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Hosted by gray jones
Hosted by gray jones
Hosted by gray jones
40 episodes with gray jones
3 episodes with gray jones
10 episodes with gray jones
3 episodes with gray jones
This week is an extra special episode as we welcome two guests for an extra long episode - and believe the first rec-to-rec collaboration on a podcast. Susanna Gray-Jones worked within education recruitment for 13 years, before starting her own rec2rec recruitment business during covid - Chime Search. Founder of Chime Search FZCO. She's also the host of her own podcast, The Counter OfferCallum McPhilbin, was a teacher for around four years before leaping into the world of recruitment, he's also a host of his own podcast, Humble Billings. In this episode, they cover a plethora of topics, really lifting the lid on the recruitment industry and revealing the secrets of the R2R world....They cover: Their journey to recruitment Their advice on focusing on a vertical market Which markets we should be focusing on in 2024 Advice to trainees looking to start their career in recruitment What behaviours we should be looking for when hiring recruiters What have they learnt from their podcast guests Advice on changing sectors within recruitment Is R2R the hardest rec job of all? Connect with them here https://www.linkedin.com/in/susannagray-jones/https://www.linkedin.com/in/callum-mcphilbin-bba32a235/------------The Recruiter's Recruitment Podcast is proudly sponsored by Paiger and partners to Needi and Inclusion Crowd.Our Sponsor: Paiger - Making Recruiters Smarter and Faster. Paiger helps recruiters build personal brands, identify new business opportunities, attract candidates, and have better conversations.Find out more details on Paiger here - https://paiger.co/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=sponsor&utm_campaign=recruiters-recruiterOur Partners: Needi is a concierge gift-matching service using psychology and AI, to pinpoint the perfect gifts and experiences for your recipient, from the best, local independent businesses. Their team of expert gift finders, save companies time and money, with their complimentary corporate gifting service . Find out more here -https://needi.co.uk/Inclusion Crowd works with organisations to create a credible and authentic DEI programme, they help clients attract & retain talent - as well as improve culture & engagement. Their vision is to make organisations reflective of the societies in which they operate. Find out more here https://inclusioncrowd.biz/Watch the episode here - https://youtu.be/AvLiLGugQCUThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy
MEMORABLE MOMENTS“The W.I.N. Framework: Why. Intention. No excuses. Prioritizing these pillars along with the Smart Formula can absolutely transform your ability to accomplish your goals.”“Be a critic, but be a kind critic. You have to have patience with yourself in order to sustain momentum.” “When you commit to setting achievable goals, you are allowing yourself to be nimble enough to adjust without quitting on your overarching goal.” “It is so important to put boundaries in place to maintain a healthy mindset.”“If there is an indication that what you're doing right now is not leading you to where you want to be, take control and lean into something else. You have to get out of your own way in order to keep moving forward.” “What makes you unique is what your personal brand needs to lead with. Lean into your uniqueness in order to remain authentic, genuine, and representative of your true self.” Connect with Susanna:⭐ Connect on Instagram: @susannachimesearch⭐ Connect on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/susannagray-jones⭐ Connect on Twitter: SusGrayJones⭐ The Counter Offer Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-counter-offer/id1668382834⭐ Susanna's Website: https://chime-search.com/ Connect with Allison:⭐ Connect on Instagram @allisonwalsh⭐ JOIN OUR FREE COMMUNITY: https://www.facebook.com/groups/shebelievedshecouldcommunity⭐ Check out book recommendations from the show here⭐ Download your free 90 day planner here
Today I am joined by editor, writer, and producer Gray Jones - who holds no less than 290 credits in film and television, and also runs a prolific stock footage business.Throughout this episode, Gray shares lessons from his new book Make Six Figures With Your Smartphone, which serves as a practical guide for filmmakers looking to build passive income using footage they may already have sitting on their phone. We discuss the benefits and pitfalls of selling stock footage, the importance of finding a niche, the best platforms to sell on, and much more. Gray also gives us a behind the scenes look at his own stock footage catalog, and highlights his top performing clips - including one single shot that alone has generated over $16,000. Links from the show:SellStockEbook.comDrivingFootage.comGray Jones - TwitterGray Jones - InstagramSign up for my newsletter for exclusive filmmaking insight each Sunday.This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5470278/advertisement
Podcast Partners - Claim your exclusive savings with the links below.Vincere - https://bit.ly/3C8uHfvSourcebreaker - https://hubs.la/Q017bVC70-----------------------------------------Watch the episode on Youtube
Like superheroes, every successful and self-made person has an origin story waiting to be told. In this episode of the Sales Secrets podcast, Brandon tells the story of the first millionaire he ever met, and how working for the guy put him on the path of entrepreneurship. A path that he still walks today. SUBSCRIBE TO SALES SECRETS PODCASTITUNES ► https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/s...SPOTIFY ► https://open.spotify.com/show/1BKYsQo...YOUTUBE ► https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVUh... THIS EPISODE IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY SEAMLESS.AI - THE WORLD'S BEST SALES LEADSWEBSITE ► https://www.seamless.ai/LINKEDIN ► https://www.linkedin.com/company/seamlessai/JOIN FOR FREE TODAY ► https://login.seamless.ai/invite/podcast SHOW DESCRIPTIONBrandon Bornancin is a serial salesperson, entrepreneur, and founder of Seamless.AI. Twice a week, Brandon interviews the world's top sales experts like Jill Konrath, Aaron Ross, John Barrows, Trish Bertuzzi, Mark Hunter, Anthony Iannarino, and many more -- to uncover actionable strategies, playbooks, tips, and insights you can use to generate more revenue and close more business. If you want to learn the most powerful sales secrets from the top sales experts in the world, Sales Secrets From The Top 1% is the place to find them. SALES SECRET FROM THE TOP 1%WEBSITE ► https://www.secretsalesbook.com/LINKEDIN ► https://www.linkedin.com/company/sales-secret-book/ ABOUT BRANDONBrandon Bornancin is a serial salesperson (over $100M in sales deals), multi-million dollar sales tech entrepreneur, motivational sales speaker, international sales DJ (DJ NoQ5), and sales author who is obsessed with helping you maximize your sales success.Mr. Bornancin is currently the CEO & Founder at Seamless.AI delivering the world's best sales leads. Over 10,000+ companies use Seamless.ai to generate millions in sales at companies like Google, Amazon, Facebook, Slack, Dell, Oracle & many others.Mr. Bornancin is also the author of "Sales Secrets From The Top 1%" where the world's best sales experts share their secrets to sales success and author of “The Ultimate Guide To Overcoming Sales Objections.” FOLLOW BRANDONLINKEDIN ► https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandonbornancin/INSTAGRAM ► https://www.instagram.com/brandonbornancinofficial/FACEBOOK ► https://www.facebook.com/SeamlessAITWITTER ► https://twitter.com/BBornancin
As a salesperson, the most important tool that you need in your arsenal is a verified sales list — a concept that Brandon believes so strongly that it led to the creation of Seamless, a billion dollar company. In this episode of the Sales Secrets podcast, Brandon talks about how he bootstrapped the company and grew it to the enterprise that it is today, all by creating bigger and better lists that allowed them to reach more and more people who also needed a way to create their own sales lists. SUBSCRIBE TO SALES SECRETS PODCASTITUNES ► https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/s...SPOTIFY ► https://open.spotify.com/show/1BKYsQo...YOUTUBE ► https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVUh... THIS EPISODE IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY SEAMLESS.AI - THE WORLD'S BEST SALES LEADSWEBSITE ► https://www.seamless.ai/LINKEDIN ► https://www.linkedin.com/company/seamlessai/JOIN FOR FREE TODAY ► https://login.seamless.ai/invite/podcast SHOW DESCRIPTIONBrandon Bornancin is a serial salesperson, entrepreneur, and founder of Seamless.AI. Twice a week, Brandon interviews the world's top sales experts like Jill Konrath, Aaron Ross, John Barrows, Trish Bertuzzi, Mark Hunter, Anthony Iannarino, and many more -- to uncover actionable strategies, playbooks, tips, and insights you can use to generate more revenue and close more business. If you want to learn the most powerful sales secrets from the top sales experts in the world, Sales Secrets From The Top 1% is the place to find them. SALES SECRET FROM THE TOP 1%WEBSITE ► https://www.secretsalesbook.com/LINKEDIN ► https://www.linkedin.com/company/sales-secret-book/ ABOUT BRANDONBrandon Bornancin is a serial salesperson (over $100M in sales deals), multi-million dollar sales tech entrepreneur, motivational sales speaker, international sales DJ (DJ NoQ5), and sales author who is obsessed with helping you maximize your sales success.Mr. Bornancin is currently the CEO & Founder at Seamless.AI delivering the world's best sales leads. Over 10,000+ companies use Seamless.ai to generate millions in sales at companies like Google, Amazon, Facebook, Slack, Dell, Oracle & many others.Mr. Bornancin is also the author of "Sales Secrets From The Top 1%" where the world's best sales experts share their secrets to sales success and author of “The Ultimate Guide To Overcoming Sales Objections.” FOLLOW BRANDONLINKEDIN ► https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandonbornancin/INSTAGRAM ► https://www.instagram.com/brandonbornancinofficial/FACEBOOK ► https://www.facebook.com/SeamlessAITWITTER ► https://twitter.com/BBornancin
As a thought leader and founder of a tech company, Brandon has not kept many aspects of his life a secret. He has made public almost everything from his best decisions, his worst business blunders and even his personal life through his books so that many may learn from them. In this episode of the Sales Secrets Podcast, Brandon reveals one thing that he's never shared before: his father, who introduced him to the world of sales, actually hated the profession. Tune in to discover how that fact informed Brandon's own approach to sales and why it made him the man that he is today. SUBSCRIBE TO SALES SECRETS PODCASTITUNES ► https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/s...SPOTIFY ► https://open.spotify.com/show/1BKYsQo...YOUTUBE ► https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVUh... THIS EPISODE IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY SEAMLESS.AI - THE WORLD'S BEST SALES LEADSWEBSITE ► https://www.seamless.ai/LINKEDIN ► https://www.linkedin.com/company/seamlessai/JOIN FOR FREE TODAY ► https://login.seamless.ai/invite/podcast SHOW DESCRIPTIONBrandon Bornancin is a serial salesperson, entrepreneur, and founder of Seamless.AI. Twice a week, Brandon interviews the world's top sales experts like Jill Konrath, Aaron Ross, John Barrows, Trish Bertuzzi, Mark Hunter, Anthony Iannarino, and many more -- to uncover actionable strategies, playbooks, tips, and insights you can use to generate more revenue and close more business. If you want to learn the most powerful sales secrets from the top sales experts in the world, Sales Secrets From The Top 1% is the place to find them. SALES SECRET FROM THE TOP 1%WEBSITE ► https://www.secretsalesbook.com/LINKEDIN ► https://www.linkedin.com/company/sales-secret-book/ ABOUT BRANDONBrandon Bornancin is a serial salesperson (over $100M in sales deals), multi-million dollar sales tech entrepreneur, motivational sales speaker, international sales DJ (DJ NoQ5), and sales author who is obsessed with helping you maximize your sales success.Mr. Bornancin is currently the CEO & Founder at Seamless.AI delivering the world's best sales leads. Over 10,000+ companies use Seamless.ai to generate millions in sales at companies like Google, Amazon, Facebook, Slack, Dell, Oracle & many others.Mr. Bornancin is also the author of "Sales Secrets From The Top 1%" where the world's best sales experts share their secrets to sales success and author of “The Ultimate Guide To Overcoming Sales Objections.” FOLLOW BRANDONLINKEDIN ► https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandonbornancin/INSTAGRAM ► https://www.instagram.com/brandonbornancinofficial/FACEBOOK ► https://www.facebook.com/SeamlessAITWITTER ► https://twitter.com/BBornancin
Supercharge your characters while minimizing the work in creating them! This week host Gray Jones asks authors Christopher and Kathy Riley all about their new book, The Defining Moment. ABOUT THE BOOK: The best storytelling explores character formation and transformation. Sometimes the shaping of characters takes place in slow, smooth, steadily bending arcs, other times in sudden, jagged, cataclysmic moments. Without discovering these moments, it's impossible for an actor or writer to fully realize their character. In The Defining Moment: How Writers and Actors Build Characters, screenwriters and story gurus Christopher and Kathy Riley share the secret to creating character-defining moments—moments without which the character couldn't exist, and through which characters transform before our eyes. ABOUT THE AUTHORS: Christopher Riley is a professional screenwriter who cowrote with his wife Kathy Riley the award-winning German language film "After the Truth." The Rileys have written scripts for Disney's Touchstone Pictures, Paramount Pictures, Mandalay Television Pictures, Sean Connery's Fountainbridge Films, and Robert Cort Productions. Christopher produced the action-thriller "Red Line" and executive produced the web series "Bump+." He began his career as a proofreader in the standard-setting script processing department at Warner Bros., a department he eventually rose to manage. He is the former director of the Act One Hollywood Writing Program, the author of the classic screenplay format guide The Hollywood Standard, an instructor of screenwriting at the undergraduate and graduate levels, a founding partner of Story Masters Film Academy, and a longtime member of the Writers Guild of America West. Kathy Riley cowrote the award-winning feature film "After the Truth." In addition to her work as a writer for Touchstone Pictures, Paramount Pictures, Mandalay Television Pictures, Fountainbridge Films, and Robert Cort Productions, Kathy holds a master's degree in public health and is a certified health education specialist. She serves as vice president of family support for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation and has worked extensively on behalf of families of children diagnosed with brain tumors. She also holds a certification of professional achievement in narrative medicine from Columbia University and is a longtime member of the Writers Guild of America West. Follow Christopher on Twitter: @hwoodstandard Follow Kathy on Instagram: @kathywecan BUY THEIR BOOKS AND SUPPORT THE PODCAST: Click on "The Defining Moment: How Writers and Actors Build Characters" and "The Hollywood Standard" to buy on Amazon. Visit primary sponsor Script Anatomy on the web: scriptanatomy.com Buying Final Draft screenwriting software? Use this link to support the podcast: tinyurl.com/BuyFinalDraft. You can help with the ongoing costs of bringing these weekly podcasts to you by becoming a patron of the podcast – for as little as 25¢ per episode! There are many reward levels. CLICK HERE to find out more. Buy Gray's book for only $4.99! Look for it on Amazon – How To Break In To TV Writing: Insider Interviews. Didn't get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for over 1,200 TV writers. Find previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com.
