Obviously, you have to write spec scripts. And they have to be good enough to impress the people who can launch your career. But what script to write?
Here’s my advice that veers off from the norm. Existing thinking is that you need to write single-camera edgy shows, preferably pilots. Everyone is looking for that “fresh unique voice.” And if you want to write one or two of those, great.
BUT…
My philosophy is to look for where there is a real need and go in that direction. More desire on the part of the buyer and less competition for the seller. A win/win.
So in this case, I recommend you write a multi-camera spec. Existing show or pilot – your choice (or both). There are more multi-camera shows being produced than you think, and when you talk to producers of these shows they bemoan the fact that when they’re looking to staff there are precious few multi-camera specs submitted.
Many of the edgy single-camera specs are also not really funny. Sorry but they’re not. Some are quirky, some are “amusing,” a few rely on shock humor – but rarely are they aggressively funny. Certainly, single-camera specs CAN be aggressively funny but the form is very forgiving when it comes to laughs because the writer is not held accountable. There’s no studio audience to test it.
With multi-camera specs you really have to have comic chops. Multi-camera shows need to be genuinely funny. If you feel you have the talent for that, go for it. There are a lot of wannabe comedy writers who know they don’t have that gift. Single-camera specs allow them to hide that fact in quirkiness or irony or whatever. For that reason alone, a lot of your competition falls away.
The truth is a lot of today’s hopeful young writers look down their noses at multi-cams. College students, by and large, have no interest in them (besides watching FRIENDS every night). That’s bad for multi-cam producers looking for fresh talent, but it’s sure good for YOU if you can deliver the goods.
There are more people trying to break-in now than ever before. That’s just a fact. So anything you can do to give yourself an edge, to distinguish yourself from the pack, is worth pursuing. Write a great multi-camera spec. And like I said, it’s not at the expense of a single-cam spec (write as many of those as you like); it’s in addition. Networks, streaming services, cable channels all have multi-cams. They might be your in. Take advantage (while most people don’t).
As always, best of luck. Someone has to break-in. Why not you?
from By Ken Levine
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