Month: March 2015

LB: March TVWriter™ Advanced Workshop has One Opening

lbwriterbiggerMaybe.

Nothing’s certain in this world, not even the number of students who will be taking the TVWriter™ Advanced Workshop that starts March 26th, a week from today.

Which means that regardless of where we end up with the students who’ve already said they’re signing on, I’m looking for 1 more to round out the class, so if you’ve been in one of the 147 (or is it 148?) 4-week sessions we’ve already had over the past 15 years and want to come back, as so many have, or have been thinking about taking it but haven’t fully committed yet, now seems like a good time to ease on in. read article

Kelly Jo Brick: The Write Path With EMPIRE’s Wendy Calhoun

A series of interviews with hard-working writers – by another hard-working writer!
by Kelly Jo Brick

Aspiring writers often wonder how the pros got where they are. The truth is, everyone’s story is different, but there are some common elements: dedication, persistence, hard work and not giving up.

DedWendy-Calhoun-200x300ication and persistence were the keys for writer Wendy Calhoun as she made the transition from documentary and reality to scripted drama with stops at Justified, Revenge and Nashville on her way to becoming the Co-Executive Producer at Empire.

WHEN DID YOU KNOW YOU WANTED TO BE A WRITER? read article

I Binge-Watched 9 Seasons of ‘Seinfeld’ to Find TV’s Funniest Joke

Hey, it’s a dirty job, but somebody’s got to do it. But still, isn’t watching something as old and out of it as SEINFELD way beyond the call of duty? (What? You remember it as great? And you still trust your brain?)

Seinfeld-thumb
4 characters desperately feeling to find their cool

by Steven Shehori

Few things in this life are more subjective than humor. That said, Seinfeld receives near-universal acclaim as one of television’s greatest comedies. In fact, a noted 60 Minutes/Vanity Fair poll crowned it the best sitcom ever. And when 60 Minutes andVanity Fair elect to join forces, you know the world of polling isn’t dicking around.

Taking these results at face value, one can’t help but wonder: if Seinfeld is TV’s funniest sitcom, what in turn is the funniest joke from TV’s funniest sitcom? And would this joke then, by sheer elimination, be the funniest line ever uttered in a situation comedy? A case could certainly be argued as such. But oh, the number of gags to sift though. read article

Leesa Dean: The Death of ‘Web Series?’

Adventures of a Web Series Newbie – Chapter 97
by Leesa Dean

rip-spokeo-info-bubble-copyShort post this week cause I’m totally swamped prepping for production, which will officially start in a few weeks. Plus, doing research and outlining two new pilots for two new series.

This week, there was an article in Filmmaker Magazine about the term “Web Series” and how it, generally, has a negative connotation. Most people seem to equate it with people who are either emerging (which is true) or haven’t made it in Hollywood (partially true). The article suggests changing it to something better/hipper/less damning.

It’s true that people tend to roll their eyes when you say you do a web series. But, in my experience, industry people don’t (especially if you’ve made a little noise).  Cause they know how much comes from online.  I mean, just this week Brent Weinstein who started the digital media department at powerhouse agency UTA (and reps a number of web series creators including Felicia Day) made partner.  A first.  And a statement. read article

Cartoon: THE SECRET

Cuz as far as we can see ferreting out this particular secret is the reason so many of us write:

thesecret-web

More Grant Snider Brilliance at Incidental Comics