I love the idea. I was laughing really hard at the episode titles. I agree that this would resonate with a lot of teachers and support staff. One of my friends was a speech/language pathologist in the Detroit Public Schools. She loved the kids, but always seemed burnt out because of the chaos in her work environment and concerns she had for her students.
It bears absolutely no resemblance to any state school I ever attended in London and Essex.
I heard rumours that our education system is not quite what it used to be.
Ah! Yes. The classic English understatement.
Good luck getting it commissioned. At least it won't be boring. Don't let the wokeratti near it.
PS. Have you ever watched any of the half hour episodes of 'Please Sir!' (1968-1971) Available on yt?
It's production values were a bit clunky by today's standards, and initially in B&W, but it was very popular at the time. 55 TV Episodes, from S01,E01. Plus one Film.
Sounds like a timely show. I'm sure there'll be a lot of audience interest, from stressed out teachers to Joe public wondering what is going on in our schools since 'our day'. And if we can laugh about the tragedy of it, then maybe we can start to take some responsibility for it too.
Love the different structures for each episode. The episode where Shaun realises he's the villain sounds like my kind of story.
Typo in the first episode synopsis. 'and' instead of 'an'. It's all looking very smart.
Best of luck with it. And the book. You write with such unexpectedly satisfying images – falling into teaching as one might fall into a hole for example – and if there is any truth in the teacher Francis being a 'professional underachiever' you've certainly grown out of that now. It's very inspiring. Go get that show made!
Go for it, but I’m struggling to see where the comedy will come from. It all sounds a bit too real and depressing. I’m sure you’d get a good audience from school teachers and parents of kids at secondary schools. Maybe it says more about my state of mind at the moment than yours though as the UK is a depressing place to be right now with every state system seemingly broken and this is a sad reminder of another.
This show will resonate with teachers across the globe. The education system in many countries needs a total revamp. It's quite worrisome for the teachers that really care and want the best for their students.
I'd absolutely watch your show. Did you ever see Dangerous Minds with Michelle Pfeiffer? I loved that movie as a kid. However, looking back, it does have a slightly glossy touch to it. If that makes sense. Gotta love the 90s lol. Your show has the ability to be more honest, gritty, and realistic on so many different fronts.
I really like it, very relatable! I went to a school just like that. I was the well-behaved kid… who once locked a teacher in a cupboard! The characters are great, it's a funny set up and it should be relatively inexpensive to make.
If the book does well next month, using the numbers will definitely help. When my work was taken to streamers, they said if I had a book made, it would be easier to sell the show as book adaptations are seen as more bankable.
One small note: watch the red-on-black contrast in the pitch deck, it's a bit hard to read.
Right now, it’s a tough market. A well-known US sitcom producer told me last year the slogan was "trying to survive until 2025" and recently said things haven’t improved. Not much is being commissioned at the moment, and more streamers are pushing risk onto creators and demanding more upfront.
So if it doesn't land immediately, don’t be discouraged — keep pushing and tweak as you go.
Love it. Make this happen!!
I love the idea. I was laughing really hard at the episode titles. I agree that this would resonate with a lot of teachers and support staff. One of my friends was a speech/language pathologist in the Detroit Public Schools. She loved the kids, but always seemed burnt out because of the chaos in her work environment and concerns she had for her students.
Looks great. Will be hard to top the absurdity of the real news in Britain. Here is a pitch for the Pakistani Broadcasting Corporation: https://yuribezmenov.substack.com/p/decolonize-pakistan
This is terrifying Francisco!
It bears absolutely no resemblance to any state school I ever attended in London and Essex.
I heard rumours that our education system is not quite what it used to be.
Ah! Yes. The classic English understatement.
Good luck getting it commissioned. At least it won't be boring. Don't let the wokeratti near it.
PS. Have you ever watched any of the half hour episodes of 'Please Sir!' (1968-1971) Available on yt?
It's production values were a bit clunky by today's standards, and initially in B&W, but it was very popular at the time. 55 TV Episodes, from S01,E01. Plus one Film.
Sounds like a timely show. I'm sure there'll be a lot of audience interest, from stressed out teachers to Joe public wondering what is going on in our schools since 'our day'. And if we can laugh about the tragedy of it, then maybe we can start to take some responsibility for it too.
Love the different structures for each episode. The episode where Shaun realises he's the villain sounds like my kind of story.
Typo in the first episode synopsis. 'and' instead of 'an'. It's all looking very smart.
Best of luck with it. And the book. You write with such unexpectedly satisfying images – falling into teaching as one might fall into a hole for example – and if there is any truth in the teacher Francis being a 'professional underachiever' you've certainly grown out of that now. It's very inspiring. Go get that show made!
Go for it, love every bit of your work with Konstantin and the your solo stuff. best of luck
Go for it, but I’m struggling to see where the comedy will come from. It all sounds a bit too real and depressing. I’m sure you’d get a good audience from school teachers and parents of kids at secondary schools. Maybe it says more about my state of mind at the moment than yours though as the UK is a depressing place to be right now with every state system seemingly broken and this is a sad reminder of another.
Yes and I’ve long hoped you would lean into your experience as a classroom teacher
Francis this is great!
I would watch this show over and over again.
Perhaps you should reach out to Graham Linehan, I know he is connecting with Rob Schneider on a new production company.
Could be worth a shot?
This show will resonate with teachers across the globe. The education system in many countries needs a total revamp. It's quite worrisome for the teachers that really care and want the best for their students.
Yes. I want to see this.
Yes Francis!!! Please.
how did you go about getting your book up and running FF? Im completely lost where to begin. Ill post a response to the actual question soon :-)
I'd absolutely watch your show. Did you ever see Dangerous Minds with Michelle Pfeiffer? I loved that movie as a kid. However, looking back, it does have a slightly glossy touch to it. If that makes sense. Gotta love the 90s lol. Your show has the ability to be more honest, gritty, and realistic on so many different fronts.
Despite never getting a reply 🙄
I think this pitch is brilliant, maybe not to the BBC or woke netflix. Amazon maybe?
I really like it, very relatable! I went to a school just like that. I was the well-behaved kid… who once locked a teacher in a cupboard! The characters are great, it's a funny set up and it should be relatively inexpensive to make.
If the book does well next month, using the numbers will definitely help. When my work was taken to streamers, they said if I had a book made, it would be easier to sell the show as book adaptations are seen as more bankable.
One small note: watch the red-on-black contrast in the pitch deck, it's a bit hard to read.
Right now, it’s a tough market. A well-known US sitcom producer told me last year the slogan was "trying to survive until 2025" and recently said things haven’t improved. Not much is being commissioned at the moment, and more streamers are pushing risk onto creators and demanding more upfront.
So if it doesn't land immediately, don’t be discouraged — keep pushing and tweak as you go.