BCG Pro Newsletter

Friday 17th April 2020

We're constantly working on creating opportunities for our members. Hot on the heels of our Video Contest, we're pleased to announce a brand new weekly opportunity for those of you who write gags.

BCG Pro Gag-a-week competition

BCG Pro Gag-a-Week competition

Every week from today, we'll be running a topical one-liner competition for BCG Pro members to get involved in. There's a cash prize each time and the winning gag will be shared on British Comedy Guide's platforms with full credit. Think you've got what it takes? Enter now!

BCG Pro Production Award open for entries

Attention producers and directors!

You've got just under a fortnight left to enter this competition with has a potentially life-changing prize. The judging panel viewing the work is illustrious to start with... and the winner they select will be offered a placement at one of the UK's top TV production companies!

My Comedy Career: Bilal Zafar

My Comedy Career: Bilal Zafar Paywall

Bilal Zafar talks about the importance of sticking at something, how late payments for gigs are a problem, and how he's been proactive in creating a new web series.

Sitcom Geeks

Sitcom Geeks

We've just done some adding up (that's how exciting our days are right now) and there are now more than 5,000 minutes of insight and advice in this podcast series from James Cary and Dave Cohen. If you start listening as soon as this lands in your inbox and without a break, you'll finish sometime on Tuesday.

Opportunities Hub

Opportunities Hub Paywall

Don't sit around bored: keep active by heading to our Opportunities Hub system to see all the things you can get involved in! Even though we're in lockdown, there's still plenty going on.

BBC Writersroom

BBC Writersroom Script Room

The deadline to submit your script to the BBC is 5pm on Monday... but don't leave it until the last minute, as it can take a little while to register on their system. For last minute advice, head to BCG Pro's Inside Track library.

BCG Pro Video Contest

BCG Pro Video Contest

We launched this in only our last newsletter, so here's a reminder if you missed it first time around. If you've ever made a sketch video that's 2 minutes or shorter, submit it to us for a chance to win £100 and get loads of exposure for your creation. Our first winner will be announced in early May - there'll be one picked each month!

Can you run a comedy campaign during lockdown - from Italy?

Can you run a comedy campaign during lockdown - from Italy? Paywall

The whole comedy industry is currently working from home, but one publicist is more remote than most. Bex Colwell talks to BCG Pro about promoting major UK acts, from Sicily.

This Country producers create Camden Productions

This Country producers create Camden Productions

Stephen McCrum, the executive producer on This Country, and the sitcom's producer Simon Mayhew-Archer, have joined together to launch Camden Productions.

Harry Venning: Dog turned lamppost

Harry Venning: Dog turned lamppost Paywall

Harry Venning explains how he used to rip sitcoms apart in his job as a TV reviewer. However, when he brought Clare In The Community to Radio 4, he then realised what it was like to be on the other side of things.

Simon Nicholls introduces the new Online Masters Degree in Comedy Writing

Simon Nicholls introduces the new Online Master's Degree in Comedy Writing

Top TV and radio comedy producer Simon Nicholls has devised a new Master's degree in comedy writing. Although offered by Falmouth University the course takes place online so you can be based anywhere whilst you study. He explains more.

Sophie Willan on what she learnt making her TV pilot

Sophie Willan on what she learnt making her TV pilot Paywall

Sophie Willan talks to BCG Pro about what she learnt whilst making her sitcom pilot, Alma's Not Normal.

Keep Smiling: In Support of Online Comedy

Keep Smiling: In Support of Online Comedy Paywall

Comedy people can be important at times like these, too.

My Comedy Career: Richard David-Caine

My Comedy Career: Richard David-Caine Paywall

Writer and performer Richard David-Caine talks about his career, and discusses how anxiety can impact on performers' confidence.

Comedian's Comedian

Comedian's Comedian Podcast

Scott Bennett, who is performing online stand-up shows in his shed, is amongst the recent guests on this podcast series in which comedians talk about their craft.

Comedian's Comedian

Paul McGettigan interview

Comedy entertainment producer Paul McGettigan talks about crafting comedy shows (his current project is BBC Two's I'll Get This) in this interview with iNewspaper.

Showcase

This section of our newsletter is where we showcase BCG Pro subscribers. Want to appear here? Just email us back.
Showcase

Henry Dawe

Actor and writer Henry Dawe recently joined BCG Pro. Take a look at his acting and radio voiceover showreels on his profile.

Comedy Casebook

Comedy Casebook: Lack Of Hinge

Jon Price and Belal Ladkani are writer performers who direct and produce their own comedy films and sketches. Find out what they'd do if they had £1m to spend on comedy, and more, via their Comedy Casebook interview.

Thanks for reading

There's more on our message boards, for example a thread about dealing with rejection.

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British Comedy Guide
www.comedy.co.uk

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