Podcasts about nbc's writers

Christie Bahna and Lynn Maleh are two Middle Eastern comedy queens on an expedition to dig up the funny from the first-generation experience. This week's guest, Nthenya Ndunda, is a dynamic force in comedy with a cynical mind and an extroverted persona. She masterfully blends observational humor with thoughtful reflections, leaving audiences in a delightful quandary: is this deeply profound, or is this a playful commentary on our collective shallowness? Born in Nairobi, Kenya, her early life unfolded against the backdrop of Vancouver's diverse cityscape and later in the complicated but charming streets of Charleston, SC. As an immigrant, her humor draws from the reality of navigating life in different places, capturing the essence of being both an insider and an outsider. Notables: two-time JFL Standup and Pitch winner (2019 & 2022), NBC's Writers on the Verge nominee (2021). You may have seen her on ‘Them' (Amazon), ‘Shameless' (Showtime), ‘Loosely, Exactly Nicole' (MTV/Facebook) or in a Lifetime movie if you're about that life. Find her on Instagram @im_nthenya.

Want to see the video version of this podcast? Visit Youtube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EumHXsDZBqo 0:00 - What Writers Should Know About TV Writing Programs 12:40 - 7 Key Benefits To TV Writing Programs 22:15 - Key Factors To Being Hired As A TV Writer 32:42 - How Fate Factors Into An Artist's Career 40:01 - What Writers Need To Know About Selling A TV Show 48:12 - Biggest Mistakes Writers Make With TV Pilots 1:01:17 - 5 Tips For Writing A TV Pilot 1:11:12 - TV Structure Made Easy For New Writers 1:21:58 - How To Break The Story Of A TV Show 1:33:32 - How TV Shows Are Written From Start To Finish 1:48:11 - 10 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Became A Writer BUY THE BOOK - THE WRITER'S ROOM SURVIVAL GUIDE: Don't Screw up the lunch order and other keys to a happy Writers' Room - https://amzn.to/3OLcnNr After growing up near China Lake Naval Weapons Center in the middle of the Mojave Desert, Niceole escaped to the bright lights of Los Angeles. While studying acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, she realized her true love was writing stories, not playing them out. She worked as a police dispatcher to pay her way through USC undergrad and then completed the Master of Professional Writing program, also at USC. An alum of the CBS Writers Mentoring Program, NBC's Writers on the Verge, and the WGAW Showrunner Training Program, Niceole has written on “Ironside,” “Allegiance,” “The Mysteries of Laura,” “Shades of Blue,” "Cloak & Dagger," “Fate: the Winx Saga,” “S.W.A.T,” and “Graymail.” She also co-wrote a feature, "The Banker," with former “Allegiance” showrunner and director George Nolfi, available on AppleTV+, and is now writing “Spark,” a film inspired by the life of Claudette Colvin. Niceole is currently a co-executive producer on an upcoming Netflix series and has several TV and feature projects in development. Her first book, “The Writers' Room Survival Guide,” will be released in October of this year. CONNECT WITH NICEOLE R. LEVY https://niceolelevy.com/about https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6276982 https://twitter.com/niceolecookies MORE MICHAEL WIESE PRODUCTIONS AUTHORS https://mwp.com SUPPORT FILM COURAGE BY BECOMING A MEMBER https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCs8o1mdWAfefJkdBg632_tg/join SUPPORT FILM COURAGE BY BECOMING A PATRON https://www.patreon.com/filmcourage (Affiliates) SAVE $15 ON YOUTUBE TV - LIMITED TIME OFFER https://tv.youtube.com/referral/r0847ysqgrrqgp ►WE USE THIS CAMERA (B&H) – https://buff.ly/3rWqrra ►WE USE THIS SOUND RECORDER (AMAZON) – http://amzn.to/2tbFlM9 ► WE USE THIS EDITING SYSTEM - https://buff.ly/44FYkAk CONNECT WITH FILM COURAGE http://www.FilmCourage.com http://twitter.com/#!/FilmCourage https://www.facebook.com/filmcourage SUBSCRIBE TO THE FILM COURAGE YOUTUBE CHANNEL http://bit.ly/18DPN37 LISTEN TO THE FILM COURAGE PODCAST https://soundcloud.com/filmcourage-com Stuff we use: LENS - Most people ask us what camera we use, no one ever asks about the lens which filmmakers always tell us is more important. This lens was a big investment for us and one we wish we could have made sooner. Started using this lens at the end of 2013 - http://amzn.to/2tbtmOq AUDIO Rode VideoMic Pro - The Rode mic helps us capture our backup audio. It also helps us sync up our audio in post https://amzn.to/425k5rG Audio Recorder - If we had to do it all over again, this is probably the first item we would have bought - https://amzn.to/3WEuz0k LIGHTS - Although we like to use as much natural light as we can, we often enhance the lighting with this small portable light. We have two of them and they have saved us a number of times - http://amzn.to/2u5UnHv *These are affiliate links, by using them you can help support this channel.

