Category: Resources

40 years worth of TV writing experience and info, yours for the taking.

The Art of the Villain Backstory (and Why Dracula Untold Fails)

Time now for a perceptive look at both a new feature film and an old feature film and TV writing problem. Yes, even we egomaniacs at TVWriter™ are suckers for good analysis and advice:

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by Petra Halbur

Villainous backstories are an… imprecise science. When done well they can imbue a previously simplistic baddie with depth and challenge conventional morality. When done poorly, however, they are frustrating, self-pitying, and utterly off the mark. Unfortunately (though not surprisingly), Dracula Untoldfalls into the latter category. To be fair, as a film it’s not entirely awful. It contains some interesting visuals, great sound editing, and a decent score byGame of Thrones‘ Ramin Djawadi. However, as a villain origin story, which it purports itself to be, Dracula Untold is an absolute failure. read article

JOHN OSTRANDER: WHERE THE HELL HAVE I BEEN?

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by John Ostrander

Frequenters of this spot… are aware I’ve been MIA for the past two weeks. Attendees at the Jedi Con in Dusseldorf, Germany, also know I was a no-show. Mike Gold has supplied the basic info but I feel I should elaborate.

I’ve been sick. Really, really sick.

It started with the Rock of Gibraltar, a 7 mm kidney stone that took up residence in my right kidney. The doctor went in and yanked it out in one piece, leaving a stent to help me pee. read article

Angelo J. Bell: Tips for Pitching for TV

TV biz structureby Angelo J. Bell

  • Enjoy watching TV. But when the time comes to put down the remote and pick up a keyboard to write, do it without reserve or hesitation.
  • Know the general theme of your show, i.e. Capitalism and revenge: Their effects on industry, culture and the individual (love & relationships).
  • Clear your mind of “can’t.”
  • Now more than ever is the time to take the lid off your TV concepts, consider all genre-bending ideas. Networks are looking for freshness. Don’t limit yourself – the sky’s the limit.
  • If you’ve had ideas that an individual, production company or network, PASSed on, go back, revisit, revamp. Reconnect to the characters and rewrite.
  • Many networks — TV and basic cable — are willing to push boundaries, be less specific and cross genres…IF the right project comes along. YOUR idea can be the impetus for their changes.
  • Working on a web series? Kick it up a notch for #TV. Hundreds of networks and stations are looking for content that stands out and is on-brand (don’t know what your network’s “brand is” watch it, research it and ask)
  • The best #TV pitching I’ve ever done has been on projects I connected with on an emotional, cerebral, philosophical and/or psychological level. Dig down deep into each character’s life and choices. When you truly know them, you can talk at length about any situation your character may find him or herself in.
  • When pitching, consider and include your PERSONAL connection to the story and characters. That’s what made the script/concept what it is.

Peggy Bechko: 8 Ways to Carve out Writing Time

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by Peggy Bechko

If you’re a writer (notice I’m not saying ‘aspiring’ writer – a writer writes, if you write you’re a writer) it’s more than possible you’re at a time in your writing career where you have all kinds of obligations and responsibilities like putting food on the table, paying rent, maintaining a car or maybe going to school or a whole lot of other things.

It may be a novel you’re writing or a screenplay or articles for magazines or non-fiction instructional books to help others. Whatever it is it could be you’re juggling like mad and trying to figure out how to write a novel or script or whatever while you’re holding down a full time job or going to school full time.

Every writer no doubt has his or her own method of coping. I’m a full time writer now, but I’ll pass along a few things I did along the way. Some you probably won’t like to hear (there can be sacrifice involved in being a writer), others will seem more workable. Still others might just jump-start an idea that will work for you while you’re madly juggling. read article

Jorge c Perez: Gentlemen/women! Start Your (Writing) Engines!!

by Jorge c Perez

Jorge C. PerezIt’s 1 week since the official start of this year’s National Hispanic Media Coalition Fellowship (sponsored by ABC and NBC). This program was started 13 years ago by Alex Nogales, who hoped to change the TV landscape in regards to stereotypical portrayals of Latinos.

(Interesting Note: You don’t have to be Latino to submit to the program).

There is a fast-growing homework load, as well as some networking events that have already led to some doors opening. I have to watch and read at least two episodes of each show that other fellowship winners are writing: BROOKLYN 99, ORANGE IS THE NEW BACK, THE KNICK, SLEEPY HOLLOW, THE BLACKLIST, ARROW. read article