Category: Resources

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

Leesa Dean: Adventures of a Web Series Newbie

promotionChapter 64 – Promotion Revisited
by Leesa Dean

Last week, there was an article in The Wrap that said more Game of Thrones fans watch fan-generated videos on YouTube than official GoT content. In fact, less than 11% of GoT videos viewed are from the show’s official channel. And the thing I thought was: Instant free promo! Wow. If you’re lucky enough to have that happen.

One of the hardest parts of releasing a web series is promoting it. When I first launched, I stupidly and literally thought, ok, I’ll release this video, go to sleep and wake up in the morning to millions of views and internet fame.

Wrong. read article

LB: Where Can I Find a Ghost Writer for my Idea?

ghostnote

Glad You Asked Dept. 6/26/14

Today’s question is one that I get several times a week, and which I feel like I’ve answered even more than that. But over the years my answer has changed, so even if you think you know what I’ll say, read on and be…surprised?

Here’s the question, from Ilana R:

Hi LB. I’m hoping you can give me some advice. read article

Do Writers Rooms Really Make TV “Better?”

Variety.Com, which as we all know is a totally unbiased source that we can trust with our very beings, brings us this investigative report:

americanhorrorby Debra Birnbaum

The writers’ room has become a staple of American television production. But look to our British friends across the pond, and they’ve got other ideas. Imagine: one writer, penning all the episodes of a show. No writers’ room. No shared concept. Just single vision, single author, executed from start to finish by the creator.

“Every writer would cravenly admit they would want to write their shows themselves,” says Steven Moffat, the famed British scribe with a long list of credits, including “Coupling,” “Doctor Who” and “Sherlock.” read article

Secrets of Student Academy Award Winners

If you only watch one educational video all year, this should be the one! Or not. No, no. We really mean it. This is THE ONE:

by Academy Originals

Leesa Dean: Adventures of a Web Series Newbie

 Chapter 63 – Rollo Returns/MCNs
by Leesa Dean

Another super busy week with meetings, writing, editing or, as showrunner/creator extraordinaire Shonda Rhimes would say, “doing.” Feels great to be in the midst of all of this with little time for much else.

And right in the middle of it all, Rollo called.

For those who’ve just started following this blog, Rollo is a guy who contacted me right after I launched. A former senior level exec, he’s been out of work (mostly) for a number of years and trying to figure out a smart direction. He wanted to be attached to Chilltown, be involved in the web game and I ultimately decided to move on. We’ve (more or less) remained friends. His stories of late 90?s/early 2000?s excess, if nothing else, are fun to hear. We agreed to meet at my new favorite ramen place in Hell’s Kitchen for beers and soup. read article