Beau Peep Notice Board

Beau Peep Notice Board => Outpourings => Topic started by: The Peepmaster on January 25, 2009, 05:05:40 PM

Title: The Fine Art of Strip Writing
Post by: The Peepmaster on January 25, 2009, 05:05:40 PM
How about having a thread where aspiring strip writers can put forward story-line ideas, and experts like Roger, can say why they would or wouldn't work?


Here's one I've just thought up:

Bloke (in flat cap) leaning on a pub bar, says to barman: "And then I said "If that's your attitude, I'm never drinking here again".

Another guy walks in saying "Hey, Arny - any idea why the landlord of your usual boozer's throwing an impromptu party?"


Would that work, and if not, what's not quite right?


Title: Re: The Fine Art of Strip Writing
Post by: Malc on January 25, 2009, 05:21:57 PM
Is it only Roger who's allowed to take the p*ss offer constructive criticism?
Title: Re: The Fine Art of Strip Writing
Post by: The Peepmaster on January 25, 2009, 05:27:52 PM
Sorry, Malc - you're welcome to as well.  ..0
Title: Re: The Fine Art of Strip Writing
Post by: Roger Kettle on January 25, 2009, 09:07:32 PM
I'm now extremely suspicious when, after a couple of days of silence on this site, I'm then asked for my opinion on something!
Title: Re: The Fine Art of Strip Writing
Post by: Diane CBPFC on January 25, 2009, 10:59:44 PM
How about having a thread where aspiring strip writers can put forward story-line ideas, and experts like Roger, can say why they would or wouldn't work?


Here's one I've just thought up:

Bloke (in flat cap) leaning on a pub bar, says to barman: "And then I said "If that's your attitude, I'm never drinking here again".

Another guy walks in saying "Hey, Arny - any idea why the landlord of your usual boozer's throwing an impromptu party?"


Would that work, and if not, what's not quite right?




It`s the flat cap that`s all wrong - you need a wooly toque
Title: Re: The Fine Art of Strip Writing
Post by: The Peepmaster on January 26, 2009, 12:03:08 AM
I'm now extremely suspicious when, after a couple of days of silence on this site, I'm then asked for my opinion on something!

I'm aspiring to be as good as yourself, Roger, and I want to be able to feed you ideas to make your life easier.
Title: Re: The Fine Art of Strip Writing
Post by: Malc on January 26, 2009, 12:50:01 AM
Roger, if it's any consolation I'm not in on this either, so it may be a joke played on me, along the lines of "let's ask for some help from Roger on punchlines and see how long before Malky chimes in".

Thought I was to dumb to notice that one, eh, lads? Well you've got to be up early in the morning to get one step ahead of the Gookster.

But to the punchline: Peeps, it's a little wordy and it needs a middle step to take the audience through the gag...
Title: Re: The Fine Art of Strip Writing
Post by: Vulture on January 26, 2009, 06:03:51 AM
Roger, if it's any consolation I'm not in on this either, so it may be a joke played on me, along the lines of "let's ask for some help from Roger on punchlines and see how long before Malky chimes in".

Thought I was to dumb to notice that one, eh, lads? Well you've got to be up early in the morning to get one step ahead of the Gookster.

But to the punchline: Peeps, it's a little wordy and it needs a middle step to take the audience through the gag...

Thanks, Malc. My thoughts were that there was too big a gap between the two conversations ... you've put exactly what I meant succintly.
Title: Re: The Fine Art of Strip Writing
Post by: The Peepmaster on January 26, 2009, 09:21:45 AM
That's really interesting. Of course, it needs a third frame. I was just wondering how the master would revise it to make it work perfectly.
Title: Re: The Fine Art of Strip Writing
Post by: Roger Kettle on January 26, 2009, 09:54:12 AM
I'd shred it.

Only joking but Malc's right about the wordiness of the punchline. These are difficult to get right when you're having to explain the scenario in them and, in this case, you're having to explain about three things. (That the speaker has just passed a pub, that the landlord has thrown an impromptu party and that it's "Arny's" usual haunt).
The BASIC idea is not too bad.
Title: Re: The Fine Art of Strip Writing
Post by: Tarquin Thunderthighs lll on January 26, 2009, 10:24:15 AM
I'd shred it. No, I'm not only joking. Playing editor is fun!

'Convoluted' is the word everyone's looking for, I think.

Do try again though, Mr Peepmaster (I know you can do much better - and you do too).
Title: Re: The Fine Art of Strip Writing
Post by: The Peepmaster on January 26, 2009, 10:37:50 AM
Panel One - Bloke (in flat cap) leaning on a pub bar, saying to barman: "Then I said "If that's your attitude, you won't see me again".

