Month: July 2014

RIP Jerry McNeely

jerry_mcneely_obit_a_l

by Team TVWriter™ Press Service

Sad news about a name familiar to TV viewers of the 60s, 70s, and 80s.

Jerry McNeely, Emmy-nominated television writer and creator of series including “Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law,” died last week in Tarzana, California at 86. He had suffered from Parkinson’s Disease for several years.

Jerry was one of TV’s busiest writers in the 1960s, ’70s, and ’80s, writing multiple episodes of “Dr. Kildare,” “The Man From U.N.C.L.E.,” “Ironside,” “The Name of the Game,” “Owen Marshall,” “Trauma Center,” “Our House,” “The Twilight Zone,” “Mr. Novak,” “The Virginian,” “The Streets of San Francisco,” and “McMillan and Wife.” “Lucas Tanner,” “Three for the Road.” and “Marcus Welby, M.D.” He also created “Owen Marshall,”  “Lucas Tanner” and “Three for the Road.” read article

Big Deal Entertainment Website Looking for New Writers

Well, biggish anyway. But TVWriter™ likes Under the Radar Mag cuz it, you know, thinks big.

Under_the_Radar_Seeks_New_writersby Christopher Roberts

Under the Radar is actively seeking experienced new writers to write for our print magazine, digital magazine for tablets/smart-phones, and our website. We’re not only looking for music writers, but are also on the hunt for writers who want to write about any of these entertainment mediums: film/DVDs, TV, comic books, and books. Interested parties should please email music samples to austin@undertheradarmag.com.

Three important points: read article

Love & Money Dept – TV Writing Deals for 7/22/14

Latest News About Writers Who Are Doing Better Than We Are
by munchman

  • David Hollander (HEARTLAND) is adapting  Nicholson Baker‘s novel, The Fermata into a series for Paramount Television. (The book, written way back in 1994 is about a guy who can stop time and uses this ability to embark on a series of sexual assaults adventures. So it could be fun – or something quite the opposite of fun after it’s been televisionized.)
  • Craig Zadan & Neil Meron (BONNIE AND CLYDE) are developing a Universal TV comedy series about pro soccer player Robbie Rogers “the first opening gay man to compete in a top North American sports league.” (Cuz homosexualilty=funny. Yeah, Right. You can hear me laughing already.)
  • Teena Booth, Inon Shampanier, Natalie Shampanier and Stephen Kay are supposedly writing the script for the Lifetime Television Movie BEAUTIFUL AND TWISTED, a story of murder and the usual accompanying badassedness in Miami Beach. (Marvelous munchie says “supposedly” cuz 4 writers seems way too many for the WGA’s rules to allow. Not to mention for the terrible result that’s sure to follow, especially considering how little money is going to be divided all those ways. Sigh….)
  • Rene Echevarria (TERRA NOVA) has a development deal with Legendary TV. (This is what’s called a “blind deal” cuz the execs who hired him don’t see so well. No, wait, just kidding. It’s a blind deal because although Legendary has committed to 2 scripts no one’s decided what they’ll be yet. This means Legendary trusts Rene, and el muncho definitely thinks that’s the right attitude. Dood shepherded DEEP SPACE NINE and TEEN WOLF to ultrasonic success, right? Congrats to the smart buyers. Oh, right, you too, Rene bro!)

Peggy Bechko: Writers Revealing What Characters Don’t Want To Show

secrets

by Peggy Bechko

Oh, come on, you know your characters are just like you. They say one thing and think something else entirely, try to conceal you’re really doing that – and then give it all away with a flick of an eye, a gesture or some muted (or otherwise) sound you make. Yep, that’s reality. Us humans evade, lie and maneuver (just for starters). We do it to protect ourselves, to protect others, out of embarrassment or an assortment of other reasons.

Now, knowing this it becomes a challenge for the writer. In a script for a movie the writer sets the scene, the mood, tweaks details to make things clear and then actors take over to do the subtle little things that portray what’s in the script, the character’s inner monolog.

For novel writers it’s a different kind of challenge. read article

Here are the Fall 2014 Premiere Dates for ABC

by Team TVWriter™ Press Service

…Cuz we’re sucking up to the Disney Factory:

ABC announced its fall premiere dates for new and returning shows, including “Dancing with the Stars,” “Modern Family,” “Scandal” and Shonda Rhimes’ upcoming series “How to Get Away With Murder.”

The 19th season of “Dancing with the Stars” will debut with a two-hour performance show on September 15 at 8 p.m. ET. “DWTS” will have two special results shows on September 16 and September 23. read article