maybe this is just a reflection of my depravity, but you should push the envelope a little more offensive-wise. seems a little on pins and needles even though your show description describes it as being "politically incorrect". Maybe shorten the clips, people's attention spans aren't that deep on youtube..use portlandia for inspiration.
Is this a tongue-in-cheek commentary on It's Always Sunny and Workaholics? The market is over-saturated with bro comedies like that, and they've become redundant, predictable, and have lost their lure. Do you have another angle? Do you have writers with enough wit that they can do more than model their scripts based on currently existing shows and actually try to write funny material instead of "pushing the boundaries?" I'm not talking shit for the sake of talking shit... I'm just saying that to make it in that industry, maybe you should try to stay two steps ahead of the curve instead of two behind it. While this was well produced for what I assume your budgetary constraints were, this seems eerily similar to a bunch of high school kids getting together and making stunt films in response to "Jackass."
Yeah, I think the main problem it has is basically tries to make fun of some of the views of people in flyoverville, but since its a middle easterner and a gay man doing it, its somehow edgy. It kind of comes across that in the delivery and that seems a bit of a problem. The acting is too peppy as well.
Keep it coming. We are already getting a lot of interest and have started our industry meetings. Have you guys seen another sitcom dedicate an entire show to AIDS? It's not all that common. To say it's a couple steps behind is a bit far fetched. We appreciate the comments though. It's not really meant for the web. It's first developed as a television pilot and to get it online, we split it into 5 parts.
Yes... several. Maybe not entire shows in every case, but it's been dealt with. If you're trying to "push the envelope" for the sake of doing so, you're approaching it the wrong way. Stop trying to be "edgy," because the truly edgy comics (and shows) become so with a foundation of good, witty writing. They don't start with a foundation of "offensive" material and build up. That's just the wrong way to approach comedy.
We differ in that you think it was simply trying to "push the envelope." So we can't agree there. And there are a hundred people a day who try to talk about their approach to comedy. What makes you an authority figure on this issue exactly? I don't expect it to be for everyone, but don't act as if you have the answers either. lol Again, we wouldn't be getting interest if there wasn't a market for it and if people didn't find it funny. Your opinion is appreciated however.
I never claimed to be an 'authority figure.' You posted this on a public forum, and I gave a response. Honestly, I was hoping that your objective was to push the envelope, because then I could have assumed you had good intentions but failed to hit the mark. However, if you're saying that your videos stand alone, without any objectives of shock value, then they're just not funny. Based on your posts in this thread, I think I could make a funnier video about you than your actual videos.
I appreciate your opinion. So far, you are in the minority as far as your opinion goes so it's nothing to hang our heads on. We are taking meetings now. Our hope is to take it to TV. Subscribe to the channel and keep watching through the five parts. There are definitely some original and innovative moments.
I wish you the best of luck, and I will definitely check out your channel. It just seems to me like you're following a model that's already been bled dry and fully exploited. I'm sorry if I'm taking my comedy cynicism out on you, but one of my closest friends and fraternity brother is on the NY circuit at the moment, and although he's succeeding on that route, he's failing miserably in terms of getting his writing picked up. He dropped out of college to pursue his dream of stand-up comedy, and he's honestly the funniest person I've ever met. He was sort of Anthony Jeselnik's understudy being from Tulane, and he recently called me to tell me about this great idea he had for a comedy based on a wheel-chair basketball league. I just thought that was too base. All of his ideas seem to be based on what currently sells... shock value. Let's make fun of cripples, minorities, etc., and do it in a very bro-tastic fashion... I just think that type of comedy has a shelf life, and today's comedians need to think a step ahead if they want to make a name for themselves. I don't know what that step ahead is... but I'm not a comedian... (By the way, my problem with that style of comedy is not that it's offensive or anything. I can enjoy offensive comedy. My problem is that it's not creative. It's very obvious comedy. When you say things that people are thinking but don't want to say, are you really creating anything yourself or just being the mouth-piece for people's discomfort around minorities, cripples, homosexuals, etc.?)
I don't really agree. We see example after example in the past couple of years that comedy is going towards the "hardcore." Ross got his show, Anthony J got his pilot, Louie, Patton Oswalt's letter. This is the direction that comedy is gradually taking and I don't have to do what's hot, I've always been writing material like this. It just so happens that I put it in an equation where I could actually shoot it myself and put out there. I have screenplays adapted into graphic novels, several features optioned, etc. This ain't my first go around. I'm a huge Anthony Jeselnik fan, but I was doing that type of content before he was blowing up. I think people over-think comedy. I also think the "concept" is less important than people think. It's the in-between. I have heard from several executives at networks that our pilot is very clever and some saying it was brilliant. They saw the full thing however. Shock value is great, but only if it's done in a clever way. I happen to think we did that. Chelsea, Whitney, etc have not. It's gotta be smart, not just edgy. I personally think having a meth addicted man counting someone's t-cells with his index finger is fairly clever and have the comments on record to prove that. If you disagree, that is fine. Comedy is very subjective. I happen to think 2 and a Half Men is horrible, but it still sells well. Many people thought "Always Sunny" was too crude and all shock value, but that has succeeded. Comedy is getting away from "safe" and I like it. Makes what I've been doing much more acceptable than it has in years. I don't think being a successful comedian necessarily equates to being a good writer or someone who can translate that to good television. Those are all very different things.
And I don't know what it means to have good production value but still seem like a high school production. Certainly contradictory statements. We have been praised on our production value, cast, acting and writing. I'm already getting writing jobs for other projects because of it. I already have the second episode written and Andy Dick, Kevin Farley, and Flesh N Bone have all shown interest.
Hey AmirIcon, good work and good luck. I work in the industry as well and my night job is aspiring screenwriter. Comedy writing (or all writing for that matter) isn't easy but you've got some funny stuff.