Supercharge your characters while minimizing the work in creating them! This week host Gray Jones asks authors Christopher and Kathy Riley all about their new book, The Defining Moment. ABOUT THE BOOK: The best storytelling explores character formation and transformation. Sometimes the shaping of characters takes place in slow, smooth, steadily bending arcs, other times in sudden, jagged, cataclysmic moments. Without discovering these moments, it's impossible for an actor or writer to fully realize their character. In The Defining Moment: How Writers and Actors Build Characters, screenwriters and story gurus Christopher and Kathy Riley share the secret to creating character-defining moments—moments without which the character couldn't exist, and through which characters transform before our eyes. ABOUT THE AUTHORS: Christopher Riley is a professional screenwriter who cowrote with his wife Kathy Riley the award-winning German language film "After the Truth." The Rileys have written scripts for Disney's Touchstone Pictures, Paramount Pictures, Mandalay Television Pictures, Sean Connery's Fountainbridge Films, and Robert Cort Productions. Christopher produced the action-thriller "Red Line" and executive produced the web series "Bump+." He began his career as a proofreader in the standard-setting script processing department at Warner Bros., a department he eventually rose to manage. He is the former director of the Act One Hollywood Writing Program, the author of the classic screenplay format guide The Hollywood Standard, an instructor of screenwriting at the undergraduate and graduate levels, a founding partner of Story Masters Film Academy, and a longtime member of the Writers Guild of America West. Kathy Riley cowrote the award-winning feature film "After the Truth." In addition to her work as a writer for Touchstone Pictures, Paramount Pictures, Mandalay Television Pictures, Fountainbridge Films, and Robert Cort Productions, Kathy holds a master's degree in public health and is a certified health education specialist. She serves as vice president of family support for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation and has worked extensively on behalf of families of children diagnosed with brain tumors. She also holds a certification of professional achievement in narrative medicine from Columbia University and is a longtime member of the Writers Guild of America West. Follow Christopher on Twitter: @hwoodstandard Follow Kathy on Instagram: @kathywecan BUY THEIR BOOKS AND SUPPORT THE PODCAST: Click on "The Defining Moment: How Writers and Actors Build Characters" and "The Hollywood Standard" to buy on Amazon. Visit primary sponsor Script Anatomy on the web: scriptanatomy.com Buying Final Draft screenwriting software? Use this link to support the podcast: tinyurl.com/BuyFinalDraft. You can help with the ongoing costs of bringing these weekly podcasts to you by becoming a patron of the podcast – for as little as 25¢ per episode! There are many reward levels. CLICK HERE to find out more. Buy Gray's book for only $4.99! Look for it on Amazon – How To Break In To TV Writing: Insider Interviews. Didn't get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for over 1,200 TV writers. Find previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com.
Want to get to the heart of comedy? Look no further than this week's episode, as host Gray Jones interviews comedy guru Steve Kaplan. Steve Kaplan Bio: For years, Steve Kaplan has been one of the industry's most respected and sought-after expert on comedy. His first book, "The Hidden Tools of Comedy," is a best-seller in its field, and his new book, "The Comic Hero's Journey: Serious Story Structure for Fabulously Funny Films" was recently published. In addition to having taught at UCLA, NYU, Yale and other universities, Steve Kaplan created the HBO Workspace, the HBO New Writers Program and was co-founder and Artistic Director of Manhattan Punch Line Theatre. In addition to development projects for HBO, he has taught workshops at companies such as DreamWorks, Disney Animation, Aardman Animation, NBC's Writers on the Verge, and others. In addition to private coaching and one-on-one consultations, Steve has taught his Comedy Intensive workshops to thousands of students around the world, including--in pre-pandemic times--Los Angeles, New York, Australia and Mumbai. He's presently teaching online via Zoom. You can find out all about it at KaplanComedy.com. Follow Steve on Twitter: @skcomedy. BUY STEVE'S BOOKS AND SUPPORT THE PODCAST: Click on "The Hidden Tools of Comedy" and "The Comic Hero's Journey: Serious Story Structure for Fabulously Funny Films" to buy on Amazon. Visit primary sponsor Script Anatomy on the web: scriptanatomy.com Buying Final Draft screenwriting software? Use this link to support the podcast: tinyurl.com/BuyFinalDraft. You can help with the ongoing costs of bringing these weekly podcasts to you by becoming a patron of the podcast – for as little as 25¢ per episode! There are many reward levels. CLICK HERE to find out more. Buy Gray's book for only $4.99! Look for it on Amazon – How To Break In To TV Writing: Insider Interviews. Didn't get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for over 1,200 TV writers. Find previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com.
Want to get to the heart of comedy? Look no further than this week's episode, as host Gray Jones interviews comedy guru Steve Kaplan. Steve Kaplan Bio: For years, Steve Kaplan has been one of the industry's most respected and sought-after expert on comedy. His first book, "The Hidden Tools of Comedy," is a best-seller in its field, and his new book, "The Comic Hero's Journey: Serious Story Structure for Fabulously Funny Films" was recently published. In addition to having taught at UCLA, NYU, Yale and other universities, Steve Kaplan created the HBO Workspace, the HBO New Writers Program and was co-founder and Artistic Director of Manhattan Punch Line Theatre. In addition to development projects for HBO, he has taught workshops at companies such as DreamWorks, Disney Animation, Aardman Animation, NBC's Writers on the Verge, and others. In addition to private coaching and one-on-one consultations, Steve has taught his Comedy Intensive workshops to thousands of students around the world, including--in pre-pandemic times--Los Angeles, New York, Australia and Mumbai. He's presently teaching online via Zoom. You can find out all about it at KaplanComedy.com. Follow Steve on Twitter: @skcomedy. BUY STEVE'S BOOKS AND SUPPORT THE PODCAST: Click on "The Hidden Tools of Comedy" and "The Comic Hero's Journey: Serious Story Structure for Fabulously Funny Films" to buy on Amazon. Visit primary sponsor Script Anatomy on the web: scriptanatomy.com Buying Final Draft screenwriting software? Use this link to support the podcast: tinyurl.com/BuyFinalDraft. You can help with the ongoing costs of bringing these weekly podcasts to you by becoming a patron of the podcast – for as little as 25¢ per episode! There are many reward levels. CLICK HERE to find out more. Buy Gray's book for only $4.99! Look for it on Amazon – How To Break In To TV Writing: Insider Interviews. Didn't get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for over 1,200 TV writers. Find previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com.
This week, learn about how to break in to both comic writing and TV writing, as host Gray Jones interviews TV & comic writer Jay Faerber. Originally from rural Pennsylvania, Jay Faerber grew up on a steady diet of comic books, detective novels, and cop shows. After writing and drawing his own comics throughout high school, Jay started getting work from Marvel and DC in the late 90s, writing such titles as “Generation X,” “New Warriors,” and “Titans.” Craving more creative freedom, Jay turned his attention to Image Comics, where he created the superhero soap opera series “Noble Causes,” which ran for over 40 issues. He also co-created numerous other series, including “Dynamo 5,” "Near Death,” “Copperhead,” and “Elsewhere.” In 2010, Jay was accepted into the Warner Bros TV Writers Workshop, and after completing that program, he landed a staff writer job on the CW series, “Ringer,” starring Sarah Michelle Gellar. After “Ringer” was cancelled, Jay was staffed on another CW series, “Star-Crossed.” He then wrote on all three seasons of the CBS summer series, “Zoo," and was most recently a writer/producer on the last two seasons of the CW series “Supergirl.” In a special section at the beginning of the podcast, Jay answers pressing fan questions related to the last season and series finale of "Supergirl," as well as other viewer-submitted questions. Jay lives in Burbank with his wife and son. Follow Jay on Twitter: @JayFaerber Visit primary sponsor Script Anatomy on the web: scriptanatomy.com Buying Final Draft screenwriting software? Use this link to support the podcast: tinyurl.com/BuyFinalDraft. You can help with the ongoing costs of bringing these weekly podcasts to you by becoming a patron of the podcast – for as little as 25¢ per episode! There are many reward levels. CLICK HERE to find out more. Buy Gray's book for only $4.99! Look for it on Amazon – How To Break In To TV Writing: Insider Interviews. Didn't get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for over 1,200 TV writers. Find previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com.
This week, learn about how to break in to both comic writing and TV writing, as host Gray Jones interviews TV & comic writer Jay Faerber. Originally from rural Pennsylvania, Jay Faerber grew up on a steady diet of comic books, detective novels, and cop shows. After writing and drawing his own comics throughout high school, Jay started getting work from Marvel and DC in the late 90s, writing such titles as “Generation X,” “New Warriors,” and “Titans.” Craving more creative freedom, Jay turned his attention to Image Comics, where he created the superhero soap opera series “Noble Causes,” which ran for over 40 issues. He also co-created numerous other series, including “Dynamo 5,” "Near Death,” “Copperhead,” and “Elsewhere.” In 2010, Jay was accepted into the Warner Bros TV Writers Workshop, and after completing that program, he landed a staff writer job on the CW series, “Ringer,” starring Sarah Michelle Gellar. After “Ringer” was cancelled, Jay was staffed on another CW series, “Star-Crossed.” He then wrote on all three seasons of the CBS summer series, “Zoo," and was most recently a writer/producer on the last two seasons of the CW series “Supergirl.” In a special section at the beginning of the podcast, Jay answers pressing fan questions related to the last season and series finale of "Supergirl," as well as other viewer-submitted questions. Jay lives in Burbank with his wife and son. Follow Jay on Twitter: @JayFaerber Visit primary sponsor Script Anatomy on the web: scriptanatomy.com Buying Final Draft screenwriting software? Use this link to support the podcast: tinyurl.com/BuyFinalDraft. You can help with the ongoing costs of bringing these weekly podcasts to you by becoming a patron of the podcast – for as little as 25¢ per episode! There are many reward levels. CLICK HERE to find out more. Buy Gray's book for only $4.99! Look for it on Amazon – How To Break In To TV Writing: Insider Interviews. Didn't get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for over 1,200 TV writers. Find previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com.
His Grandfather was in the original Our Gang comedies... This week, host Gray Jones interviews comedy writer and Script Anatomy instructor Aaron Vaccaro. Aaron Vaccaro bio: He grew up in the San Fernando Valley (the non-porny part) and was always enamored by the entertainment industry, inspired by his grandfather, who starred in the original "Our Gang" comedies. After graduating from UC Santa Barbara with a degree in Film Studies, Aaron set out to become a television writer. He scored several Writers' Assistant stints – on "24," "Ghost Whisperer," "The New Adventures of Old Christine," "Wilfred," and "Mike & Molly." After being chosen as one of the NBC's Writers on the Verge, Aaron has gone on to write for "Mike & Molly" and "Superior Donuts," both on CBS, "Team Kaylie" on Netflix, and most recently "Drama Club" on Nickelodeon. He has developed projects with Netflix, Disney, Universal Cable Productions, Viola Davis' production company, and once sold a feature entitled "Sasquatch vs. The Abominable Snowman," which is every bit as insane as it sounds. Aaron now has an M.F.A. in Screenwriting and has taught screenwriting courses at AFI, UCSB, CSUN, LA Valley College and now Script Anatomy. Follow Aaron on Twitter: @HairyPizzaBagel Visit primary sponsor Script Anatomy on the web: scriptanatomy.com Buying Final Draft screenwriting software? Use this link to support the podcast: tinyurl.com/BuyFinalDraft. You can help with the ongoing costs of bringing these weekly podcasts to you by becoming a patron of the podcast – for as little as 25¢ per episode! There are many reward levels. CLICK HERE to find out more. Buy Gray's book for only $4.99! Look for it on Amazon – How To Break In To TV Writing: Insider Interviews. Didn't get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for over 1,200 TV writers. Find previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com.
From Alaska to the CIA to being the funny drama guy... this week host Gray Jones interviews TV writer and Script Anatomy instructor Zach Ayers. Zach Ayers is a versatile TV writer who has found his stride as the funny guy in a drama room. Although before his TV career, Zach spent five years in a deadly-serious job at the Central Intelligence Agency. There he wrote and produced top-secret training films that taught US intelligence officers how to do their job well and survive doing it. He knows all the scary stuff. Which, in retrospect, Zach finds hilarious. Recently, Zach wrote and produced the bio-series "American Soul" (BET). Other credits include "Siren" (Freeform), "State of Affairs" (NBC) and "A.N.T. Farm" (Disney). He's also developed and sold several TV projects of his own across genres and formats. Zach's one of those oddball writers who actually loves to pitch. Zach's an alumnus of the ABC/Disney Writing Fellowship, Second City and Ithaca College. He grew up in rural, working-class Alaska, learning how to drive a forklift before he learned how to drive a car. But now he's 100% city kid, living with his family and his cat Balki on the eastside of Los Angeles. He still does his own yardwork. Follow Zach on Twitter: @ZachTellsLies Visit primary sponsor Script Anatomy on the web: scriptanatomy.com Buying Final Draft screenwriting software? Use this link to support the podcast: tinyurl.com/BuyFinalDraft. You can help with the ongoing costs of bringing these weekly podcasts to you by becoming a patron of the podcast – for as little as 25¢ per episode! There are many reward levels. CLICK HERE to find out more. Buy Gray's book for only $4.99! Look for it on Amazon – How To Break In To TV Writing: Insider Interviews. Didn't get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for over 1,200 TV writers. Find previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com.
This week, host Gray Jones interviews screen & TV writer career coach Lee Jessup, who recently published the book Getting It Write: An Insider's Guide to a Screenwriting Career. Lee Jessup is a career coach for professional and emerging screenwriters, a twice-published, best-selling author, who has served as consultant for Universal's Writers Program, NBC International, and Final Draft's Big Break contest. Lee's clients include writers who have major spec, pilot and pitch sales under their belts, staffed TV writers, TV writing program fellows, writers named to The Hit List, The Blood List, The Young & Hungry List and The Black List, major contest winners, as well as writers just beginning to chart their professional course. Lee is the author of Breaking In: Tales From The Screenwriting Trenches (Focal Press) And Getting It Write: An Insider's Guide To A Screenwriting Career (MWP). Just click on the links to buy these excellent books on Amazon! Her professional background includes a stint as a working screenwriter, a development executive, and the director of ScriptShark.com. Lee has appeared in countless screenwriting conferences and panels domestically, abroad, and online, and has been the interview subject of countless podcasts. Never too far from the industry, She resides in Los Angeles with her family. Follow Lee on Twitter: @LeeZJessup Visit Lee's website: leejessup.com Visit primary sponsor Script Anatomy on the web: scriptanatomy.com Buying Final Draft screenwriting software? Use this link to support the podcast: tinyurl.com/BuyFinalDraft. You can help with the ongoing costs of bringing these weekly podcasts to you by becoming a patron of the podcast – for as little as 25¢ per episode! There are many reward levels. CLICK HERE to find out more. Buy Gray's book for only $4.99! Look for it on Amazon – How To Break In To TV Writing: Insider Interviews. Didn't get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for over 1,200 TV writers. Find previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com.
Sasha Feiler is the only funny person to ever come out of Siberia, and you'll have to take her word for it since Siberia is the last place you'd want to visit! This week, host Gray Jones interviews comedy writer, performer & Script Anatomy instructor Sasha Feiler. She fled Siberia and came to New York at nineteen with $40 in her pocket. At some point, after her paperwork got messed up, she became an illegal immigrant. Which was super fun (it wasn't). She graduated Brooklyn College on a full Presidential Scholarship with an MFA in Television Production and worked as an editor and producer at CNN. She quickly realized there weren't a lot of laughs at CNN so she quit and moved to Los Angeles where she started performing and writing on improv and sketch teams at UCB, iO West and Second City. A Script Anatomy alum—check out her testimonial video about Structure lab—she has written for "Robot Chicken" (Adult Swim) and was a fellow at The Colony, A3 (formerly Abrams) Agency's incubator for emerging writers. The execs at The Colony attached themselves as Producers to her pilot "Queen Bitch" about a socially challenged dog trainer. Sasha currently hosts a comedy podcast "Shut Up I Love It," competes in dog agility with her Champion Entlebucher Spoon and makes hospital visits with her therapy other Entlebucher Shark. These days, she rarely visits Siberia, using the lame excuse of “Once it's below 72 degrees, I'm dead.” She is repped by Bellevue Management, you can find her on IG @shutupiloveit1, or on Twitter at @shutupiloveit1. Visit primary sponsor Script Anatomy on the web: scriptanatomy.com Buying Final Draft screenwriting software? Use this link to support the podcast: tinyurl.com/BuyFinalDraft. You can help with the ongoing costs of bringing these weekly podcasts to you by becoming a patron of the podcast – for as little as 25¢ per episode! There are many reward levels. CLICK HERE to find out more. Buy Gray's book for only $4.99! Look for it on Amazon – How To Break In To TV Writing: Insider Interviews. Didn't get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for over 1,200 TV writers. Find previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com.
