If you're a scriptwriter chances are you've seen this over on the WGGB blog already, but here it be again. LINK. Paul Feig, the brains and big geeky heart behind one of the best TV series ever, Freaks and Geeks, has nine pieces of advice for anyone writing a comedy.
He also worked on Arrested Development, 30 Rock and The US Office so even if Parisian nightsuits and 'Lady L'' mean nothing to you, it's well worth a look.
And for those of us who still miss the low-jinks of McKinley High:
Monday, 6 July 2009
Saturday, 4 July 2009
Wither Family Telly?
It could be dewy eyed nostalgia (I'm definitely getting more sentimental *) but I can't help feeling sad that Primeval and Robin Hood have been axed and ITV are now focussing more on 'edgy' postwatershed and less on people chasing dinosaurs through shopping centres.
When it comes to Robin Hood I was always more of an Errol Flynn or Michael Praed man (yep, that old) but I loved the fact that here was a perennial hero, more relevant than ever in our times of recession and political and financial corruption, back on our screens and fighting the good fight. Primeval was fun too- and my Dad loved it. Yes, my Dad. In your face audience demographics charts.
While Dr Who is still too succesful to meet the same fate (touches plastic TARDIS for luck) it seems broadcasters are turning their backs on creating that 'adventure for all the family' experience. I get that these shows require spectacle-friendly budgets, but surely they can - if succesful- generate a lot more revenue than, say, a social realist drama? (rubs head of cyberman bubble bath for no particular reason).
We're also living through a time in which the most brilliant big screen storytellers of our era (that'll be Pixar) make just that: 'Adventure for all the family'.
Film and TV financing models are obviously totally different, but it does show that the appetite for something big and magical that everyone can enjoy is still out there, even if at present it's only being served by the 'Whoniverse'.
It seems TV drama is fragmenting in much the same way TV comedy has already done. There's still great stuff out there, but very little of it's of the Only Fools & Horses 'something everyone can enjoy' variety. Maybe it's because we're fragmenting; with the sweary Malcolm Tucker fans in one corner and the Last Of The Summer Wine lot in the other; polishing their bathtubs for yet another hilarious downhill race**.
As a scriptwriter it's tempting to try to second guess what producers and broadcasters want. While I think there are some obvious no-nos at the moment (ITV probably aren't interested in another SFX heavy dinosaur show and the BBC, with Dr Who and Ashes to Ashes, probably feel their their high concept time travel show remit is already being fulfilled) it can become an obsession, and that way madness lies.
So, in addition to a commision on a new childrens show (more when it's actually on TV) I've been writing whatever I feel like, which is a sitcom spec and a treatment for a horror film.
Hopefully one will be funny and the other scary- and not the other way round.
*Was I alone in getting misty eyed at the opening of the new Star Trek movie. Really? Just me?
Balls! Daddy Kirk died saving Mum and Baby Kirk! You're either liars or made of stone!
**Has Compo- or whoever the current compo replacement is- ever gone down a hill in a bath tub or is it a myth of the 'Play it Again, Sam/Beam Me Up Scotty?' variety? I could try to find out but watching just a millisecond of that programme gives me a Prosutian flashback to homework not done and double PE on Monday.
When it comes to Robin Hood I was always more of an Errol Flynn or Michael Praed man (yep, that old) but I loved the fact that here was a perennial hero, more relevant than ever in our times of recession and political and financial corruption, back on our screens and fighting the good fight. Primeval was fun too- and my Dad loved it. Yes, my Dad. In your face audience demographics charts.
While Dr Who is still too succesful to meet the same fate (touches plastic TARDIS for luck) it seems broadcasters are turning their backs on creating that 'adventure for all the family' experience. I get that these shows require spectacle-friendly budgets, but surely they can - if succesful- generate a lot more revenue than, say, a social realist drama? (rubs head of cyberman bubble bath for no particular reason).
We're also living through a time in which the most brilliant big screen storytellers of our era (that'll be Pixar) make just that: 'Adventure for all the family'.
Film and TV financing models are obviously totally different, but it does show that the appetite for something big and magical that everyone can enjoy is still out there, even if at present it's only being served by the 'Whoniverse'.
