Triple J presenter and former advertising award winning writer, John Safran, will join Matt Lipsey of TV’s ‘Little Britain’ fame as the main speakers at Friday’s Master class seminar in Sydney about writing comedy for radio.
Safran, who once worked for Clemenger BBDO, is a self described ‘guerilla TV maker’ and rose to notoriety in 1997’s ‘Race Around the World’. His latest documentary, John Safran vs God, takes a quirky look at religion throughout the world.
Lipsey directed the second series of the BBC’s black comedy, Little Britain, which has just finished airing in Australia. He also has extensive experience in directing and writing comedy for television and radio in the UK.
Also speaking at the Master class is Ralph van Dijk, creative director and co-owner of Eardrum, UK – an international award winning advertising agency, which specialises in writing ads for radio.
The Master class will include a panel session on casting, directing and writing for comedy, as well as individual sessions on how to bring comedy to life through character development and setting scenes.
It will also focus on the special skills needed to write for radio; the terror of the blank page and situation versus character comedy and how Australian comedy writing compares internationally.
Organised by Commercial Radio Australia, the Master class will be preceded by a breakfast where the inaugural winner of the 2005 Siren Awards will be announced.
The winner of the Sirens – established to acknowledge creative excellence in radio advertising – will receive entry into the Cannes Radio Lions and a trip to two for next month’s festival.
A winner will be chosen from the winners and highly commended from the first three rounds of the Awards and will be judged by the Siren Creative Council – comprising leading creative directors from national advertising agencies. Nova 96.9’s David Campbell will host the breakfast.
Tickets are still available for the breakfast and Master class. Both events will be held at Taronga Zoo in Sydney on this Friday (20 May). The breakfast runs from 8-9.30am. The Master class will follow and includes lunch, ending around 2pm.
There are still tickets available at $545 for the breakfast and Master class combined and $40 for breakfast only. For more information contact Louise Allan, (02) 9281 6577, or download a ticket booking form from the dedicated website (see link below).