BCG Pro Newsletter |
Friday 19th February 2021 |
"I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be." - Douglas Adams
If you missed our Zoom session with Bill Dare last week, do catch-up by watching the recording we've featured below. We received a flurry of glowing feedback on the session and all the insights and wisdom Bill had to share.
Newsjack
Hopefully it's not escaped any writers' notice that Newsjack, the open-door radio sketch show, returns to the air on Thursday. Series 24 - hosted by Kiri Pritchard-McLean - is going to be four episodes long. The submission window opened today. You have until midday Monday to submit sketches, and midday Tuesday to send in your oneliners for the first episode.
Before you submit, you might like to go over some of the advice we've published. We have writing tips from the hosts and advice from script editors. Plus don't miss our big sketch writing tutorial, which goes in depth across 80+ pages. Oh, and check out our new feature directly below, about soup!
SOUP RECIPE: A cookbook for topical sketch ideas 
Comedy writer Peter Beare shares the mnemonic-based system he has devised for creating unique topical comedy sketches. It works particularly well for planning material for Newsjack - have a look and see if it'd work for you!
Baby Cow Programme Creator
The deadline to enter this exclusive BCG Pro opportunity is now looming. You have until the end of Sunday 28th to submit your idea for a new TV, radio, online or podcast comedy show. The top production company will be offering development support to their favourite.
Dave anthology series seeks underrepresented voices
UKTV channel Dave has teamed up with TriForce to find "underrepresented voices" to write a four-part TV anthology series, which will then be made and performed by diverse groups.
UKTV and Comedy 50:50 announce opportunity for female writers
Comedy 50:50 and UKTV have launched an initiative to generate at least one new sitcom series for either Gold or Dave created by a female writer.
Opportunities Hub
There's a surfeit of things you can get involved in right now, and our popular Opportunities Hub system has a summary of everything. You'll find reminders of deadlines for the likes of the Wodehouse Prize and the David Nobbs contest, a cool competition to get involved in where you have to spoof a BAFTA-nominated film, plus online shows and radio stations looking for content to feature.
George Egg on creating his hit Instagram-based Snack Hacker show
George Egg talks about how he has developed and grown Snack Hacker, a show for Instagram, resulting in a 600% boost in his followers.
BCG Pro Gag-a-Week competition
We've been loving all your joke entries. Even if you aren't selected as the winner, we hope you're finding the process of writing to a brief weekly handy focus and practice. This week's topic is "warming winter food".
Online comedy courses
Chris Head's hugely popular Writing Radio Sketch Comedy online course returns for a new run on Wednesday. Across the next five weeks he'll be tutoring an intimate group live, via Zoom. Want to be involved? There're just a couple of spaces left, so book quickly! Our course directory also features other options, like stand-up writing sessions, from Chris and other providers.
Comedy Writing: How Do I Get An Agent?
We look at the pros and cons of having representation, and - when you're ready - how to get an agent.
Sitcom Geeks
With his sitcom currently on Radio 4, Lee Ridley (aka Lost Voice Guy) is interviewed by the Sitcom Geeks podcast. It's a great chat.
Video Contest
Mark Jackson's Wicked Friday Night is the latest winner in our Video Contest. You can see it, and the other previous winners, on our page for the competition. Why not submit something yourself? The judges will be looking back over the entries again in a fortnight to pick another winner.
Using email newsletters to promote your comedy
We explain why it's worth having a mailing list (even if you don't think you need one), and then talk through the various email marketing platforms available. Plus: how to build subscribers, and what to put in your emails.
What we've learnt so far, as we release 1000 sketches in 1000 days
Comedy group The Albion Basement talk to us about how they're releasing 1,000 sketches as podcasts, across 1,000 days (yes, really - it's mad!). They've already learnt some interesting planning and editing lessons, which they share in this article.
BCG Pro Sessions video: Bill Dare
Top writer and producer Bill Dare joined us for our first ever BCG Pro Sessions interview. If you missed it or were one of the multitude who said they'd be watching again, you can catch up with this recording. There's an hour's worth of interesting questions and discussion to take in.
The Comedian's Toolkit: What it takes to stay ahead of the game
There are various aspects that you're expected to be on top of when you're a comedian - from marketing to funding. What part of the puzzle are you missing? We have a look at some essentials.
Comedian's Comedian Podcast
Tom Neenan and Russell Kane are the latest comedians and writers to be interviewed by Stuart Goldsmith. There're now more than 350 interviews to listen back to - so much content!
Showcase
The Joy Of Medicine
BCG Pro member Donna Gray leads in this very promising sitcom pilot produced by GreenMan TV. She stars as Dr Joy Daniels, who is a bit of a sitcom monster. Click through to have a watch: it's 16 minutes long.
Comedy Casebook: Karen Bartholomew
Find out more about actor and writer Karen Bartholomew via her Casebook interview. She says in it: "Victoria Wood is the reason I do what I do". We love this line from her: "I love a laugh, I'm not pretentious, I can't be doing with hanging around and talking fluff."
Thanks for reading
If you're a producer, director, editor or similar who has filmed or recorded something in the last 12 months that you're proud of, do enter it in our Talent Awards - the winner gets a big career boost!
British Comedy Guide
www.comedy.co.uk
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