He wrote the book on directing great TV... literally! This week, host Gray Jones interviews veteran TV director Dan Attias, who has worked on such hit shows as "The Boys," "The Walking Dead," "Homeland," "House," "Lost," "The Sopranos," and dozens more. Dan Attias has worked as a director in the film and television industry for 37 years. As a director of series television he has received the Directors Guild of America award for outstanding direction of dramatic television and has been nominated for multiple Emmy awards for his comedy directing. Dan continues to work on some of the most celebrated and critically acclaimed American television shows, including "Homeland," "The Americans," "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel," "Billions," and "The Boys." Previously he has directed "The Sopranos," "The Wire," "Six Feet Under," "True Blood," "Entourage," "The Killing," "The Walking Dead," "True Detective," "Ray Donovan," "Bloodline," "Friday Night Lights," "Northern Exposure," "House," "Lost," "Alias," among many others. Dan's first professional directing assignment was the feature film, Stephen King's "Silver Bullet," produced by Dino DeLaurentiis. He started his career studying acting, then worked as an assistant director on "E.T. The Extraterrestrial," "Airplane!," "One From the Heart" and several other feature films. Dan has taught acting and directing workshops in the United States, and has appeared as a guest speaker at festivals in Italy, Brazil, Greece, Mexico and Canada. Before working in the film and television industry, Dan was enrolled in a Ph.D. program in English literature at U.C.L.A., then transferred to the Theater Arts Department where he earned an M.F.A. in film production. Gray gives a high recommendation to his new book, Directing Great Television. CLICK HERE to buy it and support the podcast (currently $5 off on Amazon). Visit primary sponsor Script Anatomy on the web: scriptanatomy.com Buying Final Draft screenwriting software? Use this link to support the podcast: tinyurl.com/BuyFinalDraft. You can help with the ongoing costs of bringing these weekly podcasts to you by becoming a patron of the podcast – for as little as 25¢ per episode! There are many reward levels. CLICK HERE to find out more. Buy Gray's book for only $4.99! Look for it on Amazon – How To Break In To TV Writing: Insider Interviews. Didn't get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for over 1,200 TV writers. Find previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com.
What if you get a non-writing job in the industry, and then thrive in that job... how do you break in to the entry level in TV writing? Find out this week, as host Gray Jones interviews Script Anatomy instructor Jim Galasso. Jim Galasso spent his formative years obsessed with writing plays, making short movies and watching Eddie Murphy and the "Rocky" franchise on loop. His love of storytelling led to writing for the local newspaper (The Connecticut Post), and later for a nightly news show, "Up To The Minute" on CBS. After graduating from Northeastern University, Jim moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in screenwriting. He worked in reality and documentaries at World of Wonder Productions, eventually becoming Head of Development, composing an endless stream of show proposals. But his desire was always scripted TV, and eventually Jim landed at Lost (ABC). He started as Writers' PA, was promoted to Writers' Assistant, then bumped to Staff Writer on the Emmy award winning show's final season. Jim has since written for Hawaii Five-0 (CBS) and the sci-fi family series Beyond (Freeform). He has also done uncredited rewrites on pilots and worked on series treatments. Jim writes pilots spanning many genres, from sci-fi to political thrillers, with the special focus on character interaction and sharp dialogue. Look hard enough and you'll even see the Eddie Murphy and Rocky influences. Or at least get a montage with a fresh synthesizer beat. Jim tells us all about the two courses he currently teaches at Script Anatomy - the TV Structure Lab and the TV Pilot Lab (which is coming up February 1st). These fill up fast, so if they interest you, book early! Follow Jim on Twitter: @JGJR22 Visit primary sponsor Script Anatomy on the web: scriptanatomy.com Buying Final Draft screenwriting software? Use this link to support the podcast: tinyurl.com/BuyFinalDraft. You can help with the ongoing costs of bringing these weekly podcasts to you by becoming a patron of the podcast – for as little as 25¢ per episode! There are many reward levels. CLICK HERE to find out more. Buy Gray's book for only $4.99! Look for it on Amazon – How To Break In To TV Writing: Insider Interviews. Didn't get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for over 1,200 TV writers. Find previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com.
We are constantly told to "pick a lane." But what if our creativity is stifled by only doing one thing? Is it possible to make a living as a multi-hyphenate? This week, host Gray Jones interviews Meg Messmer to find out. Meg Messmer grew up in a small town in Michigan, and without knowing anyone in the business, worked her way up with sheer grit and determination, as an actor, working in development, and as a talent manager, earning six figures despite being an active mom. But she found a passion for producing and creating projects that she could act in. That led to co-creating, self-producing and showrunning the intellectual dark comedy web series "Intersection," shot in Atlanta, with a full writers room. Learn more about Meg at her website, megmessmer.com. Follow her on Instagram at @megmessmer and on Twitter at @MeganMessmer. CLICK HERE to learn more about her Facebook group "The Multi-Hyphenate Creative Community." Photo credit: Jordana Dale. Visit primary sponsor Script Anatomy on the web: scriptanatomy.com Buying Final Draft screenwriting software? Use this link to support the podcast: tinyurl.com/BuyFinalDraft. You can help with the ongoing costs of bringing these weekly podcasts to you by becoming a patron of the podcast – for as little as 25¢ per episode! There are many reward levels. CLICK HERE to find out more. Buy Gray's book for only $4.99! Look for it on Amazon – How To Break In To TV Writing: Insider Interviews. Didn't get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for over 1,200 TV writers. Find previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com.
Just in time for tax season! This week is Money Talk for writers of all kinds, as host Gray Jones interviews Trina Rozen, CPA, founder of Writers' Room CPA. TRINA ROZEN, CPA BIOGRAPHY: Trina Rozen, CPA, has more than 15 years of executive accounting experience in the entertainment industry. She was first the manager of the accounting team at Cast and Crew Payroll. She then ran an accounting department at CBS Studios. Along the way, she noticed the costly mistakes that writers were making, mostly because they weren't comfortable with money. This year she founded Writers' Room CPA to help alleviate the issues that arise from letting monthly payments slip, or not saving for taxes. She has created a framework for writers that begins at home—a series of savings actions coupled with income-generating decisions that can help you become financially solvent. There is nothing better than going to sleep at night worried only about your character's motivations, and not how you will meet a big tax bill! INDEX TO THE EPISODE: 0:56 - Podcast primary sponsor, scriptanatomy.com. 2:29 - Interview start, introduction. 3:11 - Trina's origins as an entertainment accountant. 4:29 - Mistakes writers make in their finances. 5:53 - When should you incorporate? Why would you not want to incorporate yet. 9:08 - What is an S Corporation and what makes it different? 9:49 - What about liability issues? 10:46 - If someone wants to incorporate, does it have to be done before April 15? 11:20 - What is involved in incorporating? 12:31 - Sponsor break - Visit avgearguy.com and drivingfootage.com 13:41 - What does Writers' Room CPA bring to the table? 15:21 - Considerations with working from home, especially during Covid. 17:54 - What tools does Trina offer when she brings on new clients? 19:00 - What are the easiest, most time-saving deductions writers can take right now? 21:02 - What easy steps can bring financial peace of mind? 24:00 - Financial planning and investing. 27:10 - Success stories. 29:21 - Last thoughts — how can writers find out more? Follow Writers' Room CPA on Twitter: @writersroomcpa Visit Writers' Room CPA on the web: writersroomcpa.com Visit primary sponsor Script Anatomy on the web: scriptanatomy.com Buying Final Draft screenwriting software? Use this link to support the podcast: tinyurl.com/BuyFinalDraft. You can help with the ongoing costs of bringing these weekly podcasts to you by becoming a patron of the podcast – for as little as 25¢ per episode! There are many reward levels. CLICK HERE to find out more. Buy Gray's book for only $4.99! Look for it on Amazon – How To Break In To TV Writing: Insider Interviews. Didn't get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for over 1,200 TV writers. Find previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com.
This week, host Gray Jones interviews Tawnya Bhattacharya, founder of the #1 TV writing school in the USA, Script Anatomy. Please watch Tawnya's original interview from June 2013 (episode 078) to find out about her background, how she teamed up with Ali Laventhol (interviewed in episode 115), and how and why she started Script Anatomy. TAWNYA BHATTACHARYA BIOGRAPHY: Tawnya Benavides Bhattacharya is the Founder & CEO of Script Anatomy and currently the Co-Executive Producer of Apple's "Salsa." A screenwriting teacher for the past 15 years, Bhattacharya launched Script Anatomy in 2011 just as her career was taking off. Her objective: to use her experience of breaking into the TV industry and building a career to help other writers do the same. She created a unique writing curriculum with trademark tools for development, writing and rewriting, which have helped hundreds of writers get a job writing for TV, find representation, or sell pilots, screenplays and novels. As a guest instructor, Tawnya has brought the Script Anatomy method to the Disney | ABC Writing Program, The WGA Foundations, WGFestival, the Austin Film Festival, the Producer's Guild (PGA) Power of Diversity Workshop, Hugo House in Seattle, the Willamette Writers Conference, Stage 32, The International Screenwriters Association, TV Writers Fund and the CineStory TV Writers Retreat in Idyllwild. Her column “Your TV Guide“ can be read in Script Magazine. She's also been a guest on several podcasts, including Scripts & Scribes, Sell Your Screenplay, The TV Writer Podcast, and On the Page. Bhattacharya and her writing partner, Ali Laventhol, are Co-Executive Producers and prior to Apple's Salsa, she and her writing partner have written on "Ginny & Georgia" (Netflix), "A Million Little Things" (ABC), "Famous in Love" (Freeform), "The Night Shift" (NBC), "Perception" (TNT), "The Client List" (Lifetime) and "Fairly Legal" (USA). They've sold pilots to eOne, Lionsgate and MGM and been hired to do rewrites for Legendary. They are currently writing a movie for Ozy Media and Lifetime based on Trump's "Zero Tolerance" policy and family separation at the border. They are former NBC Writers on the Verge fellows, and were semi-finalists for the ABC Disney Fellowship before getting a job that took them out of the running. Bhattacharya was also a FOX Writer's Intensive fellow. The team is repped by Industry Entertainment and Morris Yorn and UTA. Bhattacharya, an alumnus of Cornish College of the Arts Conservatory, studied acting and playwriting, and interned with playwright, Marie Irene Fornes and New City Theater in Seattle. She has performed in Seattle, Chicago, Austria, Germany, Czech Republic and LA. INDEX TO THE EPISODE: 2:14 - Interview start, intro 3:22 - Why she feels Script Anatomy is the #1 TV writing school in America. 7:08 - The value of current working writers doing the teaching. Talks about some of her teachers and the courses they teach. 12:24 - Theory vs practical, how there is a huge system teaching theory, but Script Anatomy teaches practical tools. Tawnya expands on their method. 26:36 - Explain why they teach a lot about how to develop projects. Tawnya tells about some of the tools they use, particularly around theme. 34:58 - The successes of Script Anatomy alumni. 41:22 - The community outside the classes. 44:42 - Sponsor break - visit sponsors avgearguy.com & drivingfootage.com. 45:52 - Script Anatomy's offerings in 2021. 50:24 - Where should someone start? 54:59 - Other workshops, and weekend festival they're planning. 58:45 - Tawnya tells how to navigate their website, and script consultation services they provide. 1:02:36 - How should someone prepare for one of Script Anatomy's classes, so they can hit the ground running? 1:05:57 - Her recommended writing books. 1:09:55 - What will set people up for success in 2021? 1:13:03 - Conclusion Follow Tawnya on Twitter: @tbhattacharya Visit Script Anatomy on the web: scriptanatomy.com Follow Script Anatomy on Twitter: @scriptanatomy Buying Final Draft screenwriting software? Use this link to support the podcast: tinyurl.com/BuyFinalDraft. You can help with the ongoing costs of bringing these weekly podcasts to you by becoming a patron of the podcast – for as little as 25¢ per episode! There are many reward levels. CLICK HERE to find out more. Buy Gray's book for only $4.99! Look for it on Amazon – How To Break In To TV Writing: Insider Interviews. Didn't get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for over 1,200 TV writers. Find previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com.
This week, host Gray Jones interviews Ali Laventhol, most recently co-executive producer on 'Ginny & Georgia' with her writing partner Tawnya Bhattacharya of Script Anatomy. Ali Laventhol Biography Ali Laventhol got her start in show business working on movies like 'National Treasure: Book of Secrets,' 'Terminator: Salvation' and 'Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest.' Only not as a writer. She was a visual effects compositor for features, commercials and music videos before making the leap to her original love: writing. Teaming up with Tawnya Bhattacharya and together attending the NBC Writers on the Verge writing fellowship led to staff gigs on shows like 'A Million Little Things,' 'Famous In Love,' 'Perception,' and 'The Client List.' Most recently the duo have been Co-Executive Producers for 'Ginny & Georgia' at Netflix and 'Salsa' at Apple. A former competitive equestrian and certified massage therapist, Ali currently teaches TV writing at Script Anatomy. Her free time is generally spent playing in local tennis leagues or with her rescue mutt, Mavis, who has her extremely well trained. INDEX TO THE EPISODE: 0:04 - Intro, special discounts for podcast listeners - 15% off photo & video scanning/importing at avgearguy.com, and 20% off 9-angle driving plates at drivingfootage.com. 3:41 - Interview start, Ali's background in visual effects. 10:22 - How she made the career transition into writing. 11:50 - Building a writing partnership with Tawnya Bhattacharya, after meeting her at Writers Boot Camp in 2005. 13:57 - How they got into NBC's Writers on the Verge, and their experience in the writing fellowship, including getting representation and their first job. Discussion about being in a writing partnership. 19:30 - Her experience on their first staff job, ‘Fairly Legal.' 22:08 - Signposts of their subsequent 8 year successful run, going from one show to another. 25:07 - Discussing producer responsibilities, like visiting set, casting, etc. 27:35 - Their more recent projects, discussing different showrunning styles. 30:40 - Co-executive producing on ‘Ginny & Georgia' and their most recent project for AppleTV, which was primarily developed over Zoom in a mini-room format. 33:43 - Script tips based on her wealth of experience reading scripts, and coaching and teaching through Script Anatomy. 36:51 - What Script Anatomy offers writers. 39:55 - The most common advice she gives newer writers. 46:37 - Do you really need to go to film school? 48:09 - What does she wish she had known at the start of her career, that she knows now: how different each showrunner is. 49:52 - What helps to get through the harder times? 51:13 - End of interview, how to connect with her. Follow Ali on Twitter: @AliLaventhol. You can help with the ongoing costs of bringing these weekly podcasts to you by becoming a patron of the podcast – for as little as 25¢ per episode! There are many reward levels. CLICK HERE to find out more. Buying Final Draft screenwriting software? Use this link to support the podcast: tinyurl.com/BuyFinalDraft. Buy Gray's book for only $4.99! Look for it on Amazon – How To Break In To TV Writing: Insider Interviews. Didn't get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for over 1,200 TV writers. Find previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com.