Chalkie walks through the door, saying: "Just been past your old boozer, Arny"

"How come the landlord's throwing a party?"
Title: Re: The Fine Art of Strip Writing
Post by: Mince on January 26, 2009, 10:42:07 AM
Perhaps we should have a go at five strips for Roger's idea of Dennis "Missing, Presumed Dead".

I'll go first.

SERGEANT BIDET (late at night, to Beau Peep who is in his pyjamas): Dennis is still missing.

BEAU PEEP (face intent, getting dressed into his uniform): Can't sit here and do nothing.

SERGEANT BIDET (surprised): You're going out there to get him?

BEAU PEEP: No, I'm going to get Mad Pierre to go out there and get him.

Surely someone can continue with something better.
Title: Re: The Fine Art of Strip Writing
Post by: Malc on January 26, 2009, 11:21:07 AM
Can we just ruin one bloke's career at a time, please?
Title: Re: The Fine Art of Strip Writing
Post by: Mince on January 26, 2009, 11:24:00 AM
Notice how there was no superfluous tree branch in the background. Mine is minimalist humour.
Title: Re: The Fine Art of Strip Writing
Post by: Malc on January 26, 2009, 11:49:57 AM
Oh, now we're getting down to the real issue. You had it in for that branch didn't you?

Roger liked it and you were jealous...
Title: Re: The Fine Art of Strip Writing
Post by: Tarquin Thunderthighs lll on January 26, 2009, 12:08:01 PM
Mine is minimalist humour.

Never a truer word was spoked.
Title: Re: The Fine Art of Strip Writing
Post by: The Peepmaster on January 26, 2009, 12:20:09 PM
I thought it was a brave effort, apart from the wording.
Title: Re: The Fine Art of Strip Writing
Post by: Tarquin Thunderthighs lll on January 26, 2009, 12:22:38 PM
Which?
Title: Re: The Fine Art of Strip Writing
Post by: peter on January 26, 2009, 12:44:08 PM
How come we have branched out of the topic
Lets get back to the root of the subject
Title: Re: The Fine Art of Strip Writing
Post by: Tarquin Thunderthighs lll on January 26, 2009, 12:49:06 PM
I thought it was a brave effort, apart from the wording.


K-CHINGGG!

Ah, yes - you're right, Peepsie. I've changed my mind. It's marvellous! Far better than anything you could have come up with.
Title: Re: The Fine Art of Strip Writing
Post by: The Peepmaster on January 26, 2009, 12:51:49 PM
I need lessons from the master.
Title: Re: The Fine Art of Strip Writing
Post by: Tarquin Thunderthighs lll on January 26, 2009, 01:02:14 PM
Bit busy at the moment. Roger, can you help?
Title: Re: The Fine Art of Strip Writing
Post by: Roger Kettle on January 26, 2009, 01:28:44 PM
I'm not sure at this moment who I'm supposed to be helping and with what.
Title: Re: The Fine Art of Strip Writing
Post by: Fyodor on January 26, 2009, 06:22:26 PM
Frame 1: (Our man is thinking) "I want to rich and famous."
Frame 2: (Light bulb thought) "I know, I'll be a cartoonist. That's an easy life."
Frame 3: (Now he's thinking seriously) "All I need is the basic idea."
Frame 4: "Got it!" (We see he has written on a piece of paper, "Shuggie and Duggie"

Good eh?
Title: Re: The Fine Art of Strip Writing
Post by: The Peepmaster on January 26, 2009, 06:56:41 PM
Roger, I think you should start taking things easy at your age. Maybe you need an ideas team to work as a think-tank, generating possible concepts that you could just buff-up and turn into shape. You're doing far too much alone.

If you ever decide to employ such a team - I'd like to be considered.
Title: Re: The Fine Art of Strip Writing
Post by: Tarquin Thunderthighs lll on January 26, 2009, 07:27:32 PM
For what?
Title: Re: The Fine Art of Strip Writing
Post by: Tarquin Thunderthighs lll on January 26, 2009, 07:29:05 PM
"Shuggie and Duggie"

Good eh?

No.
Title: Re: The Fine Art of Strip Writing
Post by: Roger Kettle on January 26, 2009, 07:54:33 PM
Panel One - Bloke (in flat cap) leaning on a pub bar, saying to barman: "Then I said "If that's your attitude, you won't see me again".

