Category: Resources

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

Herbie J Pilato: How “Star Trek: Next Gen” Changed Everything

star-trek-next-generationby Herbie J Pilato

Before Star Trek: The Next Generation debuted in the fall of 1987, episodic TV shows had a beginning, middle and end; story-arcs over several episodes didn’t exist (beyond the daytime and primetime soaps), and “character development” was a periodic thing.

For the most part, there was only episodic TV shows, and there really was no such thing as a “procedural.”

What happened in that one-hour dramatic episode of yore (or even that half-hour episode comedic episode) stayed there, and did not continue on into any future episode, segment or storyline. read article

Troy DeVolld: Gardening Your Resume

by Troy DeVolld

resumeimageA job is a job is a job, unless the job is a non-job in the long run.

What the heck do I mean by that?  Let me explain.

In your early years as a reality television pro, you may be in a position where you have to take what comes. Obviously, you’d rather be on a prestigious network show rather than some deep-cable series about gross-out foods called WHAT DID I JUST EAT, but bills are bills and as long as the checks clear and the money is green, you’re better off working than not. read article

Ken Levine Rants About Current Sitcoms

…And it’s better reading than watching most of the shows:

by Ken Levine

Mindy-group-bench-jpg_010459

A recent article on Vulture.com by Josef Adalian argues that“Shrinking Sitcom Ratings May Be the Best Thing to Happen to Smart Comedies.” He points to the recent Fox pick-ups of NEW GIRL, MINDY PROJECT, AND BROOKLYN NINE-NINE despite their low ratings and thinks in this day and age, only niche comedies will thrive. read article

Leesa Dean: Adventures of a Web Series Newbie

postChapter 51 – Post Post Post
by Leesa Dean

Really busy week. My producing partner on the REALLY BIG PROJECT and I had our first post meeting after the Victor shoot and the footage looks great! I’ve been spending the past few days working between three programs to edit, key and start the huge job of compositing.

While I wrote/directed this segment, I’m doing something kind of unusual with it–or, at least, something I’ve never done before (not that that’s ever stopped me)–so it’s not only really really complicated, I’m, kind of, figuring it out as I go along. Something I’m used to by now.

We’re having another mid-process meeting next week (so I can get a second pair of really trained eyeballs on it) and then, hopefully, in a week or so it’ll be in the can. read article

The Transforming Hollywood Conference has its Heart/Mind in the Right Place

Transforming Hollywood Captureby Team TVWriter™ Press Service

If you’re not part of the future you’re doomed to be as forgotten as the past.

And being part of the future of entertainment is what the Transforming Hollywood Conference being held at UCLA on Friday, April 4th (all day!) is all about.

Here’s the skinny, direct from the Transforming Hollywood media futurists/P.R. team: read article