STORYTELLING UNIT: JAMES CORDEN

I looked into another screenwriter when I was researching for inspiration for my own script and one who I found I could relate to and I enjoyed his work was the comedy writer James Corden.

James Corden is mostly famous as a writer for the classic BBC 3 Comedy Series 'Gavin & Stacey' which was broadcasted on BBC 3 from 2007 but by it's third and final series it had grown so popular with views that it was moved to BBC 1. James Corden co-wrote the series with Ruth Jones, both also played main roles in the series. James played the character 'Smithy' which was Gavin's best friend and one of the most loved characters in the series.

James Corden never actually attended University of specialised in a course to get him into the Acting or Writing Industry. He did study drama briefly at Jackie Palmer Stage School before before moving on to Upper School. He was born is London but moved over to Buckinghamshire where he attended Park Middle School and Holmer Green Upper School. James Corden actually built his way up into the Industry. James admits in his auto biography that even though he did study drama briefly, he never actually saw it as a career and certainly not writing either. He actually built his way up into the industry. He took on small roles in TV dramas starting from 1997 and got his first big part in 'Fat Friends' in 2000, this was a British TV Comedy Drama. It was also through Fat Friends that he met Ruth Jones, a Welsh actress who he'd go on to work with as a Writer.



'Gavin & Stacey' was James Corden's first work as a Writer. In an interview with him and Ruth Jones, he explains how the story came about and it was that he actually has a friend called Gavin, how has been his friend for years and he met his now Wife over the telephone and they lived miles apart. James explained that him and Ruth found that concept a lovely and unique story and they wanted to tell it and from this, Gavin & Stacey was made. James has also explained that the comedy side of it was important to him, he loves to make people laugh and in his auto biography explains the first time he made people laugh:

"I was three and it was during my younger sister's christening and I was lifted up to stand on a chair so I could see. I looked out at the congregation of about thirty or forty people, but to me it seemed like thousands. And I started to do little dances on the chair and pull faces and turn around under my legs - and everyone burst out laughing. Even the vicar was laughing. And I can vividly remember something clicked and thinking, This feels amazing!"

He loves the comedy but wanted focus on the story of these two characters as well so kept the series a good balance between serious and comical situation. Although the show is often considered a sitcom. James Corden always refers to it as a comedy drama series. James also chose to play the character Smithy as this story was one he had experienced first hand and he felt he would actually be the best person for it.

What inspired me about James Corden's writing is the fact that he never actually inspired to be a Writer but found the story of his best friend so inspiring that he wanted to tell it. James uses his friends and the people around him to get his content and inspiration and this is what I did with my script. At a stage I was unsure if the idea of a Father and Daughter sorting their differences would work but after remembering my own Father and Sister fixing their issues helped me get confidence in my idea and see it through. What I also admire about James's writing is the balance between comedy and seriousness in Gavin & Stacey. Unlike Simon Pegg, who I also researched into, James likes to have the seriousness of a drama series as well as a comical and more realistic style to his work. Like when Gavin proposes to Stacey at a train station.
We see the love and compassion coming from Gavin as he gets on one knee and also ignores security to finally ask the woman he loves to marry him and this heart warming moment gets some comedy as suddenly armed police come along thinking that Gavin has a bomb in a ring box.

After the success of Gavin & Stacey, James Corden went on to continue more as an actor and went into presenting as well, having been a presenter for 'A League of their Own' and currently the presenter for his own show 'The Late Night Show with James Corden'. He is also the writer for his own show. He did go on to write more for TV, having been one of the writers for the BBC2 Comedy Drama Series 'The Wrong Mans'. Jame's met his co-writer for this series during his work on Gavin & Stacey as Mathew Bayton starred in the show and worked with James. This new drama sent James down a different root, while staying with the genre of comedy, he and the other writers attempted to combine the format of comedy situations with the plots and storylines of an action and adventure TV Series and this worked since the show got great feedback and was produced for 2 series.

Probably the main thing from James Corden's work that inspires me with his writing is he doesn't stick to one genre. He has a running genre which is comedy as we've seen that he loves to make people laugh, but I love that he tries (and clearly succeeds) to combine comedy with other genres and make new content which sticks out more to the audience and gives something fresh and new to our eyes rather than just writing a comedy series or a drama series.

(All quotes from James Corden (2012) My I have your Attention Please?, United Kingdom: Random House.)

(All photos taken from google.co.uk)