Call me a boring old literalist, but dream sequences in TV and films must be the the biggest load of wank ever. An excuse for a director or writer to either try and look deep, or just fill up some space. Even the mighty Sopranos has come a cropper with these idiotic interludes.
Dream sequences within comedies can actually be quite fun as they allow the writer to suspend reality and take the characters and comedy elsewhere for a moment.
Although the 4th series of Coupling wasn't great the dream sequences Steven Moffat added to that series were fun IMHO.
Scrubs, there is your answer. I thank you.
You're right about Scrubs, the dream sequences are quite good in that. Although crucially they're very short and punchy. Spaced did a similar thing, keeping any fantasy dream stuff fast and pacy.
Generally I stick by my original point, especially in dramas and films. David Lynch could cut out the backward talking dwarves and it wouldn't hurt his films a jot.
Coupling made it to a fourth series. You are kidding me.
IMO, it should have ended at the 3rd series before Jeff left.
Is jeff the bloke in earman's avatar? That guy WAS funny.
I think so...
*forgets earman's avatar, but seems to recall*
In this short that I co-wrote and produced there is a three part dream sequence. Hopefully it works as it is connected to the central plot so have a look and see what you think. We tried to keep it as unpretentious as possible!
Find it at :
Part 1 : http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=9ov4S3LULdw
Part 2 : http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=CQPfwEtedKw
It stars Mark Burdis (Operation Good Guys) Siobhan Hayes (My Family) and Claire Goose (Waking the Dead)
Also, you should check out Steve Buscemi's film 'Living in Oblivion' where he plays a film director. There's a great bit about a grumpy short person/dwarf in a dream sequence.
(No offence to short people!!)