Chalkie walks through the door, saying: "Just been past your old boozer, Arny"

"How come the landlord's throwing a party?"
Much better! You're not quite in the think-tank yet but you're in the think-bowl.
Title: Re: The Fine Art of Strip Writing
Post by: The Peepmaster on January 26, 2009, 08:00:27 PM
I've amended the first frame, to make it clearer it's a pub he's talking about.

Panel One - Bloke (in flat cap) leaning on a pub bar, saying to barman: "Then I said "If that's your attitude, I won't be drinking here again".

Chalkie walks through the door, saying: "Just been past your old boozer, Arny"

"How come the landlord's throwing a party?"
Title: Re: The Fine Art of Strip Writing
Post by: Roger Kettle on January 26, 2009, 09:29:19 PM
Yep. Even better.
Okay, there is a slight complication with this. We're talking about Andy Capp (I've worked out) and we KNOW his regular pub. Not only that, but the landlord, Jack, is a regular in the strip so that causes a problem. Is Jack the landlord of the pub Andy no longer goes to or the landlord Andy is complaining to?
I still like the basic idea and am tempted to use it in a different area. Perhaps the mother-in-law thing.
Andy talking to Jack at the bar: "...so the the whole thing came to a head tonight---I'm never going to speak to Flo's mum again. Let's see how she handles that!"
Chalkie enters. " That's weird---your mother-in-law just kissed me."
NAH! Still not right but there's something there...
Title: Re: The Fine Art of Strip Writing
Post by: Mince on January 26, 2009, 09:39:25 PM
So you didn't like mine.
Title: Re: The Fine Art of Strip Writing
Post by: Vulture on January 26, 2009, 09:56:35 PM
I've amended the first frame, to make it clearer it's a paub he's talking about.


Look, I know I'm half-Chinese and NOT a cartoonist, but what the **** is a 'paub'?
Title: Re: The Fine Art of Strip Writing
Post by: The Peepmaster on January 26, 2009, 09:57:15 PM
Yep. Even better.
Okay, there is a slight complication with this. We're talking about Andy Capp (I've worked out) and we KNOW his regular pub. Not only that, but the landlord, Jack, is a regular in the strip so that causes a problem. Is Jack the landlord of the pub Andy no longer goes to or the landlord Andy is complaining to?
I still like the basic idea and am tempted to use it in a different area. Perhaps the mother-in-law thing.
Andy talking to Jack at the bar: "...so the the whole thing came to a head tonight---I'm never going to speak to Flo's mum again. Let's see how she handles that!"
Chalkie enters. " That's weird---your mother-in-law just kissed me."
NAH! Still not right but there's something there...

He's in the new pub, Roger. Obviously a very distinctive different landlord, and a different decor. Of course, it's only a short-lived fall-out.
Title: Re: The Fine Art of Strip Writing
Post by: The Peepmaster on January 26, 2009, 09:59:03 PM
I've amended the first frame, to make it clearer it's a paub he's talking about.


Look, I know I'm half-Chinese and NOT a cartoonist, but what the **** is a 'paub'?

It's a pub. Or at least an anagram of "a pub".
Title: Re: The Fine Art of Strip Writing
Post by: Tarquin Thunderthighs lll on January 26, 2009, 10:35:08 PM
He's in the new pub, Roger. Obviously a very distinctive different landlord, and a different decor.

Look at that - he's only been in the self-appointed job five minutes and he's causing the artist extra hassle.
Title: Re: The Fine Art of Strip Writing
Post by: Vulture on January 26, 2009, 11:32:32 PM
I've amended the first frame, to make it clearer it's a paub he's talking about.


Look, I know I'm half-Chinese and NOT a cartoonist, but what the **** is a 'paub'?

It's a pub. Or at least an anagram of "a pub".

Ah, so. It's a 'a pub'!
Title: Re: The Fine Art of Strip Writing
Post by: Roger Kettle on January 27, 2009, 01:11:26 PM
So you didn't like mine.
It was perfect and required no comment.
Title: Re: The Fine Art of Strip Writing
Post by: Vulture on January 27, 2009, 01:16:13 PM
So you didn't like mine.
It was perfect and required no comment.

Crawler!
Title: Re: The Fine Art of Strip Writing
Post by: Tarquin Thunderthighs lll on January 27, 2009, 01:35:20 PM
So you didn't like mine.
It was perfect and required no comment.

I agree.

Even banality has its own state of perfection.
Title: Re: The Fine Art of Strip Writing
Post by: Mince on January 27, 2009, 01:56:03 PM
So you didn't like mine.
It was perfect and required no comment.

You're being sarcastic now, aren't you?
Title: Re: The Fine Art of Strip Writing
Post by: The Peepmaster on January 27, 2009, 02:11:46 PM
Banality Man.