Podcast Pornography

It’s been a year since I discovered the Stephen J. Cannell podcast and, frankly, I didn’t think I’d ever find a show that could offer the same amount of nourishment to aspiring TV writers like myself.

I was wrong.

Recently, I discovered the Nerdist Writing Panel podcast and WOW, is it inspiring! They’ve only done a handful so far but the show is wall-to-wall awesomeness for anyone interested in the TV writing process. Listen to writers like Steve Levitan or Jane Espenson talk about how they got started, what it’s like in different rooms, how they tackle technical problems in structure, etc. Basically, questions that no other interviewer is asking are boilerplate on this show.

If you’re reading this blog, you’re in the same business as me, so I imagine nobody has even read this far – that you’re already downloading the first episode.

Enjoy.

You WILL Get A Shot

I had a buddy back when I was an actor who booked a big guest starring role…strike that, a HUGE, recurring guest spot on a giant show at the time. And his character was instrumental to the show and to one of the series regulars’ life. (more…)

TV Writing Master Class With Steven J Cannell

Stephen J. Cannell was one of the most prolific and successful television producers of all time. If you IMDB him, you’ll notice a ridiculous amount of produced shows – especially during the eighties. And I’ll bet everyone has heard his logo sequence music one or twice. It certainly brings back memories for me. (more…)

Writer’s Assistant Purgatory

One of the most prescient pieces of advice I received was from a showrunner buddy of mine. He said that it was imperative for me to do anything else besides work as an assistant while working towards for a staff writing gig – what he specifically said was, “Go hang cabinets until you get hired. But assistants tend to be seen as assistants…not writers.” This guy’s been a pro for almost twenty years and his resumé is all high-line stuff, so I greatly value his advice. (more…)

TV Showrunner Boot Camp

I first heard about the WGA Showrunner Training Program from the sorely-missed podcasters over at Sam & Jim Go To Hollywood – in fact, the “Haven” creators dedicated an entire half hour to the subject after they ended up getting in. Here’s the direct iTunes link. (more…)

Tweet Your Way Into The Writer’s Room

Just like anything that achieves massive popularity, social media sites like Facebook & Twitter have their detractors. Lately, I’ve been hearing more and more writers whining about how you can’t get anything real done without meeting people face to face, making FB/Twitter “a waste of time”.

Try telling that to Chris Masi, aka the new writers assistant at “White Collar”. (more…)

Eighteen Months In

It’s been a tough staffing season this year:

• The show I was freelancing on just found out they aren’t coming back. It was a network one-hour, very high profile, so this isn’t just bad news…it sucks.

• The showrunner I know at a similar show that was picked up just let me know that they’re fully staffed at my level – I had to delete a reflexive “Guess I’ll just pray someone doesn’t work out” response.

• My powerhouse agency dropped me as politely as they could have…which means they gave me a glowing recommendation to a smaller boutique.

• Had an ultra-lame (on my end) meeting yesterday for a new Fox one-hour. The creator was cool, interesting, had great energy, and is a damn fine writer. But I was so geeked up, I’m afraid he may have drowned in the deep pool of desperation I left behind.

• My Mom finally lost her battle with cancer after three years in March…two days after my daughter’s first birthday.

So things could definitely look better on paper. My past inclination would have been to consider folding up my tent and finding a nice, thoroughly-unfulfilling job in customer service that can provide health insurance for my kid.

But I know how success is measured in Hollywood – and it ain’t by the yard. Of course, I know people who’ve blown up overnight but this is super-rare, almost like finding money floating down the street. Nice to hear about (and even better to experience) but never something one should count on. (more…)

Meet Liz Tigelaar

“Life Unexpected” is one of the best show on TV today. For me, it harkens back to The WB salad days when they were dealing us shows like “Gilmore Girls”, “Dawson’s Creek”, and “Felicity” – snappy dialogue, real characters, and stakes that are grounded in reality.

I happen to know a bit about “Life’s” creator Liz Tigelaar and it’s no surprise that she wrote on two of the three shows mentioned above. In fact, her resumé is chock full of awesome credits and the story of how “Life” leap-frogged over pilots with stronger pedigrees last year is inside-Hollywood legend.

If you want to learn a bit more about someone who followed the assistant->staff->showrunner path we’re all trudging along, check out her interview over at the WGA’s website:

What To Spec • 2010

Alex over at A TV Calling is killing it with two new posts about the best shows to spec for the upcoming staffing season. This isn’t recommended reading – it’s straight-up required for anyone hoping to land on staff this spring…it’s amazingly comprehensive. And the comments have a few nuggets too.

Check ‘em out ASAP:

Drama Spec Script 2010

Comedy Spec Script 2010

Great New Blog

Margaux Froley first popped up on my radar when she was one of the winners of the Warner Brothers TV Workshop a couple of years ago and became one of the only folks I could find to cover TV scripts.

Although I didn’t engage her services, I did appreciate the interviews she did on Julie Grey’s old site. And when I came across an interesting article “Are You Good In The Room?”, I was happily surprised to see she had started her own blog.

Finding folks whose TV careers are in second gear and willing to share details can be rare…so be sure to give her site a shot.

This Is Your Pilot Speaking