This week, host Gray Jones interviews Cameron Johnson, TV writer on 'Empire' and 'Zoe Ever After,' who has sold several pilots. Cameron Johnson Biography Cameron Johnson grew up in the Bay Area and studied political science at USC, because if you tell your family you're going to be a lawyer, you don't just commit to the bit – you get a degree in it. However, while there, he secretly pursued an additional education in screenwriting. After several torturous years prepping the best and brattiest of Brentwood for the SAT, he became a writer on the BET show 'Zoe Ever After.' He then sold 'White People Problems,' an hour dramedy about a wealthy, dysfunctional black family to Bravo, and is currently redeveloping it as a half-hour for Peacock. Cameron has spent the past two seasons working on Fox's 'Empire', where he wrote and produced six episodes and managed the 160,000 follower writers' Twitter account. He also sold 'Diversity Hire,' a satirical look at race in the workplace, to Fox in 2019. INDEX TO THE EPISODE: 2:02 - Interview start, Cameron's background, from the Bay Area to Political Science at USC. 5:00 - from Poli Sci to his first writing gig. 7:07 - Writing material that wasn't his voice. 8:12 - How he learned to write from his unique point of view, and what led to his first staff job. 13:13 - His relationship with representation. 15:21 - His first experience on staff, on 'Zoe Ever After.' 19:10 - Sponsor break 20:16 - Selling 'White People Problems,' and what led to his job on 'Empire.' 24:02 - The trial by fire in going from multi-cam comedy to one hour drama, and what he learned in the process. 27:42 - On developing and selling 'Diversity Hire' in a bidding war. 30:16 - Explaining a “put pilot” commitment. 31:02 - On the insecurities of a writer, and whether success makes them go away. 32:30 - How he got involved with Fake Empire, co-creating 'Tom Swift,' which will be a back-door pilot inside 'Nancy Drew.' 36:31 - How he develops and manages his various projects. 38:59 - Advice to greener writers. 46:22 - How does someone develop their own voice, and learn to tell authentic stories? 49:05 - Conclusion. Follow Cameron on Twitter: @CameronJAwesome. You can help with the ongoing costs of bringing these weekly podcasts to you by becoming a patron of the podcast – for as little as 25¢ per episode! There are many reward levels. CLICK HERE to find out more. Buying Final Draft screenwriting software? Use this link to support the podcast: tinyurl.com/BuyFinalDraft. Buy Gray's book for only $4.99! Look for it on Amazon – How To Break In To TV Writing: Insider Interviews. Didn't get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for over 1,200 TV writers. Find previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com.
This week, host Gray Jones interviews Lee Aronsohn, co-creator and showrunner of "Two and a Half Men" and EP of "The Big Bang Theory," and actor/writer/producer/director Jason Kyle, the founders of the Creators Writing Room. Lee Aronsohn Biography: Lee Aronsohn served as showrunner of "Two and a Half Men," a show which he co-created with Chuck Lorre, and he was also an executive producer on "The Big Bang Theory." His work spans over three decades, having written for hit shows such as "The Love Boat," "Who's the Boss," "Charles in Charge," "Cybill," "CSI," and others. Jason Kyle Biography: Jason is an actor, comedian, writer and voice actor best known for his roles in "100 Blocks,", "Redress," and "Watch Dogs 2." He was also the creator, producer, director and lead actor in "The Bay Area Show." He currently works in development at Sony Pictures TV, with Howard Gordon and Alex Gansa (creators of "Homeland" and "24"). INDEX TO THE EPISODE: 2:25 - Interview start 3:38 - Lee's background, from “The Love Boat” to “Big Bang Theory” and “Two and a Half Men.” 5:17 - How the industry has changed over the years. 6:23 - How needing health insurance led to co-creating and running “Two and a Half Men.” 10:01 - How “Big Bang Theory” almost didn't make it, and needed a second pilot. 13:32 - Jason's background, from the peace corps in Albania to standup comedy. 18:08 - His next few years acting, directing, producing and writing. 23:05 - The “meet cute” — how they connected and ended up working together. 26:25 - Sponsor break. 27:32 - All about The Creators Writing Room - free content and fee-based classes over Zoom. 32:28 - Why free content on the internet isn't enough. 36:33 - What the Zoom format provides, especially with their small class sizes. 40:33 - Discussing the different classes they offer. 43:18 - Free Co-Pilot Zoom sessions where they deconstruct pilot scripts 45:49 - Wrap up, website info. Visit The Creators Writing Room at theCWRoom.com and follow on Twitter: @thecwroom. Follow Lee Aronsohn on Twitter: @BennyAce Follow Jason Kyle on Twitter: @GetMeJasonKyle You can help with the ongoing costs of bringing these weekly podcasts to you by becoming a patron of the podcast – for as little as 25¢ per episode! There are many reward levels. CLICK HERE to find out more. Buy Gray's book for only $4.99! Look for it on Amazon – How To Break In To TV Writing: Insider Interviews. Didn't get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for over 1,200 TV writers. Find previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com.
This week, host Gray Jones interviews Elaine Loh, TV writer on the new "Gossip Girl" and "Dynasty," and also award-winning film writer/director and actor. Elaine Loh Biography Elaine recently wrote on the new "Gossip Girl" reboot for HBO Max and is now writing on "Dynasty" for The CW. She is humbled to be a fellow in the HBO Writers Program, as well as to have been named on the coveted Young & Hungry List and as one of the Top 25 Screenwriters to Watch by the International Screenwriters Association. She has had scripts place in the world-renowned PAGE Awards (Silver Prize), Austin Film Festival (3 times), Final Draft Big Break (Top Ten), Tracking Board Launch Pad (Top 50), the ISA (Grand Prize), and the second round of the Sundance Episodic Lab (twice). Elaine is also a director and her short form series "DOXXED" won Best Short Comedy at Catalyst (formerly itvfest), Best Achievement at Raindance, and a Telly Award (find out more at www.doxxed-series.com). She won the Grand Prize and Audience Vote at the NewFilmmakers LA On Location Project ($60k in cash and prizes) and scored an honorable mention in the Justin Lin/NBCUniversal Interpretations short film contest. She has also directed two short films that screened at Academy-qualifying festivals. On a personal note, Elaine was born in Singapore, grew up in Hong Kong and Taiwan, and then moved to Massachusetts. She studied Psychology and Math at Brown University, does not speak any Chinese, loves Wendy's junior bacon cheeseburgers, and can solve a Rubik's cube in less than two minutes. INDEX TO THE EPISODE: 1:03 - Interview start; her background, studying psychology and math at Brown, and how she pivoted into acting. 3:30 - When she started writing, and why. 4:04 - Her filmmaking and writing before TV, including placing and being recognized in many competitions. Why she considers competitions so important. 7:39 - How she developed as a writer, going a less traditional route into the industry. 12:45 - Compares Gossip Girl and Dynasty, how they helped prepare her to write a script. 14:14 - Sponsor break - visit drivingfootage.com for 4K 9-angle driving plates for TV & film, and podcast viewers get 10% off photo/video scanning and importing at avgearguy.com. 15:21 - Getting into and going through the HBO writing fellowship. 18:45 - Getting staffed on Gossip Girl. 20:07 - Being in the writers room for the first time. 22:59 - The pandemic hit, but she was able to land a job on Dynasty. How that show has been different. 25:00 - How her acting experience, and writing directing films has helped her as a TV writer. 27:48 - On developing for TV. 31:45 - Her volunteer work, and what it means to her. 32:21 - Advice to greener writers, especially when asking someone to read your script. 44:05 - Not giving up. 47:30 - On her award winning web series (www.doxxed-series.com), and how it was great training in telling episodic stories, and in the future, how to run a show. Elaine runs a political advocacy group that encourages greater civic engagement and raises money for charities. Check it out at www.operationchecksandbalances.org. Visit Elaine's website at www.ElaineLoh.com and follow her on Twitter: @ThatElaineLoh. You can help with the ongoing costs of bringing these weekly podcasts to you by becoming a patron of the podcast – for as little as 25¢ per episode! There are many reward levels. CLICK HERE to find out more. Buy Gray's book for only $4.99! Look for it on Amazon – How To Break In To TV Writing: Insider Interviews. Didn't get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for over 1,200 TV writers. Find previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com.
This week, host Gray Jones interviews Michael Jamin, TV comedy writer and showrunner who has written on such shows as "King of the Hill," "Maron," and "Beavis and Butthead," and is currently a consulting producer on "Tacoma FD." Housekeeping Announcement: This is the 20th weekly episode since quarantine started, and I am taking a 2-week break before resuming right after Labor Day. I am actively seeking new show runners and upper level writers to interview, so if you know anyone you think would be a good fit, please reach out. Michael Jamin Biography: For the past 25 years, Michael Jamin has been a television writer and showrunner. His many credits include "King of the Hill," "Wilfred," "Maron," "Beavis and Butthead," "Brickleberry," "Just Shoot Me," "Rules of Engagement," "Tacoma FD" and many more. Get 3 lessons from Michael's new class "The Showrunner's Guide to TV Writing" for FREE! Visit michaeljamin.com/gray/ for details. Photo Credit: Paula Marshall INDEX TO THE EPISODE: 1:43 - Interview start, Michael's backstory, having the desire to write but no experience. Got a few PA jobs, and then while working on “Lois & Clark” he and his writing partner Sivert Glarum had a chance to pitch an episode, which became one of the highest rated episodes of the season. 5:19 - When he first got representation, and how it didn't really help him… was when he first got on staff for “Just Shoot Me” that things really took off. Shares what it was like when he first got on staff and didn't feel he was contributing. Speaks about his mentors during the 4 seasons he was on the show, and some of the advice they gave. 8:17 - Landed the job on “King of the Hill,” where he also wrote for 4 seasons. Speaks about how at that time, it was much more common to jump from show to show as you negotiated more money or a better position. 10:05 - When he and Sivert started running the room, on “Glenn Martin, D.D.S.” Talks about difference of running the room and writing for animation and live action, single camera vs multi-camera. 11:20 - Fun stories about running the room in live action for the first time, on “Maron.” 13:57 - Talks about his development process, where he finds ideas and projects. 14:50 - His most recent show, “Takoma F.D.” 16:08 - Sponsor break. 17:14 - All about Michael's new TV & screenwriting online course, “The Showrunner's Guide to TV Writing.” Visit http://michaeljamin.com/gray for 3 free lessons. 20:32 - State of the industry now vs 20 years ago — easier to break in, but harder to make a living. 21:29 - How he hustles for work — doesn't depend on his agent, and is constantly writing new material. 23:03 - Aside from his course, suggests reading and studying lots of scripts. 23:55 - Advice to greener writers… write and work on your craft every day. What separates a mediocre script from a good script? In interviews? What gets a writer fired from a staff? 28:59 - What does he wish he had known when he started out? How to break a story. How to learn that skill. 30:41 - How to make it long-term in this business — be nice to people. Follow Michael on Twitter: @MJaminWriter You can help with the ongoing costs of bringing these weekly podcasts to you by becoming a patron of the podcast – for as little as 25¢ per episode! There are many reward levels. CLICK HERE to find out more. Buy Gray's book for only $4.99! Look for it on Amazon – How To Break In To TV Writing: Insider Interviews. Didn't get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for over 1,200 TV writers. Find previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com.
This week, host Gray Jones interviews Priyanka Mattoo, a writer/filmmaker and former UTA & WME agent who shares how to find a Hollywood mentor during lockdown. Priyanka Mattoo Biography: Priyanka is a writer and filmmaker in Los Angeles. She was formerly an agent at UTA and WME, as well as Jack Black's partner at their production company, Electric Dynamite. Priyanka is the co-founder of EARIOS, a women-led podcast network, and co-hosts its critically-acclaimed beauty/wellness podcast, "Foxy Browns." Her writing has appeared in The New Yorker, The New York Times, Vulture, and The Hairpin, and her film work in festivals from Sundance to Cannes. She was raised in India, England, and Saudi Arabia before moving to the U.S. in high school, and holds degrees in Italian and Law from the University of Michigan. Priyanka now lives in Venice (California) with her husband and kids. INDEX TO THE EPISODE: 1:43 - Interview start 3:10 - Her back story, a wild ride! Studied law, and ended up at UTA, where she found she had a talent for it and rose up quickly. 8:01 - Found she wasn't fulfilled, and something was missing — partnered with Jack Black to build a TV production company. Sold 40 pitches while she was at that company. 9:33 - Had a yearning to write and direct her own projects, and after making her first short film, felt she found her niche. Also sold a TV pilot version of it. 12:10 - About her female-focused podcast network, and the podcast she hosts. 15:05 - Discussing her excellent industry-related column on Vulture. 18:48 - Sponsor break - drivingfootage.com and avgearguy.com. 19:46 - Finding a mentor during lockdown. 20:59 - Are there exceptions to her advice about not doing cold contact? Having a touch point, or referral. Building a lateral network. 25:44 - Very important to use this time to hone craft and produce material - write scripts, try shooting a short film or podcast. 30:25 - Don't talk about yourself. Ask questions, offer help, make other people's lives better. Never ask for a mentor — let them notice and ask you. 33:50 - How to ask without asking. How to be the person they want to mentor. Don't gossip or slander. Read a lot, and live a life outside of TV. Be relentlessly pleasant… to everyone, at every level. Listen, notice needs and find a way to meet them. 42:42 - Your online presence during lockdown. What to do and not to do. 49:22 - Using SideTime to reach out to established industry people for a fee. Follow Priyanka on Twitter: @naanking Visit Priyanka's website: primattoo.com You can help with the ongoing costs of bringing these weekly podcasts to you by becoming a patron of the podcast – for as little as 25¢ per episode! There are many reward levels. CLICK HERE to find out more. Buy Gray's book for only $4.99! Look for it on Amazon – How To Break In To TV Writing: Insider Interviews. Didn't get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for over 1,200 TV writers. Find previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com.
This week, host Gray Jones interviews Jami O'Brien, creator & showrunner of "N0S4A2" on AMC. This episode is sponsored by Pilar Alessandra of onthepage.tv. Pilar is offering TV Writer Podcast listeners a 10% discount on any of her services. To get your 10% off, reach out to her directly and tell her Gray sent you! In this episode, Jami has great tips for the writers room, improving your writing, winning in interviews, adapting pre-existing material, and general career advice. Jami O'Brien Bio: Jami O'Brien created and showruns "NOS4A2" for AMC. Previously, she's written for "Fear the Walking Dead," "Hell on Wheels," "Big Love," and "Flesh and Bone," which was nominated for a Writer's Guild Award. Jami has an MFA in Playwriting from the Yale School of Drama. INDEX TO THE EPISODE: 1:06 - Interview start, mention her show “N0S4A2.” 2:00 - Her back story - writing as a kid, Yale playwriting, and eventually moving to LA because of a friend who was a TV writer. 5:18 - Her first LA job, assisting a manager, learning about the industry. 7:11 - When she first started trying to write for TV, got a writing assistant job thanks to one of her Yale professors who was a show runner. Resisted writing a spec, but when she finally did, got good traction from it and landed an agent. Still did not get staffed right away, but after several interviews she was staffed on “Lie To Me.” 12:38 - What it was like to finally write on staff. 14:10 - Talks about her next couple of shows, “The Deep End,” “Big Love,” and a longer stint on “Hell on Wheels.” Describes great lessons she learned from the showrunners and another writer who was a mentor, which helped her scripts to be rewritten less and less. 19:32 - Sponsor break. 20:37 - How she got an overall deal at AMC, got attached to the “N0S4A2” project, and was co-EP on “Fear the Walking Dead.” 23:06 - Her process in how she adapted the book “N0S4A2” into a series, and doing a mini writer's room. 25:53 - Being a part of the Showrunner Training Program. 30:39 - What it was like to build a staff and run a show for the first time. Some discussion about mini writers rooms. 34:28 - What is she looking for when she interviews new writers? Looking for a voice, a point of view, and something unique. Must stand out from the bulk of scripts which are pretty good. 37:19 - What she looks for in interviews. 38:17 - Where her show is at with respect to Coronavirus. 39:13 - How she feels about the current TV landscape. 41:06 - Advice to younger self. 42:52 - Mistakes she sees newer writers making. Follow Jami on Twitter: @jami_obrien You can help with the ongoing costs of bringing these weekly podcasts to you by becoming a patron of the podcast – for as little as 25¢ per episode! There are many reward levels. CLICK HERE to find out more. Buy Gray's book for only $4.99! Look for it on Amazon – How To Break In To TV Writing: Insider Interviews. Didn't get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for over 1,200 TV writers. Find previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com.