After interviewing over 130 TV writers, I can't count how many times I've heard how lost writers felt when they first stepped into a writers' room. Wouldn't it be great if there was a book to help you understand how to succeed in all types of staffs, with all types of personalities, working for all types of showrunners? Well, now there is -- Niceole Levy's comprehensive book "The Writers' Room Survival Guide" is now available! CLICK HERE to order -- I guarantee you will want it on your shelf, and it makes a great gift for the budding TV writer, or anyone who wants to know what life is like for a TV writer from when they clock in to when they clock out. Niceole Levy Bio: Niceole Levy grew up under the bright stars of the Mojave Desert before swapping them for bright lights of Los Angeles. Studying acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts yielded the epiphany that she preferred writing. She worked as a police dispatcher to pay her way through undergraduate USC, and then completed the Master of Professional Writing program, also at USC. An alum of the CBS Writers Mentoring Program, NBC's Writers on the Verge, and the WGAw Showrunner Training Program, Niceole has written on "Ironside," "Allegiance," "The Mysteries of Laura," "Shades of Blue," "Cloak & Dagger," "Fate: the Winx Saga," and "S.W.A.T." She also co-wrote a feature, "The Banker," with former Allegiance showrunner and director George Nolfi, available on AppleTV+. Niceole is currently a co-executive producer on "The Recruit," which will air on Netflix, and has several TV and feature projects in development. The Writers' Room Survival Guide is her first book. Follow Niceole on Twitter: @niceolecookies Visit new primary sponsor The BlueCat Screenplay Competition on the web: bluecatscreenplay.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.

Niceole grew up under the bright stars of the Mojave Desert before swapping them for bright lights of Los Angeles. Studying acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts yielded the epiphany that she preferred writing. She worked as a police dispatcher to pay her way through undergraduate USC, and then completed the Master of Professional Writing program, also at USC. An alum of the CBS Writers Mentoring Program, NBC's Writers on the Verge, and the WGAw Showrunner Training Program, Niceole has written on Ironside, Allegiance, The Mysteries of Laura, Shades of Blue, Cloak & Dagger, Fate: the Winx Saga, and S.W.A.T.She also co-wrote a feature, The Banker, with former Allegiance showrunner and director George Nolfi, available on AppleTV+. Niceole is currently a co-executive producer on Graymail, which will air on Netflix, and has several TV and feature projects in development. The Writers' Room Survival Guide is her first book.Writers' rooms can be a heaven or hell, depending on a few things. The best rooms foster inclusive and productive creative flow. The worst create a toxic stew of bad feelings and doubt. Both kinds and everything in between require basic knowledge of how the room works. These fundamentals are best learned before you go in. The mystery box of the writers' room need not stay sealed shut forever. Consider this book your crowbar.

