Author: Kelly Jo Brick

Insights from the PaleyFest NCIS: Los Angeles Fall Premiere

HOLLYWOOD, CA - MARCH 12: Actors Caitriona Balfe, Sam Heughan, Tobias Menzies and executive producer Ronald D. Moore attend The Paley Center for Media's 32nd Annual PALEYFEST LA "Outlander" at Dolby Theatre on March 12, 2015 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

By Kelly Jo Brick

To celebrate the arrival of the fall TV season, the Paley Center for Media held its annual PaleyFest, featuring premieres and panels highlighting several new shows as well as some returning favorites, including a special evening with the cast and creative team of NCIS: Los Angeles sharing their experiences and reflections as they begin their 7th season.

When did Executive Producer Shane Brennan know this cast would work for the show? “I knew, to be honest, the very first scene that we shot, James Whitmore was directing it. It was the first scene we shot when we were making the imbedded pilot on NCIS and the very first scene we shot was Chris and LL Cool J together and the director and I stood in video village and we watched these two guys appear on screen and we thought, is there going to be chemistry? And it was there. At that point we knew we had it, because that’s the thing.” read article

Kelly Jo Brick: The Write Path With Dean Batali, Part 1

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

Batali-Headshot-dark-bg-211x300Aspiring 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 and hard work.

From writing a play for his church, to the Central Vault at Universal Studios and on to one of those mythical Hollywood mailroom jobs, writer Dean Batali worked his way up in the industry before landing in the writers’ room on TV shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, That ‘70s Show and Ties That Bind. read article

Kelly Jo Brick: The Write Path With Liz Tigelaar, Part 2

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

tigelaar headshotWriter Liz Tigelaar (Life Unexpected, Bates Motel, The Astronaut Wives Club) rose through the television ranks, starting as an intern at the soap opera, General Hospital, then going on to work as a PA, a script coordinator, assistant to Winnie Holzman and a writers’ assistant before breaking in as a television writer. Continuing an interview that began last week, Liz shares the experiences and advice she’s learned along the way.

WHAT’S THE MOST COMMON QUESTION ASPIRING WRITERS ASK YOU?

People ask how to break in. I remember asking that when I was in college. I remember being on the cusp of graduating and being like, how do you get a writing job? You need an agent. Well, how do you get an agent? You need a writing job. And I’m like, I don’t understand. And it’s true, you kind of don’t understand. And in some ways there’s no rhyme or reason to. read article

Kelly Jo Brick: The Write Path With Liz Tigelaar, Part 1

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

tigelaar headshotAspiring 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 and hard work.

Writer Liz Tigelaar (Life Unexpected, Bates Motel, The Astronaut Wives Club) rose through the television ranks, from intern to PA to script coordinator to writers’ assistant before breaking in as a television writer.

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

Kelly Jo Brick: The Write Path With Vanessa Roth

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

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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 and hard work.

Academy Award winning documentarian, Vanessa Roth, grew up in a filmmaking family, seeing the process of writing, being on set and watching as movies were being made.   From early on, Vanessa had a love storytelling and knew she wanted to do something that had a social impact. read article