TESTIMONIALS
"The course was both engaging and informative with a welcome emphasis on the commercial reality of getting a sit-com commissioned."
James Baxter, Journalist.
The course was invaluable, as it has helped me tremendously in my presentations and speeches that I have make in my business life."
Graham Pack. Chartered surveyor, Graham pack associates.
"As a professional writer who has to meet weekly deadlines, I often find myself getting blocked. Marc has given me the motivation to overcome this, and has also suggested previously unexplored markets for my work."
Peter Bacanin. Greetings card writer.
"I really enjoyed the course and thank you for sharing your expertise with us. I found loads of it really inspiring. Your book is fantastic too. "
Emma Horton. Actress.
"Marc's course is ideal for both new acts as more established acts. The new acts learn the tricks of the trade. The established acts get inspired to try-out new stuff and ways of delivery."
Stef Vanpoucke - 123 Comedy Club Gent, Belgium
BOOK REVIEW: HOW TO BE A SITCOM WRITER – by Marc Blake
This handy pocket-size book is full of useful tips and advice for the would-be sitcom writer. Marc Blake breaks down the basics of writing comedy into simple steps and shows how to make the most of your abilities. Where do writers go to find out what kind of material is required? Who is looking for what? How should scripts be laid out? Where should they be sent to? These and many other questions are answered in an easy-to-understand approach to sitcom writing, which should be studied by every aspiring comedy writer. Crammed with good, sensible, practical advice, this is a complete step-by-step book for every writer wanting to break into this lucrative market.
Ken Rock. British Society of Comedy Writers
"Marc was excellent. He fulfilled a difficult brief with panache. Our
team had a lively day out. And he gave us some extremely useful
linguistic weaponry to add to our communications firepower."
Martin Hennessey;
managing director www.thewriter.co.uk
''Marc is not just a talented and highly experienced humourist in his own right-he has the added talent of being able to bring out the humour in you and your team, too!''
John Byrne Careers Advisior The Stage
Thanks very much for the excellent course. You have really motivated me and I have taken away some extremely useful tips. I found the group exercises a very insightful and educational experience. Thanks again for a really enjoyable and useful day.
Bruce Beckett
On a very fast turnaround Marc devised a brand new comedy course for our client UKTV from scratch which delivered acres of coverage in national press and on TV - we'd thoroughly recommend him!"
James Herring, MD, Taylor Herring PR
‘The 10 week course was a very informative and yet fun evening class. It included the basics of the genre of sitcom, covering topics such as ‘the trap’ required for the situation and ‘the character analyses and their relationships’ to make the reality come alive. Later in the course you study scripts and plots and get a chance to write your own, under supervision. Marc Blake makes the course what it is, always funny, always aware of the subject and very analytical. Ten, two hour gigs for that price! Well worth it, enjoyed every minute, and laughed throughout, many thanks’
Robert Frith. Robert Frith & co. Accountants.
Thanks again for inspiration and your time on sat mornings; a very precious thing: Theresa Newman.
I really enjoyed the class and found it very useful especially in terms of character and structure. I actually find the process of writing a lot easier now. Many thanks
Shelagh Martin :comedian.
I'd like to add my thanks for the course — among many others
qualities, I thought your analysis of sitcom and other mediums was about the sharpest I've come across.
Mark Jolly. Playwright
I picked up invaluable knowledge via Marc’s teachings and the lessons were always fun and laughter filled. Aside form lecturing to a large group, Marc devoted ample time to each student, meaning we all felt a connection with him and the subject matter.
David Cantor. Writers Assistant BBC's “My Family”
I was searching for somone to coach me in after-dinner speaking, presentation and comic delivery skills. Marc exceeded the brief in every way with his fantastic tailor-made course.
Bruce Fummey. After dinner speaker.
I wanted to say thank you for the course which I and all other attendees, found extremely useful. The progress in the last two days was unbelievable, and everyone came away with polished material.
Daniel Farmer. Comedian
Marc Blake taught me how to be funny! He has a thorough knowledge of the serious business of comedy, and has developed proven techniques. Then what happens is that you take all his knowledge and make yourself funny and take all the credit yourself! It's brilliant. It’s a pleasure to be able to finally reveal who's behind any success I may have had.
Renton Skinner (Perrier nominee 2005)
Marc's comedy class is one of the best things I have ever done. His advice on writing and presentation was invaluable. He has brilliant delivery skills and is a very entertaining speaker
Annabel Rutherford, journalist
Marc Blake’s Comedy course is a comprehensive look at crafting funny business. The theory, practice and history of comedy is looked at and freely discussed in an informal but focused environment where all anybody wants is to be that little bit funnier than they were before signing up. Marc’s teaching style creates the perfect atmosphere for people to speak up and individual tastes are accommodated for and encouraged. A really enjoyable course. You will be laughing all the way home when it’s done.
Matthew Mulot: Assistant Editor: Comedy, Talkback THAMES
Marc is one of the very few people teaching comedy who really knows his stuff. Marc's course is accessible and practical rather than academic but he uses carefully selected clips to deliver key insights. Marc is an entertaining and inspiring teacher, always approachable and sensitive to his clients' different backgrounds and levels of experience and confidence
John Morrison Publisher.
In 2002 Marc Blake designed and managed a programme of creative writing for comedy and sitcom on Riverside FM. Working with a mixed ability group of 50 of varied experience he produced 5 hours of new material of broadcast quality. Marc proved to be an inspirational tutor finding the right level for each individual writer and encouraging his students to produce work of the highest quality.
Julie Hill Programme Director. Women's Radio Group.
“This brilliant course will help develop your creative potential'.
Jenny Colgan Novelist
“As soon as Marc started speaking, I felt full of confidence..."
Alex games: Author and journalist
“Thanks for all your help. It really made the difference”
Lucy Lumsden. BBC controller, comedy
Marc Blake juggles a variety of different careers: novelist, script doctor, stand up comic and tutor.
I attended his weekly sitcom writing course at City University in Islington. He has apparently been teaching this ten week course in the autumn and spring terms for the past decade.
Others might have become jaded and burnt out, but not Marc. Instead of using a didactic chalk and talk approach he leads the course using class dynamics and expertise of all its members to keep the subject fresh and interesting. He knew everyone’s name by the end of the first lesson and, perhaps more importantly, was aware of our strengths and personalities. This ensured that every lesson was interactive and everyone was engaged, felt valued and heard. Our group were a talented bunch; a couple of hacks, a handful of stand-up comics, a BBC television reporter, a salesman, a chartered accountant, someone who was unemployed and a housewife. Our ages spanned three decades and had a good mix of males and females. Marc has a great facilitator’s knack of posing difficult questions and organising and refining the answers that are offered.
Clearly he knows his stuff. His knowledge of British and American sitcoms is encyclopaedic. He effortlessly drops in voices and catchphrases of a raft of characters from the Simpson’s to Steptoe, Delboy to cast members from Dad’s Army. He can deconstruct a plot making it understandable without losing its magic.
Throughout the course we were given a number of assignments that became progressively more complex. Through team work and his guidance these tasks were doable and didn’t induce excessive stress.
Having attended this course I will never view a sitcom in quite the same way now I have been introduced to devices that writers use to bring these domestic dramas alive. An episode of Porridge, Only Fools and Horses or Fawlty Towers will never be quite the same; from now on the experience will be richer and deeper. Whether I will get around to writing a sitcom myself is another question. But if I do Marc Blake’s excellent How to be a Sitcom Writer (Summersdale £5;99) will be near to hand as a reminder of what we were taught and hopefully to prevent me from making a complete prat of myself.
Peter Cross