Felicia Pride is a TV writer / producer and an award-winning filmmaker. She wrote on Ava DuVernay's QUEEN SUGAR and is currently a producer on GREY'S ANATOMY. She's developing shows with FX and Netflix and has previously sold a show to BRAVO. In film, she's the writer and executive producer of REALLY LOVE, produced by MACRO, which debuted on Netflix and became a Top Ten Movie on the platform. And she's sold two features, DEEPER and LIKE IT'S THE LAST, both romantic dramas, to Universal Pictures. She recently made her directorial debut with tender, a short film she also wrote, which won a Lionsgate award at the BlackStar Film Festival and aired on STARZ. Felicia was a Film Independent Screenwriting Lab Fellow and a graduate of NBC's Writers on the Verge program as a comedy writer. Prior to transitioning to screenwriting, she worked as a film distribution exec and an impact producer. Felicia holds an M.A. in writing from Emerson College and runs The Create Daily, a resource for underrepresented storytellers that she founded in 2012.#theentouragepodcast During this episode, she shares: The importance of doing self work Using art to amplify activism  The steps on how to become a writer The importance of cultivating your voice Social media:  Felicia Pride on Instagram: @feliciapride Felicia Pride on Twitter: @feliciapride Felicia Pride's Production Company: Honey Chile The Entourage Podcast Website: theentouragepodcast.com  The Entourage Podcast on Instagram: @theentouragepodcast The Entourage Podcast on Facebook: The Entourage Podcast Intro/Outro Music:  “Waiting IV” by Celeste Betton Link to album: http://bit.ly/celeste-betton-entourage Instagram: @celestebetton Facebook: Celeste Betton Credits:  Episode Host: Randy C. Bonds Executive Producers: Vannesia Darby, Randy C. Bonds, JAVI Production Assistant: Alexis Clark

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.

Greg Sorin is a Los Angeles-based writer and producer, about to begin a position as a showrunner's assistant. Previously, he served as writer's room production assistant on Marvel's Helstrom (a horror/superhero show streaming on Hulu). Before that, he worked as a producer, under multiple Emmy Award-winning director Ric Burns, on a number of nationally broadcast documentaries to air on PBS and streaming services. He writes dark science fiction drama pilots, two of which brought him to the finals of NBC's Writers on the Verge fellowship program in 2020. He's currently a mentee in the Hollywood Radio & Television Society mentorship program.   Links:  Cooperstown Graduate Program: https://cgpmuseumstudies.org/ SUNY Geneseo: https://www.geneseo.edu/ Driving While Black: African American Travel and the Road to Civil Rights: https://www.amazon.com/Driving-While-Black-African-American/dp/1631495690/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= Cursive writing: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cursive Harry Potter Series: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Potter Dark: https://dark.netflix.io/en Ira Glass: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ira_Glass District 9: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/District_9 Apartheid (South Africa): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apartheid Helstrom: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helstrom_(TV_series) Haunting of Hill House: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Haunting_of_Hill_House_(TV_series)       Keywords: podcast, good, do good, amplify, amplify good, hulu, Netflix, entertainment, writer, author, read, books, documentary, history, film, tv, African American, black, America, green book, automobiles

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.

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.

I chatted with Jeane Phan Wong about her time as a staff writer, script coordinator, and writers' assistant on shows like Arrow, Vampire Diaries, and White Collar. Learn how she networked her way into her first writer's PA job, about her experience in NBC's Writers on the Verge, and how she sold two original pilots. Jeane's Instagram: @jeanedevivre Jeane's Twitter: @jeanedevivre Into the Writers' Room Website: intothewritersroom.com Instagram: @intothewritersroom

S&S Live (Episode 27): Live Stream Q&A with Jen Grisanti - author, story consultant, writing instructor (NBC's Writers on the Verge), former VP Current Programing CBS/Paramount TV to answer all your questions on breaking in, TV development, NBC's fellowship program - Writers on the Verge and more!   Jen on Twitter: https://twitter.com/jengrisanti Jen's Website: https://jengrisanti.com/  WATCH a VIDEO version of this Episode:  https://youtu.be/HvJ_fVy0010 More great screenwriting and industry interviews and resources: http://scriptsandscribes.com/  Join us on Discord: https://discord.com/invite/wey4e6E and Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/scriptsandscribes  Stay up to date on Social Media: Twitter: https://twitter.com/ScriptsScribes Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/scriptsandscribes/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/scriptsandscribes/  Listen to the podcast on: Anchor.fm: https://anchor.fm/scriptsandscribes iTunes/Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/scripts-scribes/id527744621 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1XcDzrHXhwIfTtiLW1SXGY Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5zY3JpcHRzYW5kc2NyaWJlcy5jb20vP2ZlZWQ9cnNzMg