This week, host Gray Jones interviews UK show creator / showrunner and practicing doctor Dan Sefton, who is also the co-founder of the independent production company Seven Seas Films. This episode is sponsored by Pilar Alessandra of onthepage.tv. Pilar is offering TV Writer Podcast listeners a 10% discount on any of her services. To get your 10% off, reach out to her directly and tell her Gray sent you! Dan Sefton Bio: Dan Sefton is a prolific television writer who founded Seven Seas Films in 2016 alongside producer Simon Lupton, with the aim of creating and producing TV drama for the UK and international markets, putting the writer at the center of the process. Together they have several projects in development, including "The last Days of Marilyn," in partnership with 101 Studios. Previously an A&E doctor, he started his television career as a hobby; writing episodes of UK medical dramas such as "Doctors," "Casualty" and "Holby City." Delving into the world of scripted drama, Dan also wrote episodes of Harlan Coben's "The Five" (Sky One), "Death in Paradise" (BBC One), "Monarch of the Glen" (BBC One), "Mr Selfridge" (ITV) and "Secret Diary of a Call Girl" (ITV2). Having written comedy series "Porters" for UKTV to critical acclaim, Dan went on to write the original four-part drama series, "Delicious," starring Dawn French, Emilia Fox and Iain Glen for Bandit TV and Sky One. He also wrote four-part thriller "Trust Me" for Red Productions and BBC One, starring Jodie Whittaker, which was broadcast in August 2017. Most recently, Dan's writing credits include Tiger Aspect's "The Good Karma Hospital," now in its third series on ITV, and "The Mallorca Files" with Cosmopolitan Pictures and ProSieben for BBC One which is in production with series two. In May 2019, Great Point, the UK's leading independent media and investment firm, invested in Seven Seas Films. INDEX TO THE EPISODE: 1:42 - Interview start… how Dan started out as a medical doctor, and amazingly, continues to practice medicine while writing. How the first script he ever wrote was produced, for the UK show “Doctors.” Many medical shows followed… Dan discusses the difference between his real life experiences and the shows the end up on TV, how he was actually more appealing to producers when he was practicing medicine than when he quit it, and how he maintains the balance between the two. 9:41 - Dan discusses how representation works in the UK, and his experience with representation. 12:19 - How freelance scripts work in the UK… how there is not as much of a writing room in the UK, but how there are non-writing creative producers who do a lot of the series building and planning. 17:27 - How he made the jump to creating and running shows. 21:40 - The process from pitch to production of how he creates shows. How in the UK, you work much more with independent production companies to pitch shows to the network… discussion on the UK process is similar to how reality TV is developed in the US. 26:40 - Why and how he created his own production company. 29:29 - Sponsor break 30:26 - Differences between the US and the UK in how a show is run… how UK TV is much more of a writer auteur medium, but the US excels at delivering volume. Could a US writing room work in the UK? 36:54 - Dan has worked in several genres… is that easier in the UK? 40:40 - With shorter seasons in the UK, is it easier for a younger writer to get a show off the ground? How pairing with established production companies can help. How his company Seven Seas looks for new unique voices, but expects people to have done a lot of homework before walking in the door. 49:37 - Does he see many writers crossing the pond, one way or the other? Mostly, he sees showrunners from the US attracted to the writer-as-auteur system. 52:44 - Advice to greener writers… understand that you are the product, not just your script. What do you bring to the table? You must be able to sell that too. Also, know what you are getting into, and be willing to work very hard. It's better to write a fresh take on a genre than to reinvent the wheel. And… train yourself to work very quickly, even if it's not for a specific deadline. Follow Dan on Twitter: @dansefton You can help with the ongoing costs of bringing these weekly podcasts to you by becoming a patron of the podcast – for as little as 25¢ per episode! There are many reward levels. CLICK HERE to find out more. Buy Gray's book for only $4.99! Look for it on Amazon – How To Break In To TV Writing: Insider Interviews. Didn't get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for over 1,200 TV writers. Find previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com.
This week, host Gray Jones interviews writer-producer Steve Harper, who wrote for "God Friended Me," "American Crime," and "Covert Affairs," and created the hit web series "Send Me." This episode is sponsored by Pilar Alessandra of onthepage.tv. Pilar is offering a 10% discount on her online "Writing TV" class, which runs Saturdays from July 11 - August 1. To get your 10% off, use the coupon code onthepage10 at checkout. In this interview, Steve shares how his acting and playwriting experience has helped him in his TV writing, the way the CBS Writers Mentoring Program helped him to win in showrunner meetings, how adapting in a gap in his career resulted in a hit web series that kickstarted the next leg of his career, and tips for networking. He also shares about the current racial unrest, challenges he has faced as an African American writer, and where he sees Hollywood needs to change going forward, in the diversity in writing staffs, and in the stories that are told. Steve Harper is a native New Yorker who grew up in a house with a Catholic father and a mother obsessed with Stephen King and true crime novels. He enjoys writing character-based dramas that (sometimes) make use of magical realism. Steve served as producer on the CBS show "God Friended Me." He was co-producer on the upcoming HBO Max series "Tell Me Your Secrets" and wrote for ABC's "American Crime" (created by John Ridley). Steve spent two seasons on the USA network's "Covert Affairs." His original web series "Send Me" - about time traveling black people - (CLICK HERE to view on YouTube) premiered on BET.com to 1.66 million views, won multiple festival awards, and garnered a 2016 Emmy nomination for series lead Tracie Thoms. Steve's short films include "Betty on The Bed" (writer, producer, director and actor) and "Intelligence" (writer). He has written more than 20 plays, which have been workshopped and produced in New York, L.A. and in between. He also coaches writers through his company Your Creative Life. Steve is a graduate of Yale, The A.R.T. Institute for Advanced Theatre Training at Harvard, Juilliard's playwriting program and the CBS Writers Mentoring Program. INDEX TO THE EPISODE: 01:57 - Interview start, discussing Steve's background and influences. 04:13 - Studying at Yale, Harvard, and Juilliard, and writing over 20 plays — how playwriting can be an excellent training ground for TV writers. 14:03 - His acting work, and how that also helped prepare him for TV writing. 16:26 - Being accepted to CBS Writers Mentoring Program, and what the experience was like. 19:30 - What he learned about how to win in showrunner and other meetings, and lots of detail on how to network after the meeting. 27:14 - Getting on his first writing staff, on Covert Affairs… learning the culture of the room, and how to contribute to the stories being told. 32:40 - After Covert Affairs… 3 whole years of not being staffed, how he adapted, and did the web series “Send Me,” which got an Emmy nomination for the series lead, and led to his new series, “American Crime.” 36:55 - How Steve feels about the current racial tensions, and the challenges he has faced as an African American writer and actor. What can be done to change the situation? What can change Hollywood, both in diversity of hiring and in the stories that are told? 51:46 - Advice for greener writers: cheerful persistence, adapting and be continuously developing new material. Also what inspires you? Proactively reach out to people. Follow Steve on Twitter: @HarperCreates Photo Credit: Greg Crowder You can help with the ongoing costs of bringing these weekly podcasts to you by becoming a patron of the podcast – for as little as 25¢ per episode! There are many reward levels. CLICK HERE to find out more. Buy Gray's book for only $4.99! Look for it on Amazon – How To Break In To TV Writing: Insider Interviews. Didn't get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for over 1,200 TV writers. Find previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com.
This week, host Gray Jones interviews writer-producer Evan Bleiweiss, who has written for "The Vampire Diaries," "Rosewood," and "The Crossing," and has sold several TV pilots, though he never went to college. This episode is sponsored by Pilar Alessandra of onthepage.tv. Pilar is offering a 10% discount on her online "Writing TV" class, which runs Saturdays from July 11 - August 1. To get your 10% off, use the coupon code onthepage10 at checkout. Evan Bleiweiss grew up on Long Island, but his family moved to Los Angeles in time for him to attend high school here. It was a teacher's encouragement of his unique voice that led him to pursue writing... and it just so happened that he played hockey with then-unknown Shawn Ryan. Shawn gave him an opportunity to intern on the pilot of "The Shield," but then encouraged him to take some time to hone his craft before really trying to break in. That's exactly what he did... and another relationship led to him being hired onto the series in season 4 as a post-PA. By the 7th season, he was a writer's assistant, and ended up co-writing the penultimate episode of the series. You might see a pattern emerging... Evan credits many of his opportunities and successes to taking the time to foster relationships. He shares many great stories about staffing on "The Vampire Diaries," "Matador," "Black Sails," and then the full run of "Rosewood," where he rose to supervising producer level. His many sold pilots include a remake of "Big Trouble In Little China," which is an amazing story of a pilot he wrote on spec WITHOUT the rights, but ended up being contracted to do a paid rewrite. Evan has a lot of advice for greener writers, and he shares how a strong work ethic, the willingness to study hard and hone his craft, active networking, and the fact that he was already based in LA made it possible for him to break in without a college degree.. INDEX TO THE EPISODE: 2:16 - Interview start; Evan's background, how a high school teacher inspired his interest in writing for film & TV. 6:00 - How playing hockey with Shawn Ryan led to him becoming an intern on "The Shield." 8:00 - How Shawn Ryan encouraged him to take time to hone his craft, and he started writing together with a friend of his. 10:41 - How they wrote a play together that got produced in LA. 11:32 - How another hockey buddy led him to apply for a post PA job on "The Shield," which he did for over 2 seasons and learned a ton. 16:24 - How on his 3rd season at "The Shield," he applied to be a writers assistant and got the job. 17:07 - how he proved himself invaluable by being an encyclopedia of everything that had happened on the show, and he ended up co-writing the second-last episode of the series. 20:01 - Discussion about how he didn't need to go to college to break in. 21:18 - Discussion about his representation. 21:57 - Using the 2008 Writers Strike to write a killer spec pilot, and wrote a TV version of "Big Trouble In Little China" (without permission), and the crazy circumstances that led to him being contracted to re-write it as a real pilot. 26:13 - On getting an agent and writing his next pilot. 28:36 - His first staff gig on "The Vampire Diaries." 31:26 - Leaving "The Vampire Diaries" after 2 seasons, when his daughter was born. Took time off, then was staffed on "Matador." 34:18 - How he landed on his feet when his show was unexpectedly cancelled, and ended up working on "Black Sails" season 3. 37:24 - How an old friend he kept up with led him to work on "Rosewood," which was his first chance to be on a series from beginning to end. 40:06 - How another relationship led to him working on "The Crossing." 41:37 - Getting back to developing his own projects, selling a couple of pilots. with a stint on "See" for Apple and the upcoming show "Archive 81" for Netflix. 45:34 - Coping with COVID-19. 46:25 - What mistakes he sees younger writers making. Learning to break story very quickly, and to write quickly. Not being precious with your ideas. Writing specs to practice writing the voice of the show runner. 52:47 - How he never saw not going to college as a disadvantage. 55:25 - Who his mentors have been over the years. How he feels you need to be always learning. Watching a show while reading the script to study it. Fostering relationships. 59:00 - Advice to younger self - reassurance that you are on the right path, even if things are hard. Don't give up! If you work really hard and persist, people will notice. Throw yourself all the way in — read lots of scripts, study, put the work in to learning your craft. Follow Evan on Twitter: @EPBleiweiss Photo credit: Kenchy Ragsdale You can help with the ongoing costs of bringing these weekly podcasts to you by becoming a patron of the podcast – for as little as 25¢ per episode! There are many reward levels. CLICK HERE to find out more. Buy Gray's book for only $4.99! Look for it on Amazon – How To Break In To TV Writing: Insider Interviews. Didn't get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for over 1,200 TV writers. Find previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com. PLEASE NOTE: we are now doing Tuesday releases, to line up with Script Magazine's release dates.
This week, host Gray Jones interviews Carole Kirschner, creator and director of the CBS Diversity Institute Writers Mentoring Program, and director of the Showrunner Training Program. This episode is sponsored by Pilar Alessandra of onthepage.tv. Pilar is offering a 10% discount on her online "Writing TV" class, which runs Saturdays from July 11 - August 1. To get your 10% off, use the coupon code onthepage10 at checkout. This is Carole Kirschner's third appearance on the podcast — be sure to check out her first interview in episode 054, where she talked about her own career path through the industry and her excellent book, Hollywood Game Plan. Her second appearance was in Gray's well attended panel at San Diego Comic-Con called “How to Write a TV Pilot,” in episode 085. In this new interview, Carole reveals tons of great tips on how to stand out from the rest of the pack in your submissions to the CBS Diversity Writers Mentoring Program. Her advice is also applicable to the other writing fellowships, and college applications as well. She also has great tips on what makes or breaks writing samples, and shares at length about the Showrunner Training Program and the current state of the industry. Having worked as a senior level television development executive for eighteen years (including her posts at CBS and as head of Steven Spielberg's first Amblin Television), Carole has read over heard over 3,000 pitches, read more than 1,000 scripts, bought hundreds of projects and was involved in developing dozens of television series. She is currently the Director of the Writers Guild of America's Showrunner Training Program, the creator and Director of the CBS Diversity Writers Mentoring Program and is consulting with the Jewish Writers Initiative Program. She's also an author and international speaker. In her role as an entertainment career coach she helps aspiring writers, producers and directors navigate Hollywood as they break in and move up in the entertainment industry. Her book, Hollywood Game Plan: How to Land a Job in Film, TV and Digital Entertainment, published by Michael Weise Publishers, is taught in film schools and universities around the country. INDEX TO THE EPISODE: 0:00 - Introduction 4:01 - Interview start, discussing how the industry has and hasn't changed since she published Hollywood Game Plan 8 years ago. How she considers it easier to get your content produced, and social media is playing a bigger role. 8:20 - Main topic of interview — expanding on her Twitter thread discussing script submissions to CBS Diversity Institute Writers Mentoring Program. What is the program and why would someone want to apply for it? 12:15 - 6-8 are chosen each year from over 1,300 submissions. What will make your application stand out? 13:22 - How the letter of interest/personal essay is a writing sample. 19:30 - Story submissions - make it something only you can write, but universal. 22:02 - Need genuine life experience, not just being inspired from TV you've watched. Read other mediums, not just TV. 26:13 - What makes a compelling spec episode? Do stunt scripts work? 35:08 - Why stay within one genre? Finding your sweet spot and sticking to it. What will you bring to the room? 40:12 - How many are disqualified for not following instructions, and why? 42:53 - What is the track record of the program? 44:19 - Sponsor break. 45:30 - All about the Showrunner Training Program, moving from being a writer to a manager, delivering quality scripts on time. What does the program offer? Who is eligible? 52:40 - What is its track record? 56:41 - What is the landscape like for breaking in to television writing in 2020, virus aside? How she finds people aren't working hard enough on their careers. 59:58 - How important is a college education now? 1:01:05 - How is COVID-19 changing the way someone might break in? 1:03:17 - Final advice and call to action. You can help with the ongoing costs of bringing these weekly podcasts to you by becoming a patron of the podcast – for as little as 25¢ per episode! There are many reward levels. CLICK HERE to find out more. Buy Gray's book for only $4.99! Look for it on Amazon – How To Break In To TV Writing: Insider Interviews. Didn't get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for over 1,200 TV writers. Find previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com. PLEASE NOTE: we are now doing Tuesday releases, to line up with Script Magazine's release dates.
