Month: August 2013

‘Homeland’ Season 3: The Writers Offer 10 Big Reveals

Dunno how we let this one slip by us last week. (Maybe talking about the death of somebody named Brody made us gunshy?):

homeland_emmy_writers_panel_h_2013by Jessie Katz

Had the writers had their way, Nicholas Brody (Damian Lewis) would not have survivedHomeland’s second season.

During a TV Academy panel at 20th Century Fox’s Zanuck Theater, the CIA drama’s writers confessed that it was Showtime who urged them to reconsider, just as the network had during the series’ first season when the staff envisioned a similar fate. “That guy is like a bad penny, he keeps turning up,” co-creatorHoward Gordon quipped of Damian Lewis’ character, who finished out season 2 alive and on the run. It was one of several reveals featured in the Aug. 13 panel, moderated by The Hollywood Reporter’s TV Editor Lacey Rose, which was accompanied by a screening of the Emmy-winning series’ hotly anticipated third season premiere. read article

WGAW Announces 2013 Writer Access Project

It’s a contest!

For WGA members only!

So if you’re a WGAer and haven’t been reading your email, take a look at something that can do you some good: read article

Universal Offering Fellowship for Aspiring Writers

by Team TVWriter™ Press Service

Universal Pictures has announced that the studio has created an Emerging Writers Fellowship designed to identify and cultivate new and unique voices with a passion for storytelling. Emerging writers who are chosen to participate in the program will work within the studio to hone their skills and gain access and exposure to Universal executives, producers and other key industry professionals. The announcement was made by Universal Pictures Co-Presidents of Production, Peter Cramer and Jeffrey Kirschenbaum who will oversee the fellows.

Under terms approved by the Writers Guild of America, West (WGAW), the Emerging Writers Fellowship will allow Universal the opportunity to expand the community of writers with whom the studio works. The Fellowship was an idea championed by Executive Vice President of Production Scott Bernstein. Bernstein brought the idea to Universal’s Diversity Council and developed it in collaboration with Arturo Barquet who is Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Film Production at Universal. The Diversity Council, which is led by Universal Co-Chairman Donna Langley, has made the Emerging Writers Fellowship one of its key initiatives in expanding the number of diverse talent within Universal Pictures’ workforce both in front of and behind the camera.

“The film group is always looking for ways to bring diverse perspectives into the studio fold and this fellowship is a great way to expand our company’s pool of talent,” said Executive Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer for NBCUniversal Craig Robinson. “These initiatives are extremely important in driving NBCUniversal’s culture of diversity and inclusion in meaningful ways.” read article

USA Network Announces Fall Programming Premiere Dates

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USA NETWORK’S FALL LINE UP FEATURES A POWERFUL SLATE OF DRAMA, COMEDY, REALITY, AND A HIGHLY ANTICIPATED MUSICAL EVENT
by Team TVWriter™ Press Service

And now, from the kind folks who remember to send us a press release every now and then:

USA Network has announced a powerful fall programming lineup, including new series acquisition MODERN FAMILY, one of the top comedies in all of television, debuting on Tuesday, September 24 at 8pm. The first four seasons of this multi-Emmy(R) Award-winning series, which takes a modern and hilarious look at the complications that come with being a family today, will air five nights a week (Tuesday-Friday 8-9pm, Tuesdays 9-11pm, Fridays 9-10pm, Sundays 9-11pm). The series stars Ed O’Neill, Sofia Vergara, Julie Bowen, Ty Burrell, Eric Stonestreet, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Sarah Hyland, Ariel Winter, Nolan Gould and Rico Rodriguez.

Ratings juggernaut drama NCIS: LOS ANGELES begins Monday, September 23 and airs four nights a week (Mondays,Wednesdays, Fridays at 7pm, Wednesdays from 9-11pm, Thursdays at 7pm & 11pm). The high-stakes drama, starring Chris O’Donnell and LL COOL J, centers on the pressured world of a NCIS division charged with apprehending dangerous and elusive criminals that pose a threat to the nation’s security. read article

ORPHAN BLACK Gets Overthought – Brilliantly

In other words, we agree with just about everything in this article we ran across on The Mary Sue. And why not?

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CLONES ARE PEOPLE TOO: THE SCIENCE AND SCIENCE FICTION OF BBC AMERICA’S ORPHAN BLACK
by Isabella Kapur

As BBC America’s Orphan Black heads into its second season, many critics have focused onTatiana Maslany’s supremely impressive feats of acting and the many compelling female characters as the draw of the series. If you haven’t watched the show, you’ve still likely heard that the lead actress plays no fewer than seven distinct characters, just in the first season. However, Orphan Black also stands out as a piece of science fiction, and it does so in a very relevant manner. The series is a distinctly modern science fiction story and focuses on two crucial themes: individuality and gene patenting. By posing serious questions about humanity,Orphan Black serves as an effective analogue for real life events, which elevates its science fiction status. Read on to find out how the show is reflecting our society, perceived stereotypes, and why they’re way ahead of the sci-fi game. read article