It seems TV drama is fragmenting in much the same way TV comedy has already done. There's still great stuff out there, but very little of it's of the Only Fools & Horses 'something everyone can enjoy' variety. Maybe it's because we're fragmenting; with the sweary Malcolm Tucker fans in one corner and the Last Of The Summer Wine lot in the other; polishing their bathtubs for yet another hilarious downhill race**.
As a scriptwriter it's tempting to try to second guess what producers and broadcasters want. While I think there are some obvious no-nos at the moment (ITV probably aren't interested in another SFX heavy dinosaur show and the BBC, with Dr Who and Ashes to Ashes, probably feel their their high concept time travel show remit is already being fulfilled) it can become an obsession, and that way madness lies.
So, in addition to a commision on a new childrens show (more when it's actually on TV) I've been writing whatever I feel like, which is a sitcom spec and a treatment for a horror film.
Hopefully one will be funny and the other scary- and not the other way round.
*Was I alone in getting misty eyed at the opening of the new Star Trek movie. Really? Just me?
Balls! Daddy Kirk died saving Mum and Baby Kirk! You're either liars or made of stone!
**Has Compo- or whoever the current compo replacement is- ever gone down a hill in a bath tub or is it a myth of the 'Play it Again, Sam/Beam Me Up Scotty?' variety? I could try to find out but watching just a millisecond of that programme gives me a Prosutian flashback to homework not done and double PE on Monday.
Tuesday, 23 June 2009
Edinburgh bound...
Nicky Lianos is off to Edinburgh tomorrow with Monsters And Rabbits.Also showing there-and released July 17th- is Wide Open Spaces starring Ewen Bremner (who was great as Julian in Faintheart) and Ardal O' Hanlan. It's written by Arthur Mathews (Father Ted, Black Books, Big Train) which has moved it very high on my 'to see' list. I've also just noticed that it looks like Ewen is looking at Jessica Hynes and Eddie Marsan as if they're stuck in the same traffic jam. Weird...
Monday, 22 June 2009
This is just horrible...
I normally try to keep this blog fairly light and jolly; news on work stuff, links to things I find funny - like this.
I've never considered it a place to air political views or rail against the injustices of this world.
I'm not Adam Curtis. I'm a fella who wrote a film about pretend vikings and a cartoon about a farting dragon. I spent yesterday afternoon eating candy floss at a steam powered funfair, for Christs' sake. I also remain unconvinced governments (even ones as Malcolm Tucker-driven as ours) really lose sleep over irate blogs, facebook protests and the like.
While I'll always sign a petition I believe in, I'm under no illusion that as forces for change go they're probably just above rolling your eyes and sighing.
Having said all that I just saw the violent arrest and imprisonment of two women protesting over a road. This isn't from a corner of the world where we're so used to police brutality we tune it out as so much rolling white noise. This is Kent. You know; 'The Garden of England'. Canterbury Cathedral. Posh Essex. Kent.
If this story becomes as big as it should, some govt wonk will no doubt say something about 'rotten apples'. I really hope that's the case.
I'm no police hater. Before scriptwriting I used to work as a documentary cameraman on a TV show for ITV following the police around. It was called Inside Crime.
As well as going on raids and getting to wear a kevlar vest (I didn't look like Jack Bauer. I looked like a man in a goth life jacket) I saw the police taking their responsibilities very seriously.
You could argue 'Of course they would- you were filming them for the telly', but even when the camera was off (or I'd bottled it back to the police van to 'check the tapes') there was a general attitude that people should be treated with respect and force should only be used if necesary.
This footage shows something very different, and very very wrong. Three men putting a woman in a choke hold, hog-tying her and throwing her into a van isn't 'if necessary'.
Alarmingly, it also seems to be treated as 'standard operating procedure' (the footage is after all from a police camera).
I just hope a- there is a proper enquiry and b- measures are taken to prevent this happening again.
Sorry to be all doom and gloom of a Monday. My next post will probably be about a Japanese drink called 'Bum' or something.
I've never considered it a place to air political views or rail against the injustices of this world.
I'm not Adam Curtis. I'm a fella who wrote a film about pretend vikings and a cartoon about a farting dragon. I spent yesterday afternoon eating candy floss at a steam powered funfair, for Christs' sake. I also remain unconvinced governments (even ones as Malcolm Tucker-driven as ours) really lose sleep over irate blogs, facebook protests and the like.
