Month: February 2014

Julie Livingston: The Big Leap

City-of-Los-Angeles-Downtown-Signby Julie Livingston

Or as LB calls it, “The Big Test.” Moving to LA. If you’re an aspiring TV writer, you’re probably already thinking about it. And, if you’re not, I promise you will. It’s not an easy choice to make (at least it wasn’t for me), so for anybody who might find a firsthand account of the experience useful (or just entertaining), I will blog as much of it as I can, as often as possible. Obviously, I can’t speak for everyone who comes to Los Angeles to try to make it in the TV business, but I will tell you honestly how it is for me.

I’m not gonna lie. This move is not for the faint of heart.  As soon as I made the decision, I started looking for ways to hedge my bet. I created a caveat: I’m definitely going to go but, not until conditions are perfect. No way was I about to haul my cookies (and my incredibly supportive spouse’s cookies) into town without some kind of foundation. In the fantasy I created, I would work from where I was until I landed a manager, an agent, a job. In reality, on the day I left, I had none of those things, but still it was time to go.

When I first decided I wanted to become a TV writer it actually wasn’t that big a leap. I already made a living writing commercials, so it is was kind of like deciding I wanted to give up my day job writing for TV in order to get my dream job writing for TV. read article

The Six Contract Provisions Freelancers Should Include

More important contract info for writers and others who hate dealing with, you know, contracts.

VIR – Very Important Reading!

contractstuffby Thorin Klosowski

When you’re a freelancer, it’s pretty easy to just take a job and start working without thinking much about it. However, if you don’t want to accidentally get caught up in work you don’t want, 99U suggests including a set of provisions in your contract.P read article

How Important to Showbiz is TV’s (Ha!) Joss Whedon?

This important, bitches:

bestactressoscars_josswhedonAll Oscar Roads Lead to Joss Whedon

It’s just about time to start preparing for the most important night in Hollywood. I’m referring, of course, to Meryl Streep’s birthday, which is only six months away. In the meantime though, let’s distract ourselves with the Oscars—you know, that really long ceremony thing where people in suits hand out little golden men, and everyone competes to see who can thank the most people before the orchestra drowns out their tearful cries of gratitude? And usually it involves some form of wardrobe malfunction, even if it’s just Jennifer Lawrence tripping on her dress as she walks up to the stage. (Easily one of my top five Oscar moments.)

The one thing missing from the Academy Awards (except maybe a “Hanks cam” that stays on Tom Hanks’ face for the entire broadcast so you can see his amazing reactions) is Joss Whedon. Not only was he sorely under-awarded for his brilliant TV work, but he has yet to win an Oscar. (Although he did earn a nomination back in 1996 for co-writing Toy Story.) Sadly, Joss is once again absent from this year’s Oscar ballot. But that doesn’t mean the big night will be completely devoid of any Whedon magic. You see, Joss is more ingrained in Hollywood than you realize.

Love & Money Dept – TV Writing Deals for 2/10/14

Latest News About Writers Who Are Doing Better Than We Are=&0=&Chris Moynihan (MAN UP) is writing the ABC pilot SAINT FRANCIS, about a no-nonsense Long Island cop who “butts heads with the modern, liberal world when his…” unmarried sister gets pregnant. (Yes, friends and neighbors, this kind of archaic dog doo passes as new and original to the great thinkers running network TV development. Don’t get yrs trly started on this…no, don’t, I mean it….) Frank Spotnitz (THE X-FILES) is the new showrunner of TRANSPORTER: THE SERIES, a French series that’s coming to TNT this fall. (It’s based on the popular French film franchise of the same name – well, without the “The Series” part, and this guy here (that would be me) is really looking forward to it. But what do I know?) Neil Gaimon’s novel American Gods is being developed as a TV series by FremantleMedia North America, which is cause for all of us to shout “Hallelulah!” cuz…masterpiece, right? (No writer’s been set yet, so if you think you’re qualified it’s time to get on the horn. Invite Neil to dinner. Kiss up. Show the genius a really good time…and then, when you’re set, don’t forget to talk up your pal munchie. I know I can count on you!)

Herbie J Pilato Wants You to Buy His New Book on TV’s Iconic Women Stars

…And TVWriter™ thinks it’s a good idea too.

And not just cuz Herbie interviewed our own Beloved Leader LB about his personal (well, okay professional) experiences with women like Linda Carter, Lindsay Wagner, Loni Anderson…and mucho more.

Or, as Amazon.Com says: read article