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£250 for writing a sketch The new online web series 12 Sketches In A London House is looking for writers to submit sketches. Those selected will receive £250 and see their script turned into an episode. Info |
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Craft Of Comedy Writing conference The Craft of Comedy Writing Conference is back for a fourth year. Due to take place on the 8th and 9th April in North Wales, speakers include the team behind Peter Kay's Car Share. Early bird tickets are just £65. Read |
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The Sitcom Mission The Sitcom Mission comedy writing contest is back for 2016. The deadline to enter is the 15th May, although if you want to take out one of the feedback options the deadline is sooner. Details |
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Sitcom Mission success Not sure whether you should enter The Sitcom Mission? The results from last year speak from themselves. All four of the finalists have been approached about their scripts. Plus, just this week, one of the longlisted sitcoms, Metroland by Chris Harris, has been optioned by DLT Entertainment. Stories Here's an interview with winner James Huntrods, who is now working with Hat Trick to develop his sitcom. |
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BBC TV pay Ever wondered how much TV writers get paid? Since our last newsletter the writers' union, WGGB, has negotiated a pay rise with the BBC. Unless you're prolific, it's probably not going to pay your mortgage still though, sorry! For example, TV sketches are now worth a minimum of £107 per minute. Read |
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Newsjack is back Newsjack - the radio show anyone can submit sketches to - is back for a new series. The first deadline is this Monday. See the BBC website for full details. Read |
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Making the new series of Cold Feet Writer Mike Bullen has started to blog about the process of making the new series of Cold Feet, which is filming now. As he explains, it took 17 months of writing and rewriting to get the project to the filming stage. Read |
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Editing John Finnemore's Souvenir Programme Radio 4 producer Ed Morrish has been writing about the process of recording and editing John Finnemore's Radio 4 show via his blog. Listen on iPlayer, then have a read. Episode 1, Episode 2, Episode 4, Episode 5 (There's no Episode 3 blog) |
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Howler A number of the writers on our message board have got involved in submitting jokes to Howler. Essentially you have to think up a punchline to a pre-specified feed line, and people vote on the best. Have a go yourself: Visit |
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English Comedy Of The Year The entry form is now available for The English Comedian Of The Year 2016 stand-up contest. It's a good prize. £1,500 and a month long trip to Australia. Entry Form |
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So You Think You're Funny? So You Think You're Funny?, the prestigious Edinburgh competition for new stand-up acts, is also now open for entries into its 2016 contest. Details |
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Amused Moose Laugh Off 2016 You also just about have time left to enter the Amused Moose Laugh Off competition. You need to send them a video clip. The deadline is the 14th February. Details |
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Sitcom Geeks The Sitcom Geeks podcast continues fortnightly, offering great advice along the way. Should you try to film your sitcom for YouTube? How do you write for radio? Listen in for Dave Cohen and James Cary's first 10 pages analysis too. Listen |
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The Comedian's Comedian Podcast Stuart Goldsmith continues to elicit great insight from the performers he interviews in-depth. Recent guests include Mark Steel and Isy Suttie. Listen |
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Ask The Industry Podcast This particular episode of the Ask The Industry Podcast you really need to listen to: it's an interview with UKTV commissioner Iain Coyle. It's a great interview as he's so remarkably frank about everything. You don't normally get this level of honesty from an executive. Listen |
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The Comedy Room update A blog from BBC Writersroom sharing some tips and insight that was gained via the BBC's Comedy Room initiative (which is a training scheme for some selected writers). Read |
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Online sketches As you may have noticed, we recently launched a new version of our website. As a result, we now have a new area to showcase online sketches. Do check it out to see how good the standards of production is now, even on independently produced clips. Watch Think you've filmed a top quality sketch that should be featured on our site? Submit it here: Showcase forum |
"I am the MC/Compere for Hard Rock Cafe's 'Back Room'. We are looking for acts to come and share (about 20 min sets)." Hard Rock Cafe in Performance Discussion
"FREE 'Introduction to Screenwriting' online course from the University of East Anglia..." playfull in Writers' Discussion
"I'm doing the King Gong at the Comedy Store on the 7th February. I'm travelling from Derby - if anyone wants a lift, I'm happy to oblige." gingerpaulio in Performance Discussion
"I was just wondering if there was any advice and tips for how to make a co-writing partnership work?" in Writers' Discussion
"Hi! Aspiring comedian needs to recover any semblance of a career :) There's a comedy competition on its way and my set needs a rewrite..." NatZ in Writers' Discussion
"LET THE DONALD TRUMP JOKES COMMENCE" jabashe on the topic of Newsjack (there's lots of tips on how to write for the show in this thread too)
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Flirting Acting Audition Lukas posted on our Showcase forum: "Hi all! For the past couple of months I've been working on my little sketches on YouTube, some based on true stories, some not..." This first one starts a bit slow and the lighting and sound is a little un-even at times, but we thought Lukas's performance as an unwanted actor in the scene was great. Watch on YouTube |
The British Comedy Guide
www.comedy.co.uk
We're working on a new directory of courses that we'll launch later in the year, but in the meantime here's something a bit different for those with a healthy bank account - a writing retreat in Spain with Nigel Planer and Sally Phillips: Details
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