This week, host Gray Jones interviews writer Spiro Skentzos, who has written for "Arrow," "Grimm," and TV pilots, as well as "Chadam," an animated web series he co-created. This episode is sponsored by Pilar Alessandra of onthepage.tv. Pilar is offering a 10% discount on her online "Writing TV" class, which runs Saturdays from July 11 - August 1. To get your 10% off, use the coupon code onthepage10 at checkout. Spiro Skentzos grew up in a multi-ethnic family speaking Spanish, Greek, and English – and the inevitable mash-up of Magical Realism and ancient mythology primed him as a child to fall hard for genre stories, the world-building fantasy of comic books, and Star Wars. His first foray into screenwriting was as a young boy, when he wrote a script for his Star Wars figures where they battled his sister's giant, menacing Barbie dolls—and he's been writing ever since. His professional career began in comedy on “George Lopez." Then Spiro co-created and co-wrote the animated sci-fi/zombie web series “Chadam.” He's written on two seasons on “Grimm,” a season on “Arrow,” and has sold 3 pilots. To inspire the next generation of writers, Spiro created the “Intro to TV Writing” panel at Comic-Con, currently in its eleventh year. He's a graduate of NBC's Writers on the Verge Program, and co-chairs the WGA's LGBTQ+ Committee. When not writing, he paints (on canvas, not houses), is learning French, and still enjoys reading comics. Follow Spiro on twitter @spirographo & IG @spirovisionproductions. INDEX TO THE EPISODE: 01:29 - Interview start. 02:18 - How is the virus affecting you? 04:41 - His background, art history major at U of Michigan. 05:31 - Started as an assistant on the George Lopez Show. 05:44 - How he “almost” got representation air that time. 07:34 - How he made the shift to genre writing, and where his love of mythology and comic books came from. 08:44 - Co-creating, co-writing animated web series Chadam, trying to break into one hour drama. Agent horror story, and the spec that got him into NBC Writers on the Verge. 10:19 - 2008 writers strike was a setback, but NBC really pushed to get him onto a show, and he finally got on staff on Grimm. 13:02 - On developing and selling pilots and a feature, and then staffing on Arrow. 15:19 - Sponsors. 16:17 - All about Arrow. 18:01 - What he's been working on since Arrow. 18:57 - Who his mentors have been - Erika Kennair, Karen Horn, others, and the importance of fostering friendships. Also how he mentors others. 22:18 - How and why he got started moderating panels. 25:49 - how he learned and hones his craft. 27:21 - toughest part and best part about being a TV writer. Turning bad experiences into a story. 31:08 - How Peak TV is changing TV writing… smaller staffs, shorter runs. 34:14 - His future plans. 37:45 - Tips for greener writers, general writing & career tips. You can help with the ongoing costs of bringing these weekly podcasts to you by becoming a patron of the podcast – for as little as 25¢ per episode! There are many reward levels. CLICK HERE to find out more. Buy Gray's book for only $4.99! Look for it on Amazon – How To Break In To TV Writing: Insider Interviews. Didn't get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for over 1,200 TV writers. Find previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com. PLEASE NOTE: we are now doing Tuesday releases, to line up with Script Magazine's release dates.
This week, host Gray Jones interviews veteran producer Shawn Ryan, who has created or co-created a number of series, including The Shield, The Chicago Code, Last Resort, Timeless, and his current series SWAT. This episode is sponsored by Pilar Alessandra of onthepage.tv. Pilar is offering a 10% discount to TV Writer Podcast viewers. To get your 10% off, contact Pilar through her website and mention the podcast. Shawn Ryan started out writing and acting in plays. He won the prestigious Norman Lear Playwriting Award, which included an opportunity to come to Los Angeles and observe the TV series My Two Dads. One of his pitches got turned into an episode for the series, and he knew he wanted to write for TV! But it would be several years of hard work, honing his craft and writing over a dozen spec scripts, before he finally got his first staff gig on Nash Bridges. Shawn is a learner, and a very hard worker. He has many helpful stories to tell about how he learned his craft, and how he learned to be his own worst critic. You'll love hearing how he came to create and run The Shield when he had very little production experience, and how he learned to create and co-create so many successful series. Timeless fans will be especially excited to hear about how he co-created that show with Eric Kripke, the love he has for the show and the fans, and how hopeful he is for future continuation of the story. INDEX TO THE EPISODE: 1:22 - Interview start, overview of creating and helping to create and run shows in a competitive industry. 3:24 - How has COVID-19 affected him? 7:18 - Back at the beginning, how did winning the Normal Lear Playwriting Award help launch his career? Discusses theater and playwriting, then going to Hollywood to observe My Two Dads as part of the award, and starting to pitch ideas on the show. 10:56 - Harder times after that show, getting days jobs and learning to increase his work ethic. Was a clever writer, but needed to learn the craft of being a deep writer. 12:28 - Wrote 16-17 spec scripts… talks about the 3 most important factors in breaking in. 14:53 - His first staff gig on Nash Bridges, after writing freelance episodes of Life with Louie. 16:54 - How the years of struggle are important for a writer. 19:23 - How not getting hired on Buffy the Vampire Slayer was actually better for his career — describes this training ground on Nash Bridges with Carlton Cuse and John Worth in detail, and working on Angel. Learning to become valuable to a show by being a story machine. 25:31 - How The Shield was born out of a spec pilot he had written… how he didn't have much production experience but was open about what he didn't know and relied on good people around him to succeed. Lots of detail about building this show for the new FX Network. 37:44 - The next few years, successfully developing many projects, working on The Unit with David Mamet, Mad Dogs. Getting excited about projects. 41:48 - Sponsor messages. 43:02 - All about co-creating Timeless with Eric Kirpke, and running that show. How he loves history, and the book The People's History was a great resource for stories. How amazed he is by the fans, and how he is hopeful about the show's future. 51:27 - How he feels about Peak TV as a show creator. Will TV decline the way movies did? 54:22 - Advice to younger writers, and to people trying to break in. How he asked to read a spec that was getting that writer work, and studied it. Learned not to settle for B+ work. Follow Shawn on Twitter: @ShawnRyanTV You can help with the ongoing costs of bringing these weekly podcasts to you by becoming a patron of the podcast – for as little as 25¢ per episode! There are many reward levels. CLICK HERE to find out more. Buy Gray's book for only $4.99! Look for it on Amazon – How To Break In To TV Writing: Insider Interviews. Didn't get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for over 1,200 TV writers. Find previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com. PLEASE NOTE: we are now doing Tuesday releases, to line up with Script Magazine's release dates.
This week, host Gray Jones interviews writer/producer team Benjamin Raab and Deric A. Hughes, currently co-executive producing Legacies on the CW, who have written and produced on Arrow, Scream: the Series, The Flash, Beauty and the Beast and Warehouse 13. This episode is sponsored by Pilar Alessandra of onthepage.tv. Pilar is offering a 10% discount on her interactive-online class “Rewrite Techniques,” running Four Saturdays, May 23 – June 13. To get your 10% off, use the code onthepage10 at checkout. Benjamin Raab and Deric A. Hughes have written together for almost 20 years. Ben got his start in comic books, which led to their “geek cute” in a comic book shop. They describe how it took many years of writing and applying, including for for a comic book series and web series, and multiple years applying for fellowships, before they finally landed a spot in NBC Writers on the Verge. While still in that fellowship, they were staffed on Warehouse 13, and have high praise for the positive creative environment fostered by showrunner Jack Kenny (interviewed in episode 2). From there, they wrote on Beauty and the Beast, The Flash, Scream: The Series, and Arrow, before landing a co-EP gig on Legacies. They also describe their experience in the Showrunner Training Program, what they've learned, and how important it is to mentor others and “pay it forward.” INDEX TO THE EPISODE: 0:00 - Fun blooper from the interview. 2:01 - Interview starts, Ben & Deric describe the “geek cute” of their writing partnership, in a comic book shop. 4:44 - Deric tells about his background, and what led to them writing together. 6:52 - the years of hard work from when they started writing together to when they got into NBC Writers on the Verge, including writing a comic series and web series. 13:59 - Their experience getting into and attending the Writers on the Verge program, then staffing on Warehouse 13 while still in the program. 17:39 - Their experience writing on Warehouse 13 under showrunner Jack Kenny 21:30 - Discussion about going to set for their episodes, and different showrunner philosophies. Do they focus on trying to get work with showrunners they like? Also about stepping stones in your career. 27:12 - Puppy cameo! (Also 50:07) 31:23 - On getting fired from shows, bad showrunner experiences. Other trials and tribulations. 39:22 - Sponsor break 40:21 - All about the Showrunner Training Program — how a lot of being a good showrunner boils down to being good communicator, and hiring the right people to do each job (and then letting them do their job). 52:44 - The mentoring they've received, and paying it forward. 1:00:56 - Advice to greener writers - be patient, check your ego at the door, listen, learn, never stop being a student. Follow Ben on Twitter: @Wondermasons. Follow Deric on Twitter: @dblackanese. You can help with the ongoing costs of bringing these weekly podcasts to you by becoming a patron of the podcast – for as little as 25¢ per episode! There are many reward levels. CLICK HERE to find out more. Buy Gray's book for only $4.99! Look for it on Amazon – How To Break In To TV Writing: Insider Interviews. Didn't get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for over 1,200 TV writers. Find previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com. PLEASE NOTE: starting today we are moving to Tuesday releases, to line up with Script Magazine's release dates.
This week, host Gray Jones interviews veteran comedy writer Ken Estin, showrunner of Cheers and Taxi and creator of The Tracy Ullman Show, and Paula Finn, the author of Sitcom Writers Talk Shop. Episode 099 is sponsored by Pilar Alessandra of onthepage.tv. Pilar is offering a 10% discount on her interactive-online class “Rewrite Techniques,” running Four Saturdays, May 23 - June 13. To get your 10% off, use the code onthepage10 at checkout. Paula Finn grew up in the shadow of her late father Herbert Finn, who wrote on such classic comedies as The Honeymooners, The Flintstones, and Gilligan's Island. This also gave her unique access for her book. In Sitcom Writers Talk Shop, Paula interviewed some of the greatest names of the genre: Carl Reiner, Norman Lear, James L. Brooks, Phil Rosenthal, and many more. Ken Estin, one of her interviewees, is also in this interview; he tells compelling stories of his unique path into the industry, becoming a showrunner of an Emmy-winning series within 2 years of getting on staff, running Taxi and Cheers, and creating The Tracy Ullman Show. He gives great advice and insight on comedy writing, and how writing sitcoms differs from single camera comedies. INDEX TO THE EPISODE: 2:39 - Interview start. 3:10 - Paula talks about growing up in the home of veteran comedy writer Herbert Finn, what she learned from hanging around sitcom sets. 4:47 - What led to her writing the book Sitcom Writers Talk Shop, and what it was like to interview the greats like Norman Lear, James L. Brooks and Carl Reiner. 7:45 - Ken discusses writing on Taxi, and having to have big jokes, and other differences between writing then and now. 11:28 - Ken shares about his unique path into the industry, sending a Bob Newhart spec script to the Bob Newhart show… how that led to staffing on Taxi, and what he learned while writing that show. 18:57 - How Ken became the showrunner of an Emmy-winning show within 2 years of getting on staff, and then later ran Cheers. 22:55 - Ken talks about some of the careers that were made on Taxi. 25:50 - Sponsor ads. 26:50 - Specifics of comedy writing - coming up with ideas and jokes, and if there are rules to follow. 31:01 - What is the best part about writing comedy? The hardest? 34:43 - What is different about writing single camera comedies? 37:09 - Ken discusses creating the Tracy Ullman Show. 41:30 - How do veteran comedy writers feel about the state of the industry now? 43:11 - Paula shares highlights of interviewing the great comedy writers for her book, and what the response has been to it. 47:20 - Advice to someone starting out in comedy writing. Follow Paula on Twitter: @Talkingcomedy You can help with the ongoing costs of bringing these weekly podcasts to you by becoming a patron of the podcast – for as little as 25¢ per episode! There are many reward levels. CLICK HERE to find out more. Buy Gray's book for only $4.99! Look for it on Amazon – How To Break In To TV Writing: Insider Interviews. Didn't get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for over 1,200 TV writers. Find previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com. Upcoming weekly interviews will include Shawn Ryan (creator of Timeless and The Shield), writers from Arrow, The Flash, Legacies and Warehouse 13, and lots more! PLEASE NOTE: there will be no episode the week of Memorial Day, and we will be moving to Tuesday releases in June, to line up with Script Magazine's release dates.
This week, host Gray Jones interviews veteran TV & feature writer Robert Hewitt Wolfe, executive producer of Elementary, and developer/EP of The Dresden Files and Andromeda. Episode 098 is sponsored by Pilar Alessandra of onthepage.tv. Pilar is offering a 10% discount on her interactive-online class “Rewrite Techniques,” running Four Saturdays, May 23 - June 13. To get your 10% off, use the code onthepage10 at checkout. Robert Hewitt Wolfe attended UCLA for screenwriting. His first screenplay, “Paper Dragons,” placed second in the prestigious Goldwyn awards. He started out writing features, but soon was able to pitch and write an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, which led to staffing on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, where he would write for five years. After leaving Deep Space Nine, Robert worked on several pilots; one was produced as a TV movie called Futuresport, starring Dean Cain and Wesley Snipes. Robert was then approached to develop the syndicated series Gene Roddenberry's Andromeda, where he would serve as head writer for two years. Robert has a lot of great stories of the subsequent years, writing for The 4400, The Gates, Alphas, Star-Crossed, and developing the series The Dresden Files. In 2016, he landed on Elementary for another long run; he explains how different it is writing for a series that doesn't have a writing room. Robert has spent a lot of time developing pilots, features, and novels, and has great advice for what's needed on the page. INDEX TO THE EPISODE: 2:16 interview start. 2:58 - Describes Star Trek franchise's open script submissions. 3:49 - how he had an agent fresh out of film school at UCLA because of placing in contest, and was able to come in to Star Trek: The Next Generation to pitch. 5:37 - how he initially wanted to write features, and some features he wrote sold, but ended up in TV. 7:06 - his first staff writing experience, from the beginning of Deep Space Nine - discusses his many mentors from the show, and how different that room was to other more current shows. 12:00 - why he eventually left Deep Space Nine, but then was approached to develop Andromeda; stories about what it was like to develop and run that show. 18:53 - his career right after leaving Andromeda, back to writing features. 19:53 - went back to TV to help launch The 4400, then developed pilots, including the one that became The Dresden Files. Talks about that time, being a number two for two different shows, writing for several others, before landing on Elementary. 23:30 - talks about writing on Elementary, and what it was like to write without a writers room. Talks about the difference between that and having a writers room. 28:06 - talks about his mentors, and what he learned from them. 29:29 - mentoring others - how he feels it's part of the job. 31:36 - sponsor break. 32:35 - discusses development, and what he does between shows - different situations, and how to succeed; finding your passion. 36:58 - talks about chasing IP, and why IP is so important. 41:25 - discusses his most recent show, Prodigal Son. 43:12 - what's next - lots of irons in the fire. 45:52 - what will production be like after COVID-19. 49:50 - help for greener writers - make the show runner's life easier, help their vision to come true, research. 53:08 - advice on the page - characters, dialogue, scene & story structure. 57:13 - general career advice - TV is a team sport. 59:28 - least and most favorite parts of being a TV writer. You can help with the ongoing costs of bringing these weekly podcasts to you by becoming a patron of the podcast – for as little as 25¢ per episode! There are many reward levels. CLICK HERE to find out more. Buy Gray's book for only $4.99! Look for it on Amazon – How To Break In To TV Writing: Insider Interviews. Didn't get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for over 1,200 TV writers. Find previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com. Upcoming weekly interviews will include Shawn Ryan (creator of Timeless and The Shield), writers from Arrow, The Flash, Legacies and Warehouse 13, and lots more!
