Sideline’s new Comedy Division received an overwhelming response to its call for new sitcom scripts, resulting in 176 entries being submitted from prospective comedy writers before the deadline last Friday.
Creative director Billy McGrath said the response was ‘astonishing’ and that writers can expect a first response by Friday 19th April - with Irish and UK broadcasters including the BBC, Channel 4, Sky and TG4 already expressing an interest in the results.
‘We have only read a fraction of the scripts and already share the excitement that we have uncovered some real gems and most importantly can develop talented Irish comedy screenwriters for the future. The only downside is that with so many scripts to log, read, assess, discuss internally, shortlist and ultimately give feedback, there will be now a delay to our timeline,’ he added.
Mr McGrath also received positive feedback from Dan Norton in ICM Partners, based in LA, with the ultimate goal of getting an Irish scripted sitcom on US TV.
Sideline aims to narrow the submissions down to a shortlist of 25 or 30 scripts, before settling on a final six or eight which will undergo intensive professional workshops – managed by John Henderson and Eilish Kent, hopfully in May- to bring the first drafts up to a polished standard ready to pitch to broadcasters in Ireland, UK and USA at the end of the summer.
The first Dublin Sitcom Festival this autumn will also play host to a performance of the final script by professional actors in front of a live audience.
Sideline’s Comedy Division was formed as a response to the increasing number of Irish comedy successes on the international stage in recent years including Mrs. Brown Boys, Moone Boy and The Rubberbandits on Channel 4.
Next month’s MIPTV international content market, to be held in Cannes, will also feature a Sideline presence as part of the ‘Irish on Screen’ group, as they liaise with prospective production partners with a view to attracting international distributors for their latest TV formats.
