James Cary
- English
- Writer and script editor
Press clippings Page 19
Writing comedy for radio
Radio comedy is often seen as the poorer cousin of television; a testing bed or a training ground. From personal experience, I can say that it is certainly poorer financially, although it kept me going for quite a few years over the last decade. But although it's not going to make you rich, the upsides far outweight the downsides.
James Cary, Sitcom Geek, 16th October 2012Comedy Writing: Finishing your scene on a joke
I'd like to focus, for a moment, on finishing each scene with a joke. This, in my opinion, is something a sitcom writer should always be striving to do.
James Cary, 1st October 2012Comedy Writing: The Situation
Simon Dunn's helpful and pithy blogpost about settings for sitcom got me thinking.
James Cary, 26th September 2012Writers' Guild Awards 2012 shortlists
Best Radio Comedy: I, Regress - Matt Berry; Another Case of Milton Jones - Milton Jones, James Cary; In and Out of the Kitchen - Miles Jupp. Best TV Comedy: Holy Flying Circus - Tony Roche; PhoneShop - Phil Bowker, Jon MacQueen; Grandma's House - Simon Amstell, Dan Swimer.
Writers' Guild of Great Britain, 14th September 2012James Cary writing blog: Just Start Typing
So today I'm starting a new script. I have 35 blank pages ahead of me that need to be filled with people talking, stuff happening and jokes. This is the part of the job that freaks out most normal people.
James Cary, 29th August 2012Why? Why? Why? - Motivation when writing comedy
Motivation is just as important in comedy as drama. In 21-28 minutes of comedy, everything happens for a reason. And people do things for good reasons, or at least reasons that make perfect sense to that character in that situation.
James Cary, Sitcom Geek, 10th July 2012Writing: failure is not just an option - it's the norm
It's all in the title, really. And yet most of us can never get used to this. I think British comedy writers feel this pain especially acutely. Allow me to explain my self-pitying assertion.
James Cary, 26th May 2012Inbetweeners review: Stages of life
It may be a surprising to some, but I've only just got round to watching The Inbetweeners. I have now seen the first four episodes. It's good, isn't it?
James Cary, Sitcom Geek, 7th May 2012James Cary: Derek review
Overall we have a comic problem. In a comedy, lead characters need to have flaws on their character and clear quests. Derek has flaws, and they're not his fault, and so comedically it's hard to generate comedy stories, scenes and moments.
James Cary, 12th April 2012Why it's usually okay to make jokes about the French
Jokes and comedy often rely on stereotypes because they are short-cuts. Sometimes they're cliched, sometimes very current.
James Cary, Sitcom Geek, 4th April 2012