Welcome back to the next episode in this series Living the F**k Out of Your Chart. I hope you are loving these! My guest is Kristin Layne Tucker. Kristin is an Emmy-nominated screenwriter and highly creative human being. I know Kristin as a client and student who is fearless about going to the deepest places in the chart. A Sag Rising, Aries Sun-Venus-Mars-Mercury, and Leo Moon, Kristin has learned to be an alchemist with so much FIRE in her chart. Her life, as she shares, has been shaped by the Archer's desire to aim for a world she doesn't see yet. Her personal Aries stellium in the 5th House of creativity opposite the generational Jupiter-Saturn-Pluto in Libra in the 11th House of collectivity has been a powerful push-pull axis for her. She has been growing into how to serve her self-expression while also addressing and serving collective transformation and the calling in of new paradigms. We speak too about her Vesta-Moon conjunction in Leo in the 9th House. Tune in to hear about it! The Emmy-nominated Kristin Layne Tucker began following her calling when she transferred from Georgetown University to the University of Southern California. It was there that she took her first screenwriting class and fell in love with the art form. After college, Kristin enrolled in graduate school at the University of Texas at Austin, where she received her M.A. in Screenwriting. Post-graduate school, she worked as an assistant to a television literary agent at WME while delving into her own writing pursuits. With the television scripts she wrote, Kristin was one of seven comedy semi-finalists in the Austin Film Festival, one of six comedy finalists for the Warner Bros. Television Writers' Workshop and was one of eight writers accepted into NBC's Writers on the Verge. Kristin's small screen debut came as a writer on Disney Channel's Dog With A Blog. Subsequently, she worked as a writers' assistant on the Showtime series Black Monday, at Hartbeat Productions on a Kevin Hart project for Netflix, and as a writer on comedian Jo Koy's animated series This Functional Family. Her most recent writing credits include season two of HBO's groundbreaking, Emmy-nominated A Black Lady Sketch Show as well as season two of Golden Globe and Emmy-nominated The Flight Attendant on HBO Max. Kristin was also recently tapped to write a feature for Netflix, starring Jada Pinkett Smith. In the summer of 2020, Kristin was the graduation speaker at our alma mater. This is a HUGE honor. Toward the end of our conversation, I read excerpts of her speech to reflect back to her - and to you the listener - the power of her voice. You can literally feel her chart inside these words! So moving! Enjoy! +++ To learn about my upcoming 7-month journey to learning how to read your chart and cultivate fluency and intimacy with astrology and the planets, check out the Charting Your Course page on my website. Sign up for the Early Bird bonuses here. Early Bird ends after Aug 22. +++ Podcast music by Jonathan Koe. Podcast art by Angela George. To get astro guidance and receive readings from me quarterly, join my Patreon here.

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 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 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!

Rick Muirragui did everything right… moved to LA, got assistant jobs on well known shows, wrote tons of spec material, and wrote freelance episodes for the shows he worked on, but it was when he was accepted into the NBC Writers on the Verge writing fellowship that his career really took off! Rick Muirragui grew up in Virginia, but traveled a lot because his father was in the US Army. After studying journalism and writing several spec features, he moved to Los Angeles and became interested in television. He landed assistant jobs on well known sci fi shows Roswell and Firefly. One show led to another, and he wrote freelance episodes when he could. However, he was on several short-lived shows, and his first potential staff writing job got killed by the 2007 Writers Strike. Rick decided his career needed a boost, so he applied to the NBC's Writers on the Verge fellowship program in 2008. He got an agent through a script he wrote in that program, and finally landed a staff job on Men of a Certain Age. From there, he has written for Past Life, The Good Guys, and his current series, Suits. In his interview, Rick discusses the “Dos and Don'ts” of writers room etiquette, the importance of outlining, and the destructive power of negativity vs. the constructive power of “what if.” In addition, he takes us through the process of a TV episode, from idea to finished script. Follow Rick on Twitter: @the_real_rick 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 January 27, 2013.

