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Writing Comedy
 
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Writing Comedy (Paperback)

by Ronald Wolfe (Author)
4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
RRP: £10.99
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Frequently Bought Together

Customers buy this book with The Eight Characters of Comedy: A Guide to Sitcom Acting and Writing by Scott Sedita

Writing Comedy + The Eight Characters of Comedy: A Guide to Sitcom Acting and Writing
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Product details

  • Paperback: 192 pages
  • Publisher: Robert Hale Ltd; 3Rev Ed edition (31 Mar 2003)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0709074131
  • ISBN-13: 978-0709074137
  • Product Dimensions: 21.4 x 13.4 x 2.2 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 249,986 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in these categories:

    #47 in  Books > Music, Stage & Screen > Film > Film Genres > Comedy
    #51 in  Books > Music, Stage & Screen > Performing Arts > Comedy & Stand-up
    #54 in  Books > Music, Stage & Screen > Television > TV Genres > Comedy

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Product Description

Review

'Along with a rich father-in-law, a good suit, curiosity, venom and innocence, there is nothing a young man or woman contemplating writing television comedy needs more than Ronnie Wolfe's indispensable book.' Frank Muir 'What Ronnie doesn't know about writing comedy probably isn't worth knowing.' Writing magazine 'This is a must for all aspiring comedy writers.' Andy Hamilton co-writer and co-producer, with Guy Jenkin, of Drop the Dead Donkey '... lots of good, sensible, practical advice.' Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran creators and writers of New Statesman, Birds of a Feather, Goodnight Sweetheart and Love Hurts 'I only wish I'd had it when I first started writing.' Jimmy Perry co-writer, with David Croft, of Dad's Army, Hi-de-Hil, It Aint Half Hot Mum and You Rang M'Lord 'A "how-to book" on comedy writing by someone who really knows how to.' Denis Norden '... if Oxford or Cambridge ever establish a Chair of Comedy, Ronnie Wolfe should be the first professor.' David Croft co-writer, with Jeremy Lloyd, of 'Allo 'Allo and Are You Being Served?


Product Description

Packed with hints, tips and warnings, this is the complete newly revised guide through the minefield of comedy writing. Experienced scriptwriter Ronald Wolfe reveals the secrets of the trade. Sharing his success with the reader, Ronald Wolfe explains how to get started in the business and how to present your ideas in an impressive way. He explains the different techniques required for TV, radio, stage and film, and includes sound advice on working methods. Maurice Gran and Laurence Marks, creators and writers of Birds of a Feather, discuss their experiences of team writing. The book is full of good advice from such top scriptwriters as Carla Lane of Bread, Jack Rosenthal, Barry Cryer and Alan Plater. Ray Galton recalls writing Hancock's Half Hour, and Andy Hamilton tells how he and Guy Jenkin created Drop the Dead Donkey, and Ian Brown, one of the writing team, tells of the American style teamwriting of My Family. Is it harder for women to break into comedy? Experience and advice are given by Beryl Vertue, executive producer of Men Behaving Badly and Coupling. Actors like Tony Robinson and Warren Mitchell reflect on their experience of working with comedy writers, and producers and directors. Robin Nash, former BBC head of comedy and Micheal Jacob, editor of BBC Comedy development explain how they develop the talent of new writers. Crammed with examples from the scripts of well-known series and crisp analysis of comic formulae, Writing Comedy is a book every comedy scriptwriter will value.
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Writing Comedy
43% buy the item featured on this page:
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Customer Reviews

5 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
4.2 out of 5 stars (5 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars An invaluable guide for aspiring comedy writers, 19 May 2000
By A Customer
This review is from: Writing Comedy: A Guide to Scriptwriting for TV, Radio, Film and Stage (Paperback)
This book is excellent, Ronald Wolfe has researched his book extremely well and it is as if he has asked himself, "What possible questions could an aspiring comedy writer have?". Having done this he has proceeded to answer them all!

This book is simple, informative, easy to read, well researched and brilliantly laid out. It is never dull and provides excellent advice, on all aspects of comedy writing; from the traditional - to the alternative, from simple sketches - to full blown screenplays, it's all here. This is an invaluable reference book and gives practical advice on any possible subject that the aspiring writer could need.

It also looks behind the scenes and gives an insight into the various industries involved.

If you are an aspiring comedy writer, and want a down-to-earth, easy to read book, crammed with step-by-step tips, what are you waiting for... Buy it!

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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars Could be better, 22 April 2004
This was an interesting book, but it didn't present much in the way ofuseful practical advice. Ronald seems to cover a lot of ground but doesn'tgo into any one area in very much detail, making the book feel a littlesketchy at times. The writing also seemed a little dated and slightlyirrelevant for the current situation in the UK sitcom business, with justthe "update" of the "My Family" BBC sitcom tagged on towards the end.
Having said that, it was worthwhile and at times amusing, but I thinkthere are better guides out there... most notably "Writing TelevisionSitcoms" by Evan S. Smith.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Advice from a pro, 10 April 2006
By A. B. Schwartz (Bloomington, IN United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This book helped me turn a corner in my writing by showing me how a professional writer thinks. Unlike the authors of most of the other writing books I use, Wolfe actually earns his living as a writer, and he focuses on technique, not theory. One chapter in particular is worth the price of the book, the one where Wolfe goes over a question he calls "the writer's best friend." This technique alone helped change my thinking and move me more in the direction of being a professional writer. It doesn't matter if you don't want to write sitcoms as Wolfe does (I don't particularly want to), you can still learn valuable tips from this practical book.
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