This week, host Gray Jones interviews multiple Emmy winning and Oscar-nominated comedy writer Dan O'Shannon, Executive Producer of Cheers, Frasier, and Modern Family, and author of the book, What Are You Laughing At? Episode 097 is sponsored by Pilar Alessandra of onthepage.tv. Pilar is offering a 10% discount on any of her services: to get your 10% off, reach out to Pilar directly and mention the TV Writer Podcast. Dan O'Shannon is a writer and producer who has worked on such hit comedies as Newhart, Cheers, and Frasier, as well as many other TV series, like The Odd Couple, Better Off Ted, and the drama Jericho. He was an executive producer on Modern Family until he left after season 5, to accept a development deal at CBS TV Studios. Dan has won six Emmy Awards, five WGA Awards, and several Golden Globe Awards for his TV work. He also was nominated for an Academy Award for writing the short animated film Redux Riding Hood, which was produced by Disney. Another animated short he wrote and produced, The Fan and the Flower, received an Annie Award. Dan is the author of two books, What Are You Laughing At? A Comprehensive Guide to the Comedic Event, and The Adventures of Mrs. Jesus. INDEX TO THE EPISODE: 2:40 - Intro, Gray geeks out about how Dan wrote on Newhart. 4:13 - What inspired Dan to do standup comedy - how he learned to be funny. 5:15 - Challenges in learning to write TV comedy pre-internet — how he took a one-way trip to LA with $100 in his pocket. 7:33 - Talk about his book - is it possible to learn how to be funny? 10:13 - How important is it for a comedy writer to do standup? Also learning how to tell a story. 12:05 - How multicam comedy offers a chance to learn how a live audience will react to jokes. 13:13 - How he made the jump from standup to TV writing. 15:10 - You're in the writer's room — now what? Mistakes writers make when they get on staff. 18:25 - The tough times between the first staff gig and his bigger shows. 20:48 - Secrets on how to get freelance scripts sold. 21:26 - How the writer's strike of 1988 led to him pairing up with Tom Anderson in a writing team, getting staffed on Newhart and Cheers together, eventually showrunning the show together, and then how they split apart in a way that didn't hurt their careers. 24:10 - On creating the series Maggie. 27:23 - The time between Maggie and Modern Family, writing drama shows for the first time. 29:04 - How Modern Family was different from a writing perspective - tight, economical writing and using mockumentary. Also discussed the production and post-production of the show. 33:10 - Single cam vs multicam from a writing perspective. 36:00 - The onset of social networks and how that affected writing. 39:00 - On developing pilots, and writing on The Orville. 41:12 - What has been the hardest part about writing for TV? On the pressure of always having to work toward deadlines, and not having a real life. 43:51 - The best part about writing for TV - working with and hanging out with some of the funniest people, and making people laugh. 45:38 - How the industry has changed over the last 35 years. 49:39 - How he distilled his decades of observations into the book What Are You Laughing At? 51:07 - About his book Adventures of Mrs. Jesus. 52:39 - Advice for less experienced writers - making your showrunner happy, what elements you need to have a successful career as a writer, and how to pitch successfully. 59:26 - What he looks for when hiring writers, in interviews and on the page. Does he read specs or pilots? Why writing a spec is so valuable, even if people will only read pilots. 1:06:27 - What might he say to his younger self based on what he knows now — don't make your career your identity. You can help with the ongoing costs of bringing these weekly podcasts to you by becoming a patron of the podcast – for as little as 25¢ per episode! There are many reward levels. CLICK HERE to find out more. Buy Gray's book for only $4.99! Look for it on Amazon – How To Break In To TV Writing: Insider Interviews. Didn't get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for over 1,200 TV writers. Find previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com. Upcoming weekly interviews will include Shawn Ryan (creator of Timeless and The Shield), writers from Arrow, The Flash, Legacies and Warehouse 13, and lots more!
This week, host Gray Jones catches up with Keto Shimizu, co-showrunner and EP for DC's Legends of Tomorrow, and who formerly wrote for Arrow, Being Human, and The Cape. Episode 096 is sponsored by Pilar Alessandra of onthepage.tv. Pilar is offering a 10% discount on any of her services: to get your 10% off, reach out to Pilar directly and mention the TV Writer Podcast. Don't forget that Gray interviewed Keto back in 2011 (episode 10), after she had just been staffed on The Cape. In that interview, she shares a lot about how she broke in to the industry. Check it out HERE or on any of the podcast aggregators. Keto Shimizu biography: Keto Shimizu was born in Princeton, NJ and spent much of her youth traveling the globe with a world music choir. A life-long fan of movies and comic books, she attended film school at Emerson College in Boston, then moved to Los Angeles in 2007 to pursue a career in the industry. Following graduation she worked in post-production, using nights and weekends to follow her true passion: writing. Her hard work paid off, as she was accepted into NBC's “Writers on the Verge” in 2009, and shortly thereafter was staffed on NBC's The Cape. Following its cancellation, she moved on to SyFy's Being Human where she spent two seasons. She was then brought on to CW's Arrow, and after three years writing for the DC comic adaptation she transferred to the spinoff Legends of Tomorrow where she is currently a writer and Executive Producer. INDEX TO THE EPISODE: 2:18 - Intro, catching us up on her career since The Cape 11:15 - what was the experience like in the tough time after her first staff gig 13:59 - what to do between jobs 15:08 - using your genre calling card 18:27 - where she sees herself after Legends of Tomorrow 19:19 - the projects she's currently developing 20:08 - on interviewing new writers 21:37 - on mentoring others, and general advice on pursuing a TV writing career 24:55 - how is the virus affecting Legends of Tomorrow Follow Keto on Twitter: @ketomizu You can help with the ongoing costs of bringing these weekly podcasts to you by becoming a patron of the podcast – for as little as 25¢ per episode! There are many reward levels. CLICK HERE to find out more. Buy Gray's book for only $4.99! Look for it on Amazon – How To Break In To TV Writing: Insider Interviews. Didn't get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for over 1,200 TV writers. Find previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com. Upcoming weekly interviews will include Dan O'Shannon (EP of Cheers, Frasier, and Modern Family), Shawn Ryan (creator of Timeless and The Shield) and lots more!
This week, host Gray Jones interviews Michael Narducci, showrunner and EP for The Originals, co-EP for The Crossing, and writer and producer for The Vampire Diaries. Episode 095 is sponsored by Pilar Alessandra of onthepage.tv. Pilar is offering a 10% discount on any of her services: to get your 10% off, reach out to Pilar directly and mention the TV Writer Podcast. Michael Narducci biography: Currently working on an as yet unannounced Netflix series, Michael recently developed Warriors through ABC Studios. Prior to that, he was the showrunner of The Originals for Warner Brothers TV, and also served as a writer on The Vampire Diaries, Medium, The 4400, and The Crossing. Michael was born and raised in Youngstown, Ohio. He attended Harvard University where he lettered in football and graduated magna cum laude with a degree in psychology. He went on to receive his MFA in Creative Writing from The University of Virginia. His short stories have appeared in The Texas Review, The Virginia Quarterly Review, Pembroke and Gadfly magazine. He taught creative writing at The Idyllwild Arts Academy for seven years and has also taught writing in Boston, Charlottesville, South Central Los Angeles, and South Korea. INDEX TO THE EPISODE: 2:01 - Interview start 2:38 - how COVID-19 is affecting him and his work 6:16 - how he went to Harvard and lettered in football but ended up doing an MFA in creative writing 8:38 - how he published short stories, taught in school for several years, and started writing specs 11:50 - how the Warner Brothers writing fellowship helped him get his first staff gig and an agent 14:43 - on landing the staff gig without going the traditional route of being an assistant 18:15 - on having a manager since before the WB program, and what he feels managers offer 20:18 - in between series, what happens? Details about show runner meetings and pitching. 22:57 - landing the gig on Medium after a lot of unsuccessful interviews 24:49 - landing the gig on Vampire Diaries, and what made that show different 27:51 - traveling to New Orleans to research the Originals spinoff, moving up to EP 28:53 - getting an overall deal, and consulting on The Crossing 30:54 - on development 31:09 - what showrunners are looking for in interviews 32:42 - Michael shares about many mentors who have helped him along the way 36:04 - on being a learner, and a team player - references the book Difficult Men, and the masculine vs feminine style of showrunning 39:28 - his showrunning on The Originals, mentoring others 41:30 - on having an overriding principal idea for each season, with examples from each season of The Originals 45:08 - why mentoring and giving back is important to him, and the value of story 50:00 - on development, and some of the projects he has developed 56:17 - what he is most passionate about - common cause, ensemble shows where people begin as adversaries but grow together, and making people care about characters and story. 1:00:22 - hardest thing about being a TV writer 1:04:10 - best part about being a TV writer - the “what if” brainstorming sessions, and collaboration with other writers to develop story, working with incredible actors and seeing it come to life on scene . 1:06:26 - what is positive in the industry and what needs to change? 1:07:42 - how much more diversity there is in writers rooms now, and how it is a great time to break in 1:09:35 - advice to greener writers - what he looks for when interviewing and reading scripts, and mistakes he sees people making, including on social media. Follow Michael on Twitter: @MichaelNarducci You can help with the ongoing costs of bringing these weekly podcasts to you by becoming a patron of the podcast – for as little as 25¢ per episode! There are many reward levels. CLICK HERE to find out more. Buy Gray's book for only $4.99! Look for it on Amazon – How To Break In To TV Writing: Insider Interviews. Didn't get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for over 1,200 TV writers. Find previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com. Upcoming weekly interviews will include Keto Shimizu (EP, Legends of Tomorrow), Dan O'Shannon (EP of Cheers, Frasier, and Modern Family), Shawn Ryan (creator of Timeless and The Shield) and lots more!
This week, host Gray Jones interviews Arika Lisanne Mittman, EP of Paradise Lost on Spectrum Originals, and Timeless. She also wrote and produced on Elementary and Dexter. Episode 094 is sponsored by Pilar Alessandra of onthepage.tv. Pilar is offering a 10% discount on any of her services: to get your 10% off, reach out to Pilar directly and mention the TV Writer Podcast. Arika got her start as an assistant on Dawson's Creek... though she would not get her first staff gig for several years, she landed an agent during that time. Her career took a detour when she was asked to head up a web initiative for Sony, producing dramatic short series for their website. This experience, combined with many years networking as an assistant led to her first staff gig on South of Nowhere. One of her first scripts there led to a WGA Award nomination and a Humanitas Award. She tells about several series where she was stuck at the staff writer level, but how she was able to catch up on Medium and Dexter, which was really the show that put her on the map. After several seasons of Elementary, and one season of Timeless, she was finally ready for the jump to showrunner -- and shares about her first experience showrunning on Timeless, a show she was very passionate about, and then co-showrunning the new Spectrum Original Paradise Lost and getting it off the ground. Arika is very open about the challenges of balancing a family with a busy TV career, and shares great tips about how to win in showrunner interviews, on the page, and in the writer's room. INDEX TO THE EPISODE: 1:58 - How is the virus affecting you? How will this impact the industry going forward — is there a “new normal” that will be a different way of doing business? 8:18 - Her unconventional start in the industry, pioneering into online content for Sony; how she has seen some parallels in Twitter and networking directly with fans. 16:26 - About South of Nowhere, her first staff writing gig, and how she was nominated for a WGA award and won a Humanitas award for one of her first scripts. 20:21 - Her experience getting an agent while still an assistant at Dawson's Creek; got fired by that agent, and signed with another later on. 22:33 - How valuable it is to be an assistant, and what your attitude and work ethic needs to be — how this network will be what gets you work later on. 24:13 - On staff, now what? Her trials and tribulations on her first few shows… repeating the staff level three times, shows getting cancelled, and how Dexter changed the game. 30:48 - On developing pilots, while still working on Dexter and having 2 young kids. 32:53 - On getting offered a position on Elementary 34:17 - How it wasn't easy - some of her challenges working her way up. 41:12 - Landing the gig on Timeless and becoming showrunner for the first time — how being passionate about the show is a key to getting the job, and the experience from the start of the show to its cancellation and movie wrap up. 51:40 - on Paradise Lost, co-showrunning a show, starting from scratch and staffing it. 53:24 - building a diverse staff. 56:25 - Help for greener writers — what she looks for in an interview, being enthusiastic about the project and being able to articulate why, as well as what you bring to the table. 1:00:49 - What she looks for on the page. 1:02:38 - Juggling young kids and a writing room, or working from home developing projects — how does she manage? What is her writing habit? 1:04:11 - Final thoughts — general career advice to greener writers. Follow Arika on Twitter: @arikalisanne You can help with the ongoing costs of bringing these weekly podcasts to you by becoming a patron of the podcast – for as little as 25¢ per episode! There are many reward levels. CLICK HERE to find out more. Buy Gray's book for only $4.99! Look for it on Amazon – How To Break In To TV Writing: Insider Interviews. Didn't get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for over 1,200 TV writers. Find previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com. Upcoming weekly interviews will include Michael Narducci (EP, The Originals), Keto Shimizu (EP, Legends of Tomorrow), Dan O'Shannon (EP of Cheers, Frasier, and Modern Family) and lots more!
