Ladies and gentlemen, I have a screen

We were at BAFTA’s Television Lecture this week delivered by Lenny Henry CBE. In his important and often entertaining speech, he proposed a pathway to ensuring that more television productions use Black and Asian Minority Ethnic performers and production staff.

With statistics from the latest Creative Skillset report, Lenny made the compelling case for immediate action to tackle the decline in BAME people working in the TV industry. Here are some of the highlights from his lecture:

"Between 2006 and 2012, the number of BAMEs working in the UK TV industry has declined by 30.9%" 

“Want some more evidence? Here’s another rocket-propelled statistical grenade for you. In the last three years the total number of BAME people in the industry has fallen by 2,000 while the industry as a whole has grown by over 4,000.” 

“Black British Oscar-winning filmmaker Steve McQueen –damn, that sounded good, I’m gonna say that again.”

“The evolution of BAME involvement in British TV seems to lurch one step forward and two steps back - a bit like John Sergeant on Strictly Come Dancing, except he had a job at the end of it.”   

“I have a screen. I have a screen where great programmes are produced by the multi-cultural many, as opposed to the mono-cultural elite.” 

On the BBC’s promise to represent the nations and regions: “The promise was to represent the UK’s nations, regions and communities. The BBC has kept its promise for the nations and regions but what about communities? More precisely, the BAME communities?”

To the audience: “ You have it within your power to effect a radical change upon this appalling situation. Let your greatness blossom, and let’s just see how great our generation can be.”  

Photos: BAFTA/Jonathan Birch

Watch the full lecture and download the transcript here.

Want to write the next hit comedy? Read on...

This year’s Festival programme is absolutely packed to the brim with an eclectic mix of sessions, masterclasses, debates and talks. One session that particularly stands out as an Edinburgh first is the BAFTA Rocliffe Sitcom Showcase. Taking place on the Thursday afternoon, this session  will be the culmination of months of searching, judging, and most probably laughing quite a bit too. Two comedy scripts, selected from almost 500 entries by an expert jury of famous names in comedy, will be performed live on stage by professional actors in front of a Festival audience. Our panel, including comedian John Bishop and BBC Controller of Comedy Shane Allen, will offer a BBC script commission to one of the writers on the day.

With an overwhelming number of entries, what separates the humorous from the hideous? Here Chris Sussman, Executive Editor at BBC Comedy (and member of the Festival Advisory Committee) has some tips for aspiring comedy writers: 

1. Get on with it. You can spend ages thinking about an idea, driving yourself crazy, tying your brain in knots. But you won't know if your script is going to be any good or not until you actually sit down and start writing it.

The Sitcom Showcase will be a first for GEITF

2. Don't bother with a treatment. It's almost impossible to tell from a treatment how a script is going to turn out. If you want to prove to people that your idea is funny, write the script and show it to them!

3. Keep drafting and redrafting. You'll probably only get one chance to impress people with your script, so make sure it's in the best possible state it can be before you send it out there.

4.  Arrange a read-through. There's nothing like hearing your script read out aloud to see which jokes work and which don't. Why not ask your friends to come round one night and read your script out loud for you? You'll be amazed how useful it'll be.

5. Write a second episode. You might find it's even stronger than the first because you know the characters and the world better and that's the one you end up sending out. Or it might give you ideas that will inspire you to go back and change your first script. Either way, it won't be a wasted exercise.

6.  Trust your instincts. If you think a joke's not working, then it probably isn't. If you think your story is flawed or clichéd or boring, the chances are other people are going to think that too.

On stage at NYTVF last year

7.  Know the marketplace. If there are four sitcoms on TV already set in a school, don't write a sitcom set in a school!

8.  Get an agent. A lot of production companies won't read scripts unless they come through an agent. I know it's hard but if your script is good you'll find someone who likes it and wants to take you on.

9.  Don't give up. You're probably going to hear the word 'no' a few thousand times before you hear 'yes', so make sure you keep going.

10. Broadcasters aren't turning down loads of brilliant scripts every day. We want to read the next great script as much as you want to write it!

The BAFTA Rocliffe Sitcom Showcase will take place on Thursday 22nd August at 13.45. Haven't bought you Festival ticket yet? Buy before June 30th to save £105!

For more information on the BAFTA Rocliffe New Writing Forum click here.