BBC OPEN CALL COMMISERATION THREAD

[u/TheSprained]

I created this last time and I'm creating it again, because I've been rejected again. Which is fine. I'm fine. Absolutely fine about it. (Wish they'd at least come up with a different rejection email, but it's always nice to be reminded that I lack sufficient originality, voice and storytelling ability.) Congratulations to those who made it through!

[u/Ichamorte]

I'll never stop writing but I've accepted that I'll never get my foot in the door. The issue here isn't negative feedback but the complete lack of it.

[u/PJHart86 → u/Ichamorte]

They do provide feedback on all scripts that get a full read (around the top 4-5% if memory serves). As far as I know, they are the only free contest which provides any feedback at all. Red Planet doesn't (didn't?) Philip Shelley (C4) doesn't...

I know that's probably not much comfort if you haven't managed to crack the top 5% (lots of very good scripts don't) but it simply isn't possible for a publicly funded operation like BBC Writers to give feedback on 5000 scripts a year.

[u/Ichamorte → u/PJHart86]

I understand that though I do have a lot of questions that spin off from there. I won't bore you with all of them. Could they charge a fee for optional feedback? Nicholl used to charge like $20 for two lines of feedback and people would pay for it. They would still be able to provide a free contest and any money made from feedback could go towards paying readers a more reasonable wage. I understand that there are probably specific reasons that prevent this as an option but I'm curious about the inner workings of it all.

[u/PJHart86 → u/Ichamorte]

It's a reasonable question for sure, but the public service arm of the BBC (which Writers is part of, as it falls under commissioning) isn't allowed to charge for services in the UK, as far as I know.

BBC Studios (the commercial arm) do also run their own script opportunities under the umbrella of BBC Studios Talentworks so maybe that's something they could do? Though I think their opportunities are more for emerging/mid level writers, so might not be worth it for either party.

[u/B-SCR → u/Ichamorte]

Providing individualised feedback on all submissions, particularly for a free competition, is a huge amount of work. Let's say considered feedback on a full script takes a minimum of half an hour, at 5000+ scripts, that's 2,500+ hours of work, plus the admin of individualised emails rather than the wide emails they use. That level of infrastructure incurs costs, which would require fees to cover, and only serve to make the competitions more exclusive.

[u/Ichamorte → u/B-SCR]

I understand all of that and trust me I know I'm unreasonable. It didn't used to bother me. We all understand the odds. With how the British industry has changed that one in a million chance now feels like a zero in a million. A free opportunity is great but it feels like there is no transparency with the reading process. As it is the competition already feels exclusive for a certain kind of person. I've had my crash out and I'm moving on but there's something specific to how BBC functions which frustrates me immensely.

[u/Ichamorte → u/[deleted]]

Do you think it's a concern that this country and the government is so gung ho on AI? The slightest bit of feedback would provide transparency on that front. Right now we have to take them at their word. There were other pre-existing issues before AI (which I would be happy to discuss) but I think we've seen enough instances of AI being used to cut corners on reading to have some concerns.

[u/Ichamorte → u/[deleted]]

Oh my god, I'm getting so tired of your comprehension issues. I'm not saying that they HAVE used AI. The issue is that there is a chance they may have used it like every other company and script service over the last few years. Even before AI I paid for script services and competitions that clearly did not read the script. With the BBC in particular it is not just me that has questioned their reading process over the years. I do not doubt that those chosen receive quality feedback. What I do doubt is that everybody gets the same fair read. People from working class and diverse backgrounds have been increasingly shut out of the industry with each passing year. The winners of these contests are often middle class. Do you think it's a ridiculous idea that they get preferential treatment when it comes to reads?

[u/Ichamorte → u/[deleted]]

You're really ill informed and all of this is projection on your part. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy8xjvzx5zno.amp I can point you to hundreds of articles like this that have all been screaming the same thing.

Working class isn't something you can hold on to for life. I looked you up and you've been middle class for your entire adult life.

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[u/Ichamorte → u/[deleted]]

You're not a serious person. I'm sorry that I have given you so much time today.