Category: Resources

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

Pitchfests – Yea or Nay?

Yeah, we're using this pic again. Got a problem with that?
Yeah, we’re using this pic again. Got a problem with that?

As everybody who comes to TVWriter™ knows, we’re heavily into peer produced videos. One of our favorite peer producers is the man of mystery who calls himself The Bitter Script Reader. Cuz not only is ole BSR entertaining, his videos are also informative as hell. For example:

EDITOR’S NOTE: For the record, we’re anti-pitchfest. LB has turned down dozens of appearances at them, dating from way back when. If you want practice pitching, talk to your mirror. It’s considerably cheaper and the result will be the same as what you’d get 999 times out of a 1000 from a pitchfest: no sale. read article

Peggy Bechko: Writers Writing – Pondering the Whys

why-tvwriter.comby Peggy Bechko

Writing.

Fiction in particular.

Why is it we do it? Why do we write? read article

Andrew Orillion: Brewing Up “On the Rocks” 5

Production and Business
by Andrew Orillion

On-The-Rocks-Logo-tvwriter.comWelcome back, everyone, to Brewing Up On The Rocks. In this fifth installment of the series, we’ll look at the production of the pilot episode and explore the business side of launching a web series. Do you know how to find the best theater for your needs, or how to handle the taxes for the money raised with a crowd funding campaign? Stay tuned for the answers.

Theaters, Theaters Everywhere

So, the staff is assembled, the pilot is written and the cast is in place now we just have to film the damn thing. You might think shooting a multicam show is simple. After all, there is usually just one location and you don’t have to deal with external factors like weather or street noise. Just find a theater, setup the stage and shoot it. If only it were that easy. read article

Peggy Bechko: Are you “Aspiring” to Write?

by Peggy Bechko

writewritewrite.tvwriter.comYou know, I’ve been sitting around thinking. I do that sometimes. And what I was thinking about was writers and how often I hear the expression ‘ I’m an aspiring writer’.

Now I don’t want to be nit-picky, but how did this get started? I mean really, if you write you’re a writer. After all, ‘aspire’ means “to desire with eagerness; to long or work for advancement, honor, etc.” or “to rise or to ascend” according to Websters Dictionary.

So, if you write, you’re a writer. You’re not ‘longing for” or desiring with eagerness” or rising to”, you’re doing it. Now, how good a writer you may be I have no clue unless I read what you’ve written whether novel, script, short story or copy. But you’re still a writer. read article

Ken Levine: A Handy Writing Tip

Everybody’s favorite TV comedy pundit does his, um, TV comedy pundit thing…and as usual it’s helpful as all hell!

the-dick-van-dyke-showby Ken Levine

Just saw one of my favorite DICK VAN DYKE SHOW episodes, “100 Terrible Hours”. It’s the one where Rob was a disc jockey and had to stay on the air for 100 straight hours just before interviewing with Alan Brady for a writing job. I love that episode for many reasons but first and foremost is the structure. I imagine Carl Reiner and the staff thought it would be fun to see Rob’s initial job interview and of course it had to be a disaster. But how?

The obvious ways: he was drunk, he got in an accident and was all disheveled, he spilled something on his crotch, he had laryngitis, he had a bad cold and Alan Brady was a germ freak, he barged in at the wrong time, etc. You get the idea. read article