James Cary
- English
- Writer and script editor
Press clippings Page 22
Sitcom writing: Write you write upon a star
What is it like as a non-performing writer to write comedy for a writer/performer star?
James Cary, Sitcom Geek, 25th July 2011Sitcom writing: What's it all about?
A while ago, I was asked to write a slightly tongue-in-cheek article about the ingredients of a successful sitcom. The result of that is here. In short, a successful sitcoms needs characters, conflict, confinement and catastrophe. Crucial to success is also casting. And a catchphrase is nice too, if you can bear it.
James Cary, Sitcom Geek, 17th July 2011Writing comedy dialogue
Writing dialogue is very personal. Some writers have very distinctive styles that span all the different characters in a show. There are the fast-talkers of Aaron Sorkin's worlds, be they West WingSportsnight or Social Network. There the imaginative comic similes of Richard Curtis and Ben Elton's Blackadder series.
James Cary, Sitcom Geek, 28th June 2011How much should I write?
Previous posts and comments have thrown up yet more questions.
James Cary, Sitcom Geek, 24th June 2011Writing those lines that you know the audience laugh at
... what are they called, again? Oh yes. Jokes.
James Cary, Sitcom Geek, 20th June 2011Where should I send my script? Part 2
Given the enormous interest in the last post (largely thanks to a RT by Mr Linehan), I thought it might be worth following up some specifcs questions that arose.
James Cary, Sitcom Geek, 15th June 2011Where should I send my script?
This is a question I get asked a lot. You can send it in to script competitions. No harm in that. (I write about that here) You can send it nebulous corporations who have a public service remit and will genuinely read it eventually. Better than leaving it in a drawer. I shouldn't bother sending it to an agent (unless it's a movie script or novel).
James Cary, Sitcom Geek, 13th June 2011John Sullivan - Some perspective
John Sullivan is a titanic figure in comedy writing - and his death is tragic. There is no 'but' to this. No caveats or clever angles. The man was a superb writer. This is a man who wrote four extremely memorable and diverse sitcoms.
James Cary, Sitcom Geek, 19th May 2011Sitcom Writing: The first two minutes
I'm not a particularly big fan of Dad's Army. It's show I respect - but not one I especially find myself wanting to watch. (Hi-De-Hi was the rising show as I was growing up and getting into comedy.) But I watched the opening of the episode that was on BBC2 on Saturday (why make new comedy when you could repeat the 70s sitcom about the 40s?). Sadly it's not on iplayer, so I can't link to it. It think it's the Brain vs Brawn episode from Series 5. The first two minutes were very impressive from a writing point of view, and worth stopping to think about for a moment.
James Cary, Sitcom Geek, 27th April 2011Script Competitions
I've never been keen on sitcom competitions, script initiatives, new writing prizes and all that.
James Cary, Sitcom Geek, 13th April 2011