never have the commitment to see the marketing side of the sales process through.
I don't (yet) have any material to sell that I have that level of belief in.
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That's enough Frank, you're scaring the children.
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I like fish me
MC
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Chill Frankie.
I am with you on the sales thing having been in the marketing trade for too many years myself. We are on the same side of the fence.
Was just hoping you had some direct experience you could tell us about.
Let us put this to rest. Amen.
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quote: Originally posted by hedge:
That's enough Frank, you're scaring the children.
My orders were that they should be taken out and shot.. have you failed me? |
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