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This evening I went to Ealing studios to help judge some 1 minute comedy clips and discuss what it takes to be a comedian and writer at the
MET Film School. The competition was to win some money towards courses at the school (with a top prize equivalent to £10,000) so there was lots to play for. And it’s very hard to get across a comedy idea in just 60 seconds, let alone get some laughs. The five finalists managed to pack their films with gags and ideas and it was a tough call and five very different approaches, but the winner was Amoh Amonim with
“Don’t Buy A Catâ€. I was actually interested to see if Amoh was playing a character or whether this was really him. It turned out to be that latter (I think), though his pleasure at victory was rather theatrical with him punching the air, unable to believe what had happened and having to take a puff from his inhaler. It felt a bit like he might also be filming this and this would be the next video, but it was certainly the most entertaining competition victory I have ever seen and from the slightly frozen faces of the staff at the school I wondered if they were regretting our decision!
But Amoh is a charming young man and from Brazil and was so pleased about this success because there was no way he could have afforded to take the course otherwise. I was on the panel with Vicky Pile who created Smack the Pony and Green Wing, who I have never met before, but have a great deal of respect for and Ava Vidal, top stand-up comedian who I love being on stuff like this with because she’s very confident and opinionated and boldly and dryly funny. You may have heard her on the Golliwog episode of my Objective radio series. We were joined by former MET student Marcus Markou who has recently created and self-distributed his film
Papadopoulos and Sons and had some interesting stories of how far you can get with drive and self-belief. You can watch that film on Netflix too.
We had an audience of mainly young and hopeful comedians and writers and had to walk a fine line between giving them good honest advice and not crushing their dreams. Though I suspect most of them also have the necessary drive and talent to make it. I think this new generation have the means and opportunity to have true creative autonomy. It’s hard to emerge from the crowded market place, but if you’re consistently good it can happen. I wish I was 25 again. But am delighted that I am not.