While I'll always sign a petition I believe in, I'm under no illusion that as forces for change go they're probably just above rolling your eyes and sighing.
Having said all that I just saw the violent arrest and imprisonment of two women protesting over a road. This isn't from a corner of the world where we're so used to police brutality we tune it out as so much rolling white noise. This is Kent. You know; 'The Garden of England'. Canterbury Cathedral. Posh Essex. Kent.
If this story becomes as big as it should, some govt wonk will no doubt say something about 'rotten apples'. I really hope that's the case.
I'm no police hater. Before scriptwriting I used to work as a documentary cameraman on a TV show for ITV following the police around. It was called Inside Crime.
As well as going on raids and getting to wear a kevlar vest (I didn't look like Jack Bauer. I looked like a man in a goth life jacket) I saw the police taking their responsibilities very seriously.
You could argue 'Of course they would- you were filming them for the telly', but even when the camera was off (or I'd bottled it back to the police van to 'check the tapes') there was a general attitude that people should be treated with respect and force should only be used if necesary.
This footage shows something very different, and very very wrong. Three men putting a woman in a choke hold, hog-tying her and throwing her into a van isn't 'if necessary'.
Alarmingly, it also seems to be treated as 'standard operating procedure' (the footage is after all from a police camera).
I just hope a- there is a proper enquiry and b- measures are taken to prevent this happening again.
Sorry to be all doom and gloom of a Monday. My next post will probably be about a Japanese drink called 'Bum' or something.
Friday, 19 June 2009
US Scriptwriter and Teacher William M. Akers will be giving a talk on how to make your screenplays as good as possible at the Metfilm school, Ealing Studios on July 2nd.More details HERE and on his blog.
I haven't had the chance to hear MrAkers speak yet, but a few things tell me this will be a cut above the many seminars and workshops out there:
1/ He isn't pretending to offer a 'Miracle Pill' cure for your screenplay's ailments.
2/ As well as teaching, he's written (and is writing) for both film and TV- so any industry advice will be borne from experience rather than reading Peter Biskin books.
3/ The advice on his blog is clear, concise and doesn't treat scriptwriting as a mistifying black art only to be practised with quills on chaise longues (that's my personal choice, okay?).
While I can't claim to be as diligent as Adaddinsane when it comes to listing music I'm currently listening to, can I gently recommend The Fine Arts Showcase?
London My Town has already entered my list of favourite songs about the capital.
Maybe it's the line about Shoreditch kids 'so caught up in cool they don't live their lives from the heart' that does it for me. That and the hand claps. Gotta love a handclap.
(And the picture at the top is by Chris Ware. No reason other then I just dug out my acme novelty books and was reminded just how brilliant, beautiful and heartbreaking they are).
Wednesday, 17 June 2009
Ladies and Gentlemen...
Last night saw a very pleasant catch up with actor, cartoonist and biro-huffer Chris R Wright last night. A nice (if ink-stained) chap and nothing like Simon, the character he plays in Faintheart. This was for the opening of an exhibition of his wonderfully warped cartoons at the Riverside Studios.It's running until July 15th so if you find yourself in the vicinity do pop in and enjoy their creepy, boggle-eyed wrongness.
Also good to see flaneur and film-maker Guy Ducker. He dispatched a couple of blackguards with his trademark sword-cane, but otherwise a peaceful evening.
Nicky L is off to Munich with Monsters and Rabbits then swiftly up to Edinburgh for its showing at the Film Festival. Sadly this year it looks like I'll be too busy to go, but if anyone reading this is up there do say hi to Nicky and, if you can, check out the film which, if my photographic memory serves, is on at:
Thursday 18 June 09:30 Filmhouse 2 (Press & Industry Screening: Family Shorts Programme)
Saturday 20 June 11:15 Filmhouse 2 (Public Screening: Family Shorts Programme)
Thursday 25 June 09:15 Filmhouse 2 (Press & Industry Screening: UK Shorts 1)
Friday 26 June 11:15 Filmhouse 2 (Public Screening: UK Shorts 1)
http://www.edfilmfest.org.
Also -feeling odd and uncertain about the possible plans afoot for the BBC License fee.
While I get that ad revenue isn't enough in our sky + world, surely such a move affects the Reithian principles on which the license fee is paid (for public service broadcasting without commercial compromise or bias)?
