http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/writersroom/2009/01/writers_academy_4.shtml en-gb 30 Thu 31 Dec 2009 10:50:26 GMT+1 A feed of user comments from the page found at http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/writersroom/2009/01/writers_academy_4.shtml http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/writersroom/2009/01/writers_academy_4.shtml?page=18#comment17 This is exactly what I expect and hope your readers to say, with regards to the passionate voice over technical competence. So this is good. Could you clarify though please, something unoriginal but written with passion, this is possibly what you get attracted to most? In other words, the ultimate - something original and written with passion, how many or few of these do you actually see come in? I wouldn't be surprised if it's hardly any. In other words again, haven't all areas of life been written about and shown on TV and film? How many more oblique angles do you want to see on a subject before you bar the subject altogether? I hardly watch one new TV drama or sitcom without thinking I've seen that in some measure before, which may be annoying, but I can't help feeling is inevitable now. You say be original, but that's nigh on impossible after TV has covered so much. Isn't what you are really looking for is tried and tested subjects but written in a 'new' and exciting voice? So maybe in sitcom terms, we get Steve Coogan one year, Ricky Gervaise another year (doing the same old comic monster in another slant), and whoever the new toast of comedy is going to be next year. Come on, you lot must know surely, everthing's been covered hasn't it? It's just trendy new voices you're looking for now, no? Mon 08 Jun 2009 02:23:51 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/writersroom/2009/01/writers_academy_4.shtml?page=17#comment16 Aha! First mistake - writing for a soap instead of something original. OK how about a story about an east-end gangster called Liff going mental in a dustbin dressed in velvet. Other stuff happens too. But that's the first scene. And it gets weirder. And it's aimed at Radio 4. Tue 19 May 2009 16:55:48 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/writersroom/2009/01/writers_academy_4.shtml?page=16#comment15 Something like Phil Mitchell going mental in a dustbin, dressed in velvet. That might make Eastenders more interesting. Tue 19 May 2009 16:53:23 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/writersroom/2009/01/writers_academy_4.shtml?page=15#comment14 I don't know. But when you think it's ready to send to us, there's an easy way of finding out. :) Mon 18 May 2009 10:46:28 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/writersroom/2009/01/writers_academy_4.shtml?page=14#comment13 If someone's script just went a bit bizarre and literally, mad, would that grab your attention? Sat 16 May 2009 19:08:40 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/writersroom/2009/01/writers_academy_4.shtml?page=13#comment12 Roger: We Hopefully you've already seen this by now: 7 on 7 is a new topical sketch show on BBC radio 7 which is currently asking for scripts from new writers.Not quite as big as the Academy, but a really good start for people wanting to try their hand at sketch comedy. Tue 24 Feb 2009 14:35:42 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/writersroom/2009/01/writers_academy_4.shtml?page=12#comment11 Sorry I meant "Someone out there may know different" above - apologies for incoherence! Wed 04 Feb 2009 14:16:04 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/writersroom/2009/01/writers_academy_4.shtml?page=11#comment10 roger-the-shrubber...- A person's adverbs are their own business!- We only read full scripts - not treatments.- As far as I am aware, there is no similar thing for sketch shows. Someone out there may no different.rumplefish...Point taken. The pictures are better on radio.Zuhaib101...David works with me in the Drama Department. We are only able to read scripts submitted to us via agents or passed on by the Writersroom. Wed 04 Feb 2009 14:14:27 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/writersroom/2009/01/writers_academy_4.shtml?page=10#comment9 Hi,If we want to send scripts to David, do we sent them to the BBC Writersroom? Wed 04 Feb 2009 10:58:36 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/writersroom/2009/01/writers_academy_4.shtml?page=8#comment8 ".....yes, we read radio scripts here, but only with a view to finding writers who want to progress onto TV..... "Progress...? Mon 02 Feb 2009 23:35:18 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/writersroom/2009/01/writers_academy_4.shtml?page=7#comment7 Sorry, KPIMM. Sun 01 Feb 2009 14:31:03 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/writersroom/2009/01/writers_academy_4.shtml?page=6#comment6 I was joking. KPIMM Sun 01 Feb 2009 14:02:08 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/writersroom/2009/01/writers_academy_4.shtml?page=5#comment5 David, I feel your pain. I recommend Camomile tea.Katy, the way I read it, David was saying that these things were being wrongly pitched to a Saturday night family tea-time audience.At least, I hope that's what he meant. Sun 01 Feb 2009 13:40:46 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/writersroom/2009/01/writers_academy_4.shtml?page=4#comment4 Well, frankly I'm very shocked indeed at David's comments: what is he saying - a world without Highlander (all of them), Constantine, The Devil's Advocate, many, many more and of course the extraordinary Demons - the best thing on telly since When the Boat Comes In. If this is the BBC's attitude we as may all give up. What price a bit of imagination, eh?'Shocked' of Wolsingham Bringle. Sat 31 Jan 2009 18:55:14 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/writersroom/2009/01/writers_academy_4.shtml?page=3#comment3 Hi Ceri and David, it's great to see a blog like this as a relatively new writer.David, a few questions, if you've the time...1) When you mention your hatred of technical stage directions, I presume you're not including adverbs in that; I love adverbs, and I'd find it hard to take if I couldn't put them in...2) Do you read pure unadulterated "pilot episode" type scripts, or do you read treatments?3) Is there a similar sort of thing for sketch shows to this?Thanks,Roger Baxter Fri 30 Jan 2009 23:34:55 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/writersroom/2009/01/writers_academy_4.shtml?page=2#comment2 Oh, that's great., David, exactly what I want to do; break into radio with a view to writing for tv. I've sent a script to the Alfred Bradley Award, so fingers tightly crossed. Fri 30 Jan 2009 17:41:08 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/writersroom/2009/01/writers_academy_4.shtml?page=1#comment1 Hi Antoniablue - yes, we read radio scripts here, but only with a view to finding writers who want to progress onto TV Continuing Drama. Radio drama's not really my area, but I would probably suggest that pretty much most of the same points still apply. In any well-written drama, whether on TV, Film, Stage or Radio, there's always a need for it to be character driven, be tightly constructed, we need to know clearly whose story it is and what journey they are making. There are probably some radio conventions that I'm not aware of, but in essence - tell me a brilliant story … and tell it to me well … that's all I ask. Fri 30 Jan 2009 11:23:30 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/writersroom/2009/01/writers_academy_4.shtml?page=0#comment0 Thanks for organising this, Ceri, and thanks, David, for the insight.Do you also read radio scripts? If so, could you give us some similar tips? If not, Ceri, could you organise a radio reader piece. Thu 29 Jan 2009 20:09:36 GMT+1