This week, host Gray Jones returns to the Skype format due to the Coronavirus quarantine, but you're sure to love his interview with Sarah Watson, creator of The Bold Type and executive producer on Parentood! Episode 093 is sponsored by Pilar Alessandra of onthepage.tv. Pilar is offering a 10% discount on her interactive online class, Writing the First Draft, which started April 4th, but can be joined any time up to the second class on April 11th. To get your 10% off, use the code onthepage10 at checkout. Sarah is very open about the challenges along the way, and how she was able to spin some of the toughest experiences into victories, including her incredibly hopeful young adult novel, Most Likely. Just like the message of the book, she is optimistic that the world is changing for the better, and that the upcoming generation will be the key. Learn about the innovative way she turned a class she taught at UCLA into a virtual writers room... how getting on staff wasn't the Holy Grail, but each new opportunity taught her invaluable lessons... how getting onto a network show really propelled her career forward, and how she really found her voice working with Jason Katims on Parenthood... how and why she cancelled a meeting and went straight to Disneyland to buy a season's pass... how taking a year off and being unavailable turned her into a hot commodity, even leading to a successful pitch to Steven Spielbergand an option on her book! She also talks about what it was like to be in production on a pilot and getting ready for the big launch of her book, and having to shut it all down overnight because of COVID-19. INDEX TO THE EPISODE: 0:00 - Introduction 2:57 - Interview starts 3:15 - Shooting pilot, book launch interrupted by COVID-19 9:45 - TV writing course Sarah teaches at UCLA, and why that program is special 13:38 - How Sarah got started, working on Rachel's Room 15:23 - Early days, how Sarah got on staff 18:44 - How Sarah's career really took off when she landed a gig on a network show 24:21 - Working on The Middleman with Javi Grillo-Marxuach 26:37 - Writing on Parenthood, and how she really found her voice 29:14 - How she got an overall deal and started to develop shows 34:50 - All the details about developing The Bold Type which is on its fourth season 38:38 - How a soul crushing year led to a hopeful YA novel 44:20 - Details about her untitled re-enactment pilot, and pitching to Steven Spielberg 50:59 - On adapting her YA novel for Amazon 51:45 - Advice to greener writers Follow Sarah on Twitter: @SarahWatson42 Speaking of COVID-19, you can help with the ongoing costs of bringing these weekly podcasts to you, by becoming a patron of the podcast – for as little as $1/month! There are many reward levels. CLICK HERE to find out more. Buy Gray's book for only $4.99! Look for it on Amazon – How To Break In To TV Writing: Insider Interviews. Didn't get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for over 1,000 TV writers. Find previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com. Upcoming weekly interviews will include Arika Lisanne Mittman (Paradise Lost, Timeless), Michael Narducci (The Originals), and lots more!
The TV Writer Podcast is back, and better than before! In our re-launch, host Gray Jones will be primarily interviewing showrunners and EP level writers. We'll be moving away from the focus on the newbie writer, and aiming more at the oft-neglected staff to mid-level writer. There is now a dedicated audio-only feed at iTunes, Podbean, Spotify and coming soon to Pandora. You can access the video version via YouTube, iTunes, Podbean, and on the web at tvwriterpodcast.com. Follow @GrayJones on Twitter for updates on upcoming interviews, and be sure to subscribe, like, and post reviews on all of these aggregators. We'll be bringing WEEKLY episodes every Monday during the stay-at-home order due to Coronavirus / COVID-19. In episode 092, sponsored by Pilar Alessandra of onthepage.tv, host Gray Jones interviews Bob Goodman, winner of two Daytime Emmy Awards, creator of The Zeta Project, and EP of Elementary and Supervising Producer for Warehouse 13. Speaking of On The Page, Pilar is offering a 10% discount on her interactive online class, Writing the First Draft, which starts April 4th. To get your 10% off, use the code onthepage10 at checkout. Topics of discussion in the interview included: • What to consider when choosing college programs. • Singing the praises of the Children of Tendu podcast. • The 5 most important things to succeed in Hollywood. • How to avoid getting pigeon-holed. • How to pick the right jobs for your resume. • Why he feels we need to purge “paying your dues” from our lexicon. • The glut of Peak TV with 500+ shows — why it is more competitive than ever. • Going from animated show creator / showrunner to 1 hour drama staff writer. • About development at the EP level. • About picking your battles with the network. • How a show is staffed. • Do's and don'ts in staffing meetings. • How your job is to get into the showrunner's head. • What needs to be on the page when staffing, and what is the kiss of death? • On why taking the long view is so important when looking at your career. If you are interested in breaking in, check out Bob's other excellent interviews on episode 8 of the Creative Writing Career podcast, and on Storybeat with Steve Cuden. Be sure to watch until the end, and listen for the contest code -- if you follow GrayJones and tweet the contest code before Friday, April 3rd, you will be entered into a draw to win... 2 rolls of toilet paper! Other prizes may be added too. Bob Goodman official bio: Bob Goodman is a television writer-producer who most recently served as Executive Producer on the hit CBS TV series Elementary, and before that he wrote and produced on Syfy's Warehouse 13. Prior to his work in live-action, Bob wrote for many years in animation, primarily as a staffer at Warner Bros. His credits include Batman, Superman, Batman Beyond, Justice League Unlimited and Ben Ten; plus he created and ran the Batman Beyond spin-off The Zeta Project. He's written web-series and videogames including the Dungeons & Dragons game Demon Stone, and several direct-to-DVD animated features including the two-part Batman: The Dark Knight Returns. Bob has received two Daytime Emmy Awards, as well as an Annie Award nomination for Individual Achievement in Writing. He currently has a pilot in development at ABC. Follow Bob on Twitter: @b0bg00dman You can help with the ongoing costs of bringing these weekly podcasts to you, by becoming a patron of the podcast – for as little as $1/month! There are many reward levels. CLICK HERE to find out more. Buy Gray's book for only $4.99! Look for it on Amazon – How To Break In To TV Writing: Insider Interviews. Didn't get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for over 1,000 TV writers. Find previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com. Upcoming weekly interviews will include Sarah Watson (The Bold Type, The Goonies reboot), Arika Lisanne Mittman (Paradise Lost, Timeless), Michael Narducci (The Originals), and lots more! PLEASE NOTE: ON THE FIRST VERSION OF THE PODCAST GRAPHIC, BOB WAS INCORRECTLY SHOWN AS EXECUTIVE PRODUCER OF WAREHOUSE 13. THIS WAS QUICKLY CORRECTED.
Hilary Winston is the creator and showrunner of Bad Teacher, which premieres April 24 at 9:30 pm on CBS! Gray Jones caught up with her a few days before the premiere. In the interview, Hilary has great tips on career development and networking, as well as writing, pitching, and selling pilots. She also has a fascinating personal story… how she started as an intern at the White House in the Clinton administration and ended up writing comedy in Hollywood… how even after writing scripts on a writing staff, becoming an assistant for several years was the best thing for her career. Hilary's official bio: Hilary Winston is an author and writer/producer of television and film. Prior to developing and executive producing Bad Teacher, Winston wrote for network and cable television series, including the Emmy Award-winning comedy My Name is Earl, Happy Endings, and Community. Winston expanded into novel writing and is the author of a dating memoir, My Boyfriend Wrote a Book about Me, which she adapted as a movie for Paramount Studios. Also, she pens a monthly column for Playboy Magazine. Winston began her writing career by getting people coffee at various places like National Public Radio and Hollywood Squares. She can now proudly say someone else gets her coffee. Unfortunately, she doesn't like coffee. Winston grew up in Corpus Christi, Texas. Currently, she resides in Los Angeles with her husband and her cats, Lolly and Gordon. Make sure to watch Bad Teacher Thursdays at 9:30 pm on CBS! Follow Hilary on Twitter: @hilarywinston Buy Gray's book for only $4.99! Look for it on Amazon – How To Break In To TV Writing: Insider Interviews. Didn't get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for over 1,200 TV writers. Find our previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com or on Gray's YouTube channel. First published April 19, 2014.
Click to tweet this podcast to your friends and followers! Couldn't make it to Gray's How To Write a TV Pilot panel at Comic-Con this year? No problem! Here is the complete video, including Q & A. CONTEST/EXTRAS LINK: http://tvwriterpodcast.com/pilot Have you ever thought of a perfect idea for a TV series? Find out how to write it! Gray Jones moderates a discussion and Q & A with powerhouse panelists Jen Grisanti, William Rabkin, Bill Taub, and Carole Kirschner. Get that idea from your brain to the screen! Great questions were fielded from the packed house, including how to write a show bible, differences between one hour drama and sitcom writing, as well as single camera versus multi camera sitcoms, creating a TV show with an ensemble cast, and lots more! Did you know that writing a spec episode of an existing show is still recommended for your portfolio? Find out why! Which screenwriting contests are the best for TV scripts? All these answers and more are found in this hour-long video! MODERATOR: Gray Jones (@GrayJones) – TV Editor/Writer, Author (Breaking In To TV Writing: Insider Interviews) PANELISTS: Jen Grisanti (@JenGrisanti) – Story/Career Consultant, Author (Story Line: Finding the Gold In Your Life Story, TV Writing Tool Kit: How To Write A Script that Sells) William Rabkin (@WritingThePilot) – TV Writer, Author (Writing the Pilot, Successful Television Writing) Bill Taub (@BillyTaub) – TV Writer, Author (Automatic Pilot) Carole Kirschner (@Carole_POTL) – Director, WGA Show Runner Training Program, Author (Hollywood Game Plan: How to Land a Job in Film, TV and Digital Entertainment) Buy Gray's book for only $4.99! Look for it on Amazon – How To Break In To TV Writing: Insider Interviews. Didn't get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for over 1,200 TV writers. Find our previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com or on Gray's YouTube channel. First published August 28, 2014.
This week, Gray Jones interviews Khanisha Foster, host of the Stephen's College M.F.A program's “How I Wrote That” podcast, which features Hollywood's most successful working female writers discussing their journey and current projects. Khanisha Foster is a mixed race actress, writer, teaching artist, the Associate Artistic Director of 2nd Story and a TCG's Young Leader of Color. She is currently enrolled in the M.F.A program and touring with her Solo Show “Actor of Color.” Follow Khanisha on Twitter: @KhanishaFoster. Buy Gray's book for only $4.99! Look for it on Amazon – How To Break In To TV Writing: Insider Interviews. Didn't get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for over 1,200 TV writers. Find our previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com or on Gray's YouTube channel. First published July 5, 2016.
Script magazine is proud to announce our editorial partnership with TVWriterPodcast.com! Hosted by Gray Jones, the TV Writer Podcast is devoted to interviews with working TV writers. It is brought to you by Script magazine and Scriptmag.com, the leading source for scriptwriting information on the web. For the inaugural episode, Gray Jones has not one but two interviews with Human Target show runner Matt Miller. The first interview was done by host Jones on his other show, Chuck vs. the Podcast, and talks about Miller's career path and how he ended up on Chuck. Then Jones' second interview with Miller takes you to the present — hear all about his plans for season 2 of Human Target. Buy Gray's book for only $4.99! Look for it on Amazon – How To Break In To TV Writing: Insider Interviews. Didn't get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for over 1,000 TV writers. Find our previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com or on Gray's YouTube channel. First published August 13, 2010.
To tackle the immense, cutting edge topic of social networking for the writer, we needed to call in a panel of experts… in a round table discussion set in a cool 3D environment, our three esteemed guests were Jeanne Veillette Bowerman and Jamie Livingston of #Scriptchat, and Joshua Stecker of Script Magazine; Gray Jones, in addition to moderating, represented Ink Canada. In Part 1, we discussed: Are you getting the most out of Facebook and Twitter? What are the differences between them? What pitfalls should you avoid and/or protect yourself against? Why are some people getting a lot more Twitter followers than you? How can you network with top writers without seeming too pushy? In Part 2 this week, we get a lot more specific. We discuss several resources on Facebook, Twitter, and the web in great detail. Jeanne demonstrates how you can attack Twitter with the same creativity with which you attack a script, and maybe even land a job or an agent from it. We expound on blogs and bloggers, of course we talk about more dos and don'ts, and there is an exciting call to arms at the end. We cover all of this and much more in part 2 of our massive 100 minute discussion. Meet our panel: Jeanne Veillette Bowerman is the Co-Founder and moderator of the weekly Twitter screenwriters' chat, #Scriptchat, and a regular columnist for Write On Online and Script Magazine. A graduate of Cornell University, she's written several spec scripts, including the adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning book, Slavery by Another Name, with its author, Douglas A. Blackmon, senior national correspondent of The Wall Street Journal. Jamie Livingston is a writer, Co-Founder of #Scriptchat, and President of Romance Writers of America Screenwriting Chapter Script Scene. She's a business owner and former magazine writer. Joshua Stecker is the West Coast/Web editor of Script Magazine, co-owner/producer of Modjeska Playhouse theatre company, and a part-time actor. Gray Jones is a reality TV editor, produced writer, and internationally award winning short film producer. In addition to hosting the TV Writer Podcast in partnership with Script Magazine, he also hosts Chuck vs. the Podcast for NBC's Chuck, which has been voted the #1 TV-themed podcast in the entire world continuously for the last 28 months. He also runs a database of TV Writers on Twitter, which contains 700 writers and continues to climb. Follow the round table participants on Twitter: Jeanne Veillette Bowerman: @jeannevb Jamie Livingston: @Jamie_LD Joshua Stecker: @joshuastecker Gray Jones: @GrayJones Buy Gray's book for only $4.99! Look for it on Amazon – How To Break In To TV Writing: Insider Interviews. Didn't get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for over 1,000 TV writers. Find our previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com or on Gray's YouTube channel. First published May 1, 2011.
To tackle the immense, cutting edge topic of social networking for the writer, we needed to call in a panel of experts… in a round table discussion set in a cool 3D environment, our three esteemed guests were Jeanne Veillette Bowerman and Jamie Livingston of #Scriptchat, and Joshua Stecker of Script Magazine; Gray Jones, in addition to moderating, represented Ink Canada. Part 1: Are you getting the most out of Facebook and Twitter? What are the differences between them? What pitfalls should you avoid and/or protect yourself against? Why are some people getting a lot more Twitter followers than you? How can you network with top writers without seeming too pushy? We cover all of these topics and much more in part 1 of our massive 100 minute discussion. In Part 2, we will get a lot more specific. We discuss several resources on Facebook, Twitter, and the web in great detail. Jeanne demonstrates how you can attack Twitter with the same creativity with which you attack a script, and maybe even land a job or an agent from it. We expound on blogs and bloggers, of course we talk about more dos and don'ts, and there is an exciting call to arms at the end. We cover all of this and much more in part 2 of our massive 100 minute discussion. Meet our panel: Jeanne Veillette Bowerman is the Co-Founder and moderator of the weekly Twitter screenwriters' chat, #Scriptchat, and a regular columnist for Write On Online and Script Magazine. A graduate of Cornell University, she's written several spec scripts, including the adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning book, Slavery by Another Name, with its author, Douglas A. Blackmon, senior national correspondent of The Wall Street Journal. Jamie Livingston is a writer, Co-Founder of #Scriptchat, and President of Romance Writers of America Screenwriting Chapter Script Scene. She's a business owner and former magazine writer. Joshua Stecker is the West Coast/Web editor of Script Magazine, co-owner/producer of Modjeska Playhouse theatre company, and a part-time actor. Gray Jones is a reality TV editor, produced writer, and internationally award winning short film producer. In addition to hosting the TV Writer Podcast in partnership with Script Magazine, he also hosts Chuck vs. the Podcast for NBC's Chuck, which has been voted the #1 TV-themed podcast in the entire world continuously for the last 28 months. He also runs a database of TV Writers on Twitter, which contains 700 writers and continues to climb. Follow the round table participants on Twitter: Jeanne Veillette Bowerman: @jeannevb Jamie Livingston: @Jamie_LD Joshua Stecker: @joshuastecker Gray Jones: @GrayJones Buy Gray's book for only $4.99! Look for it on Amazon – How To Break In To TV Writing: Insider Interviews. Didn't get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for over 1,000 TV writers. Find our previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com or on Gray's YouTube channel. First published April 24, 2011.
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