March 30th, 2010 | 2 comments | SXSW

So I went to the premiere for Saturday Night, an SNL Documentary by James Franco while I was in Austin (gold badge FTW). I wanted to share with you the creative process that the SNL writers and cast use on a weekly basis. This idea of creativity and establishing creative habits has been particularly top of mind lately, since I’ve fallen into another blogging black hole, where I’m trying to figure out where things are going here. But that’s another blog post in itself.

So, I present to you, a week with the cast of Saturday Night Live, and what they go through every week to get a show together on Saturday.

And yes, I was the interactive geek TAKING NOTES during a film premiere. I get it, I’m a strange duck.

MONDAY – Pitch day

• All writers/cast pitch their ideas for the week
• “If you pitch something that sounds funny, you’ll blow the joke by Wednesday, so the funny pitches rarely make it to set”
• 50% of the pitches are bullshit, the other 50% actually have a chance

TUESDAY – Writing

• Writers have 24 hours from pitching to the table read to write and deliver scripts.
• Everyone works on as many pitches as possible before Wednesday’s table read, most writers don’t sleep between Monday and Wednesday – and if they do, they don’t sleep until Wednesday morning if they’re lucky
• Approximately nine out of 50 sketches will actually make it to set for Saturday’s performance

WEDNESDAY – Table Read

• Producers decide script order for table read
• Confidence at the table read is tough, especially if you’re following the script of a veteran cast member who has been writing for the show for five, seven, ten years
• Table read is done with entire cast, in character, but not dressed, and not on a set

THURSDAY/FRIDAY – Production Logistics

• Production figures out logistics – sets, lighting, costuming, etc
• “If you’re not going to surrender to the process, then you can do nothing” –Lorne Michaels on refining the script to be the best it can be, regardless of what the writer had planned for the skit
• “it’s not like a movie. At SNL, you get points for trying – there is no room for perfectionists”

SATURDAY – Dress Rehearsal/Showtime

• They test the show on a full live audience to see which sketches need revision and which ones should be cut
• Executive producer watches rehearsal to gauge the audience – something that may have been hilarious at a table read may not actually translate well on set
• “Some parts kill it and some parts die. Cut the ones that die.”
• “If you get the right mix of people there is nothing better, if not, there’s always next week.” – Lorne Michaels on how you’re only as good as your last show

TAKEAWAYS:

• Similar to life, work, personal decisions – a lot of the ideas will suck, some of the ideas will stick. Cut the ones that suck and focus on the ones that stick. (DUH – but it bears repeating.)
• Confidence at the table read can be tough for junior cast. Some have great ideas but are terrified to speak up – regardless of the fact that they are on the cast BECAUSE they have great ideas. It can be intimidating to present an sketch following a senior cast member who is notorious for having great sketches.
• “What people lack in experience, they make up for in enthusiasm” –Lorne Michaels on each cast making the show their own – and finding new talent.

When you write a blog post, create a video, or INSERT CREATIVE ACTIVITY HERE, is there a certain process you go through? Where do you draw inspiration?

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