Wednesday, January 23, 2019

EP107: More with writing partner, David Isaacs


Ken and David share lessons they learned in comedy writing, both good and bad – along with discussions on casting, directing, the series they developed for Mary Tyler Moore, and David’s year working on MAD MEN


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3 comments :

Your SitCom Coach - Maggie Reed said...

The premise of my comedy teaching for actors is to respect the enormous amount of creativity and hard work that writers go through before we actors enter the production process. Your blog is a treasure trove for actors in understanding the writers' intentions and their process. Thank you!

Next week, we're working on multi-camera scripts and blocking. I start this session going over the multi-cam schedule that I know from my time on Seinfeld (blushing from your unwitting compliment on this episode, TY), The Golden Girls, etc. and from Kevin Bright's Typical MultiCam Schedule (on the now-defunct website "Behind Friends" from Marta, David and him) -

"Monday" - Table read. Actors meet with Wardrobe.
2nd day - Run-Thru after actors rehearse in the morning with the director (no cameras)
3rd day - Network & studio run-thru on stage bare-bones sets (no cameras)
4th day - Camera blocking, then run-thru
5th day - Shoot the damn thing with audience - (Rehearsal run-thru, then a real run-thru? pick-ups? Cast introduced before or after the run-thru?)

Is the multi-cam schedule the same nowadays, for the actors in particular?

Thanks for your help, Ken, and for this invaluable blog. Hoping to get to your play this weekend. Excited for you!

Your SitCom Coach - Maggie Reed said...

The premise of my comedy teaching for actors is to respect the enormous amount of creativity and hard work that writers go through before we actors enter the production process. Your blog is a treasure trove for actors in understanding the writers' intentions and their process. Thank you!

Next week, we're working on multi-camera scripts and blocking. I start this session going over the multi-cam schedule that I know from my time on Seinfeld (blushing from your unwitting compliment on this episode, TY), The Golden Girls, etc. and from Kevin Bright's Typical MultiCam Schedule (on the now defunct website "Behind Friends" from Marta, David and him) -

"Monday" - Table read. Actors meet with Wardrobe.
2nd day - Run-Thru after actors rehearse in the morning with the director (no cameras)
3rd day - Network & studio run-thru on stage bare-bones sets (no cameras)
4th day - Camera blocking, then run-thru
5th day - Shoot the damn thing with audience - (Rehearsal run-thru, then a real run-thru? pick-ups?)

Is the multi-cam schedule the same nowadays, for the actors in particular?

Thanks for your help. Hoping to get to your play this weekend. Excited for you!

Bob K said...

Really enjoyed this discussion, Ken. Thanks to you and David.