Do you want to write comedy? Reality? Scripted? Work in development? Write a pilot? Web series? Or maybe work as an executive? This week we have a massive 82 minute podcast with Chad Gervich… and he's done it all! Chad Gervich is a television producer, bestselling author, and award- winning playwright who currently has a comedy development deal with 20th Century Fox, and is a writer-producer for After Lately, E!'s hit half-hour comedy starring Chelsea Handler. As a writer and producer, Chad created Style Network's hit comedy/reality show, Foody Call, before going on to write, produce, and develop shows (both scripted and reality) for ABC, FOX, Warner Brothers, Endemol, E!, Overbrook, SuperDelicious, CBS Studios, TruTV, Zoo Productions, Fox Reality Channel, Renegade 83, Food Network, and the Weinstein Company. His credits include Wipeout, Cupcake Wars, Reality Binge, Speeders, and others. Prior to producing, Chad spent five years as a development executive with the Littlefield Company, former NBC president Warren Littlefield's production company, developing pilots and series for NBC, ABC, UPN, the WB, and Paramount TV. Chad also worked in production on shows such as The Wanda Sykes Show, Star Search, The Academy Awards, and Malcolm in the Middle. As an author, Chad's best-selling TV-writing handbook, Small Screen, Big Picture: A Writers Guide to the TV Business, debuted in 2008 to critical acclaim and outstanding sales, and it's presently being used as a textbook in the CBS Diversity Writing Program, the WGA Showrunners Training Program, NBC's Writers on the Verge, NATPE's Diversity Fellowship, California State, and USC's TV classes. Chad currently writes Script Magazine's popular weekly Primetime blog, and contributes regularly to many other publications, including Daily Variety. In addition, he created and produced Morning Call Time, Hollywood's first daily audio news podcast. One of Chad's passions is teaching. With a Playwriting MFA from UCLA, he has spent years teaching writing and producing classes for Mediabistro, Gotham Writers Workshop, Writing Pad, and StoryStudio Chicago, as well as lecturing at colleges and schools such as UCLA and Vanderbilt. He also speaks at festivals and conferences such as the TV/Film Summit, and the Great American Pitchfest. Follow Chad on Twitter: @ChadGervich Visit Chad's website: www.chadgervich.com 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 15, 2011.

Jen Grisanti is a story career consultant, independent producer, writing instructor for Writers on the Verge at NBC, blogger for The Huffington Post and author of the new books, Story Line: Finding Gold in Your Life Story and TV Writing Tool Kit: How To Write a Script That Sells. Jen spent 12 years under the mentorship of Aaron Spelling, eventually running Current Programs at Spelling Television Inc., covering all of Spelling's shows including Beverly Hills, 90210, Melrose Place, and Charmed. In 2004, Jen was promoted to VP of Current Programs at CBS/Paramount, where she covered such shows as Medium, Numbers, NCIS, 4400, and Girlfriends. While at CBS/Paramount, she served as a mentor in the CBS Diversity Program, which seeks out and nurtures young writers and directors. In January 2008, Jen launched Jen Grisanti Consultancy Inc., a consulting firm dedicated to helping talented writers break into the industry. By drawing on her 12-year experience as a studio executive where she gave daily notes to executive producers & showrunners, Jen personally guides writers to shape their material, hone their pitches, and focus their careers. Since launching, Jen has worked with over 300 writers working in television, features, and novels. In the first three years, already 20 of her clients have staffed as writers on television shows and two have sold pilots that went to series. In 2008, Jen was hired to be the Writing Instructor for NBC's Writers on the Verge. Her brand is Developing From Within. Her company hosts Storywise Seminars and Teleseminars as a way to get this message out. In addition to her books, she has CDs and workbooks, and also has an excellent Storywise Podcast Series available on iTunes and her website. Visit her website at jengrisanticonsultancy.com. Follow Jen on Twitter: @JenGrisanti 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.comor on Gray's YouTube channel. First published June 24, 2011.

Whitney Davis is a manager and founder of Whitney Davis Literary. In this episode one of my most popular guests ever returns. Whitney Davis and I talk all about networking both on & off line and discuss different ways to meet people, how to approach them, how to leave them wanting more, and tons more. Show Notes-- Buy on Amazon.com using my affiliate link-- THe Dave Bullis Podcast Amazon Wish List-- Jennifer Gristanti - Head of NBC's Writers on the Verge-- 5 Take-Aways from Robert McKee "Story" Seminar via Whitney Davis blogContactWhitney Davis-- Official Site-- Twitter-- FacebookDave Bullis— Official Site— Youtube— Twitter— Instagram— Facebook Support the Podcast1. Sign Up for Dave's email list2. Rate the Podcast on iTunes3. Buy on Amazon.com using my affiliate link Subscribe to the Podcast— Podbean — iTunes — Stitcher— Google Play Podcasts