On a purely personal note, I'd also prefer my license fee be spent on the likes of Occupation, Ashes To Ashes and The Sarah Jane Adventures than taunting mentally fragile Scottish singers or helping Paris Hilton find a British Best Friend.
On a much more positive note, I think every scriptwriter teetering on the edge of a feature screenplay but scared to take the plunge should read this.
It's from the blog of Billy Mernit, author of one of my favourite books on screenwriting, Writing The Romantic Comedy. Unlike the many turgid 'how to' books out there, there are no intimidating sets of 'rules' or (my pet hate) stats confirming how unlikely it is that you'll ever sell anything*. Instead, it's just clear, friendly and full of examples from films you've actually seen.
Even if 'cute meets' and 'Bellamys' aren't your bag and you're working on a zombie horror, there's tons of useful stuff, whether your characters are looking for love or tasty fresh brains.
Or both....
*Surely if you're a grown up and halfway sensible you already know it's a tough profession?
Monday, 8 June 2009
Huzzah!
Well, a qualified Huzzah as that apology for a human being Nick Griffin now has two MEPs to send to Brussels to show Europe that, despite being a gloriously multicultural nation, we can still hold our own when it comes to bigoted delusional idiots.
He was on Radio 4 this morning and actually cited David Harewood's Friar Tuck in Robin Hood as an example of the BBC's 'anti-white' agenda. He'd be ludicrous if he wasn't so dangerous.
On a more chipper (and entirely self serving) note, I'm happy to report that Monsters & Rabbits won the Prix Du Jury (which my uncanny gift for languages tells me means 'Jury Prize') at the TouquetFilm Festival. Director Nicky Lianos was there to pick up the trophy (apparently a big crystal thing that wouldn't look out of place i
n the Fortress ofSolitude).
Congratulations are due not just to Nicky L and producer Nicky Moss but the superb cast and crew, especially our young stars Tyler Kennington and Sophie Hattersly and 'monsters' James Bachman and Alice Lowe.
Also really pleased to hear that 'The Hide', the feature The Good Lady Rachel worked on as concept artist, is being released to great (and well deserved) reviews, including this one from Philip French (who for once curbs his unfortunate tendency to tell you the ending).
Director Marek Losey and writer Tim Whitnall (adapting his play 'The Sociable Plover') have created an atmosphere that's both tense and blackly comic - and, despite being made on a blockbuster's winnebago budget, it looks gorgeous.
Alex MacQueen (a familiar face to fans of The Thick Of It and In The Loop) is brilliant as the anally retentive 'Twitcher' Roy Tunt, and Phil Campbell gives a 'quietly menacing' masterclass as the stranger who enters Tunt's sanctuary. Catch it on the big screen if you can.
He was on Radio 4 this morning and actually cited David Harewood's Friar Tuck in Robin Hood as an example of the BBC's 'anti-white' agenda. He'd be ludicrous if he wasn't so dangerous.
On a more chipper (and entirely self serving) note, I'm happy to report that Monsters & Rabbits won the Prix Du Jury (which my uncanny gift for languages tells me means 'Jury Prize') at the TouquetFilm Festival. Director Nicky Lianos was there to pick up the trophy (apparently a big crystal thing that wouldn't look out of place i
n the Fortress ofSolitude).Congratulations are due not just to Nicky L and producer Nicky Moss but the superb cast and crew, especially our young stars Tyler Kennington and Sophie Hattersly and 'monsters' James Bachman and Alice Lowe.
Also really pleased to hear that 'The Hide', the feature The Good Lady Rachel worked on as concept artist, is being released to great (and well deserved) reviews, including this one from Philip French (who for once curbs his unfortunate tendency to tell you the ending).
Director Marek Losey and writer Tim Whitnall (adapting his play 'The Sociable Plover') have created an atmosphere that's both tense and blackly comic - and, despite being made on a blockbuster's winnebago budget, it looks gorgeous.
Alex MacQueen (a familiar face to fans of The Thick Of It and In The Loop) is brilliant as the anally retentive 'Twitcher' Roy Tunt, and Phil Campbell gives a 'quietly menacing' masterclass as the stranger who enters Tunt's sanctuary. Catch it on the big screen if you can.
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